PLEDGE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 99.4
PLEDGE AGREEMENT (together with all amendments, supplements and modifications, if any, from time to time hereto, this “Agreement”), dated as of October 19, 2007 between NEWTEK BUSINESS SERVICES, INC., a New York corporation (the “Pledgor”) and NORTH FORK BANK, a division of Capital One, N.A., individually as Lender (“Lender”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of October __, 2007, among Crystaltech Web Hosting, LLC (“Borrower”) and the Lender (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), Lender has agreed to make the Loans to Borrower;
WHEREAS, the Pledgor is a guarantor pursuant a Guaranty of Payment and Performance dated as of October 16, 2007 between the Pledgor and the Lender (the “Guaranty”)
WHEREAS, the Borrower is a direct subsidiary of Pledgor and, as such, Pledgor will derive direct and indirect economic benefits from the making of the Loans to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement;
WHEREAS, Pledgor is the record and beneficial owner of the shares of stock, membership interests and other equity interests listed in Part A of Schedule I hereto;
WHEREAS, in order to induce Lender to enter into the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents and to induce Lender to make the Loans as provided for in the Credit Agreement, Pledgor has agreed to pledge the Pledged Collateral to Lender in accordance herewith;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants hereinafter contained and to induce Lender to make Loans under the Credit Agreement, it is agreed as follows:
1. Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined, and the following shall have (unless otherwise provided elsewhere in this Agreement) the following respective meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms defined):
“Bankruptcy Code” means Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Code, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute thereto.
“Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may, from time to time, be enacted and in effect in the State of New York; provided, that to the extent that the Code is used to define any term herein or in any Loan Document and such term is defined differently in different Articles or Divisions of the Code, the definition of such term contained in Article or Division 9 shall govern; provided further, that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect
to, Lender’s Lien on any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “Code” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions thereof relating to such attachment, perfection, priority or remedies and for purposes of definitions related to such provisions.
“Pledged Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2 hereof.
“Pledged Entity” means an issuer of Pledged Shares.
“Pledged Shares” means the shares of stock, membership interests and other equity interests listed on Part A of Schedule I and any and all outstanding shares of stock, membership interests or other equity interests that Pledgor may hereafter own, control or hold, including the interests required to be pledged to Lender pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
“Secured Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3 hereof.
“Termination Date” means the date on which (a) the Loans have been indefeasibly repaid in full in cash, (b) all other Obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been completely discharged, and (c) Borrowers shall not have any further right to borrow any monies under the Credit Agreement.
“Unmatured Tax Liens” means Liens for taxes or assessments or other governmental charges not yet due and payable.
2. Pledge. Pledgor hereby pledges to Lender, and grants to Lender for itself and the benefit of Lender, a first priority security interest in all of the following (collectively, the “Pledged Collateral”):
(a) the Pledged Shares and the certificates representing the Pledged Shares, and all stock dividends, instruments and other non-cash property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the Pledged Shares;
(b) such portion, as determined by Lender as provided in Section 6(d) below, of any additional shares of stock, membership interests or other equity interests of a Pledged Entity from time to time acquired by Pledgor in any manner (which shares of stock, membership interests or other equity interests shall be deemed to be part of the Pledged Shares), and all stock dividends, instruments and other non-cash property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such shares of stock, membership interests or other equity interests.
(c) after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the pledge under 2(a) and 2 (b)above shall also include all cash dividends, distributions, cash, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the Pledged Shares.
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3. Security for Obligations. This Agreement secures, and the Pledged Collateral is security for, the prompt payment in full when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, and performance of all Obligations of any kind under or in connection with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and all obligations of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement including, without limitation, all fees, costs and expenses whether in connection with collection actions hereunder or otherwise (collectively, the “Secured Obligations”).
4. Delivery of Pledged Collateral. All certificates and instruments evidencing the Pledged Collateral shall be delivered to and held by Lender, pursuant hereto. All Pledged Shares shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.
