EXHIBIT 10.2
SECURITY AGREEMENT
THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") dated this 27th day of March,
2002 is executed and delivered by TALX CORPORATION, a Missouri corporation
("Grantor") in favor of LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking
association, as Administrative Agent (the "Secured Party") pursuant to the terms
of the Loan Agreement (hereinafter defined).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, Grantor, Secured Party, individually and as Administrative Agent,
and Southwest Bank of St. Louis ("SWB") (collectively Secured Party,
individually, and SWB are referred to herein as "Lenders") have entered into
that certain Loan Agreement of even date herewith (as may be amended, restated
or modified from time to time, the "Loan Agreement") pursuant to which Lenders
have agreed, subject to certain terms and conditions, to extend credit and make
other financial accommodations available to Grantor; and
WHEREAS, Grantor and the Secured Party desire to secure the Obligations
(hereinafter defined) for the ratable benefit of Lenders pursuant to the terms
of the Loan Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the execution and delivery by the
Lenders of the Loan Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration,
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the Grantor, the
Grantor hereby agrees with the Secured Party as follows.
1. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST. To secure the Obligations, Grantor hereby
grants to Secured Party, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders pursuant to the
terms of the Loan Agreement, a continuing lien on and security interest in, and
the right to set off against, any and all right, title and interest of the
Grantor, whether now, or hereafter, owned, existing, created, acquired or
arising, in and to any and all of Grantor's personal property, wherever located
and whomever held by (collectively the "Collateral"). The Collateral includes,
but is not limited to, the following:
(i) All Accounts, accounts receivable, Deposit Accounts, promissory
notes and other obligations owed to Grantor that arise from the sale,
rental or lease of Inventory, goods or other property of Grantor or the
rendering of services by Grantor, and all Chattel Paper, Instruments
(including Promissory Notes), Documents, drafts, contract rights and
acceptances, Health-Care-Insurance Receivables, Letter-of-Credit Rights and
other forms of obligations (including but not limited to all obligations
that may be characterized as General Intangibles or otherwise under the
UCC) respecting the rights of Grantor to the payment of money from others
and all other rights to the payment of money;
(ii) All Goods and Inventory, and all documents of title of at any
time evidencing or representing a part thereof, including all inventories
of raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, and merchandise,
materials and supplies and all other
personal property and assets of every kind and description held for sale,
rental or lease or held to be furnished under contracts for services or
consumed in Grantor's business, or in any case held, used or useable in the
supply, servicing, advertising, processing, packaging, delivery or shipping
of such property;
(iii) All Equipment, machinery, tools furniture, and fixtures of
every sort and spare parts therefor, all storage media containing computer
programs and data, and all tools, dies, and molds, and all motor vehicles,
trailers, tractors, barges, and ships of every sort and spare parts and
accessories therefor, whether or not titled or certificated;
(iv) All General Intangibles, including Payment Intangibles, all
computer programs, data and databases, leases, licenses, claims and causes
of action against others (whether in litigation, settlement or otherwise),
and tax refunds, and all summaries, compilations, mailing and customer,
client or supplier lists, and other supporting evidence records relating to
the business, assets, liabilities or capital of Grantor, and all disks,
files, tapes, printouts, books, records, periodicals, directories,
publications and other documents and media where the foregoing is stored or
embodied, and all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark
applications, trade secrets, trade names, service marks, trade styles, and
copyrights, in each case whether or not registered, licensed or filed,
including, but not limited to, any of the aforementioned specifically
listed on the Addendum A attached hereto;
(v) All rights under all licenses, permits, leases, contracts,
governmental approvals, franchises, applications for any of the foregoing,
renewals of any of the foregoing, and similar rights or privileges or
immunities;
(vi) (A) all dividends, cash, securities, instruments and other
property from time to time paid, payable or otherwise distributed to
Grantor in respect of or in exchange for any shares or other capital stock
or trust, partnership or limited liability company interests, all
Investment Property, Certificated Securities, Uncertificated Securities,
Security Entitlements, Securities Accounts, securities accounts, margin
accounts, financial assets, hedging contracts, options contracts, and
futures contracts; (B) any and all distributions made to Grantor in respect
of any such shares or capital stock, or trust, partnership or limited
liability company interests, whether in cash or in kind, by way of
dividends or stock splits, or pursuant to a merger or consolidation or
otherwise, or any substitute security issued to Grantor upon conversion,
reorganization or otherwise; and (C) any and all other property hereafter
delivered to Grantor or Secured Party in substitution for or in addition to
any of the foregoing (including without limitation all securities issued
pursuant to any shareholder agreement, stock purchase agreement,
partnership agreement, trust agreement or indenture, limited liability
company operating agreement, stock purchase rights or other agreement to
which Grantor may now or hereafter be a party, all certificates and
instruments representing or evidencing such property and all cash,
securities, interest, dividends, rights, and other property at any time and
from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect
of or in exchange for any or all thereof);
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(vii) All of Grantor's property in the possession, custody or control
of Secured Party in any way, whether or not for safekeeping, custody,
pledge, transmission, collection or otherwise;
(viii) All funds paid to Secured Party or in transit to any deposit
account or fund established by Grantor, and any securities in which such
funds may be invested; and
(ix) All cash and non-cash proceeds and products of the foregoing,
all proceeds from insurance on any of the foregoing, all goodwill
associated with the foregoing, all additions and accessions to and
replacements and substitutions for any of the foregoing, everything that
becomes (or is held for the purpose of being) affixed to or installed in
any of the foregoing, and all products, rents, income, dividends,
royalties, and profits of or from any of the foregoing.
