GUARANTY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 16, 2007 MADE BY PETRO RESOURCES CORPORATION IN FAVOR OF D.B. ZWIRN SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
EXHIBIT
10.12
GUARANTY
AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT
DATED
AS OF
FEBRUARY
16, 2007
MADE
BY
PETRO
RESOURCES CORPORATION
IN
FAVOR OF
X.X.
XXXXX SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P.,
AS
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I Definitions |
1
|
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Section 1.01 | Definitions |
1
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Section 1.02 | Other Definitional Provisions |
3
|
Section 1.03 | Rules of Interpretation |
4
|
ARTICLE II Guarantee |
4
|
|
Section 2.01 | Guarantee |
4
|
Section 2.02 | Intentionally Omitted |
4
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Section 2.03 | No Subrogation |
5
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Section 2.04 | Guaranty Amendments, Etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations |
5
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Section 2.05 | Waivers |
5
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Section 2.06 | Guaranty Absolute and Unconditional |
6
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Section 2.07 | Reinstatement |
7
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Section 2.08 | Payments |
7
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ARTICLE III Grant of Security Interest |
8
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Section 3.01 | Grant of Security Interest |
8
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Section 3.02 | Transfer of Pledged Securities |
8
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ARTICLE IV Representations and Warranties |
8
|
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Section 4.01 | Representations in Credit Agreement |
9
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Section 4.02 | Title; No Other Liens |
9
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Section 4.03 | Perfected First Priority Liens |
9
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Section 4.04 | Guarantor Information |
9
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Section 4.05 | Pledged Securities |
9
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Section 4.06 | Benefit to the Guarantor |
10
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Section 4.07 | Solvency |
10
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ARTICLE V Covenants |
10
|
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Section 5.01 | Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation |
10
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Section 5.02 | Changes in Locations, Name, Etc |
11
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Section 5.03 | Pledged Securities |
11
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Section 5.04 | Liens |
12
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Section 5.05 | Debt |
12
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ARTICLE VI Remedial Provisions |
12
|
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Section 6.01 | Code and Other Remedies |
12
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Section 6.02 | Pledged Securities |
13
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Section 6.03 | Private Sales of Pledged Securities |
15
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Section 6.04 | Waiver; Deficiency |
16
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Section 6.05 | Non-Judicial Enforcement |
16
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i
Page
ARTICLE VII The Administrative Agent |
16
|
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Section 7.01 | Administrative Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, Etc |
16
|
Section 7.02 | Duty of Administrative Agent |
18
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Section 7.03 | Execution of Financing Statements |
18
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Section 7.04 | Authority of Administrative Agent |
19
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ARTICLE VIII Subordination of Indebtedness |
19
|
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Section 8.01 | Subordination of All Guarantor Claims |
19
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Section 8.02 | Claims in Bankruptcy |
19
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Section 8.03 | Payments Held in Trust |
20
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Section 8.04 | Liens Subordinate |
20
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Section 8.05 | Notation of Records |
20
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ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous |
20
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Section 9.01 | Waiver |
20
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Section 9.02 | Notices |
20
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Section 9.03 | Payment of Expenses, Indemnities, Etc |
21
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Section 9.04 | Amendments in Writing |
21
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Section 9.05 | Successors and Assigns |
21
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Section 9.06 | Survival; Revival; Reinstatement |
21
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Section 9.07 | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness |
22
|
Section 9.08 | Severability |
22
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Section 9.09 | Set-Off |
23
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Section 9.10 | Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction |
23
|
Section 9.11 | Headings |
24
|
Section 9.12 | Acknowledgments |
24
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Section 9.13 | Additional Guarantors and Guarantors |
25
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Section 9.14 | Releases |
25
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Section 9.15 | Acceptance |
26
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SCHEDULES:
1 Notice
Addresses of Guarantor
2 Description
of Pledged Securities
3 Filings
and Other Actions Required to Perfect Security Interests
4 Location
of Jurisdiction of Organization and Chief Executive Office
5 Debt
ii
This
GUARANTY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of February
16, 2007, is
made by
PETRO
RESOURCES CORPORATION,
a
Delaware
corporation (the
“Guarantor”)
in
favor of X.X.