5. Representations and Warranties. Pledgor represents and warrants to Lender that:
(a) Pledgor is, and at the time of delivery of the Pledged Shares to Lender will be, the sole holder of record and the sole beneficial owner of such Pledged Collateral pledged by Pledgor free and clear of any Lien thereon or affecting the title thereto, except for Unmatured Tax Liens and any Lien created by this Agreement. Pledgor is and at the time of delivery of the Pledged Indebtedness to Lender will be, the sole owner of such Pledged Collateral free and clear of any Lien thereon or affecting title thereto, except for Unmatured Tax Liens and any Lien created by this Agreement;
(b) all of the Pledged Shares have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;
(c) Pledgor has the right and requisite authority to pledge, assign, transfer, deliver, deposit and set over the Pledged Collateral pledged by Pledgor to Lender as provided herein;
(d) none of the Pledged Shares has been issued or transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject;
(e) all of the Pledged Shares are presently owned by Pledgor, and all such shares or interests are presently represented by the certificates listed on Part A of Schedule I hereto. As of the date hereof, there are no existing options, warrants, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to the Pledged Shares;
(f) no consent, approval, authorization or other order or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required (i) for the
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pledge by Pledgor of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Agreement or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by Pledgor, or (ii) for the exercise by Lender of the voting or other rights provided for in this Agreement or the remedies in respect of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Agreement, except as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally;
(g) the pledge, assignment and delivery of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Agreement will create a valid first priority Lien on and a first priority perfected security interest in favor of the Lender for the benefit of Lender in the Pledged Collateral and the proceeds thereof, securing the payment of the Secured Obligations, subject to no other Lien except for Unmatured Tax Liens;
(h) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Pledgor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Pledgor enforceable against Pledgor in accordance with its terms; and
(i) the Pledged Shares constitute 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of stock, membership interests and other equity interests of each Pledged Entity. ; and
The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 5 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
6. Covenants. Pledgor covenants and agrees that until the Termination Date:
(a) Without the prior written consent of Lender, Pledgor will not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber any of its rights in or to the Pledged Collateral, or any unpaid dividends, interest or other distributions or payments with respect to the Pledged Collateral or xxxxx x Xxxx in the Pledged Collateral, unless otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement;
(b) Pledgor will, at its expense, promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver all such instruments and take all such actions as Lender from time to time may request in order to ensure to Lender the benefits of the Liens in and to the Pledged Collateral intended to be created by this Agreement, including the filing of any necessary Code financing statements, which may be filed by Lender with or (to the extent permitted by law) without the signature of Pledgor, and will cooperate with Lender, at Pledgor’s expense, in obtaining all necessary approvals and making all necessary filings under federal, state, local or foreign law in connection with such Liens or any sale or transfer of the Pledged Collateral;
(c) Pledgor has and will defend the title to the Pledged Collateral and the Liens of Lender in the Pledged Collateral against the claim of any Person and will maintain and preserve such Liens; and
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(d) Pledgor will, upon obtaining ownership of any additional shares of stock, membership interests, other equity interests, promissory notes or instruments of a Pledged Entity or shares of stock, membership interests, other equity interests, promissory notes or instruments otherwise required to be pledged to Lender pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, which shares of stock, membership interests, other equity interests, notes or instruments are not already Pledged Collateral, promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days) deliver to Lender a Pledge Amendment, duly executed by Pledgor, in substantially the form of Schedule II hereto (a “Pledge Amendment”) in respect of any such additional shares of stock, membership interests, other equity interests, notes or instruments, pursuant to which Pledgor shall pledge to Lender all of such additional shares of stock, membership interests, other equity interests, notes and instruments. Pledgor hereby authorizes Lender to attach each Pledge Amendment to this Agreement and agrees that all Pledged Shares listed on any Pledge Amendment delivered to Lender shall for all purposes hereunder be considered Pledged Collateral.
