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EXHIBIT 10.40
PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
This Pledge and Security Agreement ("Agreement"), dated as of ______,
1998 by and between ___________ ("Borrower") and Lason, Inc. (the "Company").
Whereas, the Company has loaned Borrower the principal sum of $______
pursuant to a Secured Promissory Note dated as of the date hereof (the "Note").
NOW, THEREFORE, in order to induce the Company to make the loan, and
secure Borrower's obligations under the Note, the parties named herein agree as
follows:
1. PLEDGE. The Borrower hereby grants a first security interest to
the Company in the following collateral (the "Collateral"):
(a) All unexercised stock options pursuant to that certain Stock Option
Agreement between the Borrower and the Company dated as of May 29, 1998 (the
"Stock Options"); and
(b) Subject to Section 7 hereof, all of Borrower's right to, title and
interest in the shares of Common Stock that Borrower may acquire upon exercise
of the Stock Options (the "Exercise Shares"), all dividends and distributions
arising therefrom, payable therein or distributed in respect thereto, whether in
cash, property, stock or otherwise and whether now or hereafter declared, paid
or made, together with the right to receive and receipt therefor, together with
all proceeds thereof; provided, however, that if and so long as no default in
the observance and performance by the Borrower of any of the terms of this
Agreement or the Note, the Borrower shall have the right to receive all
dividends in respect to the Collateral paid in cash or in the stock of a
corporation or in other property; and provided further, that the Borrower shall
pledge to the Company any such stock or other property so distributed to
Borrower to secure Borrower's obligations to the Company and shall enter into
any such further agreements and execute such further documents as the Company
may require to effectuate such pledge or that may be required by virtue of the
Company's status as a public company.
2. PERFECTION OF SECURITY INTEREST. In order to perfect the Company's
security interest in the Collateral described in Section 1(a), the Borrower
agrees to deliver a UCC-1 financing statement to the Company for filing in the
Borrower's state of residence. In order to perfect the Company's security
interest in the Collateral described in Section 1(b), the Borrower agrees to
deliver to the Company share certificates duly endorsed for transfer in blank
(or accompanied by one or more signed stock powers in blank), to be held by the
Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
3. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS. The Borrower hereby
represents, warrants and agrees with the Company as follows:
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(a) The Borrower has the legal capacity to execute this Agreement and
to carry out all of the terms, conditions, covenants and provisions contained
herein.
(b) If, whenever, and as often as, during the term of this Agreement,
any stock dividend, reclassification, readjustment or other change is declared
or made in the capital structure of the Company, all new, substituted and
additional shares or other securities issued upon exercise of the Stock Options
or in consideration of the Exercise Shares shall be held by the Company under
the terms of this Agreement in the same manner as the Stock Options.
(c) The Borrower has good right and lawful authority to pledge,
hypothecate, mortgage, assign, transfer, deliver, set over and confirm unto the
Company the Collateral as provided in this Agreement, and the Borrower shall
warrant and defend the title thereto and the Company's security interest therein
against the claims of all persons.
(d) So long as this Agreement is in effect, the Borrower shall not
sell, assign or transfer, and shall not pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or
otherwise encumber any right or rights with respect to the Collateral or any
rights or interest therein.
(e) Borrower agrees to execute Form F.R. G-3 and any other form
required to be executed pursuant to Regulation G and any other rules and
regulations of the Federal Reserve System with respect to the Collateral.
(f) Borrower agrees that if at any time prior to the fourth anniversary
of this Agreement the sum of: (i) the Fair Market Value of the Exercise Shares
(as defined below) and (ii) the product of the number of unexercised Stock
Options multiplied by the difference between the option exercise price and the
current market price for the Company's Common Stock, is less than one hundred
(100%) of the principal amount outstanding under the Note and all other monies
due thereunder ("Note Indebtedness"), then Borrower shall grant to the Company
such additional collateral as the Company may deem appropriate and shall execute
any and all documents reasonably necessary in order to perfect a security
interest in such collateral in favor of the Company. The Fair Market Value of
the Exercise Shares shall be determined by multiplying the number of Exercise
Shares times the closing price per Exercise Share as reported on The Nasdaq
Stock Market.