This Agreement is made and given to secure, and shall secure, the payment
and performance of (i) any and all indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of
the Grantor to the Lenders, or any of them individually, evidenced by or
otherwise arising out of or relating to the Loan Agreement, any promissory note
of the Grantor heretofore or hereafter issued under the Loan Agreement, any
obligation of the Grantor to reimburse the Secured Party with respect to any
letter of credit issued to or for the account of the Grantor as well as for any
and all other indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of the to the Secured
Party evidenced by or otherwise arising out of or relating to this Agreement or
any other Loan Document and (ii) any and all reasonable expenses and charges,
legal or otherwise, suffered or incurred by the Secured Party in collecting or
enforcing any of such indebtedness, obligations or liabilities or in realizing
on or protecting or preserving any security therefor, including, without
limitation, the lien and security interest granted hereby (all of the foregoing
being herein referred to as the "Obligations").
2. DEFINED TERMS. The term "Loan Documents" and all other capitalized
terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given them
in the Loan Agreement. All capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined
herein or in the Loan Agreement have the meanings given them in the Uniform
Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of Illinois ("UCC").
To the extent the provisions of this Agreement conflict with the provisions of
the Loan Agreement, the Loan Agreement shall govern. The prior sentences
notwithstanding, any reference to any agreement, document, or instrument,
including this Agreement, any other Loan Document and any agreement, document or
instrument defined herein or therein, means such agreement, document, or
instrument as it may have been or may be amended, restated, extended, renewed,
replaced, or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time in accordance
with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof, and includes all
attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein, if any.
3. POSSESSION OF COLLATERAL. Until the occurrence of an Event of Default,
Grantor may have possession of all Collateral except for Collateral which is in
the possession of Secured Party or Collateral which Secured Party must possess
in order to have a perfected first priority Security Interest therein, and
Grantor may use each item of the Collateral in its possession in any lawful
manner not inconsistent with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or with
any policy of insurance covering the same.
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4. GRANTOR'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Grantor represents and
warrants to the Secured Party the following:
4.1. NAME; JURISDICTION; TAXPAYER ID NUMBER. The correct corporate
name and jurisdiction of formation of the Grantor is set forth in the first
paragraph of this Agreement, and the Grantor does not conduct and, during
the five-year period immediately preceding the date of this Agreement, has
not conducted, business under any trade name or other fictitious name other
than those set forth on Schedule A attached hereto; and in any event, the
only trade name or style under which Grantor sells Inventory or creates
Accounts, or to which instruments in payment of Accounts are made payable,
is the name which identifies Grantor as aforementioned. The Internal
Revenue Service taxpayer identification number of the Grantor and the
organizational identification number of the Grantor issued by the Grantor's
jurisdiction of formation are set forth on Schedule A attached hereto.
4.2. OFFICES; PLACES OF BUSINESS. Grantor's chief executive office
and principal place of business and the books and records relating to all
Accounts and the Collateral is located at the address set forth on Schedule
A. All addresses (including applicable counties) of all other places of
business of the Grantor shall at all times be additionally listed on
Schedule A. Unless Secured Party otherwise consents in writing, all of the
tangible Collateral will be kept at Grantor's chief executive office or
such other places of business described in the Loan Agreement, including
Collateral which is movable when the same is not in use; and without
Grantor first making arrangements satisfactory to Secured Party to protect
Secured Party's Security Interest therein, Grantor will not place any of
the tangible Collateral in any other location. No Collateral shall at any
time be in the possession or control of any warehouseman, bailee or any of
Grantor's agents or processors without Secured Party's prior written
consent and unless Secured Party, if Secured Party has so requested, has
received warehouse receipts or bailee letters satisfactory to Secured Party
prior to the commencement of such storage. Grantor shall, upon the request
of Secured Party, notify any such warehouseman, bailee, agent or processor
of the Security Interests created hereby and shall instruct such person to
provide a written agreement to Secured Party that such person holds all
such Collateral for Secured Party's account subject to Secured Party's
instructions.
4.3. NAME, ENTITY OR OFFICE CHANGES. If Grantor intends to change
its name, change its structure, change the location of Grantor's chief
executive office, create new or otherwise amend its trade names or
trademarks, change its state of organization, or open other places of
business, Grantor will, prior to taking any such action, provide Secured
Party no less than thirty (30) days prior written notice of the same and,
prior to taking any such action, will promptly execute such additional
documents as Secured Party may reasonably request in order to maintain a
fully perfected first priority Security Interest in favor of Secured Party
in the Collateral, excepting only Permitted Security Interests (as defined
in the Loan Agreement).
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4.4. INSURANCE. Grantor will keep the Collateral insured in
accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement.
4.5. COLLATERAL NOT TO BECOME FIXTURES. Without first making
arrangements satisfactory to Secured Party to protect its Security
Interest, Grantor will not allow the Collateral to become affixed to or
installed in any property (including but not limited to any real estate)
except, however, to or in other items of Collateral or as otherwise
permitted by the terms of the Loan Agreement.
