Exhibit 10.9
AMENDED AND RESTATED PARENT PLEDGE AGREEMENT
(FIBERNET OPERATIONS)
This AMENDED AND RESTATED PARENT PLEDGE AGREEMENT (as amended,
supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, this
"Pledge Agreement"), is entered into as of February 9, 2001, by FIBERNET TELECOM
GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation formerly known as FiberNet Holdco, Inc. (the
"Pledgor"), in favor of DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as administrative
agent (together with any successor(s) thereto in such capacity, the
"Administrative Agent") for each of the Secured Parties, and amends and restates
in its entirety that certain Pledge Agreement (as amended prior to the date
hereof, the "Original Parent Pledge Agreement"), dated as of August 7, 2000
between the Pledgor and the Administrative Agent.
RECITALS
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A. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of
February 9, 2001 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among Devnet L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company ("Devnet"), FiberNet Operations, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Pledged Subsidiary" and, together with Devnet, the
"Borrowers"), the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto as
lenders (each individually referred to herein as a "Lender" and, collectively,
as the "Lenders"), the Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx (XXX) Securities
Inc., as syndication agent for the Lenders, and First Union Investors, Inc., as
documentation agent for the Lenders, the Lenders have extended commitments to
make Loans and to issue Letters of Credit (each as defined in the Credit
Agreement) to, and for the benefit of, the Borrowers;
B. The Pledgor has duly authorized the execution, delivery and
performance of this Pledge Agreement; and
C. It is in the best interest of the Pledgor to execute this Pledge
Agreement as the Pledgor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefits
from the Loans made to the Borrowers, and the Letters of Credit issued for the
benefit of the Borrowers, from time to time pursuant to the Credit Agreement.
AGREEMENT
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NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and in order to induce the Lenders
to make the Loans and issue the Letters of Credit to or for the benefit of the
Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement and to induce the Secured Parties to
enter into any Interest Rate Agreements, the Pledgor agrees, for the benefit of
each Secured Party, as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Defined Terms.
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The following terms when used in this Pledge Agreement shall have the
following meanings:
"Administrative Agent" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
Preamble.
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"Capital Stock" means any and all shares, interests, participations or
other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any
and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person other than a corporation
(including partnership interests in a partnership, member interests in a limited
liability company and beneficial interests in a trust), and any and all
warrants, options and other rights to purchase any of the foregoing.
"Credit Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
Recitals.
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"Devnet" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
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"Distributions" means all stock dividends, liquidating dividends, shares of
stock resulting from (or in connection with the exercise of) stock splits,
reclassifications, warrants, options, non-cash dividends, mergers,
consolidations, and all other distributions (whether similar or dissimilar to
the foregoing) on or with respect to any Pledged Shares or other shares of
Capital Stock constituting Pledged Collateral, but shall not include Dividends
or repurchases of redeemable shares.
"Dividends" means cash dividends and cash distributions with respect to any
Pledged Shares or other Pledged Property which is not a liquidating dividend.
"Lender" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
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"Pledge Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
Preamble.
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"Pledged Collateral" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.1.
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"Pledged Note Issuer" means each Person identified in Item A of Attachment
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1 hereto as the issuer of the Pledged Note identified opposite the name of such
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Person.
"Pledged Notes" means all notes (including, without limitation, promissory
notes and notes evidencing indebtedness of (i) a Subsidiary of the Pledgor to
the Pledgor or any other Subsidiary of the Pledgor, or (ii) the Pledgor to any
of its Subsidiaries) of any Pledged Note Issuer which are required to be
delivered by the Pledgor to the Administrative Agent as Pledged Property
hereunder.
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"Pledged Property" means all Pledged Shares, all Pledged Notes, and all
other pledged shares of Capital Stock or promissory notes, all other securities,
all assignments of any amounts due or to become due, all other instruments which
are now being delivered by the Pledgor to the Administrative Agent or may from
time to time hereafter be delivered by the Pledgor to the Administrative Agent
for the purpose of pledge under this Pledge Agreement or any other Loan
Document, and all proceeds of any of the foregoing.
"Pledged Share Issuer" means each Person identified in Item B of Attachment
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1 hereto as the issuer of the Pledged Shares identified opposite the name of
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such Person.
"Pledged Shares" means all shares or interest of Capital Stock of any
Pledged Share Issuer which are required to be delivered by the Pledgor to the
Administrative Agent as Pledged Property hereunder.