(e) Pledgor consents to each Pledged Entity’s entering into a Control Agreement with Lender in the form of Schedule III hereto (a “Control Agreement”) and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of each such Control Agreement, except that the Lender shall not be entitled to give instructions to any Pledged Entity with respect to Pledged Stock issued by such Pledged Entity unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
7. Pledgor’s Rights. As long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and until written notice shall be given to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8(a) hereof:
(a) Pledgor shall have the right, from time to time, to vote and give consents with respect to the Pledged Collateral, or any part thereof for all purposes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast, and no consent shall be given or action taken, which would have the effect of impairing the position or interest of Lender in respect of the Pledged Collateral or which would authorize, effect or consent to (unless and to the extent expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement or consented to by Lender):
(i) the dissolution or liquidation, in whole or in part, of a Pledged Entity;
(ii) the consolidation or merger of a Pledged Entity with any other Person other than another Pledged Entity and provided that the Borrower is the surviving entity;
(iii) the sale, disposition or encumbrance of all or substantially all of the assets of a Pledged Entity, except for Liens in favor of Lender;
(iv) any change in the authorized number of shares of Stock, membership interests, the stated capital or the authorized capital of a Pledged Entity or the issuance of any additional shares of its Stock or membership interests; or
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(v) the alteration of the voting rights with respect to the membership interests or other equity interests of a Pledged Entity;
(b) Pledgor shall be entitled, from time to time, to collect and receive for its own use all cash dividends and interest paid in respect of the Pledged Shares to the extent not in violation of the Credit Agreement or the Guaranty other than any and all: (A) dividends and interest paid or payable other than in cash in respect of any Pledged Collateral, and instruments and other property received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Collateral; (B) dividends and other distributions paid or payable in cash in respect of any Pledged Shares in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid-in capital of a Pledged Entity; and (C) cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed, in respect of principal of, or in redemption of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Collateral; provided, however, that until actually paid all rights to such distributions shall remain subject to the Lien created by this Agreement; and
(c) all dividends and interest (other than such cash dividends and interest as are permitted to be paid to Pledgor in accordance with clause (i) above) and all other distributions in respect of any of the Pledged Shares, whenever paid or made, shall be delivered to Lender to hold as Pledged Collateral and shall, if received by Pledgor, be received in trust for the benefit of Lender, be segregated from the other property or funds of Pledgor, and be forthwith delivered to Lender as Pledged Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsement).
8. Defaults and Remedies; Proxy.
(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuation of such Event of Default, following acceleration of the Notes and concurrently with written notice to Pledgor, Lender (personally or through an agent) is hereby authorized and empowered to transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral, to exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations, to exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto, to collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon, to sell in one or more sales after ten (10) days’ notice of the time and place of any public sale or of the time at which a private sale is to take place (which notice Pledgor agrees is commercially reasonable) the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral and to otherwise act with respect to the Pledged Collateral as though Lender was the outright owner thereof. Any sale shall be made at a public or private sale at Lender’s place of business, or at any place to be named in the notice of sale, either for cash or upon credit or for future delivery at such price as Lender may deem fair, and Lender may be the purchaser of the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral so sold and hold the same thereafter in its own right free from any claim of Pledgor or any right of redemption. Each sale shall be made to the highest bidder, but Lender reserves the right to reject any and all bids at such sale which, in its discretion, it shall deem inadequate. Demands of performance, except as otherwise herein specifically provided for, notices of sale, advertisements and the presence of property at sale are hereby waived and any sale hereunder may be conducted by an auctioneer or
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any officer or agent of Lender. PLEDGOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSTITUTES UNTIL THE TERMINATION DATE AND APPOINTS LENDER AS THE PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT OF PLEDGOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PLEDGED COLLATERAL, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE THE PLEDGED SHARES, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION TO DO SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7(A) OF THIS AGREEMENT AFTER THE OCCURRENCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT. THE APPOINTMENT OF LENDER AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE UNTIL THE TERMINATION DATE. IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE THE PLEDGED SHARES, THE APPOINTMENT OF LENDER AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT SHALL INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES AND REMEDIES TO WHICH A HOLDER OF THE PLEDGED SHARES WOULD BE ENTITLED (INCLUDING GIVING OR WITHHOLDING WRITTEN CONSENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS, CALLING SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS AND VOTING AT SUCH MEETINGS) AFTER THE OCCURRENCE AND DURING THE CONTINUANCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT. SUCH PROXY SHALL BE EFFECTIVE, AUTOMATICALLY AND WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF ANY ACTION (INCLUDING ANY TRANSFER OF ANY PLEDGED SHARES ON THE RECORD BOOKS OF THE ISSUER THEREOF) BY ANY PERSON (INCLUDING THE ISSUER OF THE PLEDGED SHARES OR ANY OFFICER OR AGENT THEREOF), UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT AND DURING THE CONTINUANCE THEREOF. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, LENDER SHALL NOT HAVE ANY DUTY TO EXERCISE ANY SUCH RIGHT OR TO PRESERVE THE SAME AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURE TO DO SO OR FOR ANY DELAY IN DOING SO.