4.6. CONDITION OF COLLATERAL; DISPOSAL OF COLLATERAL. Grantor will
keep the Collateral in the condition required under the terms of the Loan
Agreement. Grantor will not transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of any
Collateral (or any interest therein) unless and only to the extent
permitted herein or by the Loan Agreement.
4.7. LIENS. Grantor is the lawful owner of the Collateral free and
clear, and will keep free and clear, of all security interests, liens,
encumbrances, registered pledges, adverse claims, voting trust restrictions
and any other claims of others except with respect to Permitted Security
Interest or as otherwise disclosed to Secured Party in the Loan Agreement.
Grantor will pay and discharge all taxes assessed on the Collateral in
accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement.
4.8. COLLATERAL DISPOSITION. Grantor has not, and will not, sell,
assign, transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of Grantor's rights
in the Collateral except (i) with respect to Permitted Security Interests,
(ii) in the ordinary course of Grantor's business or (iii) upon the prior
written consent of Secured Party, to be withheld, conditioned or delayed by
Secured Party in Secured Party's sole discretion
4.9. AUTHORIZATION. Grantor has the full right, power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and to pledge the Collateral. Grantor's
articles of incorporation and bylaws do not prohibit execution of this
Agreement by Grantor or any term or condition contained in this Agreement.
4.10. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement is binding upon Grantor, as well
as Grantor's heirs, successors, representatives and assigns, and is legally
enforceable in accordance with its terms.
5. INSPECTION. Secured Party and any of its authorized agents may examine
and inspect the Collateral in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement.
6. DISBURSEMENT DIRECTLY TO SELLER OF COLLATERAL. To the extent, if any,
that Grantor has advised Secured Party that any of the Collateral is being
acquired with proceeds of any loan, advance or other financial accommodation
from Secured Party, such proceeds may be disbursed by Secured Party directly to
the seller of such Collateral.
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7. ADVERSE CONDITIONS AFFECTING COLLATERAL. Grantor will notify Secured
Party within 30 days of becoming aware of any material adverse fact or condition
which bears upon the value of the Collateral including any adverse fact or
condition, or the occurrence of any event, which (i) bears upon the
collectibility of any material Account including the ability of any Account
Grantor to perform under any agreement evidencing any material Account
(including the bankruptcy, insolvency or failure of any Account Grantor to pay
its debts as they become due), or (ii) causes material loss or depreciation in
the value of any material item of the Collateral and the amount of such loss or
depreciation. Grantor will provide such additional information to Secured Party
regarding the amount of any loss or depreciation in value of the Collateral as
Secured Party may reasonably request from time to time.
8. PROTECTION OF SECURITY INTEREST. Secured Party may, at Grantor's sole
cost, file a copy of this Agreement or a Financing Statement in any public
office deemed necessary by Secured Party to perfect or continue its Security
Interest in the Collateral, and Grantor hereby ratifies any such Financing
Statement previously filed by Secured Party and irrevocably authorizes Secured
Party to do any of the foregoing. Grantor will execute or cause the execution of
such additional Financing Statements and other documents (and pay the cost of
filing or recording the same in all public offices deemed necessary by Secured
Party) and do such other acts and things, including execution of applications
and certificates of title naming Secured Party as a secured party and delivery
of same to Secured Party, as Secured Party may from time to time request or deem
necessary to establish and maintain a valid and perfected Security Interest in
the Collateral, subject only to the Permitted Security Interests. Grantor will,
immediately upon Secured Party's reasonable request, place a durable notice of
the existence of Secured Party's Security Interest, in form and by means
reasonably acceptable to Secured Party, upon such items of the Collateral as are
designated by Secured Party. Grantor will not create any Chattel Paper without
placing a legend on the Chattel Paper acceptable to Secured Party indicating
Secured Party has a Security Interest in the Chattel Paper. Grantor will not
file any document releasing Secured Party's Security Interest in any of the
Collateral without the prior written authorization of Secured Party.
9. PRESERVATION OF COLLATERAL; EXPENDITURES. After first giving notice to
Grantor, Secured Party may perform any obligation of Grantor hereunder or under
any other Loan Document which Grantor fails to perform; provided, however, that
after the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuance, Secured
Party will not be obligated to provide Grantor with any such notice. After first
giving notice to Grantor, Secured Party may, in its commercially reasonable
judgment at any time, take any other action which it reasonably deems necessary
for the maintenance or preservation of any of the Collateral or the Security
Interest of Secured Party therein, including the payment and discharge of taxes,
liens, security interests and encumbrances of any kind against the Collateral,
or the procurement of insurance; provided, however that after the occurrence of
an Event of Default and during the continuance, Secured Party will not be
obligated to provide Grantor with any such notice. Any actions taken by Secured
Party pursuant to this Section will not be deemed a waiver of any Event of
Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
Secured Party may adjust, settle or cancel claims under any policy of insurance
covering items of the Collateral and endorse any draft received in connection
therewith in payment of a loss or
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otherwise. Grantor agrees to reimburse Secured Party on demand for all costs and
expenses incurred or paid by Secured Party pursuant to this Section, together
with interest thereon at the highest default or post-maturity rate provided in
the Loan Agreement or the Notes. Any amounts, until so reimbursed to Secured
Party, will, without further action by Secured Party or Grantor, be added to and
become a part of the Obligations and secured hereby. Secured Party may, for the
foregoing purposes, act in its own name or that of Grantor. Grantor hereby
grants to Secured Party its power of attorney, irrevocable so long as any of the
Obligations are outstanding, to take any of the actions described or permitted
by this Section. Secured Party is not obligated to exercise its rights under
this Section and will not be liable to Grantor for any failure to do so.