XXXXX SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P.
as
administrative agent (in such capacity, together with its successors in such
capacity, the “Administrative
Agent”),
for
the lenders (the “Lenders”)
from
time to time parties to the Credit Agreement, dated of even date herewith (as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit
Agreement”),
among
PRC Williston LLC (the “Borrower”),
the
Lenders and the Administrative Agent.
R
E C I T A L S
A. The
Borrower has entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of the date
hereof.
B. It
is a
condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to make their respective
extensions of credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement that the
Guarantor shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Administrative
Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders.
C. Now,
therefore, in consideration of the premises herein and to induce the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and
to
induce the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower
thereunder, the Guarantor hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent, for
the
ratable benefit of the Lenders, as follows:
ARTICLE
I
Definitions
Section
1.01 Definitions.
(a) Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein
have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement, and all uncapitalized
terms which are defined in the UCC on the date hereof are used herein as so
defined.
(b) The
following terms have the following meanings:
“Agreement”
means
this Guaranty and Pledge Agreement, as the same may be amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Bankruptcy
Code”
means
title 11, United States Code, as amended from time to time.
“Borrower
Obligations”
means
the collective reference to the payment and performance of all Indebtedness
and
all obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under the Guaranteed
Documents, including, without limitation, the unpaid principal of and interest
on the Loans and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower and
its
Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, interest accruing at the then
applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the maturity of the
Loans
and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the
commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating
to
the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest
is allowed in such proceeding) to the Guaranteed Creditors, whether direct
or
indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or
hereafter incurred, which
may
arise
under, out of, or in connection with, the Guaranteed Documents, whether on
account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, payments in respect
of an early termination date, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise
(including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Guaranteed Creditors that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant
to
the terms of any Guaranteed Documents).
“Collateral”
has
the
meaning assigned such term in Section
3.01.
“Guaranteed
Creditors”
means
the collective reference to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the
Affiliates of Lenders that are parties to Guaranteed Swap
Agreements.
“Guaranteed
Documents”
means
the collective reference to the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents,
each
Guaranteed Swap Agreement and any other document made, delivered or given in
connection with any of the foregoing.
“Guaranteed
Swap Agreement”
means
any Swap Agreement between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and any
Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender while such Person (or, in the case of
an
Affiliate of a Lender, the Person affiliated therewith) is a Lender regardless
of when such Swap Agreement was entered into. For the avoidance of doubt, a
Swap
Agreement ceases to be a Guaranteed Swap Agreement if the Person that is the
counterparty to the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries under a Swap Agreement
ceases to be a Lender under the Credit Agreement (or, in the case of an
Affiliate of a Lender, the Person affiliated therewith ceases to be a Lender
under the Credit Agreement).
“Guarantor
Obligations”
means
with respect to the Guarantor, the collective reference to (a) the Borrower
Obligations and (b) all obligations and liabilities of the Guarantor which
may
arise under or in connection with any Guaranteed Document to which the Guarantor
is a party, in each case, whether on account of principal, interest, guarantee
obligations, reimbursement obligations, payments in respect of an early
termination date, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including,
without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to any Guaranteed
Creditor under any Guaranteed Document).
“Guarantor”
has
the
meaning given such term in the opening paragraph hereof.
“Issuers”
means
the collective reference to each issuer of a Pledged Security.
“LLC”
means,
with respect to the Guarantor, each limited liability company described or
referred to in Schedule 2 in which the Guarantor has an interest.
“LLC
Agreement”
means,
with respect to the Guarantor, each operating agreement relating to an LLC,
as
each agreement has heretofore been, and may hereafter be, amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Obligations”
means:
(a) in the case of the Borrower, the Borrower Obligations and (b) in the case
of
the Guarantor, its Guarantor Obligations.
2
“Guarantor
Claims”
has
the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01.
“Partnership”
means,
with respect to the Guarantor, each partnership described or referred to in
Schedule 2 in which the Guarantor has an interest.
