EXHIBIT 4.10
EXECUTION COPY
PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 6, 1999
Among
G.A.S. ORANGE DEVELOPMENT, INC.,
a New York corporation
G.A.S. ORANGE PARTNERS, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership
and
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Collateral Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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PREFACE..................................................................................................... 1
Section 1. Definition...................................................................................... 2
Section 2. Assignment, Pledge and Grant of Security Interest............................................... 2
Section 3. Documents....................................................................................... 4
Section 4. Events of Default............................................................................... 5
Section 5. Remedies........................................................................................ 6
Section 6. Remedies Cumulative; Delay Not Waiver........................................................... 9
Section 7. Covenants and Representations of Assignor....................................................... 9
Section 8. Certain Consents and Waivers.................................................................... 11
Section 9. GAS LP's Consent and Covenants.................................................................. 13
Section 10. Attorney-in-Fact................................................................................ 13
Section 11. Place of Business; Location of Records.......................................................... 13
Section 12. Perfection; Further Assurances.................................................................. 14
Section 13. Continuing Assignment and Security Interest; Transfer of Senior Secured Notes................... 14
Section 14. Liability....................................................................................... 15
Section 15. Regarding the Agent............................................................................. 15
Section 16. Severability.................................................................................... 16
Section 17. Successors and Assigns.......................................................................... 16
Section 18. Headings........................................................................................ 16
Section 19. Governing Law................................................................................... 16
Section 20. References to Other Documents................................................................... 17
PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
This Pledge and Security Agreement ("Agreement") dated as of December 6,
1999, is entered into by and among G.A.S. ORANGE DEVELOPMENT, INC., a New York
corporation ("Assignor"), G.A.S. Orange Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership ("GAS LP"), and U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as collateral
agent ("Agent") for the benefit of the Secured Parties under the Financing
Agreement described below.
PREFACE
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A. Project Orange Associates, L.P. ("Orange L.P.") operates the Project
(as defined in the Financing Agreement described below) in Syracuse, Onondaga
County, New York.
B. Project Orange Funding, L.P., ("Funding L.P.") a Delaware limited
partnership (together with its successors, including Orange L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership, as the survivor of the merger of Project Orange Funding
L.P. with and into Orange L.P. concurrently with the issuance and sale of the
Senior Secured Notes, "POA"), Project Orange Capital Corp., a Delaware
corporation, ("Capital Co." and together with POA, the "Issuers") will issue $68
million aggregate principal amount of its 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2007
(the "Series A Notes") pursuant to that certain Indenture dated as of December
6, 1999 ("Financing Agreement") among the Issuers and U.S. Bank Trust National
Association, as Trustee ("Trustee") for the benefit of the holders of the Senior
Secured Notes (the "Holders" and, together with the Trustee, the "Secured
Parties") and as Collateral Agent.
C. The Holders will have the registration rights set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 6, 1999 between the Issuers
and Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx (the "Initial Purchaser") pursuant to which the
Issuer agrees to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (i) a
registration statement relating to 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2007 (the
"Series B Notes") to be offered in exchange for the Series A Notes and (ii) a
shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933 relating to the resale by certain Holders of the Series A Notes. The
Series A Notes and the Series B Notes are collectively referred to herein as the
"Senior Secured Notes".
D. Concurrently with the issuance and sale of the Series A Notes (the
"Offering"), Funding L.P. will merge (the "Merger") with and into Orange L.P.
(with Orange L.P. as the surviving partnership) pursuant to the Agreement and
Plan of
Merger dated as of December 6, 1999 (the "Merger Agreement") between Funding
L.P. and Orange L.P.
E. Assignor is a partner in GAS LP pursuant to that certain Agreement of
Limited Partnership dated as of April 5, 1991 ("Partnership Agreement") between
A.V. Grantor Trust, a New York trust, and Assignor ("Partners").
F. As a condition precedent to the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes
contemplated by the Financing Agreement, the Secured Parties require that GAS LP
and Assignor shall have executed this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
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In consideration of the premises herein and in order to induce the Trustee,
for the benefit of the Holders, to enter into the Financing Agreement, and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are
hereby acknowledged, GAS LP and Assignor hereby agree with the Agent for the
benefit of the Secured Parties as follows:
Section 1. Definition.