"Pledged Subsidiary" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
Recitals.
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"Pledgor" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Preamble.
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"Securities Act" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
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6.2.
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"UCC" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.3.
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Section 1.2 Credit Agreement Definitions.
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Unless otherwise defined herein or unless the context otherwise requires,
terms used in this Pledge Agreement, including, without limitation, its preamble
and recitals, have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement. Nothing in
this Pledge Agreement shall be construed as limiting any of the rights and
remedies under the Credit Agreement, unless expressly set forth herein.
Section 1.3 UCC Definitions.
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Unless otherwise defined herein or in the Credit Agreement or unless the
context otherwise requires, terms for which meanings are provided in the Uniform
Commercial Code of the applicable jurisdiction ("UCC") are used in this Pledge
Agreement, including, without limitation, its preamble and recitals, with such
meanings.
ARTICLE II.
PLEDGE
Section 2.1 Grant of Security Interest.
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As security for the due and punctual payments in full in cash and
performance in full of all Obligations, the Pledgor hereby pledges,
hypothecates, assigns, charges, mortgages, delivers, and transfers to the
Administrative Agent for its benefit and the ratable benefit of each of the
Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent for its benefit
and the ratable
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benefit of each of the Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in all of
the following property (the "Pledged Collateral"):
(a) all promissory notes of each Pledged Note Issuer
identified in Item A of Attachment I hereto;
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(b) all issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of
each Pledged Share Issuer identified in Item B of Attachment 1
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hereto;
(c) all securities, notes, certificates and instruments
representing or evidencing the Pledged Property or the ownership
thereof and any interest of the Pledgor reflected in the books of
any financial intermediary pertaining to the Pledged Property or
of any Pledged Share Issuer thereof and all non-cash dividends,
cash, options, warrants, stock splits, reclassifications, rights,
instruments or other investment property 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 Property;
(d) all additional Capital Stock of any Pledged Share
Issuer from time to time held or acquired by the Pledgor in any
manner (which shares shall be deemed to be part of the Pledged
Property), and all securities, certificates and instruments
representing or evidencing such additional Capital Stock or the
ownership thereof and any interest of the Pledgor reflected in
the books of any financial intermediary pertaining to such
additional Capital Stock or of the Pledged Share Issuer thereof,
and all non-cash dividends, cash, options, warrants, rights,
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 such Capital Stock;
(e) all other Pledged Property, whether now or hereafter
delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with this
Pledge Agreement;
(f) all Dividends, Distributions, interest and other
payments;
(g) all other options, warrants and rights to subscribe for
or purchase voting or nonvoting Capital Stock of any Pledged
Share Issuer and any present or future notes, bonds, debentures
or other evidences of indebtedness owned by the Pledgor that (i)
are at any time convertible into Capital Stock of any Pledged
Share Issuer, or (ii) have or at any time would have voting
rights with respect to any Pledged Share Issuer;
(h) all voting rights in respect of the Pledged Property;
and
(i) all proceeds of any of the foregoing.
Section 2.2 Delivery of Pledged Property.
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All certificates or instruments representing or evidencing any Pledged
Collateral, including, without limitation, all Pledged Shares and all Pledged
Notes, shall be delivered to and held by or on behalf of and, in the case of the
Pledged Notes, endorsed to the order of the Administrative Agent or its designee
pursuant hereto, shall be in suitable form for transfer by delivery, and shall
be accompanied by all necessary instruments of transfer or assignment, duly
executed in blank.
Section 2.3 Continuing Security Interest; Transfer of Note.
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This Pledge Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the
Pledged Collateral and shall
(a) remain in full force and effect until payment in full
in cash of all Obligations,
(b) be binding upon the Pledgor and its successors,
transferees and assigns, and
(c) inure, together with the rights and remedies of the
Administrative Agent hereunder, to the benefit of the
Administrative Agent.
Without limiting the foregoing clause (c), any Lender may assign or otherwise
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transfer (in whole or in part) any Note, Loan or Commitment held by it to any
other Person or entity as permitted by, and in accordance with the terms of, the
Credit Agreement, and such other Person or entity shall thereupon become vested
with all the rights and benefits in respect thereof granted to such Lender under
any Loan Document (including, without limitation, this Pledge Agreement) or
otherwise.
Section 2.4 Security Interest Absolute.