“Partnership
Agreement”
means,
with respect to the Guarantor, each partnership agreement governing a
Partnership, as each such agreement has heretofore been, and may hereafter
be,
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified.
“Pledged
LLC Interests”
means,
with respect to the Guarantor, all right, title and interest of the Guarantor
as
a member of each LLC and all right, title and interest of the Guarantor in,
to
and under each LLC Agreement.
“Pledged
Partnership Interests”
means,
with respect to the Guarantor, all right, title and interest of the Guarantor
as
a limited or general partner in all Partnerships and all right, title and
interest of the Guarantor in, to and under the Partnership
Agreements.
“Pledged
Securities”
means:
(a) the Equity Interests described or referred to in Schedule 2 (as the same
may
be supplemented from time to time pursuant to a Supplement); and (b) (i) the
certificates or instruments, if any, representing such Equity Interests, (ii)
all dividends (cash, Equity Interests or otherwise), cash, instruments, rights
to subscribe, purchase or sell and all other rights and Property from time
to
time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange
for any or all of such securities, (iii) all replacements, additions to and
substitutions for any of the Property referred to in this definition, including,
without limitation, claims against third parties, (iv) the proceeds, interest,
profits and other income of or on any of the Property referred to in this
definition, (v) all security entitlements in respect of any of the foregoing,
if
any and (vi) all books and records relating to any of the Property referred
to
in this definition.
“Proceeds”
means
all “proceeds” as such term is defined in Section 9-102(64) of
the
Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof
and, in any event, shall include, without limitation, all dividends or other
income from the Pledged Securities, collections thereon or distributions or
payments with respect thereto.
“Securities
Act”
shall
mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“UCC”
means
the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of
New
York; provided, however, that, in the event that, by reason of mandatory
provisions of law, any of the attachment, perfection or priority of the
Administrative Agent’s and the Guaranteed Creditors’ security interest in any
Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a
jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the
Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes
of
the provisions hereof relating to such attachment, perfection, the effect
thereof or priority and for purposes of definitions related to such
provisions.
Section
1.02 Other
Definitional Provisions.
Where
the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof,
when
used in relation to a Guarantor, refer to the Guarantor’s Collateral or the
relevant part thereof.
3
Section
1.03 Rules
of Interpretation.
Section
1.03 and Section 1.04 of the Credit Agreement are hereby incorporated herein
by
reference and shall apply to this Agreement, mutatis
mutandis.
ARTICLE
II
Guarantee
Section
2.01 Guarantee.
(a) The
Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably, guarantees to the Guaranteed
Creditors and each of their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and
assigns, the prompt and complete payment in cash and performance by the Borrower
when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of
the
Borrower Obligations. This is a guarantee of payment and not collection and
the
liability of the Guarantor is primary and not secondary.
(b) Anything
herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the
maximum liability of the Guarantor hereunder and under the other Loan Documents
shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by the Guarantor
under applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency of debtors
(after giving effect to the right of contribution established in Error!
Reference source not found.).
(c) The
Guarantor agrees that the Borrower Obligations may at any time and from time
to
time exceed the amount of the liability of the Guarantor hereunder without
impairing the guarantee contained in this ARTICLE
II
or
affecting the rights and remedies of any Guaranteed Creditor
hereunder.
(d) The
Guarantor agrees that if the maturity of the Borrower Obligations is accelerated
by bankruptcy or otherwise, such maturity shall also be deemed accelerated
for
the purpose of this guarantee without demand or notice to the Guarantor. The
guarantee contained in this ARTICLE
II
shall
remain in full force and effect until all the Borrower Obligations shall have
been satisfied by payment in full in cash and all of the Commitments are
terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of the Credit
Agreement, no Borrower Obligations may be outstanding.
(e) No
payment made by any Person (other than a payment made by the Guarantor) or
received or collected by any Guaranteed Creditor from any Person (other than
a
payment received or collected from the Guarantor) by virtue of any action or
proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application, at any time or from
time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Borrower Obligations shall
be
deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of the
Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment (other than
any payment made by the Guarantor in respect of the Borrower Obligations or
any
payment received or collected from the Guarantor in respect of the Borrower
Obligations), remain liable for the Borrower Obligations up to the maximum
liability of the Guarantor hereunder until the Borrower Obligations are paid
in
full in cash and all of the Commitments are terminated.
