EXHIBIT 10.2
SECURITY AGREEMENT dated as of April 7, 1998, among XXXXXX
RESPIRATORY CARE INC., a California corporation (the "Borrower"),
each subsidiary of the Borrower listed on Schedule I hereto (each
such subsidiary individually a "Subsidiary Guarantor" and
collectively, the "Subsidiary Guarantors"; the Subsidiary
Guarantors and the Borrower are referred to collectively herein
as the "Grantors") and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, a New York banking
corporation ("BTCo."), as collateral agent (in such capacity, the
"Collateral Agent") for the Secured Parties (as defined herein).
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of April 7, 1998 (as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"), among the Borrower, Holding, the lenders from time to time party
thereto (the "Lenders"), BTCo., as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent") and Collateral Agent and as issuing bank
(in such capacity, the "Issuing Bank").
The Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower, and the Issuing Bank
has agreed to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower, pursuant
to, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions specified in, the Credit
Agreement. Each of Holding and the Subsidiary Guarantors has agreed to
guarantee, among other things, all the obligations of the Borrower under the
Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the
Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit are conditioned upon, among other
things, the execution and delivery by the Grantors of an agreement in the form
hereof to secure (a) the due and punctual payment by the Borrower of (i) the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest (including interest accruing
during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar
proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on
the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or
more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be
made by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter of
Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of
disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral and
(iii) all other monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and
indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
(including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether
allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Borrower to the Secured Parties
under the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (b) the due and
punctual performance of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities
of the Borrower under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Credit
Documents, (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the
covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of each Credit Party under or
pursuant to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and (d) the due and
punctual payment and performance of all obligations of the Borrower under each
Interest Rate Protection Agreement entered into with any counterparty that was a
Lender at the time such Interest Rate Protection Agreement was entered into (all
the monetary and other obligations described in the preceding clauses (a)
through (d) being collectively called the "Obligations").
Accordingly, the Grantors and the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and
each Secured Party (and each of their respective successors or assigns), hereby
agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Definition of Terms Used Herein. Unless the context
otherwise requires, all capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have
the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 1.02. Definition of Certain Terms Used Herein. As used herein,
the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Account Debtor" shall mean any person who is or who may become obligated
to any Grantor under, with respect to or on account of an Account.
"Accounts" shall mean any and all right, title and interest of any Grantor
to payment for goods and services sold or leased, including any such right
evidenced by chattel paper, whether due or to become due, whether or not it has
been earned by performance, and whether now or hereafter acquired or arising in
the future, including accounts receivable from Affiliates of the Grantors.
"Accounts Receivable" shall mean all Accounts and all right, title and
interest in any returned goods, together with all rights, titles, securities and
guarantees with respect thereto, including any rights to stoppage in transit,
replevin, reclamation and resales, and all related security interests, liens and
pledges, whether voluntary or involuntary, in each case whether now existing or
owned or hereafter arising or acquired.
"Collateral" shall mean all (a) Accounts Receivable, (b) Documents, (c)
Equipment, (d) General Intangibles, (e) Inventory, (f) cash and cash accounts,
(g) Proceeds and (h) Investment Property.
"Commodity Account" shall mean an account maintained by a Commodity
Intermediary in which a Commodity Contract is carried out for a Commodity
Customer.
"Commodity Contract" shall mean a commodity futures contract, an option on
a commodity futures contract, a commodity option or any other contract that, in
each case, is (a) traded on or subject to the rules of a board of trade that has
been designated as a contract market for such a contract pursuant to the federal
commodities laws or (b) traded on a foreign commodity board of trade, exchange
or market, and is carried on the books of a Commodity Intermediary for a
Commodity Customer.
"Commodity Customer" shall mean a person for whom a Commodity Intermediary
carries a Commodity Contract on its books.
"Commodity Intermediary" shall mean (a) a person who is registered as a
futures commission merchant under the federal commodities laws or (b) a person
who in the ordinary course of its business provides clearance or settlement
services for a board of trade that has been designated as a contract market
pursuant to federal commodities laws.
"Copyright License" shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in
effect, granting any right to any third party under any Copyright now or
hereafter owned
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by any Grantor or which such Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or
granting any right to such Grantor under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by
any third party, and all rights of such Grantor under any such agreement.
"Copyrights" shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter
acquired by any Grantor: (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the
copyright laws of the United States or any other country, whether as author,
assignee, transferee or otherwise, and (b) all registrations and applications
for registration of any such copyright in the United States or any other
country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and
pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office,
including those listed on Schedule II.
"Credit Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
preliminary statement of this Agreement.
"Documents" shall mean all instruments, files, records, ledger sheets and
documents covering or relating to any of the Collateral.
"Entitlement Holder" shall mean a person identified in the records of a
Securities Intermediary as the person having a Security Entitlement against the
Securities Intermediary. If a person acquires a Security Entitlement by virtue
of Section 8-501(b)(2) or (3) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, such
person is the Entitlement Holder.
"Equipment" shall mean all equipment, furniture and furnishings, and all
tangible personal property similar to any of the foregoing, including tools,
parts and supplies of every kind and description, and all improvements,
accessions or appurtenances thereto, that are now or hereafter owned by any
Grantor. The term Equipment shall include Fixtures.
"Financial Asset" shall mean (a) a Security, (b) an obligation of a person
or a share, participation or other interest in a person or in property or an
enterprise of a person, which is, or is of a type, dealt with in or traded on
financial markets, or which is recognized in any area in which it is issued or
dealt in as a medium for investment or (c) any property that is held by a
Securities Intermediary for another person in a Securities Account if the
Securities Intermediary has expressly agreed with the other person that the
property is to be treated as a Financial Asset under Article 8 of the Uniform
Commercial Code. As the context requires, the term "Financial Asset" shall mean
either the interest itself or the means by which a person's claim to it is
evidenced, including a certificated or uncertificated Security, a certificate
representing a Security or a Security Entitlement.
"Fixtures" shall mean all items of Equipment, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, of any Grantor that become so related to particular real
estate that an interest in them arises under any real estate law applicable
thereto.