Unless otherwise defined, all capitalized terms used herein which are
defined in the Financing Agreement shall have their respective meanings therein
defined.
Section 2. Assignment, Pledge and Grant of Security Interest. (a) To
secure the timely payment and performance of the Obligations (as defined below),
Assignor does hereby assign and pledge to the Agent for the benefit of the
Secured Parties and grant to the Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a
security interest in all the estate, right, title and interest of Assignor, now
owned or hereafter acquired, in, to and under any and all of the following (the
"Collateral"):
(i) Assignor's partnership interests in GAS LP;
(ii) all rights to receive all income, gain, profit, loss or other
items allocated or distributed to Assignor under the Partnership Agreement;
(iii) all rights to receive all distributions of any nature whatsoever
by GAS LP with respect to such partnership interests;
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(iv) all of Assignor's capital or ownership interest, including
capital accounts, in GAS LP, and all accounts, deposits or credits of any
kind with GAS LP;
(v) all of Assignor's voting rights in or rights to control or
direct the affairs of GAS LP;
(vi) all of Assignor's right, title and interest, as a partner in
GAS LP, in or to any and all of GAS LP's assets or properties;
(vii) all other right, title and interest in or to GAS LP, and all
rights to receive income, profits or other distributions from GAS LP, of
any nature whatsoever, in each case, as such rights are derived from
Assignor's partnership interests in GAS LP;
(viii) all claims of the Assignor for damages arising out of or for
breach of or default relating to the Collateral except for claims against
the other Partner in its capacity as Partner;
(ix) all rights of Assignor to terminate, amend, supplement, modify
or waive performance under the Partnership Agreement, to perform thereunder
and to compel performance and otherwise exercise all remedies thereunder;
and
(x) all proceeds of any of the above;
provided, however, that to the extent that the Collateral described above
would otherwise include any direct partnership interest in Project Orange
Associates L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, then such partnership interest
and rights and interests relating thereto shall be excluded from the Collateral
to the same extent and for so long as they would be excluded from the
"Collateral" as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of
December 6, 1999 among GAS LP, Funding, L.P. and the Agent.
(b) This Agreement secures the payment and performance of all
obligations of POA and of the other Credit Parties and SIDA, now existing or
hereafter arising, due or owing to the Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of
the Indenture, the Senior Secured Notes and the Collateral Documents, including,
without limitation: (i) the principal, premium, if any, or interest on the
Senior Secured Notes (including any interest accruing after the commencement of
any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding relating to the Issuers, whether or not
such interest is allowed or allowable as a claim in
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any such proceeding), and all other obligations and liabilities of the
Issuers including, without limitation, indemnities, fees and interest incurred
under, arising out of or in connection with the Indenture, the Senior Secured
Notes and the Collateral Documents, (ii any and all sums advanced by or on
behalf of the Issuers in order to preserve the Collateral or preserve its
interest in the Collateral, and (ii in the event of any proceeding for
collection or enforcement by or on behalf of any Secured Party after an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing and unwaived, the expenses of
retaking, holding, preparing for sale or lease, selling or otherwise disposing
of or realizing on the Collateral, or of any exercise by or on behalf of any
Secured Party of its rights under the Indenture, the Senior Secured Notes and
the Collateral Documents, together with attorneys' fees and court costs (all
such obligations being herein called the "Obligations").
(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of
Default, Assignor hereby irrevocably appoints and constitutes the Agent and its
successors and assigns as Assignor's true and lawful attorney in fact, with full
power (in the name of Assignor or otherwise) to ask, require, demand, receive,
compound and give acquittance for any and all moneys and claims for money due
and to become due under or arising out of the Collateral, to elect remedies
thereunder, to endorse any checks or other instruments or orders in connection
therewith and to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings
in connection therewith which the Agent may deem to be necessary or advisable.
Section 3. Documents. (a) At any time and from time to time upon the
request of the Agent, Assignor will:
(i) deliver and pledge to the Agent endorsed and/or accompanied by
such evidence of assignment and transfer, in such form and substance, as
the Agent may request, any and all instruments, documents, chattel paper
and/or general intangibles relating to the Collateral as the Agent may
specify;
(ii) give, execute, deliver, file and/or record any notice,
statement, instrument, document, agreement or other papers that may be
reasonably necessary, and as the Agent may reasonably request, in order to
create, preserve, perfect or validate the assignment and security interest
granted pursuant hereto or to enable the Agent to exercise and enforce its
rights hereunder or with respect to such assignment and security interest;
and
(iii) keep and stamp or otherwise xxxx any and all documents and its
individual books and records relating to Collateral in such manner as the
Agent may require.