Section
2.02 Intentionally
Omitted.
4
Section
2.03 No
Subrogation.
Notwithstanding any payment made by the Guarantor hereunder or any set-off
or
application of funds of the Guarantor by any Guaranteed Creditor, the Guarantor
shall not be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of any Guaranteed
Creditor against the Borrower or any other guarantor or any collateral security
or guarantee or right of offset held by any Guaranteed Creditor for the payment
of the Borrower Obligations, nor shall the Guarantor seek or be entitled to
seek
any indemnity, exoneration, participation, contribution or reimbursement from
the Borrower or any other Guarantor in respect of payments made by the Guarantor
hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Guaranteed Creditors by the Borrower
on account of the Borrower Obligations are irrevocably and indefeasibly paid
in
full in cash and all of the Commitments are terminated. If any amount shall
be
paid to the Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when
all
of the Borrower Obligations shall not have been irrevocably and indefeasibly
paid in full in cash, such amount shall be held by the Guarantor in trust for
the Guaranteed Creditors, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by the Guarantor,
be
turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by the
Guarantor (duly indorsed by the Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, if
required), to be applied against the Borrower Obligations, whether matured
or
unmatured, in accordance with Section 11.02(c) of the Credit
Agreement.
Section
2.04 Guaranty
Amendments, Etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations.
The
Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder, and the Guarantor’s obligations
hereunder shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected,
notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against the Guarantor
and without notice to, demand upon or further assent by the Guarantor (which
notice, demand and assent requirements are hereby expressly waived by the
Guarantor), (a)
any
demand for payment of any of the Borrower Obligations made by any Guaranteed
Creditor may be rescinded by such Guaranteed Creditor or otherwise and any
of
the Borrower Obligations continued; (b)
the
Borrower Obligations, the liability of any other Person upon or for any part
thereof or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset
with
respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed,
extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered
or
released by, or any indulgence or forbearance in respect thereof granted by,
any
Guaranteed Creditor; (c)
any
Guaranteed Document may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in
whole or in part, as the Guaranteed Creditors may deem advisable from time
to
time; (d)
any
collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by any
Guaranteed Creditor for the payment of the Borrower Obligations may be sold,
exchanged, waived, surrendered or released; (e)
any
additional guarantors, makers or endorsers of the Borrower’s Obligations may
from time to time be obligated on the Borrower’s Obligations or any additional
security or collateral for the payment and performance of the Borrower’s
Obligations may from time to time secure the Borrower’s Obligations; or
(f)
any
other event shall occur which constitutes a defense or release of sureties
generally. No Guaranteed Creditor shall have any obligation to protect, secure,
perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Borrower
Obligations or for the guarantee contained in this ARTICLE
II
or any
Property subject thereto.
Section
2.05 Waivers.
The
Guarantor hereby waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension
or accrual of any of the Borrower Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance
by any Guaranteed Creditor upon the guarantee contained in this ARTICLE
II
or
acceptance of the guarantee contained in this ARTICLE
II;
the
Borrower Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have
been
created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in
reliance upon the guarantee contained in this
5
ARTICLE
II
and no
notice of creation of the Borrower Obligations or any extension of credit
already or hereafter contracted by or extended to the Borrower need be given
to
the Guarantor;
and all dealings between the Borrower and the Guarantor, on the one hand,
and
the Guaranteed Creditors, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively
presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon the guarantee
contained in this ARTICLE
II.
The
Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and
notice
of default or nonpayment to or upon the Borrower or the Guarantor with respect
to the Borrower Obligations.
Section
2.06 Guaranty
Absolute and Unconditional.