"General Intangibles" shall mean all choses in action and causes of action
and all other assignable intangible personal property of any Grantor of every
kind and nature (other than Accounts Receivable) now owned or hereafter acquired
by any Grantor, including corporate or other business records, indemnification
claims, contract rights (including rights under leases, whether entered into as
lessor or lessee, Interest Rate Protection Agreements and other agreements),
Intellectual Property, goodwill,
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registrations, franchises, tax refund claims and any letter of credit,
guarantee, claim, security interest or other security held by or granted to any
Grantor to secure payment by an Account Debtor of any of the Accounts
Receivable.
"Intellectual Property" shall mean all intellectual and similar property of
any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any
Grantor, including inventions, designs, Patents, Copyrights, Licenses,
Trademarks, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary technical and business
information, know-how, show-how or other data or information, software and
databases and all embodiments or fixations thereof and related documentation,
registrations and franchises, and all additions, improvements and accessions to,
and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the
foregoing.
"Inventory" shall mean all goods of any Grantor, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, held for sale or lease, or furnished or to be furnished by
any Grantor under contracts of service, or consumed in any Grantor's business,
including raw materials, intermediates, work in process, packaging materials,
finished goods, semi-finished inventory, scrap inventory, manufacturing supplies
and spare parts, and all such goods that have been returned to or repossessed by
or on behalf of any Grantor.
"Investment Property" shall mean all Securities (whether certificated or
uncertificated), Security Entitlements, Securities Accounts, Commodity Contracts
and Commodity Accounts of any Grantor, whether now owned or hereafter acquired
by any Grantor.
"License" shall mean any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright
License or other license or sublicense to which any Grantor is a party,
including those listed on Schedule III (other than those license agreements in
existence on the date hereof and listed on Schedule III and those license
agreements entered into after the date hereof, which by their terms prohibit
assignment or a grant of a security interest by such Grantor as licensee
thereunder).
"Obligations" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
preliminary statement of this Agreement.
"Patent License" shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in
effect, granting to any third party any right to make, use or sell any invention
on which a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or which any Grantor
otherwise has the right to license, is in existence, or granting to any Grantor
any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent, now or hereafter
owned by any third party, is in existence, and all rights of any Grantor under
any such agreement.
"Patents" shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired
by any Grantor: (a) all letters patent of the United States or any other
country, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for
letters patent of the United States or any other country, including
registrations, recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent
and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any other country, including
those listed on Schedule IV, and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisions,
continuations-in-part, renewals or extensions thereof, and the inventions
disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, use and/or sell the
inventions disclosed or claimed therein.
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"Perfection Certificate" shall mean a certificate substantially in the form
of Annex 1 hereto, completed and supplemented with the schedules and attachments
contemplated thereby, and duly executed by a Financial Officer and the chief
legal officer of the Borrower.
"Proceeds" shall mean any consideration received from the sale, exchange,
license, lease or other disposition of any asset or property that constitutes
Collateral, any value received as a consequence of the possession of any
Collateral and any payment received from any insurer or other person or entity
as a result of the destruction, loss, theft, damage or other involuntary
conversion of whatever nature of any asset or property which constitutes
Collateral, and shall include (a) any claim of any Grantor against any third
party for (and the right to xxx and recover for and the rights to damages or
profits due or accrued arising out of or in connection with) (i) past, present
or future infringement of any Patent now or hereafter owned by any Grantor, or
licensed under a Patent License, (ii) past, present or future infringement or
dilution of any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or licensed
under a Trademark License or injury to the goodwill associated with or
symbolized by any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any Grantor, (iii) past,
present or future breach of any License and (iv) past, present or future
infringement of any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or licensed
under a Copyright License and (b) any and all other amounts from time to time
paid or payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral.
"Secured Parties" shall mean (a) the Lenders, (b) the Administrative Agent,
(c) the Collateral Agent, (d) the Issuing Bank, (e) each counterparty to an
Interest Rate Protection Agreement entered into with the Borrower if such
counterparty was a Lender at the time the Interest Rate Protection Agreement was
entered into, (f) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation
undertaken by any Grantor under any Credit Document and (g) the successors and
assigns of each of the foregoing.
"Securities" shall mean any obligations of an issuer or any shares,
participations or other interests in an issuer or in property or an enterprise
of an issuer which (a) are represented by a certificate representing a security
in bearer or registered form, or the transfer of which may be registered upon
books maintained for that purpose by or on behalf of the issuer, (b) are one of
a class or series or by its terms is divisible into a class or series of shares,
participations, interests or obligations and (c)(i) are, or are of a type, dealt
with or trade on securities exchanges or securities markets or (ii) are a medium
for investment and by their terms expressly provide that they are a security
governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
"Securities Account" shall mean an account to which a Financial Asset is
or may be credited in accordance with an agreement under which the person
maintaining the account undertakes to treat the person for whom the account is
maintained as entitled to exercise rights that comprise the Financial Asset.
"Security Interest" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.01.
"Security Entitlements" shall mean the rights and property interests of an
Entitlement Holder with respect to a Financial Asset.
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"Security Intermediary" shall mean (a) a clearing corporation or (b) a
person, including a bank or broker, that in the ordinary course of its business
maintains securities accounts for others and is acting in that capacity.
"Trademark License" shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in
effect, granting to any third party any right to use any Trademark now or
hereafter owned by any Grantor or which any Grantor otherwise has the right to
license, or granting to any Grantor any right to use any Trademark now or
hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any Grantor under any such
agreement.
"Trademarks" shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter
acquired by any Grantor: (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names,
corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade
styles, trade dress, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and
general intangibles of like nature, now existing or hereafter adopted or
acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all registration and
recording applications filed in connection therewith, including registrations
and registration applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office,
any State of the United States or any similar offices in any other country or
any political subdivision thereof, and all extensions or renewals thereof,
including those listed on Schedule V, (b) all goodwill associated therewith or
symbolized thereby and (c) all other assets, rights and interests that uniquely
reflect or embody such goodwill.
SECTION 1.03. Rules of Interpretation. The rules of interpretation
specified in Section 1.02 of the Credit Agreement shall be applicable to this
Agreement.