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(b) The right is expressly granted to the Agent, at its discretion, to
file in those jurisdictions where the same is permitted one or more financing
statements under the Uniform Commercial Code (the "UCC") signed only by the
Agent, naming Assignor as debtor and the Agent as secured party, and indicating
therein the types or describing the items of Collateral herein specified.
Without the prior written consent of the Agent, the Assignor will not file or
authorize or permit to be filed in any jurisdiction any such financing or like
statement (other than for Permitted Liens) in which the Agent is not named as
the sole secured party. Nothing herein shall be construed as obligating the
Agent to file any financing statement.
(c) If any default by Assignor under the Partnership Agreement shall
occur, the Agent shall, at its option, be permitted (but shall not be obligated)
to remedy any such default by giving written notice of such intent to GAS LP and
Assignor. The Agent shall have a period of sixty (60) days after giving such
notice in which to cure such default. In the event that any such default (except
monetary defaults) shall not be reasonably curable within such 60-day period,
neither GAS LP nor any Person acting on behalf of GAS LP, including, without
limitation, a general partner of GAS LP, shall exercise any remedies thereunder
if the Agent shall, within such 60-day period, initiate action to cure such
default and proceed diligently to the curing thereof. Any cure by the Agent of
Assignor's default under the Partnership Agreement shall not be construed as an
assumption by the Agent or any of the Secured Parties of any obligations,
covenants or agreements of Assignor under the Partnership Agreement and neither
the Agent nor the Secured Parties shall be liable for any action taken pursuant
to this Section 3(c) to cure any such default. In no event shall the Agent be
deemed to be a partner under such Partnership Agreement and in no event shall
the Agent have any liability thereunder. This Agreement shall not be deemed to
release or to affect in any way the obligations of Assignor under the
Partnership Agreement.
Section 4. Events of Default. The occurrence of any of the following
events ("Events of Default"), whatever the reason for such Event of Default and
whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law
or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or
regulation of any administrative or governmental body, shall entitle the Agent
to exercise any and all of its rights and remedies hereunder or at law:
(a) the occurrence (whether as a result of acts or omissions by GAS LP or
any other Person) of an Event of Default under the Financing Agreement or any of
the other Financing Documents; or
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(b) subject to such notice requirements and cure periods as may be
applicable thereto pursuant to the Financing Agreement, the failure on the part
of Assignor to observe or perform any material covenant, condition or agreement
on its part to be observed or performed, or the material breach of any
representation or warranty of Assignor, contained in this Agreement; or
(c) the impairment of the priority of the security interest in the
Collateral granted herein in any material respect.
Section 5. Remedies. (a) If any Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Agent shall have the right, at its election, but not the
obligation, to do any of the following (subject to the terms of the Financing
Agreement and except to the extent such action or actions are prohibited
pursuant to applicable law):
(i) subject to Section 5(f) below, vote or exercise any and all of
Assignor's rights or powers under the Partnership Agreement, including any
rights or powers to manage or control the GAS LP;
(ii) demand, xxx for, collect or receive any money or property at
any time payable to or receivable by Assignor on account of, or in exchange
for, all or any part of the Collateral;
(iii) institute and prosecute any action at law or suit in equity or
other proceeding to collect or enforce any obligations or rights hereunder
or in the Collateral, including specific enforcement of any covenant or
agreement contained herein or in the Partnership Agreement, or to foreclose
or enforce the security interest in all or any part of the Collateral
granted herein, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in
it by this Agreement or by law;
(iv) sell or otherwise dispose of any or all of the Collateral or
cause all or any part of the Collateral to be sold or otherwise disposed of
in one or more sales or transactions, after five (5) days prior written
notice to the Assignor of its intent to take such action, at such prices as
the Agent may deem appropriate or adequate, and for cash or on credit or
for future delivery, without assumption of any credit risk, at any broker's
board or at public or private sale, without demand of performance or notice
of time or place of sale (except such notice which under applicable law
cannot be waived), and any Secured Party or any other Person may be the
purchaser of any or all of the Collateral so sold and thereafter hold the
same absolutely free from any claim or right of whatsoever kind, including
any equity of redemption, of Assignor or
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GAS LP, any such demand, notice or right and equity being hereby expressly
waived and released;
(v) incur expenses, including attorneys' fees, consultants' fees,
and other costs appropriate to the exercise of any right or power under
this Agreement;
(vi) perform any obligation of Assignor hereunder or under the
Partnership Agreement;
(vii) secure the appointment of a receiver for Assignor without
notice to GAS LP or Assignor; or
(viii) exercise any other or additional rights or remedies granted to
a secured party under the UCC.