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All rights of the Administrative Agent and the security interests granted
to the Administrative Agent hereunder, and all obligations of the Pledgor
hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:
(a) any lack of validity, legality or enforceability of the
Credit Agreement, any Note, or any other Loan Document or any
Interest Rate Agreement;
(b) the failure of any Secured Party or any holder of any
Note
(i) to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any
right or remedy against any Borrower, any other member of
the Borrower Group or any other Person (including any other
pledgor) under the provisions of the Credit Agreement, any
Note, any other Loan Document, any Interest Rate Agreement
or otherwise, or
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(ii) to exercise any right or remedy against any other
pledgor of, or collateral securing, any of the Obligations;
(c) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of,
or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any
other extension or renewal of any Obligation of any Borrower or
any other member of the Borrower Group;
(d) any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination of
any of the Obligations for any reason other than the written
agreement of the Secured Parties to terminate the Obligations in
full, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender,
alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to, and the
Pledgor hereby waives any right to or claim of, any defense or
setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by
reason of the invalidity, illegality, nongenuineness,
irregularity, compromise, unenforceability of, or any other event
or occurrence affecting, any Obligations of any Borrower, any
other member of the Borrower Group or otherwise;
(e) any amendment to, rescission, waiver, or other
modification of, or any consent to departure from, any of the
terms of the Credit Agreement, any Note, any other Loan Document
or any Interest Rate Agreement;
(f) any addition, exchange, release, surrender or non-
perfection of any collateral, or any amendment to or waiver or
release or addition of, or consent to departure from, any other
pledgor held by any Secured Party or any holder of any Note
securing any of the Obligations; or
(g) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute
a defense available to, or a legal or equitable discharge of, any
Borrower, any other member of the Borrower Group, any surety or
any pledgor.
Section 2.5 Postponement of Subrogation.
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The Pledgor agrees that it will not exercise any rights which it may
acquire by way of rights of subrogation under this Pledge, by any payment made
hereunder or otherwise, until the prior payment in full in cash of all of the
Obligations, the termination of all Interest Rate Agreements to which any
Secured Party is a party, the termination or expiration of all Letters of Credit
and the termination of all Commitments. Any amount paid to the Pledgor on
account of any such subrogation rights prior to the payment in full in cash of
all of the Obligations shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Secured
Parties and each holder of a Note and shall immediately be paid to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and each holder of a
Note and credited and applied against the Obligations of the Borrowers and each
other other member of the Borrower Group , whether matured or unmatured, such
order as the Administrative Agent shall elect; provided, however, that if
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(a) the Pledgor has made payment to the Secured Parties and
each holder of a Note of all or any part of the Obligations, and
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(b) all Obligations have been paid in full in cash, all
Interest Rate Agreements to which any Secured Party is a party
have been terminated, all Letters of Credit have expired or
terminated and all Commitments have been permanently terminated,
then, at the Pledgor's request, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the
Secured Parties and the holders of the Notes, will execute and deliver to the
Pledgor appropriate documents (without recourse and without representation or
warranty) necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to the Pledgor of an
interest in the Obligations resulting from such payment by the Pledgor. In
furtherance of the foregoing, for so long as any Obligations, Letters of Credit
or Commitments remain outstanding, the Pledgor shall refrain from taking any
action or commencing any proceeding against any Borrower or any other member of
the Borrower Group (or any of its or their successors or assigns, whether in
connection with a bankruptcy proceeding or otherwise) to recover any amounts in
respect of payments made under this Pledge to any Secured Party or any holder of
a Note, except that the Pledgor may file a proof of claim in a bankruptcy
proceeding with respect to any Borrower or any other member of the Borrower
Group in connection with any obligations owed by such member to the Pledgor in
the event that the Administrative Agent has failed to file a proof of claim on
the Pledgor's behalf by the second business day before the due date for such
filing.
ARTICLE III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Pledgor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent for the
benefit of the Administrative Agent as set forth in this Article.
Section 3.1 Ownership, No Liens, Etc.
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The Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of, and has good and
marketable title to (and has full right and authority to pledge and assign), the
Pledged Collateral, free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens.
Section 3.2 Valid Security Interest.
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The execution and delivery of this Pledge Agreement, together with the
delivery of all Pledged Shares and all Pledged Notes to the Administrative
Agent, is effective to create a valid, perfected, first priority security
interest in such Pledged Collateral, securing payment of the Obligations.