ARTICLE II
Security Interest
SECTION 2.01. Security Interest. As security for the payment or
performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby
mortgages, pledges, hypothecates and transfers as security for the Obligations
as contemplated hereunder to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns,
for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the
Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the
Secured Parties, a security interest in, all of such Grantor's right, title and
interest in, to and under the Collateral (the "Security Interest"); provided,
however, that no mortgage, pledge, hypothecation or security interest shall be
created or granted hereunder if such creation or grant would constitute a
violation of a valid and enforceable restriction on such creation or grant,
unless and until any required consents shall have been obtained. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to file one or
more financing statements (including fixture filings), continuation state
ments, filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United
States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any
other country) or other documents for the purpose of perfecting, confirming,
continuing, enforcing or protecting the Security Interest granted by each
Grantor, without the signature of any Grantor, and naming any Grantor or the
Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as secured party.
SECTION 2.02. No Assumption of Liability. The Security Interest is
granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other
Secured Party to, or
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in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with
respect to or arising out of the Collateral.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
The Grantors severally represent and warrant to the Collateral Agent and
the Secured Parties that:
SECTION 3.01. Title and Authority. Each Grantor has good and valid
rights in and title to the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to
grant a Security Interest hereunder and has full power and authority to grant to
the Collateral Agent the Security Interest in such Collateral pursuant hereto
and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other person other
than any consent or approval which has been obtained.
SECTION 3.02. Filings. The Perfection Certificate has been duly
prepared, completed and executed and the information set forth therein is
correct and complete in all material respects. Fully executed Uniform Commercial
Code financing statements (including fixture filings, as applicable) or other
appropriate filings, recordings or registrations containing a description of the
Collateral have been delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing in each
governmental, municipal or other office specified in Schedule 6 to the
Perfection Certificate, which are all the filings, recordings and registrations
(other than filings required to be made in the United States Patent and
Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office in order to perfect the
Security Interest in Collateral consisting of United States Patents, Trademarks
and Copyrights) that are necessary to publish notice of and protect the validity
of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of
the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect
of all Collateral in which the Security Interest may be perfected by filing,
recording or registration in the United States (or any political subdivision
thereof) and its territories and possessions, and no further or subsequent
filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is
necessary in any such jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable law with
respect to the filing of continuation statements.
SECTION 3.03. Validity of Security Interest. The Security Interest
constitutes (a) a legal and valid security interest in all the Collateral
securing the payment and performance of the Obligations, (b) subject to the
filings described in Section 3.02, a perfected security interest in all
Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or
registering a financing statement or analogous document in the United States (or
any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant
to the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law in such jurisdictions and
(c) a security interest that shall be perfected in all Collateral in which a
security interest may be perfected upon the receipt and recording of this
Agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United
States Copyright Office, as applicable, within the three month period
(commencing as of the date hereof) pursuant to 35 U.S.C. (S) 261 or 15 U.S.C.
(S) 1060 or the one month period (commencing as of the date hereof) pursuant to
17 U.S.C. (S) 205 and otherwise as may be required pursuant to the laws of any
other necessary jurisdiction. The Security Interest is and shall be prior to
any
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other Lien on any of the Collateral, other than Liens expressly permitted to
be prior to the Security Interest pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit
Agreement.
SECTION 3.04 Absence of Other Liens. The Collateral is owned by the
Grantors free and clear of any Lien, except for Liens expressly permitted
pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement. The Grantor has not filed or
consented to the filing of (a) any financing statement or analogous document
under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable laws covering any
Collateral, (b) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or
any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Collateral with the
United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office
or (c) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or any
security agreement or similar instrument covering any Collateral with any
foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or
analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is
still in effect, except, in each case, for Liens expressly permitted pursuant to
Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
Covenants
SECTION 4.01 Change of Name; Location of Collateral; Records; Place of
Business. (a) Each Grantor agrees promptly to notify the Collateral Agent in
writing of any change (i) in its corporate name or in any trade name used to
identify it in the conduct of its business or in the ownership of its
properties, (ii) in the location of its chief executive office, its principal
place of business, any office in which it maintains books or records relating to
Collateral owned by it or any office or facility at which Collateral owned by it
is located (including the establishment of any such new office or facility)
other than (A) with respect to goods in transit between facilities, whether in
vehicles owned by the applicable Grantor or on common carriers and (B) in the
case of temporary warehousing which will last for no longer than one month,
(iii) in its identity or corporate structure or (iv) in its Federal Taxpayer
Identification Number. Each Grantor agrees not to effect or permit any change
referred to in the preceding sentence unless all filings have been made under
the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required in order for the
Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid,
legal and perfected first priority security interest in all the Collateral.
Each Grantor agrees promptly to notify the Collateral Agent if any material
portion of the Collateral owned or held by such Grantor is damaged or destroyed.
(b) Each Grantor agrees to maintain, at its own cost and expense, such
complete and accurate records with respect to the Collateral owned by it as is
consistent with its current practices and in accordance with such prudent and
standard practices used in industries that are the same as or similar to those
in which such Grantor is engaged, but in any event to include complete
accounting records indicating all payments and proceeds received with respect to
any part of the Collateral, and, at such time or times as the Collateral Agent
may reasonably request, promptly to prepare and deliver to the Collateral Agent
a duly certified schedule or schedules in form and detail satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent showing the identity, amount and location of any and all
Collateral.
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SECTION 4.02 Periodic Certification. Each year, at the time of delivery
of annual financial statements with respect to the preceding fiscal year
pursuant to Section 5.04 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower shall deliver to
the Collateral Agent a certificate executed by a Financial Officer of the
Borrower (a) setting forth the information required pursuant to Section 2 of the
Perfection Certificate or confirming that there has been no change in such
information since the date of such certificate or the date of the most recent
certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.02 and (b) certifying that all
Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (including fixture filings, as
applicable) or other appropriate filings, recordings or registrations, including
all refilings, rerecordings and reregistrations, containing a description of the
Collateral have been filed of record in each governmental, municipal or other
appropriate office in each jurisdiction identified pursuant to clause (a) to the
extent necessary to protect and perfect the Security Interest for a period of
not less than 18 months after the date of such certificate (except as noted
therein with respect to any continuation statements to be filed within such
period). Each certificate delivered pursuant to this Section 4.02 shall
identify in the format of Schedule II, III, IV or V, as applicable, all Patents,
Trademarks, Copyrights and Licenses of any Grantor in existence on the date
thereof and not then listed on such Schedules or previously so identified to the
Collateral Agent.