10. LIMITATION OF OBLIGATION OF SECURED PARTY. Secured Party shall use
ordinary reasonable care in the physical preservation and custody of the
Collateral in Secured Party's possession, but shall have no other obligation to
protect the Collateral or its value. In particular, but without limitation,
Secured Party shall have no responsibility for: (a) any change in the market
value of the Collateral or for the collection or protection of any income and
proceeds from the Collateral; (b) ascertaining any maturities, calls,
conversions, exchanges, offers, tenders, or similar matters relating to any of
the Collateral; or (c) informing Grantor about any of the above, whether or not
Secured Party has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters. Secured Party
will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation
of any Collateral in its possession (even if it fails to sell or convert
Collateral which is falling in market value) if Secured Party treats such
Collateral in substantially the same way that Secured Party treats the
collateral of its other customers when dealing with similar types of collateral
under similar circumstances. The failure of Secured Party to preserve or protect
any rights with respect to any of the Collateral against other parties will not
be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care in the custody or preservation
of such Collateral.
11. DEFAULT. The term "Event of Default" has the meaning as set forth in
the Loan Agreement and thus the occurrence and continuance of any event of or
the existence of any condition which is specified as an Event of Default under
the Loan Agreement shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder.
12. REMEDIES. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event
of Default, Secured Party will have and may exercise any or all of its rights
and remedies as provided in the Loan Agreement and in the other Loan Documents,
at law or in equity, including any or all of its rights and remedies against any
Guarantor, and/or treat all of Grantor's property in Secured Party's possession
as part of the Collateral to secure payment of the Obligations, in addition to
exercising any one or more of the following rights and remedies:
(i) Declare all Obligations immediately due and payable, without
notice of any kind to Grantor.
(ii) Utilize any and all of its rights and pursue any and all of its
remedies under the UCC, under any other applicable law, at equity, or
pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with respect to the
Collateral.
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(iii) Register any securities included in the Collateral in Secured
Party's name and exercise any rights normally incident to the ownership of
securities.
(iv) Maintain a judicial suit for foreclosure and sale of the
Collateral.
(v) Effect transfer of title upon sale of all or part of the
Collateral. For this purpose, Grantor irrevocably appoints Secured Party as
its attorney-in-fact to execute endorsements, assignments and instruments
in the name of Grantor and each of them (if more than one) as shall be
necessary or reasonable.
All of Secured Party's rights and remedies, whether evidenced by this
Agreement, the Loan Agreement or other Loan Documents or by any other writing,
shall be cumulative and may be exercised singularly or concurrently. Election by
Secured Party to pursue any remedy shall not exclude pursuit of any other
remedy, and an election to make expenditures or to take action to perform an
obligation of Grantor under this Agreement, after Grantor's failure to perform,
shall not affect Secured Party's right to declare an Event of Default and to
exercise its remedies hereunder. Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of
sale shall be required by applicable law, ten (10) days notice shall constitute
commercially reasonable notification.
13. CERTIFICATE REGARDING COLLATERAL. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of an Event of Default, whenever Secured Party so requires, Grantor
will execute and deliver to Secured Party a certificate, in form and detail
satisfactory to Secured Party and signed by a knowledgeable officer of Grantor,
scheduling all material Collateral, as Secured Party may reasonably require,
together with such copies of invoices (with evidence of shipment attached), if
available, original purchase orders, service contracts, bills of lading,
original warehouse receipts or similar documents of title, pertaining to
Grantor's Accounts and Inventory as Secured Party may reasonably require.
14. INVESTMENT PROPERTY AS COLLATERAL. If any of the property which is
part of the Collateral is, from time to time, Investment Property:
14.1. Grantor agrees (a) to deliver immediately to the Secured Party
or the Secured Party's nominee all certificates evidencing any of the
Investment Property which may at any time come into the possession of
Grantor, (b) to execute and deliver to the Secured Party such financing
statements as the Secured Party may request with respect to the Investment
Property, and, additionally, however, Grantor hereby authorizes Secured
Party to file any such financing statements as Secured Party deems
necessary or appropriate in Secured Party's sole discretion without the
need for Grantor's signature or further approval as provided for in Section
8 hereof, (c) to take such other steps as the Secured Party may from time
to time reasonably request to perfect the Secured Party's security interest
in the Investment Property under applicable law, including, but not limited
to, (i) with respect to any portion of the Investment Property which may
constitute uncertificated securities, to obtain the agreement of issuer of
such securities to transfer or dispose of the securities only upon Secured
Party's instructions without Grantor's further consent and (ii) with
respect to any portion of the Investment Property which may constitute a
"security entitlement" (as defined in the UCC), to, in the Secured Party's
sole
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discretion, obtain an agreement of the "securities intermediary" (as
defined in the UCC) to transfer or dispose of such security entitlement
only upon Secured Party's instructions without the further consent of
Grantor.