Possession by the Administrative Agent of the Pledged Shares and the proceeds
thereof is the only action necessary to perfect or protect such security
interest in the Pledged Shares and the proceeds thereof under the UCC, subject
to Section 9-306 of the UCC.
Section 3.3 As to Pledged Shares.
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The Pledged Shares are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid, and
non-assessable, and constitute all of the issued and outstanding shares of
Capital Stock of each Pledged Share Issuer, except as otherwise described on
Schedule 4.1.D to the Credit Agreement.
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Section 3.4 As to Pledged Notes.
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Each Pledged Note has been duly authorized, executed, endorsed, issued and
delivered, and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the issuer thereof,
and such issuer is not in default thereunder.
Section 3.5 Authorization, Approval, etc.
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No authorization, approval, or other action by, and no notice to or filing
with, any governmental authority, regulatory body or any other Person is
required either
(a) for the pledge by the Pledgor of any Pledged Collateral
pursuant to this Pledge Agreement or for the execution, delivery,
and performance of this Pledge Agreement by the Pledgor, or
(b) except as set forth in Schedule 3.5 hereto, for the
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exercise by the Administrative Agent of the voting or other
rights provided for in this Pledge Agreement.
Section 3.6 Application of Representations and Warranties.
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It is understood and agreed that the foregoing representations and
warranties shall apply only to the Pledged Collateral delivered on the date
hereof and that, with respect to Pledged Collateral delivered thereafter, the
Pledgor shall be required to make representations and warranties in form and
substance substantially similar to the foregoing in supplements hereto and that
such representations and warranties contained in such supplements hereto shall
be applicable to such Pledged Collateral hereafter delivered.
ARTICLE IV.
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Protect Pledged Collateral.
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The Pledgor will not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, or encumber in any
other manner the Pledged Collateral except in accordance with the Credit
Agreement. The Pledgor will warrant and defend the right and title herein
granted unto the Administrative Agent in and to the Pledged Collateral (and all
right, title, and interest represented by the Pledged Collateral) against the
claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever.
Section 4.2 Stock Powers, Etc.
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The Pledgor agrees that all Pledged Shares (and all other shares of Capital
Stock constituting Pledged Collateral) delivered by the Pledgor pursuant to this
Pledge Agreement will be accompanied by duly executed undated blank stock
powers, or other equivalent instruments of transfer acceptable to the
Administrative Agent. The Pledgor shall, from time to time upon the request of
the Administrative Agent, promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent such
stock powers, instruments, and similar documents, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the
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Administrative Agent, with respect to the Pledged Collateral as the
Administrative Agent may reasonably request and shall, from time to time upon
the request of the Administrative Agent after the occurrence, and during the
continuance, of any Event of Default, promptly transfer any Pledged Shares or
other shares of common stock constituting Pledged Collateral into the name of
any nominee designated by the Administrative Agent.
Section 4.3 Continuous Pledge.
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The Pledgor shall, at all times, keep pledged to the Administrative Agent
pursuant hereto all Pledged Shares and all other shares of Capital Stock
constituting Pledged Collateral, all Dividends and Distributions with respect
thereto, all Pledged Notes, all interest, principal and other proceeds received
by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Pledged Notes, and all other
Pledged Collateral and other securities, instruments, proceeds, and rights from
time to time received by or distributable to the Pledgor in respect of any
Pledged Collateral and will not permit any Pledged Share Issuer to issue any
Capital Stock which shall not have been immediately duly pledged hereunder on a
first priority perfected basis.
Section 4.4 Voting Rights, Dividends, Etc.
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(a) If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, promptly upon receipt of notice thereof by the
Pledgor, the Pledgor shall deliver (properly endorsed where
required hereby or requested by the Administrative Agent) to the
Administrative Agent, without any request therefor by the
Administrative Agent, all Dividends, all Distributions, all
interest, all principal, all other cash payments, and all
proceeds of the Pledged Collateral, all of which shall be held by
the Administrative Agent as additional Pledged Collateral for use
in accordance with Section 6.4.