SECTION 4.03 Protection of Security. Each Grantor shall, at its own cost
and expense, take any and all actions necessary to defend title to the
Collateral against all persons and to defend the Security Interest of the
Collateral Agent in the Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not
expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 4.04 Further Assurances. Each Grantor agrees, at its own
expense, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such
further instruments and documents and take all such actions as the Collateral
Agent may from time to time reasonably request to better assure, preserve,
protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and remedies created
hereby, including the payment of any fees and taxes required in connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the granting of the Security
Interest and the filing of any financing statements (including fixture filings)
or other documents in connection herewith or therewith. If any amount payable
under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced
by any promissory note or other instrument, such note or instrument shall be
promptly pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent, duly endorsed in a
manner satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby
authorizes the Collateral Agent, with prompt notice thereof to the Grantors, to
supplement this Agreement by supplementing Schedule II, III, IV or V hereto or
adding additional schedules hereto to specifically identify any asset or item
that may constitute Copyrights, Licenses, Patents or Trademarks; provided,
however, that any Grantor shall have the right, exercisable within 10 days after
it has been notified by the Collateral Agent of the specific identification of
such Collateral, to advise the Collateral Agent in writing of any inaccuracy of
the representations and warranties made by such Grantor hereunder with respect
to such Collateral. Each Grantor agrees that it will use its best efforts to
take such action as shall be necessary in order that all representations and
warranties hereunder shall be true and correct with respect to such Collateral
within 30 days after the date it has been notified by the Collateral Agent of
the specific identification of such Collateral.
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SECTION 4.05 Inspection and Verification. The Collateral Agent and such
persons as the Collateral Agent may reasonably designate shall have the right,
subject to compliance with Section 5.07 of the Credit Agreement, to inspect the
Collateral, all records related thereto (and to make extracts and copies from
such records) and the premises upon which any of the Collateral is located, to
discuss the Grantors' affairs with the officers of the Grantors and their
independent accountants and to verify under reasonable procedures the validity,
amount, quality, quantity, value, condition and status of, or any other matter
relating to, the Collateral, including, in the case of Accounts or Collateral in
the possession of any third person, by contacting Account Debtors or the third
person possessing such Collateral for the purpose of making such a verification;
provided, however, that the Collateral Agent shall give the applicable Grantor
reasonable notice of proposed discussions with such Grantor's accountants and
representatives of such Grantor shall be entitled to participate in such
discussions. The Collateral Agent shall have the absolute right to share any
information it gains from such inspection or verification with any Secured Party
(it being understood that any such information shall be deemed to be
"Information" subject to the provisions of Section 9.16 of the Credit
Agreement).
SECTION 4.06 Taxes; Encumbrances. At its option and after notice to the
applicable Grantor, the Collateral Agent may discharge past due taxes,
assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances at
any time levied or placed on the Collateral and not permitted pursuant to
Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement, and may pay for the maintenance and
preservation of the Collateral to the extent any Grantor fails to do so as
required by the Credit Agreement or this Agreement, and each Grantor jointly and
severally agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent on demand for any payment
made or any expense incurred by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the foregoing
authorization; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 4.06 shall be
interpreted as excusing any Grantor from the performance of, or imposing any
obligation on the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to cure or perform, any
covenants or other promises of any Grantor with respect to taxes, assessments,
charges, fees, liens, security interests or other encumbrances and maintenance
as set forth herein or in the other Credit Documents.
SECTION 4.07 Assignment of Security Interest. If at any time any Grantor
shall take a security interest in any property of an Account Debtor or any other
person to secure payment and performance of an Account, such Grantor shall
promptly assign such security interest to the Collateral Agent. Such assignment
need not be filed of public record unless necessary to continue the perfected
status of the security interest against creditors of and transferees from the
Account Debtor or other person granting the security interest.
SECTION 4.08 Continuing Obligations of the Grantors. Each Grantor shall
remain liable to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be
observed and performed by it under each contract, agreement or instrument
relating to the Collateral, all in accordance with the terms and conditions
thereof, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties from and against any and
all liability for such performance.
SECTION 4.09 Limitation on Possession of Inventory by Bailee. Each
Grantor agrees that it shall not permit any Inventory to be in the possession or
control of any warehouseman, bailee, agent or processor at any time unless such
warehouseman, bailee, agent or processor shall have been notified of the
Security Interest and shall have agreed
11
in writing to hold the Inventory subject to the Security Interest and the
instructions of the Collateral Agent and to waive and release any Lien held by
it with respect to such Inventory, whether arising by operation of law or
otherwise.
SECTION 4.10 Limitation on Modification of Accounts. None of the
Grantors will, without the Collateral Agent's prior written consent, grant any
extension of the time of payment of any of the Accounts Receivable, compromise,
compound or settle the same for less than the full amount thereof, release,
wholly or partly, any person liable for the payment thereof or allow any credit
or discount whatsoever thereon, other than extensions, credits, discounts,
compromises or settlements granted or made in the ordinary course of business
and in accordance with such prudent and standard practices used in industries
that are the same as or similar to those in which such Grantor is engaged.