14.2. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Secured Party may
transfer or register the Investment Property into its name or the name of
its nominee for so long as the Investment Property remains part of the
Collateral.
14.3. The issuer of any Investment Property which is part of the
Collateral is hereby granted the authority to make the transfer or
registration pursuant to Section 14.2 of this Agreement into Secured
Party's name or the name of Secured Party's nominee, without the consent of
or further instruction from the Grantor.
14.4. Secured Party has the sole right to vote any Investment
Property which is Collateral with regard to any proposed amendment to the
Charter Documents of the issuer of such Investment Property which could
reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the Secured Party.
Otherwise, Grantor has the sole right to vote such Investment Property
except upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
Default.
14.5. All income from the Investment Property is to be paid and
delivered to Grantor; provided, however, that any Investment Property
received by Grantor by reason of Grantor's ownership of the Investment
Property pledged hereunder are to be promptly delivered to Secured Party as
part of the Collateral, as provided above.
15. NO RELEASE OR IMPAIRMENT OF COLLATERAL. Secured Party's Security
Interest hereunder and Secured Party's rights in connection therewith will
continue unimpaired, except with respect to Permitted Security Interests,
notwithstanding that Secured Party takes, exchanges or releases the Collateral
or other security, releases any person primarily or secondarily liable for any
of the Obligations, grants or allows extensions, renewals, modifications,
rearrangements, restructures, replacements or refinancings thereof, whether or
not the same involve modifications to interest rates or other payment terms
thereof, or indulgences with respect to the Obligations. Secured Party may apply
to the Obligations in such order as Secured Party determines, any proceeds or
other amounts received on account of the Collateral pursuant hereto by the
exercise of any right permitted under this Agreement, regardless of whether
there is any other security for the Obligations. Grantor hereby waives all
requirements of presentment, protest, demand, and notice of dishonor or
non-payment to Grantor or any other party to the Obligations or the Collateral.
16. RELEASES. In the event all of the Obligations have been fully and
indefeasibly paid, all of the Commitments have been canceled or terminated, all
Letters of Credit have expired, and the Secured Party have no other commitment
to extend credit or make advances to or for the account of Grantor, and Secured
Party has received a written request from Grantor in connection therewith to
execute and deliver all applicable UCC termination statements and releases with
respect to the Collateral (collectively, the "Releases"), Secured Party will, at
Grantor's sole cost and expense (and Grantor will promptly reimburse Secured
Party for any
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reasonable fees and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable legal fees
and expenses, incurred in connection with the preparation, review, filing or
recording of any such releases or terminations) execute and deliver such
Releases to the person and address designated by Grantor in its notice within a
commercially reasonable time after Secured Party's receipt of such notice.
17. NO LIABILITY OF SECURED PARTY FOR CONTRACTS. Anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding: (i) Grantor shall remain liable under the contracts
and agreements included in the Collateral to the extent set forth therein to
perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if
this Agreement had not been executed; (ii) the exercise by Secured Party of any
of its rights hereunder shall not release Grantor from any of its duties or
obligations under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral; and
(iii) Neither Secured Party nor Lenders shall have any obligation or liability
under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral by reason of this
Agreement, or be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of
Grantor thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for
payment assigned hereunder.
18. FURTHER ASSURANCES. From time to time, Grantor shall execute and
deliver to Secured Party such additional documents and will provide such
additional information as Secured Party may reasonably require to carry out the
terms of this Agreement and be informed of Grantor's status and affairs.
19. CONTINUING AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be a continuing agreement
in every respect and shall remain in full force and effect until all of the
Obligations, both for principal and interest, have been fully paid and satisfied
all Commitments have been cancelled or terminated and all Letters of Credit have
expired.
20. MISCELLANEOUS.
20.1. NOTICES. All notices, consents, requests and demands to or upon
the respective parties hereto shall be in writing, and shall be deemed to
have been given or made when delivered to Grantor or Secured Party in
person or when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or, in
the case of overnight courier services, when delivered to the overnight
courier service, or in the case of telecopy notice, when sent, verification
received, and in the case of Grantor at the address on the signature page
hereto and in the case of Secured Party at the address as set forth on the
signature page of the Loan Agreement, or such other address as any party
may designate by notice to the other in accordance with the terms of this
Section. No notice given to or demand made on Grantor or Secured Party in
any instance shall entitle Grantor to notice or demand in any other
instance.
20.2. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. No amendment to this Agreement will be
effective unless it is in writing and signed by authorized officers of
Grantor and Secured Party. No waiver of full compliance with any provision
of this Agreement or consent to any departure by Grantor herefrom will be
effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized officer of
Secured Party; provided, however, that any such waiver or consent will be
effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for
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which given. No failure by Secured Party to exercise, and no delay by
Secured Party in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege
hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial
exercise by Secured Party of any right, remedy, power or privilege
hereunder preclude any other exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other
right, remedy, power or privilege.
ORAL AGREEMENTS OR COMMITMENTS TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT OR TO
FORBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT INCLUDING PROMISES TO EXTEND OR
RENEW SUCH DEBT ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE. TO PROTECT YOU (BORROWER(S)) AND US
(CREDITOR) FROM MISUNDERSTANDING OR DISAPPOINTMENT, ANY AGREEMENTS WE REACH
COVERING SUCH MATTERS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS WRITING, WHICH IS THE COMPLETE
AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US, EXCEPT AS WE MAY LATER
AGREE IN WRITING TO MODIFY IT.