If, pursuant to applicable law, prior notice of any such action is required
to be given to Assignor or GAS LP, Assignor and GAS LP hereby acknowledge and
agree that the minimum time required by such applicable law, or if no minimum is
specified, five (5) Banking Days, shall be deemed a reasonable notice period.
(b) In addition to the foregoing remedies, the Agent may (subject to
Section 3(c) hereof), but shall not be obligated to, cure any Event of Default
and incur reasonable fees, costs and expenses in doing so, in which event GAS LP
or Assignor shall immediately reimburse the Agent on demand for all such fees,
costs and expenses, together with interest on the total amount at the Default
Rate from the date incurred until the date repaid in full. Subject to the
Assignor's rights described in Section 5(c) hereof, the Agent shall be the sole
judge of the validity of any adverse claims, taxes, assessments, charges or
encumbrances pertaining to the Collateral, and the amount to be paid in
satisfaction thereof, and of the necessity for, and of the time and manner of
doing, everything herein authorized to be done, provided that the Agent shall be
under no obligation to do any such acts or to make any such payments.
(c) Assignor may contest in good faith any taxes, assessments and other
governmental charges in connection with the Collateral and, in such event, may
permit the taxes, assessments or other charges so contested to remain unpaid
during any period, including appeals, when Assignor is in good faith contesting
the same, so long as (i) reserves have been established in an amount sufficient
to pay any such taxes, assessments or other charges, accrued interest thereon
and potential penalties or other costs relating thereto, or other adequate
provision for the payment thereof shall have been made, (ii enforcement of the
contested tax, assessment or other charge is
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effectively stayed for the entire duration of such contest, and (ii any tax,
assessment or other charge determined to be due, together with any interest or
penalties thereon, is immediately paid after resolution of such contest.
Additionally, Assignor may contest in good faith Liens for any tax, assessment
or other governmental charge, by appropriate proceedings, so long as in
connection with such proceedings a bond or other security has been posted or
provided in such manner and amount as to assure that any taxes, assessment or
other charges determined to be due will be promptly paid in full when such
contest is determined.
(d) If the Agent shall decide to exercise its right to sell any or all of
the Collateral, and if it is necessary to have such Collateral, or that portion
thereof to be sold, registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or otherwise registered or qualified under any federal or
state securities laws or regulations (collectively, the "Securities Laws"), GAS
LP will execute and deliver, all at GAS LP's expense, all such instruments and
documents which, in the opinion of the Agent, are necessary to register or
qualify such Collateral, or that portion thereof to be sold, under the
provisions of the Securities Laws and will use best efforts to cause any
registration statement relating thereto to become effective and to remain
effective for a period of not less than six (6) months from the date of the
first public offering of such Collateral, or that portion thereof to be sold,
and to make all amendments thereto and/or to any related prospectus or similar
document are necessary, all in conformity with the Securities Laws applicable
thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, GAS LP agrees to
comply with the provisions of all applicable securities or "Blue Sky" laws of
any jurisdiction(s) and to make available to its security holders, as soon as
practicable, an earnings statement which will satisfy the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act of 1933.
(e) All costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees
and expenses) incurred by the Agent or any Secured Party in connection with
exercising any remedy provided for herein or at law, curing any Event of Default
or performing any of Assignor's agreements contained herein or in the
Partnership Agreement or in respect of any part of the Collateral, together with
interest thereon computed at the Default Rate from the date on which such costs
or expenses are incurred to the date of payment thereof, shall constitute
indebtedness secured by this Agreement and shall be paid by Assignor or the GAS
LP to the Agent on demand for the account of the Agent or any such Secured
Party, as the case may be.