SECTION 4.11 Insurance. The Grantors, at their own expense, shall
maintain or cause to be maintained insurance covering physical loss or damage to
the Inventory and Equipment in accordance with Section 5.02 of the Credit
Agreement. Each Grantor irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the
Collateral Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the
Collateral Agent) as such Grantor's true and lawful agent (and attorney-in-fact)
for the purpose, during the continuance of an Event of Default, of making,
settling and adjusting claims in respect of Collateral under policies of
insurance, endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or
other item of payment for the proceeds of such policies of insurance and for
making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto. In the event that
any Grantor at any time or times shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the
policies of insurance required hereby or to pay any premium in whole or part
relating thereto, the Collateral Agent may, without waiving or releasing any
obligation or liability of the Grantors hereunder or any Event of Default, in
its sole discretion, obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such
premium and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Collateral Agent
deems advisable. All sums disbursed by the Collateral Agent in connection with
this Section 4.11, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, expenses
and other charges relating thereto, shall be payable, upon demand, by the
Grantors to the Collateral Agent and shall be additional Obligations secured
hereby.
SECTION 4.12 Legend. Each Grantor shall legend, in form and manner
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, its Accounts Receivable and its books,
records and documents evidencing or pertaining thereto with an appropriate
reference to the fact that such Accounts Receivable have been assigned to the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and that the Collateral
Agent has a security interest therein.
SECTION 4.13 Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright
Collateral. (a) Each Grantor agrees that it will not, nor will it permit any of
its licensees to, do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any Patent which is
material to the conduct of such Grantor's business may become invalidated or
dedicated to the public, and agrees that it shall continue to xxxx any products
covered by a Patent with the relevant patent number as necessary and sufficient
to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable patent laws.
(b) Each Grantor (either itself or through its licensees or its
sublicensees) will, for each Trademark material to the conduct of such Grantor's
business, (i) maintain such Trademark in full force free from any claim of
abandonment or invalidity for non-use, (ii)
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maintain the quality of products and services offered under such Trademark,
(iii) display such Trademark with notice of Federal or foreign registration to
the extent necessary and sufficient to establish and preserve its maximum rights
under applicable law and (iv) not knowingly use or knowingly permit the use of
such Trademark in violation of any third party rights.
(c) Each Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will, for each work
covered by a material Copyright, continue to publish, reproduce, display, adopt
and distribute the work with appropriate copyright notice as necessary and
sufficient to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable
copyright laws.
(d) Each Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent immediately if it knows
or has reason to know that any Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to the
conduct of its business may become abandoned, lost or dedicated to the public,
or of any adverse determination or development (including the institution of, or
any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or any court or
similar office of any country) regarding such Grantor's ownership of any Patent,
Trademark or Copyright, its right to register the same, or to keep and maintain
the same.
(e) In no event shall any Grantor, either itself or through any agent,
employee, licensee or designee, file an application for any Patent, Trademark or
Copyright (or for the registration of any Trademark or Copyright) with the
United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or any
office or agency in any political subdivision of the United States or in any
other country or any political subdivision thereof, unless it promptly informs
the Collateral Agent, and, upon request of the Collateral Agent, executes and
delivers any and all agreements, instruments, documents and papers as the
Collateral Agent may request to evidence the Collateral Agent's security
interest in such Patent, Trademark or Copyright, and each Grantor hereby
appoints the Collateral Agent as its attorney-in-fact to execute and file such
writings for the foregoing purposes, all acts of such attorney being hereby
ratified and confirmed; such power, being coupled with an interest, is
irrevocable.
(f) Each Grantor will take all necessary steps that are consistent with
the practice in any proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark
Office, United States Copyright Office or any office or agency in any political
subdivision of the United States or in any other country or any political
subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue each material application relating
to the Patents, Trademarks and/or Copyrights (and to obtain the relevant grant
or registration) and to maintain each issued Patent and each registration of the
Trademarks and Copyrights that is material to the conduct of any Grantor's
business, including timely filings of applications for renewal, affidavits of
use, affidavits of incontestability and payment of maintenance fees, and, if
consistent with good business judgment, to initiate opposition, interference and
cancellation proceedings against third parties.
(g) In the event that any Grantor has reason to believe that any
Collateral consisting of a Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to the
conduct of any Grantor's business has been or is about to be infringed,
misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Grantor promptly shall notify
the Collateral Agent and shall, if consistent with good business judgment,
promptly xxx for infringement, misappropriation or dilution and to
13
recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution,
and take such other actions as are appropriate under the circumstances to
protect such Collateral.
(h) Upon and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor
shall use its best efforts to obtain all requisite consents or approvals by the
licensor of each Copyright License, Patent License or Trademark License to
effect the assignment of all of such Grantor's right, title and interest
thereunder to the Collateral Agent or its designee.
(i) Each Grantor shall ensure that fully executed security agreements in
the form hereof and containing a description of all Collateral consisting of
Intellectual Property shall have been received and recorded within three months
after the execution of this Agreement with respect to United States Patents,
United States registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States
registration applications are pending) and United States registered Copyrights
have been delivered to the Collateral Agent for recording by the United States
Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office pursuant to
35 U.S.C. (S) 261, 15 U.S.C. (S) 1060 or 17 U.S.C. (S) 205 and the regulations
thereunder, as applicable, and otherwise as may be required pursuant to the laws
of any other necessary jurisdiction, to protect the validity of and to establish
a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent
(for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Collateral
consisting of Patents, Trademarks and registered Copyrights in which a security
interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the United
States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and
possessions, or in any other necessary jurisdiction, and no further or
subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or
reregistration is necessary (other than such actions as are necessary to perfect
the Security Interest with respect to any Collateral consisting of Patents,
Trademarks and Copyrights (or registration or application for registration
thereof) acquired or developed after the date hereof).]