(b) If, at the original time or times appointed for the sale of the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral, the highest bid, if there be but one sale, shall be inadequate to discharge in full all the Secured Obligations, or if the Pledged Collateral be offered for sale in lots, if at any of such sales, the highest bid for the lot offered for sale would indicate to Lender, in its discretion, that the proceeds of the sales of the whole of the Pledged Collateral would be unlikely to be sufficient to discharge all the Secured Obligations, Lender may, on one or more occasions and in its discretion, postpone any of said sales by public announcement at the time of sale or the time of previous postponement of sale, and no other notice of such postponement or postponements of sale need be given, any other notice being hereby waived; provided, however, that any sale or sales made after such postponement shall be after ten (10) days’ notice to Pledgor.
(c) If, at any time when Lender shall determine to exercise its right to sell the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral hereunder, such Pledged Collateral or the part thereof to be sold shall not, for any reason whatsoever, be effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (or any similar statute then in effect) (the “Act”), Lender may, in its discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), sell such Pledged Collateral or part thereof by private sale in such manner and under such circumstances as Lender may deem necessary or advisable, but subject to the other requirements of this Section 8, and shall not be required to effect such registration or to cause the same to be effected. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but subject to the other requirements of this Section 8, in any such event, Lender in its discretion (x) may, in accordance with applicable securities laws, proceed to
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make such private sale notwithstanding that a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged Collateral or part thereof could be or shall have been filed under said Act (or similar statute), (y) may approach and negotiate with a single possible purchaser to effect such sale, and (z) may restrict such sale to a purchaser who is an accredited investor under the Act and who will represent and agree that such purchaser is purchasing for its own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale of such Pledged Collateral or any part thereof. In addition to a private sale as provided above in this Section 8, if any of the Pledged Collateral shall not be freely distributable to the public without registration under the Act (or similar statute) at the time of any proposed sale pursuant to this Section 8, then Lender shall not be required to effect such registration or cause the same to be effected but, in its discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), may require that any sale hereunder (including a sale at auction) be conducted subject to restrictions:
(i) as to the financial sophistication and ability of any Person permitted to bid or purchase at any such sale;
(ii) as to the content of legends to be placed upon any certificates or instruments representing the Pledged Collateral sold in such sale, including restrictions on future transfer thereof;
(iii) as to the representations required to be made by each Person bidding or purchasing at such sale relating to that Person’s access to financial information about the Pledged Entity and such Person’s intentions as to the holding of the Pledged Collateral so sold for investment for its own account and not with a view to the distribution thereof; and
(iv) as to such other matters as Lender may, in its discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in order that such sale (notwithstanding any failure so to register) may be effected in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and the Act and all applicable state securities laws.
(d) Pledgor recognizes that Lender may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof in accordance with clause (c) above. Pledgor also acknowledges that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private. Lender shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit the Pledged Entity to register such securities for public sale under the Act, or under applicable state securities laws, even if Pledgor and the Pledged Entity would agree to do so.