(f) So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
Assignor reserves the right to exercise all of its rights under the Partnership
Agreement (except as limited by the Financing Documents) and to receive all
income and other distributions from the Collateral and such distributions shall
be free of any lien of Agent and/or the
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Secured Parties under the Financing Documents (so long as such distributions do
not violate any terms or provisions of the Financing Documents).
(g) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
the proceeds of any sale of, or other realization upon, all or any part of the
Collateral shall be deposited in the Redemption Account to be held, applied and
released in accordance with the Depositary Agreement.
Section 6. Remedies Cumulative; Delay Not Waiver. No right, power or
remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Agent or the Secured Parties is
intended to be exclusive of any other right, power or remedy, and every such
right, power and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and
in addition to every other right, power and remedy given hereunder or now or
hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment
of any right or remedy hereunder shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or
employment of any other appropriate right or remedy. No delay or omission of the
Agent to exercise any right or power accruing upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of any Event of Default as aforesaid shall impair any such right or
power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Event of Default or an
acquiescence therein. Every power and remedy given by this Agreement may be
exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the
Agent.
Section 7. Covenants and Representations of Assignor. Assignor covenants,
agrees and represents as follows:
(a) Assignor will perform and comply, in all material respects, with all
obligations and conditions on its part to be performed hereunder, under the
Partnership Agreement or with respect to the Collateral.
(b) The Partnership Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by Assignor and, to the best of Assignor's knowledge, the other
parties thereto, has not been amended or otherwise modified, and is in full
force and effect and is binding upon and enforceable against Assignor and, to
the best of Assignor's knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with
its terms. There exists no default under the Partnership Agreement by Assignor,
or to the best of Assignor's knowledge, by the other parties thereto.
(c) Assignor has not executed and is not aware of any effective financing
statement, security agreement or other instrument similar in effect covering all
or any part of the Collateral on file in any recording office, except such as
may have been filed
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pursuant to this Agreement or the other Financing Documents or pursuant to the
documents evidencing Permitted Liens.
(d) Assignor is the lawful owner of and has full right, title and interest
in and to, the Collateral, subject to no mortgages, liens, charges, or
encumbrances of any kind except Permitted Liens, and has full power and lawful
authority to pledge, assign and grant a security interest in the Collateral
hereunder. Assignor will, so long as any Obligations shall be outstanding,
warrant and defend its title to the Collateral against the claims and demands of
all persons whomsoever.
(e) Assignor will not directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any liens on or with respect to any part of the Collateral
except for the liens created by this Agreement or Permitted Liens or as
otherwise expressly permitted pursuant to the Financing Agreement. Assignor will
at its own cost and expense promptly take such action as may be necessary to
discharge any such liens.
(f) Assignor has not assigned any of its rights under the Partnership
Agreement or any of the Collateral except as provided in this Agreement.
(g) Any action or proceeding to enforce the rights granted or to protect
or preserve the Collateral under this Agreement may be taken by the Agent either
in Assignor's name or in the Agent's name as the Agent may deem necessary.
(h) Without the prior written consent of the Agent, or unless otherwise
expressly permitted by the Financing Agreement, Assignor shall not (i)
terminate, modify or amend the Partnership Agreement or (ii) fail to deliver to
the Agent a copy of each demand or notice received or given by it relating to
the Partnership Agreement and which could reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect upon the Collateral or the Agent's rights therein.
(i) Assignor shall give to the Agent prompt notice of any default, event
of default or event which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or
both might become an event of default (however "default" or "event of default"
may be defined) under the Partnership Agreement, whether by GAS LP, Assignor or
any other Person, of which Assignor has actual knowledge or has received notice.
(j) If Assignor in its capacity as a partner of GAS LP (whether as a
general partner or a limited partner) receives any income or distribution of
money or property of any kind from GAS LP while an Event of Default (with
respect to which the Assignor has received written notice) has occurred and is
continuing, Assignor shall (except for income or distributions paid pursuant to
Excluded Rights which the Assignor is
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obligated to pay over to Kronish Xxxx) hold such income or distribution as
trustee for and shall deliver the same to the Agent (unless all such Events of
Default have been cured or waived or unless Agent shall have provided written
notice to Assignor to the effect that Agent shall have determined, in its sole
discretion, that the continuance of any such Event(s) of Default could not have
an adverse effect on GAS LP or the Collateral) and that Assignor may retain such
income, money or property.