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(b) If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, and the Administrative Agent shall have notified the
Pledgor of the Administrative Agent's intention to exercise its
right under this Section 4.4(b) to exercise (to the exclusion of
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the Pledgor) the voting power and all other incidental rights of
ownership with respect to any Pledged Shares or other shares of
Capital Stock constituting Pledged Collateral, the Pledgor shall
grant the Administrative Agent an irrevocable proxy, exercisable
under such circumstances, to vote the Pledged Shares and such
other Pledged Collateral and shall promptly deliver to the
Administrative Agent such additional proxies and other documents
as may be necessary to allow the Administrative Agent to
effectively exercise such voting power.
(c) All Dividends, Distributions, interest, principal, cash
payments, and proceeds which may at any time and from time to
time be held by the Pledgor but which the Pledgor is then
obligated to deliver to the Administrative Agent, shall, until
delivery to the Administrative Agent, be held by the Pledgor
separate and apart from its other property in trust for the
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent agrees that unless
any Event of Default shall have occurred
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and be continuing and the Administrative Agent shall have given
the notice referred to in Section 4.4(b), the Pledgor shall have
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the exclusive voting power with respect to any shares of Capital
Stock (including, without limitation, any of the Pledged Shares)
constituting Pledged Collateral and the Administrative Agent
shall, upon the written request of the Pledgor, promptly deliver
such proxies and other documents, if any, as shall be reasonably
requested by the Pledgor which are necessary to allow the Pledgor
to exercise voting power with respect to any such share of
Capital Stock (including, without limitation, any of the Pledged
Shares) constituting Pledged Collateral; provided, however, that
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no vote shall be cast, or consent, waiver, or ratification given,
or action taken by the Pledgor that would be inconsistent with or
violate any provision of any Loan Document.
Section 4.5 Additional Undertakings.
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The Pledgor shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent:
(a) enter into any agreement amending, supplementing, or
waiving any provision of any Pledged Note (including, without
limitation, any underlying instrument pursuant to which such
Pledged Note is issued) or compromising or releasing or extending
the time for payment of any obligation of the maker thereof;
(b) take or omit to take any action the taking or the
omission of which would result in any impairment or alteration of
any obligation of the maker of any Pledged Note or other
instrument constituting Pledged Collateral (unless permitted by
the Credit Agreement);
(c) take or omit to take any action which would result in
the Pledgor ceasing to own directly all of the Capital Stock of
the Pledged Subsidiary(ies); or
(d) take or omit to take any action which would result in
the creation, incorporation or formation of any direct or
indirect Subsidiary of the Pledgor which is not validly existing
as of the date hereof.
ARTICLE V.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Section 5.1 Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact.
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The Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent the
Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of the
Pledgor and in the name of the Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time in the
Administrative Agent's discretion, following the occurrence and during the
continuation of any Event of Default, to take any action and to execute any
instrument which the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or advisable to
accomplish the purposes of this Pledge Agreement, including, without limitation:
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(a) to ask, demand, collect, xxx for, recover, compromise,
receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to
become due under or in respect of any of the Pledged Collateral;
(b) to receive, endorse, and collect any drafts or other
instruments, documents and chattel paper, in connection with
clause (a) above;
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(c) to file any claims or take any action or institute any
proceedings which the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or
desirable for the collection of any of the Pledged Collateral or
otherwise to enforce the rights of the Administrative Agent with
respect to any of the Pledged Collateral; provided that, with
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respect to this clause (c), such rights shall be exercised in
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accordance with Section 6.1; and
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(d) to perform the affirmative Obligations of the Pledgor
hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
The Pledgor hereby acknowledges, consents and agrees that the power of
attorney granted pursuant to this Section is irrevocable and coupled with an
interest.
Section 5.2 Administrative Agent May Perform.
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The Administrative Agent may from time to time, at its option, perform or
cause to be performed any act which the Pledgor agrees hereunder to perform and
which the Pledgor fails to perform. In addition, the Administrative Agent may
from time to time take any other action which the Administrative Agent
reasonably deems necessary for the maintenance, preservation or protection of
any of the Pledged Collateral or of its security interest therein. Expenses
incurred by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall be
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payable by the Pledgor pursuant to Section 6.5.
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Section 5.3 Administrative Agent Has No Duty.
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The powers conferred on the Administrative Agent hereunder are solely to
protect its interest in the Pledged Collateral and shall not impose any duty on
it to exercise any such powers. Except for the reasonable care of any Pledged
Collateral (subject to Section 5.4) in its possession and the accounting for
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moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall have no
duty as to any Pledged Collateral or responsibility for (a) ascertaining or
taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders
or other matters relative to any Pledged Property, whether or not the
Administrative Agent has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or (b)
taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other
rights pertaining to any Pledged Collateral.