(e) Pledgor agrees to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law that following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default it will not at any time, plead, claim or take the benefit of any appraisal, valuation, stay, extension, moratorium or
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redemption law now or hereafter in force in order to prevent or delay the enforcement of this Agreement, or the absolute sale of the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral or the possession thereof by any purchaser at any sale hereunder, and Pledgor waives the benefit of all such laws to the extent it lawfully may do so. Pledgor agrees that it will not interfere with any right, power and remedy of Lender provided for in this Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise, or the exercise or beginning of the exercise by Lender of any one or more of such rights, powers or remedies. No failure or delay on the part of Lender to exercise any such right, power or remedy and no notice or demand which may be given to or made upon Pledgor by Lender with respect to any such remedies shall operate as a waiver thereof, or limit or impair Lender’s right to take any action or to exercise any power or remedy hereunder, without notice or demand, or prejudice its rights as against Pledgor in any respect.
(f) Pledgor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section 8 will cause irreparable injury to Lender, that Lender shall have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, agrees that each and every covenant contained in this Section 8 shall be specifically enforceable against Pledgor, and Pledgor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except for a defense that the Secured Obligations are not then due and payable in accordance with the agreements and instruments governing and evidencing such obligations.
9. Waiver. No delay on Lender’s part in exercising any power of sale, Lien, option or other right hereunder, and no notice or demand which may be given to or made upon Pledgor by Lender with respect to any power of sale, Lien, option or other right hereunder, shall constitute a waiver thereof, or limit or impair Lender’s right to take any action or to exercise any power of sale, Lien, option, or any other right hereunder, without notice or demand, or prejudice Lender’s rights as against Pledgor in any respect.
10. Assignment. Lender may assign, indorse or transfer any instrument evidencing all or any part of the Secured Obligations as provided in, and in accordance with, the Credit Agreement, and the holder of such instrument shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.
11. Termination. Immediately following the Termination Date, Lender shall deliver to Pledgor the Pledged Collateral pledged by Pledgor at the time subject to this Agreement and all instruments of assignment executed in connection therewith, free and clear of the Liens hereof and, except as otherwise provided herein, all of Pledgor’s obligations hereunder shall at such time terminate.
12. Lien Absolute. All rights of Lender hereunder, and all obligations of Pledgor hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:
(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument governing or evidencing any Secured Obligations;
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(b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any part of the Secured Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument governing or evidencing any Secured Obligations;
(c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any other Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any guaranty, for all or any of the Secured Obligations;
(d) the insolvency of any Credit Party; or
(e) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, Pledgor other than full satisfaction of all obligations under the Credit Agreement.
13. Release. Pledgor consents and agrees that Lender may at any time, or from time to time, in its discretion:
(a) renew, extend or change the time of payment, and/or the manner, place or terms of payment of all or any part of the Secured Obligations; and
(b) exchange, release and/or surrender all or any of the Collateral (including the Pledged Collateral), or any part thereof, by whomsoever deposited, which is now or may hereafter be held by Lender in connection with all or any of the Secured Obligations; all in such manner and upon such terms as Lender may deem proper, and without notice to or further assent from Pledgor, it being hereby agreed that Pledgor shall be and remain bound upon this Agreement, irrespective of the value or condition of any of the Collateral, and notwithstanding any such change, exchange, settlement, compromise, surrender, release, renewal or extension, and notwithstanding also that the Secured Obligations may, at any time, exceed the aggregate principal amount thereof set forth in the Credit Agreement, or any other agreement governing any Secured Obligations. Pledgor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Agreement, and also presentment, demand, protest and notice of dishonor of any and all of the Secured Obligations, and promptness in commencing suit against any party hereto or liable hereon, and in giving any notice to or of making any claim or demand hereunder upon Pledgor. No act or omission of any kind on Lender’s part shall in any event affect or impair this Agreement.
14. Reinstatement. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against Pledgor or any Pledged Entity for liquidation or reorganization, should Pledgor or any Pledged Entity become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of Pledgor’s or a Pledged Entity’s assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference”, “fraudulent conveyance”, or otherwise, all as though such payment or
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performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.
15. Miscellaneous.
(a) Lender may execute any of its duties hereunder by or through agents or employees and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to its duties hereunder.
(b) Pledgor agrees to promptly reimburse Lender for actual out-of-pocket expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees, incurred by Lender in connection with the administration and enforcement of this Agreement.