4. DEFAULT. Each of the following events or conditions constitutes an
"Event of Default":
(a) Failure by the Borrower to make any payment of principal or
interest under the Note on or before 30 days after the date such payment is due.
(b) [Reserved.]
(c) Any representation, warranty or other statement by or on behalf of
the Borrower contained in the Note or in this Agreement is false or misleading
in any material respect when made.
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(d) The Borrower becomes insolvent or bankrupt or makes any assignment
for the benefit of creditors, or consents to the appointment of a trustee,
receiver or liquidator.
(e) Bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation
proceedings are instituted by or against the Borrower, which proceedings are not
dismissed or stayed within 60 days after they are instituted.
If, whenever and as often as, there shall have occurred an Event of
Default, the Company shall have at any time thereafter the rights and remedies
provided by law, including those contained in the Uniform Commercial Code in
force in Michigan, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) the
right to declare all amounts then remaining unpaid under the Note to be
immediately due and payable, and (ii) the right to take any available action or
proceeding, at law or in equity, which it deems necessary or advisable for its
protection and security.
5. GOVERNING LAW. This transaction shall be governed by the laws of the
State of Michigan, and the Company shall have all of the rights and remedies
granted to a secured party under the Michigan Uniform Commercial Code.
6. AUTHORITY OF THE COMPANY. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes
and empowers the Company, in its absolute discretion, at any time and after any
Event of Default as defined herein, to cancel Borrower's unexercised stock
options and complete stock powers and to transfer or cause to be transferred on
its books all of the Exercise Shares and the share certificates relating
thereto.
7. TERMINATION. Upon the earlier to occur of (a) the fourth anniversary
hereof and no Event of Default by Borrower under the Note or this Agreement and
(b) payment in full of Borrower's obligations under the Note, all rights and
interests of the Company in and to the Collateral shall thereupon revest in the
Borrower, and the Company thereupon shall release the security interest granted
in this Agreement, reassign the Stock Options and Exercise Shares to the
Borrower and deliver the related share certificates (together with any related
stock powers) to the Borrower. In addition, when and if the Fair Market Value of
the Exercise Shares, if any, exceeds 125% ("Excess Value") of the Note
Indebtedness and such Excess Value continues for a period of 30 trading days
then the security interest granted in this Agreement shall be released with
respect to those Exercise Shares comprising such Excess Value only, and such
shares shall be reassigned to the Borrower and the related share certificates
(together with any related stock powers) shall be returned to the Borrower;
provided however, that after such release the Fair Market Value of the Exercise
Shares is at least 100% of the Note Indebtedness and such release is approved by
the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
8. TAXES. The Borrower shall pay for any and all documentary stamps or
other taxes which may be imposed on the transfer and delivery to the Company, or
the retransfer and redelivery to the Borrower, of the Exercise Shares and the
other Collateral.
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9. COMPANY'S RIGHTS; EXCULPATION. The Collateral shall be held in the
possession of the Company, and in connection therewith, the Company shall have
the authority and power to take such actions and to exercise such powers
hereunder as are specifically delegated to the Company by the terms hereof,
together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The
Company shall not be liable hereunder in its capacity as agent or bailee for any
action taken or omitted by it hereunder except for its gross negligence or
willful breach. The Company shall have no compensation hereunder and shall be
under no duty with respect to the Collateral except to account therefor in due
course, pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof.
10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, the Note and the Stock Option
Agreement collectively constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and are not intended to confer upon any
person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
11. MODIFICATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement may not be modified
except in writing and executed with the same formality as this Agreement.
12. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
13. NOTICES. All notices required or permitted to be given hereunder
shall be in writing and addressed:
If to Lason, Inc., as follows:
Lason, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Counsel
If to the Borrower to:
14. FURTHER ASSURANCE. Each party shall execute and deliver to the
other such further documents and instruments, and shall perform such other acts,
as reasonably may be necessary or proper to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement.
BORROWER
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By:______________________________
LASON, INC.
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
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