(a) The
Guarantor understands and agrees that the guarantee contained in this
ARTICLE
II
is, and
shall be construed as, a continuing, completed, absolute and unconditional
guarantee of payment, and the Guarantor hereby waives any defense of a surety
or
guarantor or any other Guarantor on any obligations arising in connection with
or in respect of any of the following and hereby agrees that its obligations
hereunder shall not be discharged or otherwise affected as a result of any
of
the following:
(i) the
invalidity or unenforceability of any Guaranteed Document, any of the Borrower
Obligations or any other collateral security therefor or guarantee or right
of
offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by any
Guaranteed Creditor;
(ii) any
defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or
performance) which may at any time be available to or be asserted by the
Borrower or any other Person against any Guaranteed Creditor;
(iii) the
insolvency, bankruptcy arrangement, reorganization, adjustment, composition,
liquidation, disability, dissolution or lack of power of the Borrower or any
other guarantor or any other Person at any time liable for the payment of all
or
part of the Obligations, including any discharge of, or bar or stay against
collecting, any Obligation (or any part of them or interest therein) in or
as a
result of such proceeding;
(iv) any
sale,
lease or transfer of any or all of the assets of the Borrower, or any changes
in
the shareholders of the Borrower;
(v) any
change in the corporate existence (including its constitution, laws, rules,
regulations or power), structure or ownership of the Guarantor or in the
relationship between the Borrower and the Guarantor;
(vi) the
fact
that any Collateral or Lien contemplated or intended to be given, created or
granted as security for the repayment of the Obligations shall not be properly
perfected or created, or shall prove to be unenforceable or subordinate to
any
other Lien, it being recognized and agreed by the Guarantor that it is not
entering into this Agreement in reliance on, or in contemplation of the benefits
of, the validity, enforceability, collectability or value of any of the
Collateral for the Obligations;
(vii) the
absence of any attempt to collect the Obligations or any part of them from
the
Guarantor;
6
(viii) (A)
any
Guaranteed Creditor’s election, in any proceeding instituted under chapter 11 of
the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy
Code; (B) any borrowing or grant of a Lien by the Borrower, as
debtor-in-possession, or extension of credit, under Section 364 of the
Bankruptcy Code; (C) the disallowance, under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy
Code,
of all or any portion of any Guaranteed Creditor’s claim (or claims) for
repayment of the Obligations; (D) any use of cash collateral under Section
363
of the Bankruptcy Code; (E) any agreement or stipulation as to the provision
of
adequate protection in any bankruptcy proceeding; (F) the avoidance of any
Lien
in favor of the Guaranteed Creditors or any of them for any reason; or (G)
failure by any Guaranteed Creditor to file or enforce a claim against the
Borrower or its estate in any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding;
or
(ix) any
other
circumstance or act whatsoever, including any action or omission of the type
described in Section
2.04
(with or
without notice to or knowledge of the Borrower or the Guarantor), which
constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal
discharge of the Borrower for the Borrower Obligations, or of the Guarantor
under the guarantee contained in this ARTICLE
II,
in
bankruptcy or in any other instance.
(b) When
making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies
hereunder against the Guarantor, any Guaranteed Creditor may, but shall be
under
no obligation to, join or make a similar demand on or otherwise pursue or
exhaust such rights and remedies as it may have against the Borrower or any
other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Borrower
Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by
any
Guaranteed Creditor to make any such demand, to pursue such other rights or
remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any other Person or
to
realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such
right of offset, or any release of the Borrower or any other Person or any
such
collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve the
Guarantor of any obligation or liability hereunder, and shall not impair or
affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a
matter of law, of any Guaranteed Creditor against the Guarantor. For the
purposes hereof, “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any
legal proceedings.
Section
2.07 Reinstatement.
The
guarantee contained in this ARTICLE
II
shall
continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time
payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Borrower Obligations is rescinded
or
must otherwise be restored or returned by any Guaranteed Creditor upon the
insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the
Borrower or the Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a
receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for,
the
Borrower or the Guarantor or any substantial part of its Property, or otherwise,
all as though such payments had not been made.
Section
2.08 Payments.
The
Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid to the
Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors,
without set-off, deduction or counterclaim, in dollars, in immediately available
funds, at the offices of the Administrative Agent specified in Section 13.01
of
the Credit Agreement.
7
ARTICLE
III
Grant
of Security Interest
Section
3.01 Grant
of Security Interest.