ARTICLE V
Power of Attorney
Each Grantor irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Collateral
Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the Collateral Agent)
as such Grantor's true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, and in such
capacity the Collateral Agent shall have the right, with power of substitution
for each Grantor and in each Grantor's name or otherwise, for the use and
benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties, upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of an Event of Default (a) to receive, endorse, assign
and/or deliver any and all notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders or
other evidences of payment relating to the Collateral or any part thereof; (b)
to demand, collect, receive payment of, give receipt for and give discharges and
releases of all or any of the Collateral; (c) to sign the name of any Grantor on
any invoice or xxxx of lading relating to any of the Collateral; (d) to send
verifications of Accounts Receivable to any Account Debtor; (e) to commence and
prosecute any and all suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any
court of competent jurisdiction to collect or otherwise realize on all or any of
the Collateral or to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral; (f) to
settle, compromise, compound, adjust or defend any actions, suits or proceedings
relating to all or any of the Collateral; (g) to notify, or to require any
Grantor to notify, Account Debtors to make payment directly to the Collateral
14
Agent; and (h) to use, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with
respect to or otherwise deal with all or any of the Collateral, and to do all
other acts and things necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, as
fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner of
the Collateral for all purposes; provided, however, that nothing herein
contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the Collateral Agent or
any Secured Party to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature
or sufficiency of any payment received by the Collateral Agent or any Secured
Party, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to take any action with
respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the moneys due or to become due
in respect thereof or any property covered thereby, and no action taken or
omitted to be taken by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party with respect to
the Collateral or any part thereof shall give rise to any defense, counterclaim
or offset in favor of any Grantor or to any claim or action against the
Collateral Agent or any Secured Party. It is understood and agreed that the
appointment of the Collateral Agent as the agent and attorney-in-fact of the
Grantors for the purposes set forth above is coupled with an interest and is
irrevocable. The provisions of this Section shall in no event relieve any
Grantor of any of its obligations hereunder or under any other Credit Document
with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or impose any obligation on
the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to proceed in any particular manner
with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, or in any way limit the exer
cise by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of any other or further right
which it may have on the date of this Agreement or hereafter, whether hereunder,
under any other Credit Document, by law or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI
Remedies
SECTION 6.01 Remedies upon Default. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor agrees to deliver each item of
Collateral to the Collateral Agent on demand, and it is agreed that the
Collateral Agent shall have the right to take any of or all the following
actions at the same or different times: (a) with respect to any Collateral
consisting of Intellectual Property, on demand, to cause the Security Interest
to become an assignment, transfer and conveyance of any of or all such
Collateral by the applicable Grantors to the Collateral Agent, or to license or
sublicense, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive
or non-exclusive basis, any such Collateral throughout the world on such terms
and conditions and in such manner as the Collateral Agent shall determine (other
than in violation of any then-existing licensing arrangements to the extent that
waivers cannot be obtained), and (b) with or without legal process and with or
without prior notice or demand for performance, to take possession of the
Collateral and without liability for trespass to enter any premises where the
Collateral may be located for the purpose of taking possession of or removing
the Collateral and, generally, to exercise any and all rights afforded to a
secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that the
Collateral Agent shall have the right, subject to the mandatory requirements of
applicable law, to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the
Collateral, at public or private sale or at any broker's board or on any
securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the
Collateral Agent shall deem appropriate. The Collateral Agent shall be
authorized at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the
prospective bidders or purchasers to persons who will represent and agree that
they are purchasing the Collateral
15
for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or
sale thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale the Collateral Agent shall
have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers
thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any such sale shall hold
the property sold absolutely, free from any claim or right on the part of any
Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all
rights of redemption, stay and appraisal which such Grantor now has or may at
any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or
hereafter enacted.
The Collateral Agent shall give the Grantors 10 days' written notice (which
each Grantor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-504(3)
of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York or its
equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Collateral Agent's intention to make
any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state
the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker's board
or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such
sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will
first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such public sale shall
be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place
or places as the Collateral Agent may fix and state in the notice (if any) of
such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to be sold may
be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Collateral
Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The Collateral Agent
shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine
not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral
shall have been given. The Collateral Agent may, without notice or publication,
adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time
to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may,
without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so
adjourned. In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on
credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the
Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers
thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall not incur any liability in case any such
purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold
and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon like
notice. At any public (or, to the extent permitted by law, private) sale made
pursuant to this Section, any Secured Party may bid for or purchase, free (to
the extent permitted by law) from any right of redemption, stay, valuation or
appraisal on the part of any Grantor (all said rights being also hereby waived
and released to the extent permitted by law), the Collateral or any part thereof
offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any claim then
due and payable to such Secured Party from any Grantor as a credit against the
purchase price, and such Secured Party may, upon compliance with the terms of
sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property without further accountability
to any Grantor therefor. For purposes hereof, a written agreement to purchase
the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof; the
Collateral Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement
and no Grantor shall be entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion
thereof subject thereto, notwith standing the fact that after the Collateral
Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of Default shall have
been remedied and the Obligations paid in full. As an alternative to exercising
the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by
a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the
Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or
courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-
appointed receiver.
16
SECTION 6.02 Application of Proceeds. The Collateral Agent shall apply
the proceeds of any collection or sale of the Collateral, as well as any
Collateral consisting of cash, as follows:
FIRST, to the payment of all costs and expenses incurred by the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (in its capacity as such
hereunder or under any other Credit Document) in connection with such
collection or sale or otherwise in connection with this Agreement or any of
the Obligations, including all court costs and the fees and expenses of its
agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the
Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document on behalf of
any Grantor and any other costs or expenses incurred in connection with the
exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Credit
Document;
SECOND, to the payment in full of the Obligations (the amounts so
applied to be distributed among the Secured Parties pro rata in accordance
with the amounts of the Obligations owed to them on the date of any such
distribution); and
THIRD, to the Grantors, their successors or assigns, or as a court of
competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
The Collateral Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of
application of any such proceeds, moneys or balances in accordance with this
Agreement. Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including
pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding),
the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a
sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold
and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the
application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent
or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.
SECTION 6.03 Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property. For the
purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under
this Article at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to
exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral
Agent an irrevocable, non-exclusive license (exercisable without payment of
royalty or other compensation to the Grantors) to use, license or sub-license
any of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter
acquired by such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and including in
such license reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items
may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the
compilation or printout thereof. The use of such license by the Collateral
Agent shall be exercised, at the option of the Collateral Agent, upon the
occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default; provided that any
license, sub-license or other transaction entered into by the Collateral Agent
in accordance herewith shall be binding upon the Grantors notwithstanding any
subsequent cure of an Event of Default.
17
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous
SECTION 7.01 Notices. All communications and notices hereunder shall
(except as otherwise expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as
provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and
notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be given to it at its
address or telecopy number set forth on Schedule I, with a copy to the Borrower.