20.3. RIGHTS CUMULATIVE. Each of the rights and remedies of Secured
Party under this Agreement is in addition to all of their other rights and
remedies under applicable law, and nothing in this Agreement may be
construed as limiting any such rights or remedies.
20.4. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement binds Grantor and its
successors and assigns and inures to the benefit of Secured Party, and each
of their successors, transferees, participants and assignees. Grantor may
not delegate or transfer any of its obligations under this Agreement
without the prior written consent of Secured Party. With respect to
Grantor's successors and assigns, such successors and assigns include any
receiver, trustee or debtor-in-possession of or for Grantor.
20.5. SEVERABILITY. Any provision of this Agreement which is
prohibited, unenforceable or not authorized in any jurisdiction is, as to
such jurisdiction, ineffective to the extent of such prohibition,
unenforceability or nonauthorization without invalidating the remaining
provisions hereof or affecting the validity, enforceability or legality of
such provision in any other jurisdiction unless the ineffectiveness of such
provision would result in such a material change as to cause completion of
the transactions contemplated hereby to be unreasonable.
20.6. GOVERNING LAW; NO THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. This Agreement is to be
governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the internal
Laws of the State of Illinois applicable to contracts made and to be
performed wholly within such state, without regard to choice or conflicts
of law principles; except that the provisions of this Agreement pertaining
to the creation or perfection of a security interest in or the enforcement
of rights in the Collateral which is located in a state other than the
State of Illinois shall governed by the by the laws of such other state.
This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and the
Lenders and their respective successors and assigns pursuant to the terms
of the Loan Agreement, and no other person has any right, benefit, priority
or interest under, or because of the existence of, this Agreement.
20.7. FINAL EXPRESSION; NO COURSE OF DEALING. This Agreement,
together with the Loan Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any other
Page 11 of 19
agreement executed in connection herewith or therewith, is intended by the
parties as a final expression of their agreement and is intended as a
complete and exclusive statement of the terms and conditions thereof.
Acceptance of or acquiescence in a course of performance or course of
dealing rendered or taken under or with respect to this Agreement, the Loan
Agreement or the other Loan Documents will not be relevant to determine the
meaning of this Agreement, the Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents
even though the accepting or acquiescing party had knowledge of the nature
of the performance and opportunity for objection.
20.8. NEGOTIATED TRANSACTION. Grantor and Secured Party each
represent to the other that in the negotiation and drafting of this
Agreement each has been represented by and has relied upon the advice of
counsel of its choice. Each of Grantor and Secured Party affirm that its
counsel has had a substantial role in the drafting and negotiation of this
Agreement; therefore, this Agreement will be deemed drafted by each of
Grantor and Secured Party, and the rule of construction to the effect that
any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafter will not be employed
in the interpretation of this Agreement.
20.9. SECURED PARTY EXPENSES AND ATTORNEYS' FEES. Grantor will
reimburse Secured Party for all expenses incurred by Secured Party in
connection with preparation, administration, amendment, modification and in
seeking to collect or enforce the Obligations and any other rights under
this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or under any other
instrument, document or agreement evidencing or executed in connection with
any of the Obligations, including reasonable attorneys' fees and actual
attorneys' expenses (whether or not there is litigation), court costs and
all costs in connection with any proceedings under the United States
Bankruptcy Code, and any expenses incurred on account of damage to any
property to which any of the Collateral may be affixed.
20.10. ASSIGNMENT BY SECURED PARTY. To the extent permitted in the
Loan Agreement, Secured Party may grant a participation interest in or
assign or transfer to another person any instrument, document or agreement
evidencing any of the Obligations and Secured Party's rights under this
Agreement, and may deliver all the property which is part of the Collateral
and in its possession to the participant, assignee or transferee or to any
person acting as agent for Secured Party.
20.11. PARAGRAPH HEADINGS. The titles to the paragraphs of this
Agreement are solely for the convenience of the parties and shall not be
used to explain, modify, simplify, or aid in the interpretation of the
provisions of this Agreement.
20.12. REINSTATEMENT. This Agreement and any and all Security
Interests created or evidenced hereby will continue to be effective or be
reinstated, as the case may be, as though such payments had not been made,
if at any time any amount received by Secured Party or Lenders in respect
of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned
by Secured Party or Lenders, including upon the insolvency,
Page 12 of 19
bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of Grantor or upon
the appointment of any intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar
official for, Grantor, any substantial part of its assets, or otherwise.
20.13. CHOICE OF FORUM. SUBJECT ONLY TO THE EXCEPTION IN THE NEXT
SENTENCE, GRANTOR AND SECURED PARTY HEREBY AGREE TO THE EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURT OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS AND
THE STATE COURTS OF ILLINOIS LOCATED IN XXXX COUNTY AND WAIVES ANY
OBJECTION BASED ON VENUE OR FORUM NON CONVENIENS WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION
INSTITUTED THEREIN, AND AGREES THAT ANY DISPUTE CONCERNING THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN SECURED PARTY AND GRANTOR OR THE CONDUCT OF ANY OF THEM IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE SHALL BE HEARD ONLY IN THE
COURTS DESCRIBED ABOVE. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING: (1) SECURED PARTY
SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST GRANTOR OR
ITS PROPERTY IN ANY COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION DEEMED NECESSARY OR
APPROPRIATE IN ORDER TO REALIZE ON THE COLLATERAL, OR OTHER SECURITY FOR
THE LOAN OBLIGATIONS, AND (2) GRANTOR AND SECURED PARTY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
ANY APPEALS FROM THE COURTS DESCRIBED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SENTENCE
MAY HAVE TO BE HEARD BY A COURT LOCATED OUTSIDE THOSE JURISDICTIONS.