The
Guarantor hereby pledges, assigns and transfers to the Administrative Agent,
and
hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the
Guaranteed Creditors, a security interest in all of the following Property
now
owned or at any time hereafter acquired by the Guarantor or in which the
Guarantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title
or
interest (collectively, the “Collateral”),
as
collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when
due
(whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the
Guarantor’s Obligations:
(1) all
Pledged Securities;
(2) all
books
and records pertaining to the Collateral; and
(3) to
the
extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of any and all of
the
foregoing, all Supporting Obligations (as defined in the UCC) in respect of
any
of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any Person
with respect to any of the foregoing.
Section
3.02 Transfer
of Pledged Securities.
To the
extent the Pledged Securities constitute “securities” under Article 8 of the
UCC, all certificates or instruments representing or evidencing such Pledged
Securities shall be delivered to and held by the Administrative Agent or a
Person designated by the Administrative Agent and shall be in suitable form
for
transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments
of
transfer or assignment in blank, and accompanied by any required transfer tax
stamps to effect the pledge and delivery of the Pledged Securities to the
Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, at the
Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion, to the extent the Pledged
Securities constitute “securities” under Article 8 of the UCC, all such Pledged
Securities must be delivered or transferred in such manner as to permit the
Administrative Agent to be a “protected purchaser” to the extent of its security
interest as provided in Section 8-303 of the UCC (if the Administrative Agent
otherwise qualifies as a protected purchaser). During the continuance of an
Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall have the right, at any time
in
its discretion and without notice, to transfer to or to register in the name
of
the Administrative Agent or any of its nominees any or all of the Pledged
Securities, subject only to the revocable rights specified in Section
6.03.
In
addition, during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative
Agent shall have the right at any time to exchange certificates or instruments
representing or evidencing Pledged Securities for certificates or instruments
of
smaller or larger denominations.
ARTICLE
IV
Representations
and Warranties
To
induce
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement
and
to induce the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the
Borrower thereunder and to induce the Lenders (and their Affiliates) to enter
into Swap Agreements with the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the Guarantor
hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender
that:
8
Section
4.01 Representations
in Credit Agreement.
The
Guarantor hereby incorporates by reference the representations and warranties
set forth in Sections 8.01, 8.02, 803 and 8.07 of the Credit Agreement
mutatis
mutandis
and
makes such representations and warranties as of the date hereof, as if they
were
fully set forth herein.
Section
4.02 Title;
No Other Liens.
Except
for the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent for the ratable
benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors pursuant to this Agreement, the Guarantor
is
the record and beneficial owner of its respective items of the Collateral free
and clear of any and all Liens and has rights in or the power to transfer each
item of the Collateral in which a Lien is granted by it hereunder, free and
clear of any Lien. No financing statement or other public notice with respect
to
all or any part of the Collateral is on file or of record in any public office,
except such as have been filed in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the
ratable benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors, pursuant to this Agreement or
the
other Security Instruments.
Section
4.03 Perfected
First Priority Liens.
Subject
to applicable laws concerning possession and perfection of uncertificated
securities, the security interests granted pursuant to this Agreement
(a)
upon the
completion of the filings and the other actions specified on Schedule 3
constitute valid perfected security interests in all of the Collateral in favor
of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed
Creditors, as collateral security for the Guarantor’s Obligations, enforceable
in accordance with the terms hereof against all creditors of the Guarantor
and
any Persons purporting to purchase any Collateral from the Guarantor and
(b)
are
prior to all other Liens on the Collateral in existence on the date
hereof.
Section
4.04 Guarantor
Information.
On the
date hereof, the correct legal name of the Guarantor, all names and trade names
that the Guarantor has used in the last five years, the Guarantor's jurisdiction
of organization and each jurisdiction of organization of the Guarantor over
the
last five years, organizational number, taxpayer identification number, and
the
location(s) of the Guarantor's chief executive office or sole place of business
over the last five years are specified on Schedule 4.
Section
4.05 Pledged
Securities.