SECTION 7.02 Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Collateral
Agent hereunder, the Security Interest and all obligations of the Grantors
hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of
validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document,
any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or
instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) 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 amend ment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the
Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document or any other agreement or
instrument, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other
collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or
departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the
Obligations, or (d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a
defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor in respect of the
Obligations or this Agreement.
SECTION 7.03 Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements,
representations and warranties made by any Grantor herein and in the
certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or
pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the
Secured Parties and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans, and
the execution and delivery to the Lenders of any notes evidencing such Loans,
regardless of any investigation made by the Lenders or on their behalf, and
shall continue in full force and effect until this Agreement shall terminate.
SECTION 7.04 Binding Effect; Several Agreement. This Agreement shall
become effective as to any Grantor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf
of such Grantor shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent and a
counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent,
and thereafter shall be binding upon such Grantor and the Collateral Agent and
their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such
Grantor, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective
successors and assigns, except that no Grantor shall have the right to assign or
transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein or in the
Collateral (and any such assignment or transfer shall be void) except as
expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Credit Agreement. This
Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each
Grantor and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with
respect to any Grantor without the approval of any other Grantor and without
affecting the obligations of any other Grantor hereunder.
SECTION 7.05 Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Agreement any of
the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the
successors and
18
assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on
behalf of any Grantor or the Collateral Agent that are contained in this
Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and
assigns.
SECTION 7.06 Collateral Agent's Fees and Expenses; Indemnification. (a)
Each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to pay upon demand to the Collateral
Agent the amount of any and all reasonable expenses, including the reasonable
fees, disbursements and other charges of its counsel and of any experts or
agents, which the Collateral Agent may incur in connection with (i) the
administration of this Agreement, (ii) the custody or preservation of, or the
sale of, collection from or other realization upon any of the Collateral, (iii)
the exercise, enforcement or protection of any of the rights of the Collateral
Agent hereunder or (iv) the failure of any Grantor to perform or observe any of
the provisions hereof.
(b) Without limitation of its indemnification obligations under the other
Credit Documents, each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify the
Collateral Agent and the other Indemnities against, and hold each of them
harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related
expenses, including reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel,
incurred by or asserted against any of them arising out of, in any way connected
with, or as a result of, the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement or any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating hereto
or to the Collateral, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided
that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent
that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable
judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
such Indemnitee.
(c) Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional
Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents. The provisions
of this Section 7.06 shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any other Credit Document,
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any
of the Loans, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of
this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or any investigation made by or on
behalf of the Collateral Agent or any Lender. All amounts due under this
Section 7.06 shall be payable on written demand therefor.
SECTION 7.07 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD
TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
SECTION 7.08 Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the
Collateral Agent in exercising any power or right 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. The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder
and of the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders under the other Credit Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of
any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any
provisions of this Agreement or any other Credit Document or consent to
19
any departure by any Grantor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless
the same shall be permitted by clause (b), and then such waiver or consent shall
be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.
No notice to or demand on any Grantor in any case shall entitle such Grantor or
any other Grantor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended
or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered
into by the Collateral Agent and the Grantor or Grantors with respect to which
such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent
required in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 7.09 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO
THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL
BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF,
UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS.
EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY
OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD
NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B)
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER
INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.09.
SECTION 7.10 Severability. In the event any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular
provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the
validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties shall
endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which
comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable
provisions.
SECTION 7.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when
taken together shall constitute but one contract (subject to Section 7.04), and
shall become effective as provided in Section 7.04. Delivery of an executed
signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
SECTION 7.12 Headings. Article and Section headings used herein are for
the purpose of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to
affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting,
this Agreement.
SECTION 7.13 Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) Each
Grantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its
property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or
Federal court of the United
20
States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any
thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the other Credit Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of
any judgment, and each of the parties hereto 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 or, to the extent
permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto 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 Agreement shall affect any right that the
Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may
otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or
the other Credit Documents against any Grantor or its properties in the courts
of any jurisdiction.
(b) Each Grantor 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 Agreement or the other Credit Documents in
any New York State or Federal court. Each of the parties hereto hereby
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.
(c) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of
process in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.01. Nothing in this
Agreement will affected the right of any party to this Agreement to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 7.14 Termination; Release of Collateral. (a) This Agreement and
the Security Interest shall terminate when all the Obligations (other than
inchoate rights to indemnification and reimbursement) have been indefeasibly
paid in full, the Lenders have no further commitment to lend, the L/C Exposure
has been reduced to zero and the Issuing Bank has no further commitment to issue
Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement, at which time the Collateral Agent
shall execute and deliver to the Grantors, at the Grantors' expense, all Uniform
Commercial Code termination statements and similar documents which the Grantors
shall rea sonably request to evidence such termination. Any execution and
delivery of termination statements or documents pursuant to this Section 7.14
shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent. A Subsidiary
Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the
Security Interest in the Collateral of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be
automatically released in the event that all the capital stock of such
Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of to a
person that is not an Affiliate of the Borrower in accordance with the terms of
the Credit Agreement; provided that the Required Lenders shall have consented to
such sale, transfer or other disposition (to the extent required by the Credit
Agreement) and the terms of such consent did not provide otherwise.
(b) In the event any Collateral is sold or transferred in an Asset Sale or
other transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement or is to be subject to a
Lien permitted by Section 6.02(i) of the Credit Agreement, the Administrative
Agent shall (i) concurrently with the consummation of such Asset Sale or other
transaction release the Collateral that is subject of such sale or transfer free
and clear of the Lien and security interest under this Agreement, or (ii) in
connection with a financing contemplated by Sections 6.01___ and
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6.02(i) of the Credit Agreement, at the request of the lender providing the
financing and at such lender's election, either (A) subordinate the Lien and
security interest under this Agreement on any assets being financed to the Lien
and security interest of such lender pursuant to an intercreditor and/or
subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory to such lender, the
Administrative Agent and the Grantor, or (B) release the Lien and security
interest under this Agreement on any such assets to the extent required by such
lender. In connection with any release or subordination pursuant to this Section
7.14(b), the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver, at the Grantors'
expense, any Uniform Commercial Code termination statements or other documents
necessary to effect and evidence such release or subordination as may be
reasonably requested by the Grantors.