(k) Assignor will, at all times, keep accurate and complete records of the
Collateral. Assignor shall, at all times on seven (7) days' notice, permit
representatives of the Agent at any time during normal business hours of
Assignor to inspect and make abstracts from the Assignor's books and records
pertaining to the Collateral.
(l) Assignor will give prompt notice in writing to the Agent of any change
in the location of the place of business where correspondence, notices or
proceeds in connection with the Collateral are received or located or of any
change in the location of the place of business where records concerning
Collateral are kept.
(m) Assignor is not, and will not as a result of becoming a general or
limited partner of GAS LP be or become, or cause GAS LP to be or become, or be
deemed by any Governmental Authority to be a "utility" or subject to, or not
exempt from, regulation under the FPA or the PUHCA or under state laws and
regulations respecting the rates or the financial or organizational regulation
of public or electric utilities, except as a "qualifying facility" under PURPA.
(n) Assignor shall not do anything or cause, suffer or permit anything to
be done, including, without limitation, sale or other transfer of Assignor's
partnership interests in the GAS LP or of any stock, partnership interest or
other ownership interest in Assignor, which may cause the Project to lose its
status as a "qualifying facility" under PURPA.
(o) As a condition to any transfer of any Collateral the transferee must
agree that the security interest needed by this agreement shall continue
unimpaired following such transfer and shall sign all necessary agreements and
instruments and take all other action necessary to create a first priority
security in favor of the Agent on such Collateral that is the subject of such
transfer. In connection with any such transfer, the Agent shall be entitled to
receive such information with respect to the identity of the proposed transferee
and the ultimate beneficial ownership and control of the GAS LP as it may
reasonably request in order to make an informed determination as to whether the
requested change in ownership of the GAS LP would result in a Change of Control.
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(p) Assignor shall perform and comply with all obligations and conditions
binding upon it under the Stipulation.
Section 8. Certain Consents and Waivers. (a) Assignor hereby consents to
the execution, by the other Partners, of agreements similar to this Agreement in
favor of the Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties. Assignor specifically
agrees that such other agreements may, among other things, assign or delegate to
the Agent rights to cure defaults under the Partnership Agreement, to exercise
voting rights and other rights to manage or control the GAS LP, and to act as
such other Partner's attorney in fact in a manner similar to the assignment and
delegation of such rights provided herein and that, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, Assignor will recognize and accept such assignment and
delegation and the exercise of such rights by the Agent in connection with any
actions by or business of GAS LP.
(b) Assignor hereby waives, to the maximum extent permitted by law:
(i) all rights under any law limiting remedies, including recovery
of a deficiency, under an obligation secured by a deed of trust or mortgage
on real property if the real property is sold under a power of sale
contained in the mortgage, and all defenses based on any loss whether as a
result of any such sale or otherwise, of Assignor's right to recover any
amount from GAS LP or any other Credit Party or SIDA, whether by right of
subrogation or otherwise;
(ii) all rights under any law to require the Agent to pursue GAS LP
or any other Person, any security which the Agent may hold, or any other
remedy before proceeding against Assignor;
(iii) all rights of reimbursement or subrogation, all rights to
enforce any remedy that the Agent or the Secured Parties may have against
GAS LP or any other Credit Party or SIDA, and all rights to participate in
any security held by the Agent until the Obligations have been paid and the
covenants of the Financing Documents have been performed in full;
(iv) all rights to require the Agent to give any notices of any kind,
including, without limitation, notices of nonpayment, nonperformance,
protest, dishonor, default, delinquency or acceleration, or to make any
presentments, demands or protests, except as expressly provided herein, in
the Financing Agreement and the other Financing Documents;
(v) all rights to assert the bankruptcy or insolvency of GAS LP as a
defense hereunder or as the basis for rescission hereof;
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(vi) all rights under any law purporting to proportionally reduce
Assignor's Obligations hereunder if GAS LP's or any other Credit Party's or
SIDA's Obligations are reduced;
(vii) all defenses based on the disability or lack of authority of
GAS LP or any Person, the repudiation of the Financing Documents by GAS LP
or any Person, the failure by Agent or the Secured Parties to enforce any
claim against GAS LP or any other Credit Party or SIDA, or the
unenforceability in whole or in part of any Financing Documents; and
(viii) all suretyship and guarantor's defenses generally.