Section 5.4 Reasonable Care.
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The Administrative Agent is required to exercise reasonable care in the
custody and preservation of any of the Pledged Collateral in its possession;
provided, however, the
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Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the
custody and preservation of any of the Pledged Collateral if it takes such
action for that purpose as the Pledgor reasonably requests in writing at times
other than upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default, but failure of the Administrative Agent to comply with any such request
at any time shall not in itself be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care.
ARTICLE VI.
REMEDIES
Section 6.1 Certain Remedies.
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If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:
(a) The Administrative Agent may exercise in respect of the
Pledged Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies
provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights
and remedies of a secured party on default under the UCC (whether
or not the UCC applies to the affected Pledged Collateral) and
also may, without notice except as specified below, sell the
Pledged Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at
public or private sale, at any of the Administrative Agent's
offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery,
and upon such other terms as the Administrative Agent may deem
commercially reasonable. The Pledgor agrees that, to the extent
notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten days prior
notice to the Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale or
the time after which any private sale is to be made shall
constitute reasonable notification. The Administrative Agent
shall not be obligated to make any sale of Pledged Collateral
regardless of notice of sale having been given. The
Administrative Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from
time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed
therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at
the time and place to which it was so adjourned.
(b) The Administrative Agent may:
(i) transfer all or any part of the Pledged
Collateral into the name of the Administrative Agent or its
nominee for the benefit of the Secured Parties, with or
without disclosing that such Pledged Collateral is subject
to the lien and security interest granted hereunder,
(ii) notify the parties obligated on any of the
Pledged Collateral to make payment to the Administrative
Agent of any amount due or to become due thereunder,
(iii) enforce collection of any of the Pledged
Collateral by suit or otherwise, and surrender, release or
exchange all or any part thereof, or compromise or extend or
renew for any period (whether or not longer than
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the original period) any Obligations of any nature of any
party with respect thereto,
(iv) endorse any checks, drafts, or other writings in
the Pledgor's name to allow collection of the Pledged
Collateral,
(v) take control of any proceeds of the Pledged
Collateral, and
(vi) execute (in the name, place and stead of the
Pledgor) endorsements, assignments, stock powers and other
instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to all or
any of the Pledged Collateral.
All rights and remedies provided for in this Pledge Agreement are cumulative,
and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies. No failure or delay by the
Administrative Agent in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as
a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or
power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or
power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right or power.
Section 6.2 Securities Laws.
---------------
If the Administrative Agent shall determine to exercise its right to sell
all or any of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to Section 6.1, the Pledgor shall,
-----------
upon the request of the Administrative Agent, at the expense of the Pledgor:
(a) execute and deliver, and cause each issuer of the
Pledged Collateral contemplated to be sold and the directors and
officers thereof to execute and deliver, all such instruments and
documents, and do or cause to be done all such other acts and
things, as may be necessary to register such Pledged Collateral
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as from time
to time amended (the "Securities Act"), and to cause the
registration statement relating thereto to become effective and
to remain effective for such period as prospectuses are required
by law to be furnished, and to make all amendments and
supplements thereto and to the related prospectus which, in the
reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, are necessary or
advisable, all in conformity with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission applicable thereto;
(b) use its best efforts to qualify the Pledged Collateral
under the state securities or "Blue Sky" laws, and to obtain all
necessary governmental approvals for the sale of the Pledged
Collateral, as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent;
(c) cause each such issuer to make available to its
security holders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement
that will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act; and
13
(d) do or cause to be done all such other acts and things
as may be necessary to make such sale of the Pledged Collateral
or any part thereof valid and binding and in compliance with
applicable law.
Section 6.3 Compliance with Restrictions.
----------------------------
The Pledgor agrees that in any sale of any of the Pledged Collateral
whenever an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to comply with any limitation or
restriction in connection with such sale as it may be advised by counsel is
necessary in order to avoid any violation of applicable law (including, without
limitation, compliance with such procedures as may restrict the number of
prospective bidders and purchasers, require that prospective bidders and
purchasers have certain qualifications, and restrict prospective bidders and
purchasers to persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing for
their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or
resale of such Pledged Collateral), or in order to obtain any required approval
of the sale or of the purchaser by any governmental regulatory authority or
official, and the Pledgor further agrees that such compliance shall not result
in such sale being considered or deemed not to have been made in a commercially
reasonable manner, nor shall the Administrative Agent be liable or accountable
to the Pledgor for any discount allowed by reason of the fact that such Pledged
Collateral is sold in compliance with any such limitation or restriction.