(a) The
Pledged Securities required to be pledged hereunder and under the Credit
Agreement by the Guarantor are listed in Schedule 2. The Pledged Securities
pledged by the Guarantor hereunder constitute all the issued and outstanding
shares of all classes of the Equity Interests of each Issuer owned by the
Guarantor. All of the Pledged Securities have been duly and validly issued
and
are fully paid and nonassessable; and the Guarantor is the record and beneficial
owner of, and has good title to, the Pledged Securities pledged by it hereunder,
free of any and all Liens or options in favor of, or claims of, any other
Person, except the security interest created by this Agreement, and has rights
in or the power to transfer the Pledged Securities in which a Lien is granted
by
it hereunder, free and clear of any Lien.
(b) There
are
no restrictions on transfer (that have not been waived or otherwise consented
to) in the LLC Agreement governing any Pledged LLC Interest and the Partnership
Agreement governing any Pledged Partnership Interest or any other agreement
relating thereto which would limit or restrict (i)
the
grant of a security interest in the Pledged LLC Interests and the Pledged
Partnership Interests, (ii)
the
perfection of such security interest or (iii)
the
exercise of remedies in respect of such perfected security interest in the
Pledged LLC Interests and the Pledged Partnership Interests, in each case,
as
contemplated by this Agreement. Upon the exercise of remedies in respect of
the
Pledged LLC Interests and the Pledged Partnership Interests, a transferee or
assignee of a membership interest or partnership interest, as the case may
be,
of such LLC or Partnership, as the case may be, shall become a member or
partner, as the case may be, of such LLC or Partnership, as the case may be,
entitled to participate in the management thereof (subject to any limitations
in
any partnership agreement applicable to management of the partnership by a
limited partner) and, upon the transfer of the entire interest of the Guarantor,
the Guarantor shall cease to be a member or partner, as the case may
be.
9
Section
4.06 Benefit
to the Guarantor.
The
Borrower is a member of an affiliated group of companies that includes the
Guarantor, and the Borrower and the Guarantor are engaged in related businesses.
The Borrower is the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Guarantor and the Guarantor’s
guaranty and surety obligations pursuant to this Agreement reasonably may be
expected to benefit, directly or indirectly, it; and it has determined that
this
Agreement is necessary and convenient to the conduct, promotion and attainment
of the business of the Guarantor and the Borrower.
Section
4.07 Solvency.
The
Guarantor (a)
is not
insolvent as of the date hereof and will not be rendered insolvent as a result
of this Agreement (after giving effect to Error!
Reference source not found.),
(b)
is not
engaged in a business or a transaction, or about to engage in a business or
a
transaction, for which any Property remaining with it constitutes unreasonably
small capital, and (c)
does not
intend to incur, or believe it will incur, Debt that will be beyond its ability
to pay as such Debt matures.
ARTICLE
V
Covenants
The
Guarantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
that, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Borrower Obligations
shall have been paid in full in cash and all of the Commitments shall have
terminated:
Section
5.01 Maintenance
of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation.
The
Guarantor agrees that:
(a) it
shall
maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a perfected security
interest having at least the priority described in Section
4.03
and
shall defend such security interest against the claims and demands of all
Persons whomsoever.
(b) it
will
furnish to the Administrative Agent from time to time statements and schedules
further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other reports in
connection with the Collateral as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
request, all in reasonable detail.
(c) At
any
time and from time to time, upon the written request of the Administrative
Agent, and at the sole expense of the Guarantor, it will promptly and duly
execute and deliver, and have recorded, such further instruments and documents
and take such further actions as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem
necessary for the purpose of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of this
Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted, including, without
limitation, the delivery of certificated securities and the filing of any
financing or continuation statements under the UCC (or other similar laws)
in
effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created
hereby.
10
Section
5.02 Changes
in Locations, Name, Etc.