Assignor further agrees that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
under the Financing Agreement, the Agent may elect to nonjudicially or
judicially foreclose against any real or personal property security it holds for
the Obligations or any part thereof, or to exercise any other remedy against GAS
LP or any other Credit Party or SIDA, any security or any guarantor, even if the
effect of that action is to deprive Assignor of the right to collect
reimbursement from GAS LP for any sums paid by Assignor to the Agent or any
Secured Party.
Section 9. GAS LP's Consent and Covenants. GAS LP hereby consents to the
assignment of and grant of a security interest in the Collateral to the Agent
and to the exercise by the Agent of all rights and powers assigned or delegated
to the Agent by Assignor hereunder, including without limitation the rights upon
and during an Event of Default to exercise Assignor's voting rights and other
rights under the Partnership Agreement to manage or control GAS LP. GAS LP
further agrees to perform all covenants and obligations herein which, by their
express or implied terms, are to be performed by GAS LP. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, GAS LP agrees not to permit the withdrawal of any
present Partners or to admit any new Partners except in compliance with Section
7(o) of this Agreement and to give the Agent prompt notice of any (a) Change of
Control or (b) default, event of default or event which with the giving of
notice or the passage of time or both might become an event of default (however
"default" or "event of default", may be defined) by Assignor or any other
Partner under the Partnership Agreement.
Section 10. Attorney-in-Fact. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of an Event of Default, Assignor hereby irrevocably constitutes and
appoints the Agent its true and lawful attorney-in-fact to enforce all rights of
Assignor with respect to the Collateral, including, without limitation, the
right to vote, demand, receive and enforce Assignor's rights with respect to the
Collateral, and to give
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appropriate receipts, releases and satisfactions for and on behalf of and in the
name of the Assignor or at the option of the Agent, in the name of the Agent,
with the same force and effect as Assignor could do if this Agreement had not
been made. This power of attorney is a power coupled with an interest and shall
be irrevocable.
Section 11. Place of Business; Location of Records.
(a) Unless the Agent is otherwise notified, the place of business and
chief executive office of Assignor is and all records of Assignor concerning the
Collateral are and will be located at, the following address:
x/x Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, X.X.
00 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
(b) All notices required or permitted under the terms and provisions
hereof shall be in writing and any such notice shall be effective if given in
accordance with the provisions of Section 9.02 of the Financing Agreement.
Notice to the Assignor may be given at the address set forth in clause (a)
above. Notices to the Agent may be given at the address set forth in Section
9.02 of the Financing Agreement.
Section 12. Perfection; Further Assurances. (a) Assignor agrees that from
time to time, Assignor will promptly execute and deliver all instruments and
documents, and take all action, that may be reasonably necessary or that the
Agent may reasonably request, in order to perfect and protect the assignment and
security interest granted or intended to be granted hereby or to enable the
Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to
any Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Assignor will
execute and file such financing or continuation statements, or amendments
thereto, and such other instruments, endorsements or notices, as may be
reasonably necessary or as the Agent may reasonably request, in order to perfect
and preserve the assignments and security interests granted or purported to be
granted hereby.
(b) GAS LP shall pay all filing, registration and recording fees and all
refiling, re-registration and re-recording fees, and all reasonable expenses
incident to the execution and acknowledgment or performance of this Agreement,
and all Federal, state, county and municipal stamp taxes and other taxes,
duties, imports, assessments and charges arising out of or in connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any agreement supplemental hereto,
any financing statements and any instruments of further assurance.
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(c) Assignor shall give the Agent at least thirty (30) days' notice before
it changes the location of its place of business and chief executive office and
shall at the expense of GAS LP execute and deliver such instruments and
documents as may be required by the Agent to maintain a prior perfected security
interest in the Collateral.