20.14. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. GRANTOR AND SECURED PARTY HEREBY WAIVE
ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION
(1) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR (2) IN ANY
WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE GRANTOR
AND SECURED PARTY OR EITHER OF THEM IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO, IN EACH
CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN
CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE. GRANTOR AND SECURED PARTY AGREE AND CONSENT
THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY
COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT EITHER MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART
OR A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE
CONSENT OF THE GRANTOR OR SECURED PARTY TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY.
20.15. SERVICE OF PROCESS. GRANTOR HEREBY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF
ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT AND CONSENTS THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS
MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED MAIL (RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) DIRECTED TO
Page 13 of 19
GRANTOR AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH ON THE SIGNATURE PAGE HERETO, AND SERVICE
SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE COMPLETED FIVE (5) DAYS AFTER THE SAME SHALL
HAVE BEEN SO DEPOSITED IN THE U.S. MAILS; OR AT SECURED PARTY'S OPTION, BY
SERVICE UPON CT CORPORATION, WHICH GRANTOR IRREVOCABLY APPOINTS AS
GRANTOR'S SECURED PARTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACCEPTING SERVICE OF PROCESS
WITHIN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. SECURED PARTY SHALL PROMPTLY FORWARD BY
REGISTERED MAIL ANY PROCESS SO SERVED UPON SAID SECURED PARTY TO GRANTOR AT
ITS ADDRESS ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL
AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE SECURED PARTY TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY OTHER
MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.
(signature page to follow)
Page 14 of 19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the date
first above written.
GRANTOR
TALX CORPORATION,
a Missouri corporation
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Title: President
-----------------------------
WITH A NOTICE ADDRESS OF:
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xx. Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
AND COPY TO:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxx Xxxx LLP
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xx. Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Page 15 of 19
SCHEDULE A
(a) Additional Trade or Fictitious Names:
N/A
------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
(b) Taxpayer ID Number:
00-0000000
------------------------------------------------------
(c) Chief Executive and principal place of business at:
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xx. Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
------------------------------------------------------
(d) Additional places of business:
------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
Page 16 of 19
ADDENDUM A
SERIAL DATE OF REGIST.
TRADEMARKS NUMBER FILING NUMBER DATE REG.
---------- ------ ------ ------ ---------
THE WORK NUMBER E PAY ROLL SERVICES 76317066 20011217 pending pending
EPAYROLL POWERED BY THE WORK NUMBER 76316975 20010924 pending pending
W-2 EXPRESS 76316889 20010925 pending pending
ECHOICE 76055184 20000524 pending pending
ECHOICE 76055183 20000524 pending Pending
ACCUCAT 75177466 19961007 2105299 19971014
CUSTOMCAT 75177465 19961007 2101492 19970930
ACCUMARC 75177385 19961007 2101488 19970930
CUSTOMMARC 75177346 19961007 2105293 19971014
THE WORK NUMBER 75153137 19960820 2077613 19970708
SALESPARTNER 74658360 19950330 1957971 19960220
BOOKMAKER 74654743 19950330 1951564 19960123
THE WORK NUMBER FOR EVERYONE 74526003 19960116 1949636 19940513
EASYSCRIPT 74042897 19900323 1656695 19910910
TALX 74036154 19900307 1760587 19930323
SERIAL PATENT DATE
PATENTS NUMBER NUMBER TYPE ISSUED
------- ------ ------ ---- ------
HIGH SPEED MODEM AND METHOD HAVING
JITTER-FREE TIME RECOVERY [For recording a
data signal] 02875996 5,838,744 Utility 19971117
MULTI-FREQUENCY RECEIVER WITH
ARBITRARY CENTER FREQUENCIES 02482454 5,477,465 Utility 19951219
Page 17 of 19
EXHIBIT A
COLLATERAL DESCRIPTION FOR FINANCING STATEMENT
NAMING TALX CORPORATION, A MISSOURI CORPORATION, AS "GRANTOR"
AND LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION,
AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, AS "SECURED PARTY"
Grantor hereby grants a Security Interest to Secured Party in all personal
property and assets of Grantor, and all of Grantor's rights, title and interest
therein, in all cases whether now or hereafter owned or acquired by or consigned
to Grantor and wherever located, and whether held by Grantor or any other person
(including a securities intermediary) including, but not limited to, the
following:
(i) All Accounts, accounts receivable, Deposit Accounts, promissory
notes and other obligations owed to Grantor that arise from the sale,
rental or lease of Inventory, goods or other property of Grantor or the
rendering of services by Grantor, and all Chattel Paper, Instruments
(including Promissory Notes), Documents, drafts, contract rights and
acceptances, Health-Care-Insurance Receivables, Letter-of-Credit Rights and
other forms of obligations (including but not limited to all obligations
that may be characterized as General Intangibles or otherwise under the
UCC) respecting the rights of Grantor to the payment of money from others