SECTION 7.15 Additional Grantors. Pursuant to Section 5.11 of the Credit
Agreement, each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that was not in existence or
not a Subsidiary on the date of the Credit Agreement is required to enter into
this Agreement as a Grantor upon becoming a Subsidiary. Upon execution and
delivery by the Collateral Agent and a Subsidiary of an instrument in the form
of Annex 2 hereto, such Subsidiary shall become a Grantor hereunder with the
same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution
and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any Grantor
hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in
full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party
to this Agreement.
SECTION 7.16 Certain Other Rights and Waivers. (a) The Grantors
authorize the Collateral Agent, without notice or demand and without affecting
their liability hereunder, from time to time, either before or after revocation
hereof, to (i) renew, compromise, extend, accelerate, or otherwise change the
time for payment of, or otherwise change the terms of the indebtedness or any
part thereof, including increase or decrease of the rate of interest thereon;
(ii) receive and hold security for the payment of the Obligations, and exchange,
enforce, waive, release, fail to perfect, sell, or otherwise dispose of any such
security; (iii) apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale
thereof as the Collateral Agent in its discretion may determine; and (iv)
release or substitute any one or more of the endorsers or guarantors.
(b) The Grantors waive any right to require the Collateral Agent to (i)
proceed against the Borrower; (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held
from the Borrower; or (iii) pursue any other remedy in the Collateral Agent's
power whatsoever. The Grantors waive any defense arising by reason of any
disability or other defense of the Borrower, or the cessation from any cause
whatsoever of the liability of the Borrower, or any claim that the Grantors'
obligations exceed or are more burdensome than those of the Borrower. Until the
indebtedness shall have been paid in full, even though the indebtedness is in
excess of the Grantors' liability hereunder, the Grantors will not pursue any
right of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification, and contribution
(contractual, statutory, or otherwise) including, without limitation, any claim
or right of subrogation under the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11, United States Code)
or any successor statute, arising from the existence or performance of this
Agreement, and until such payment in full, the Grantors will not pursue any
right to enforce any remedy which the Collateral Agent and the Lenders now have
or may hereafter have against the Borrower and will not pursue any benefit of,
and any right to participate in, any security now or hereafter held by the
Collateral Agent. The Grantors waive all presentments, demands for performance,
notices of nonperformance, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor,
and notices of
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acceptance of this Agreement and of the existence, creation, or incurring of new
or additional indebtedness.
(c) (i) The Grantors understand and acknowledge that if the Collateral
Agent forecloses, either by judicial foreclosure or by exercise of power of
sale, any deed of trust securing the Obligations, that foreclosure could impair
or destroy any ability that the Grantors may have to seek reimbursement,
contribution, or indemnification from the Borrower or others based on any right
the Grantors may have of subrogation, reimbursement, contribution, or
indemnification for any amounts paid by the Grantors under this Agreement. The
Grantors further understand and acknowledge that in the absence of this
paragraph, such potential impairment or destruction of the Grantors' rights, if
any, may entitle the Grantors to assert a defense to this Agreement based on
Section 580d of the California Code of Civil Procedure as interpreted in Union
-----
Bank x. Xxxxxxx, 265 Cal. App. 2d 40 (1968). By executing this Agreement, the
---------------
Grantors freely, irrevocably, and unconditionally: (A) waive and relinquish
that defense and agree that the Grantors will be fully liable under this
Agreement even though the Collateral Agent may foreclose, either by judicial
foreclosure or by exercise of power of sale, any deed of trust securing the
Obligations; (B) agree that the Grantors will not assert that defense in any
action or proceeding which the Collateral Agent may commence to enforce this
Agreement; (C) acknowledge and agree that the rights and defenses waived by the
Grantors in this Agreement include any right or defense that the Grantors may
have or be entitled to assert based upon or arising out of any one or more of
Sections 580a, 580b, 580d, or 726 of the California Civil Code; and (iv)
acknowledge and agree that the Collateral Agent and the Lenders are relying on
this waiver in creating the indebtedness, and that this waiver is a material
part of the consideration which the Collateral Agent and the Lenders are
receiving for creating the indebtedness.
(ii) The Grantors waive any rights and defenses that are or may become
available to the Grantors by reason of Sections 2787 to 2855, inclusive, of the
California Civil Code.
(iii) The Grantors waive all rights and defenses that the Grantors may
have because any of the indebtedness is secured by real property. This means,
among other things: (A) the Collateral Agent may collect from the Grantors
without first foreclosing on any real or personal property collateral pledged by
the Borrower; and (B) if the Collateral Agent forecloses on any real property
collateral pledged by the Borrower: (x) the amount of the indebtedness may be
reduced only by the price for which that collateral is sold at the foreclosure
sale, even if the collateral is worth more than the sale price, and (y) the
Collateral Agent may collect from the Grantors even if the Collateral Agent, by
foreclosing on the real property collateral, has destroyed any right the
Grantors may have to collect from the Borrower. This is an unconditional and
irrevocable waiver of any rights and defenses the Grantors may have because any
of the indebtedness is secured by real property. These rights and defenses
include, but are not limited to, any rights or defenses based upon Section 580a,
580b, 580d, or 726 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
(iv) The Grantors waive any right or defense they may have at law or
equity, including California Code of Civil Procedure Section 580a, to a fair
market value hearing or action to determine a deficiency judgment after a
foreclosure.
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(v) No provision or waiver in this Agreement shall be construed as
limiting the generality of any other waiver contained in this Agreement.
(d) The Grantors acknowledge and agree that they shall have the sole
responsibility for obtaining from the Borrower such information concerning the
Borrower's financial conditions or business operations as the Grantors may
require, and that the Collateral Agent has no duty at any time to disclose to
the Grantors any information relating to the business operations or financial
conditions of the Borrower.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.
XXXXXX RESPIRATORY CARE INC.,
by /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
by /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as
Collateral Agent,
by /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President