Section 6.4 Application of Proceeds.
-----------------------
All cash proceeds received by the Administrative Agent in respect of any
sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, all or any part of the
Pledged Collateral in accordance with Section 6.1 hereof may, in the discretion
-----------
of the Administrative Agent, be held by the Administrative Agent as additional
Pledged Collateral security for, or then or at any time thereafter be applied
(after payment of any amounts payable to the Secured Parties pursuant to the
Loan Documents) in whole or in part by the Administrative Agent against all or
any of the Obligations in such order as the Administrative Agent shall elect.
The Pledgor shall remain liable for any deficiency. Any surplus of such cash or
cash proceeds held by the Administrative Agent and remaining after payment in
full in cash of all the Obligations, the termination of all Interest Rate
Agreements to which a Secured Party is a party, the termination or expiration of
all Letters of Credit and the termination of all Commitments shall be paid over
to the Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such
surplus.
Section 6.5 Indemnity and Expenses.
----------------------
The Pledgor shall upon demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount of
any and all reasonable expenses, including, without limitation, the reasonable
fees and disbursements of its outside counsel and of any experts and agents,
which the Administrative Agent may incur in connection with:
(a) the consideration of legal matters relevant to this
Pledge Agreement;
14
(b) the custody, preservation, use, or operation of, or the
sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, any of the
Pledged Collateral;
(c) the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of the
Administrative Agent hereunder; or
(d) the failure by the Pledgor to perform or observe any of
the provisions hereof.
The provisions of this Section 6.5 shall survive termination of this Pledge
-----------
Agreement.
ARTICLE VII.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 7.1 Additional Actions and Documents.
--------------------------------
The Pledgor agrees that at any time, and from time to time, at the expense
of the Pledgor, the Pledgor will promptly execute and deliver all further
instruments, and take all further action that the Administrative Agent may
reasonably request, in order to perfect and protect any security interest
granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable the Administrative Agent
to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any
Pledged Collateral.
Section 7.2 Expenses.
--------
The Pledgor agrees to reimburse and save the Administrative Agent harmless
against liability for the payment of all out-of-pocket expenses arising in
connection with the administration or enforcement of, or the preservation or
exercise of, any rights (including, without limitation, the right to collect and
dispose of the Pledged Collateral) under this Pledge Agreement, including,
without limitation, the reasonable fees and other charges of outside counsel to
the Administrative Agent arising in such connection, and all such fees and other
charges shall be deemed to be a part of the Obligations secured hereby.
Section 7.3 Notices.
-------
Any communications between the parties hereto or notices provided herein to
be given shall be sent in accordance with the provisions of, and to the
addresses set forth in, Section 9.8 of the Credit Agreement, and if to the
-----------
Pledgor, to the following address:
FiberNet Telecom Group, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
0/xx/ Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn.: President
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Section 7.4 Release and Satisfaction.
------------------------
15
Upon the indefeasible payment (whether in cash and/or other consideration
which is satisfactory to the Lenders in their sole discretion) and performance
in full of the Obligations, the termination of all Interest Rate Agreements to
which any Secured Party is a party, the termination or expiration of all Letters
of Credit and the termination of all Commitments (i) this Pledge Agreement and
the security interest created hereby shall terminate, and (ii) upon written
request of the Pledgor, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to
the Pledgor, at the Pledgor's expense and without representation or warranty by
or recourse to the Administrative Agent or the Secured Parties, all
certificates, representations or evidences of the Pledged Shares and all Pledged
Notes, together with all other Pledged Collateral held by the Administrative
Agent hereunder and such documents as the Pledgor shall reasonably request to
evidence such termination, and the Pledgor shall deliver to the Administrative
Agent a general release of all of the Administrative Agent's liabilities and
Obligations under all Loan Documents and an acknowledgment that the same have
been terminated.
Section 7.5 Benefit.
-------
This Pledge Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit
of, the parties hereto, the Secured Parties and their respective successors,
legal representatives and permitted assigns. The Pledgor shall not assign any
of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the
Required Lenders.
Section 7.6 Amendments and Waivers.