and all other rights to the payment of money;
(ii) All Goods and Inventory, and all documents of title of at any
time evidencing or representing a part thereof, including all inventories
of raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, and merchandise,
materials and supplies and all other personal property and assets of every
kind and description held for sale, rental or lease or held to be furnished
under contracts for services or consumed in Grantor's business, or in any
case held, used or useable in the supply, servicing, advertising,
processing, packaging, delivery or shipping of such property;
(iii) All Equipment, machinery, tools furniture, and fixtures of
every sort and spare parts therefor, all storage media containing computer
programs and data, and all tools, dies, and molds, and all motor vehicles,
trailers, tractors, barges, and ships of every sort and spare parts and
accessories therefor, whether or not titled or certificated;
(iv) All General Intangibles, including Payment Intangibles, all
computer programs, data and databases, leases, licenses, claims and causes
of action against others (whether in litigation, settlement or otherwise),
and tax refunds, and all summaries, compilations, mailing and customer,
client or supplier lists, and other supporting evidence records relating to
the business, assets, liabilities or capital of Grantor, and all disks,
files, tapes, printouts, books, records, periodicals, directories,
publications and other documents and media where the foregoing is stored or
embodied, and all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark
applications, trade secrets, trade names, service marks, trade styles, and
copyrights, in each case whether or not registered,
Page 18 of 19
licensed or filed, including, but not limited to, any of the aforementioned
specifically listed on the Addendum A attached hereto;
(v) All rights under all licenses, permits, leases, contracts,
governmental approvals, franchises, applications for any of the foregoing,
renewals of any of the foregoing, and similar rights or privileges or
immunities;
(vi) (A) all dividends, cash, securities, instruments and other
property from time to time paid, payable or otherwise distributed to
Grantor in respect of or in exchange for any shares or other capital stock
or trust, partnership or limited liability company interests, all
Investment Property, Certificated Securities, Uncertificated Securities,
Security Entitlements, Securities Accounts, securities accounts, margin
accounts, financial assets, hedging contracts, options contracts, and
futures contracts; (B) any and all distributions made to Grantor in respect
of any such shares or capital stock, or trust, partnership or limited
liability company interests, whether in cash or in kind, by way of
dividends or stock splits, or pursuant to a merger or consolidation or
otherwise, or any substitute security issued to Grantor upon conversion,
reorganization or otherwise; and (C) any and all other property hereafter
delivered to Grantor or Secured Party in substitution for or in addition to
any of the foregoing (including without limitation all securities issued
pursuant to any shareholder agreement, stock purchase agreement,
partnership agreement, trust agreement or indenture, limited liability
company operating agreement, stock purchase rights or other agreement to
which Grantor may now or hereafter be a party, all certificates and
instruments representing or evidencing such property and all cash,
securities, interest, dividends, rights, and other property at any time and
from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect
of or in exchange for any or all thereof);
(vii) All of Grantor's property in the possession, custody or control
of Secured Party in any way, whether or not for safekeeping, custody,
pledge, transmission, collection or otherwise;
(viii) All funds paid to Secured Party or in transit to any deposit
account or fund established by Grantor, and any securities in which such
funds may be invested; and
(ix) All cash and non-cash proceeds and products of the foregoing,
all proceeds from insurance on any of the foregoing, all goodwill
associated with the foregoing, all additions and accessions to and
replacements and substitutions for any of the foregoing, everything that
becomes (or is held for the purpose of being) affixed to or installed in
any of the foregoing, and all products, rents, income, dividends,
royalties, and profits of or from any of the foregoing.
Page 19 of 19
ADDENDUM A
[To Exhibit A]
SERIAL DATE OF REGIST.
TRADEMARK NUMBER FILING NUMBER DATE REG.
--------- ------ ------ ------ ---------
THE WORK NUMBER E PAY ROLL SERVICES 76317066 20011217 pending pending
EPAYROLL POWERED BY THE WORK NUMBER 76316975 20010924 pending pending
W-2 EXPRESS 76316889 20010925 pending pending
ECHOICE 76055184 20000524 pending pending
ECHOICE 76055183 20000524 pending Pending
ACCUCAT 75177466 19961007 2105299 19971014
CUSTOMCAT 75177465 19961007 2101492 19970930
ACCUMARC 75177385 19961007 2101488 19970930
CUSTOMMARC 75177346 19961007 2105293 19971014
THE WORK NUMBER 75153137 19960820 2077613 19970708
SALESPARTNER 74658360 19950330 1957971 19960220
BOOKMAKER 74654743 19950330 1951564 19960123
THE WORK NUMBER FOR EVERYONE 74526003 19960116 1949636 19940513
EASYSCRIPT 74042897 19900323 1656695 19910910
TALX 74036154 19900307 1760587 19930323
SERIAL PATENT DATE
PATENTS NUMBER NUMBER TYPE ISSUED
------- ------ ------ ---- ------
HIGH SPEED MODEM AND METHOD HAVING
JITTER-FREE TIME RECOVERY [For recording
a data signal] 02875996 5,838,744 Utility 19971117
MULTI-FREQUENCY RECEIVER WITH
ARBITRARY CENTER FREQUENCIES 02482454 5,477,465 Utility 19951219
Page 20 of 19