Section 13. Continuing Assignment and Security Interest; Transfer of
Senior Secured Notes. This Agreement shall create a continuing pledge and
assignment of and security interest in the Collateral and shall (a) remain in
full force and effect until payment and performance in full of the Obligations,
(b) be binding upon GAS LP, Assignor, and their respective successors and
assigns, and (c) inure, together with the rights and remedies provided herein,
to the benefit of the Agent, the Secured Parties and their respective
successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, any of the Secured Parties may assign or otherwise transfer all or
any part of or interest in the Senior Secured Notes or other evidence of
indebtedness held by them to any other Person to the extent permitted by and in
accordance with the Financing Agreement, and such other Person shall thereupon
become vested with all or an appropriate part of the benefits in respect thereof
granted to the Secured Parties herein or otherwise. The release of the security
interest in any or all of the Collateral, the taking or acceptance of additional
security, or the resort by the Agent to any security it may have in any order it
may deem appropriate, shall not affect the liability of any person on the
Obligations. Upon the payment and performance in full of the Obligations, the
security interest granted hereby shall terminate and all rights to the
Collateral shall revert to Assignor. Upon any such termination, the Agent shall,
at Assignor's expense, execute and deliver to Assignor such documents as the GAS
LP or the Assignor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination. If
this Agreement shall be terminated or revoked by operation of law, Assignor will
indemnify and save the Agent harmless from any loss which may be suffered or
incurred by the Agent in acting hereunder prior to the receipt by the Agent, its
successors, transferees or assigns of notice of such termination or revocation.
Section 14. Liability. This Agreement is one of the Financing Documents
referred to in the Financing Agreement, and the recourse of the Agent and the
Secured Parties against the Assignor, the GAS LP or any of their respective
Affiliates, stockholders, officers, directors, partners or employees, for any
liability to the Agent or the Secured Parties arising under this Agreement shall
be limited to the extent provided in Section 9.07 of the Financing Agreement.
Section 15. Regarding the Agent. The Agent shall be afforded in respect of
this Agreement all of the rights, powers, protections, immunities and
indemnities set forth in Article 4 and Article 5 of the Depositary Agreement
which are applicable
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between the Agent and the Issuer thereunder, and the provisions of Article 4 and
Article 5 of the Depositary Agreement which are applicable between the Agent and
the Issuer thereunder shall inure to the benefit of the Agent in respect to this
Agreement and be binding upon POA in such respect, in each case as if the same
were specifically set forth herein, mutatis mutandis. In furtherance and not in
derogation of such rights, powers, protections, immunities and indemnities set
forth in Article 4 and Article 5 of the Depositary Agreement:
(a) The Agent is authorized to take all such action as is provided to be
taken by it as the Agent hereunder and all other action incidental thereto. As
to any matters not expressly provided for herein the Agent shall act or refrain
from acting in accordance with written instructions from the Required Holders
or, in the absence of such instructions, in accordance with its discretion.
(b) The Agent shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or
value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or
enforceability of the Lien on any of the Collateral, whether impaired by
operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part
hereunder. The Agent shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the
performance or observance of any of the terms of this Agreement by each of GAS
LP and the Assignor.
(c) At any time or times, in order to comply with any legal requirement in
any jurisdiction, the Agent may appoint another bank or trust company or one or
more other Persons, either to act as co-agents or co-agents, jointly with the
Agent, or to act as separate agent or agents on behalf of the Agent with such
power and authority of the Agent as may be necessary for the effectual operation
of the provisions hereof and may be specified in the instrument of appointment
(which may, in the discretion of the Agent, include extending to such co-agent
or separate agent the provisions for the protection of the Agent contained in
Article 4 and Article 5 of the Depositary Agreement).
Section 16. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 17. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements
contained herein shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties
and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that neither
Assignor nor GAS
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LP may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of the Agent.
Section 18. Headings. The headings of the various Sections herein are for
convenience of reference only and shall not define or limit any of the terms or
provisions hereof.
Section 19. Governing Law. This Agreement, including all matters of
construction, validity, performance and the creation, validity, enforcement or
priority of the lien of, and security interests created by, this Agreement in or
upon the Collateral shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
Section 20. References to Other Documents. All defined terms used in this
Agreement which refer to other documents shall be deemed to refer to such other
documents as they may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time,
provided such documents were not amended in breach of a covenant contained in
any agreement to which Assignor, GAS LP, the Agent or any of the Secured Parties
is a party.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Assignor, GAS LP and Agent have caused this Agreement
to be duly executed by their duly authorized signatory, as of the day and year
first above written.
G.A.S. ORANGE DEVELOPMENT, INC.,
a New York corporation
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
___________________________
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Its: President
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Agent
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
______________________________
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
G.A.S. ORANGE PARTNERS, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
______________________________
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title: President
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