(c) Neither Lender, nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees, agents or counsel shall be liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or them hereunder or in connection herewith, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(d) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING UPON PLEDGOR AND ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS (INCLUDING A DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION ON BEHALF OF PLEDGOR), AND SHALL INURE TO THE BENEFIT OF, AND BE ENFORCEABLE BY, LENDER AND ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED IN THAT STATE, AND NONE OF THE TERMS OR PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE WAIVED, ALTERED, MODIFIED OR AMENDED EXCEPT IN WRITING DULY SIGNED FOR AND ON BEHALF OF LENDER AND PLEDGOR.
16. Severability. If for any reason any provision or provisions hereof are determined to be invalid and contrary to any existing or future law, such invalidity shall not impair the operation of or effect those portions of this Agreement which are valid.
17. Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever it is provided herein that any notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication shall or may be given to or served upon any of the parties by any other party, or whenever any of the parties desires to give and serve upon any other party any communication with respect to this Security Agreement, each such notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication shall be in writing and shall be given in the manner, and deemed received, as provided for in the Credit Agreement.
18. Section Titles. The Section titles contained in this Agreement are and shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.
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19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, which shall, collectively and separately, constitute one agreement.
20. Benefit of Lender. All security interests granted or contemplated hereby shall be for the benefit of Lender, and all proceeds or payments realized from the Pledged Collateral in accordance herewith shall be applied to the Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.
21. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY AND TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW WAIVES ANY RIGHTS THAT IT MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECEIVE CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Pledge Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
NEWTEK BUSINESS SERVICES, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |
Address: | ||
Newtek Business Services, Inc. | ||
0000 Xxxxxxxx, 00xx xxxxx | ||
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 | ||
NORTH FORK BANK, a division of | ||
Capital One, N.A., as Lender | ||
By: |
| |
Name: |
| |
Title: |
|
SCHEDULE I
PART A
PLEDGED SHARES
Pledged Entity |
Number and class of Interests |
Percentage of Interests of Such Class |
|||
Crystaltech Web Hosting, Inc. |
100 | % | |||
Any entity that is the subject of an Acquisition Loan |
100 | % |
SCHEDULE II
PLEDGE AMENDMENT
This Pledge Amendment, dated , is delivered pursuant to Section 6(d) of the Pledge Agreement referred to below. All defined terms herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto or incorporated by reference in the Pledge Agreement. The undersigned hereby certifies that the representations and warranties in Section 5 of the Pledge Agreement are and continue to be true and correct, both as to the instruments and membership interests pledged prior to this Pledge Amendment and as to the instruments and membership interests pledged pursuant to this Pledge Amendment. The undersigned further agrees that this Pledge Amendment may be attached to that certain Pledge Agreement, dated October , 2007, between undersigned, as Pledgor, and North Fork Bank, a division of Capital One, N.A., as Lender (as amended, supplemented, restated or modified from time to time, the “Pledge Agreement”) and that the Pledged Shares listed on this Pledge Amendment shall be and become a part of the Pledged Collateral referred to in said Pledge Agreement and shall secure all Secured Obligations referred to in said Pledge Agreement. The undersigned acknowledges that any instruments or membership interests not included in the Pledged Collateral at the discretion of Lender may not otherwise be pledged by Pledgor to any other Person or otherwise used as security for any obligations other than the Secured Obligations.
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SCHEDULE III
CONTROL AGREEMENT
The undersigned , a (“Pledged Entity”), hereby acknowledges receipt of a completed and executed counterpart of the Pledge Agreement, dated as of October , 2007, by and among Newtek Business Services, Inc. (“Pledgor”) and North Fork Bank, a division of Capital One, N.A., (the “Lender”), and agrees to be bound thereby. The Pledged Entity further agrees that it will comply with instructions originated by the Lender (or its successors or assigns) with respect to the Pledged Stock issued by the Pledged Entity without further consent of the Pledgor. The Pledged Entity further agrees to xxxx its other Stock records to reflect that the Pledged Stock issued by the Pledged Entity is subject to Lender’s security interest.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Pledged Entity has executed this Control Agreement as of the date first above written.
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