----------------------
No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of this
Pledge Agreement, or consent to any departure by the Administrative Agent
therefrom, shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by
the Administrative Agent and the Pledgor and shall comply with the provisions
set forth in Section 9.6 of the Credit Agreement. Each amendment, modification,
-----------
termination or waiver shall be effective only in the specific instance and for
the specific purpose for which it was given.
Section 7.7 Headings.
--------
Section and subsection headings contained in this Pledge Agreement are
inserted for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of
this Pledge Agreement for any purpose, and shall not in any way define or affect
the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.
Section 7.8 Applicable Law; Entire Agreement.
--------------------------------
This Pledge Agreement shall be governed by, and shall be construed and
enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, without
regard to conflicts of laws principles (other than Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of
the General Obligations Law of the State of New York), except to the extent that
the validity or perfection of the security interest hereunder, or exercise of
remedies hereunder, in respect of any particular Pledged Collateral are governed
by the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of New York. This Pledge
Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire understanding among
the parties hereto with respect
16
to the subject matter hereof and supersede any prior agreements, written or
oral, with respect thereto (including, subject to the following sentence, the
Original Parent Pledge Agreement). On and after the date hereof, each reference
in any document, instrument, record or account (other than the Original Parent
Pledge Agreement) entered into in connection with the Original Parent Pledge
Agreement to the "Parent Pledge Agreement" with respect to FiberNet shall be a
reference to and mean this Amended and Restated Parent Pledge Agreement.
Section 7.9 Severability.
------------
The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability in any jurisdiction of any
provision in or obligation under this Pledge Agreement shall not affect or
impair the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or
obligations under this Pledge Agreement or of such provision or obligation in
any other jurisdiction.
Section 7.10 Consent to Jurisdiction.
-----------------------
The Pledgor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and
its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State
of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court
of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court in respect
thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Pledge
Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such
action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court
or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. The Pledgor agrees
that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by law. Nothing in this Section 7.10 shall affect any right
------------
that the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party may otherwise have to bring
any action or proceeding relating to this Pledge Agreement against the Pledgor
or any of its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction. The Pledgor hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and
effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Pledge Agreement in any court referred to in this Section 7.10. The
------------
Pledgor irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense
of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any
such court. The Pledgor irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner
provided for notices in Section 7.3. Nothing in this Pledge Agreement will
-----------
affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner
permitted by law.
Section 7.11 Construction.
------------
The Pledgor and the Administrative Agent each acknowledges that it has had
the benefit of legal counsel of its own choice and has been afforded an
opportunity to review this Pledge Agreement with its legal counsel and that this
Pledge Agreement shall be construed as if jointly drafted by the Pledgor and the
Administrative Agent.
17
Section 7.12 Waiver of Jury Trial.
--------------------
THE PLEDGOR HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE
LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER
THEORY).
Section 7.13 Survival.
--------
All agreements, covenants, representations and warranties made herein shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Pledge Agreement. Notwithstanding
anything in this Pledge Agreement or implied by law to the contrary, the
agreements set forth in Sections 6.5 and 7.2 shall survive the payment of the
------------ ---
Obligations and the termination of this Pledge Agreement.
Section 7.14 Counterparts; Effectiveness.
---------------------------
This Pledge Agreement and any amendments, waivers, consents, or supplements
may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be
deemed an original, but all of which counterparts together shall constitute but
one and the same instrument. This Pledge Agreement shall become effective upon
the execution of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto. Delivery
of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Pledge Agreement or to
any amendments, waivers, consents or supplements hereof by telecopier shall be
as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Pledge Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized as of the day and year first above written.
FIBERNET TELECOM GROUP, INC.,
as the Pledgor
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK
BRANCH, as Administrative Agent
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Title: Director
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President
Attachment 1
to the Subsidiary Pledge Agreement
Item A. Pledged Notes
-------------
Pledged Note Issuer Description of Pledged Notes
----------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
None Not applicable
Item B. Pledged Shares
--------------
Pledged Share Issuer Description of Pledged Shares
----------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
% of
Outstanding
Shares
Pledged
-----------------------------------------------------
FIBERNET OPERATIONS, INC. Certificated Securities for 100 Shares 100%
of Common Stock representing
100% of the outstanding Common Stock of
FiberNet Operations, Inc.
SCHEDULE 3.5
GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS
---------------------
None.