The
Guarantor recognizes that financing statements pertaining to the Collateral
have
been or may be filed where the Guarantor maintains any Collateral or is
organized. Without limitation of Section 9.01(n) of the Credit Agreement or
any
other covenant herein, the Guarantor will not cause or permit any change in
its
(a)
corporate name or in any trade name used to identify it in the conduct of its
business or in the ownership of its Properties, (b)
the
location of its chief executive office or principal place of business,
(c)
its
identity or corporate structure or in the jurisdiction in which it is
incorporated or formed, (d)
its
jurisdiction of organization or its organizational identification number in
such
jurisdiction of organization or (e)
its
federal taxpayer identification number, unless, in each case, the Guarantor
shall have first (i)
notified
the Administrative Agent of such change at least thirty (30) days prior to
the
effective date of such change, and (ii)
taken
all action reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent for the purpose
of
maintaining the perfection and priority of the Administrative Agent's security
interests under this Agreement. In any notice furnished pursuant to this
Section
5.02,
the
Guarantor will expressly state in a conspicuous manner that the notice is
required by this Agreement and contains facts that may require additional
filings of financing statements or other notices for the purposes of continuing
perfection of the Administrative Agent's security interest in the Collateral.
At
the request of the Administrative Agent, on or prior to the occurrence of such
event, the Guarantor shall cause the Borrower to provide to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to the effect that such event will
not
impair the validity of the security interests hereunder, the perfection and
priority thereof, the enforceability of the Loan Documents, and such other
matters as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.
Section
5.03 Pledged
Securities.
(a) If
the
Guarantor shall become entitled to receive or shall receive any stock
certificate (including, without limitation, any certificate representing a
stock
dividend or a distribution in connection with any reclassification, increase
or
reduction of capital or any certificate issued in connection with any
reorganization), option or rights in respect of the Equity Interests of any
Issuer, whether in addition to, in substitution of, as a conversion of, or
in
exchange for, any of the Pledged Securities, or otherwise in respect thereof,
the Guarantor shall accept the same as the agent of the Guaranteed Creditors,
hold the same in trust for the Guaranteed Creditors, segregated from other
Property of the Guarantor, and deliver the same forthwith to the Administrative
Agent in the exact form received, duly indorsed by the Guarantor to the
Administrative Agent, if required, together with an undated stock power covering
such certificate duly executed in blank by the Guarantor and with, if the
Administrative Agent so requests, signature guaranteed, to be held by the
Administrative Agent, subject to the terms hereof, as additional collateral
security for the Obligations.
11
(b) Without
the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Guarantor will not
(i)
unless
otherwise expressly permitted hereby or under the other Loan Documents, vote
to
enable, or take any other action to permit, any Issuer to issue any Equity
Interests of any nature or to issue any other securities convertible into or
granting the right to purchase or exchange for any Equity Interests of any
nature of any Issuer, (ii)
sell,
assign, transfer, exchange, or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with
respect to, the Pledged Securities or Proceeds thereof (except pursuant to
a
transaction expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement), (iii)
create,
incur or permit to exist any Lien or option in favor of, or any claim of any
Person with respect to, any of the Pledged Securities or Proceeds thereof,
or
any interest therein, except for the security interests created by this
Agreement or (iv)
enter
into any agreement or undertaking restricting the right or ability of the
Guarantor or the Administrative Agent to sell, assign or transfer any of the
Pledged Securities or Proceeds thereof.
(c) The
Guarantor shall furnish to the Administrative Agent such stock powers and other
instruments as may be required by the Administrative Agent to assure the
transferability of the Pledged Securities when and as often as may be reasonably
requested by the Administrative Agent.
(d) The
Pledged Securities will at all times constitute not less than 100% of the Equity
Interests of the Issuer thereof owned by the Guarantor. The Guarantor will
not
permit any Issuer of any of the Pledged Securities to issue any new shares
of
any class of Equity Interests of such Issuer without the prior written consent
of the Administrative Agent.
Section
5.04 Liens.
The
Guarantor will not create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any
of
its Properties (now owned or hereafter acquired) except (a) Liens securing
the
payment of any Borrower Obligations and (b) Excepted Liens.
Section
5.05 Debt.
The
Gurantor will not incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Debt,
except
(a) the
guaranty provided hereunder;
(b) accounts
payable and accrued expenses, liabilities or other obligations to pay the
deferred purchase price of Property or services, from time to time incurred
in
the ordinary course of business that are not greater than sixty (60) days past
the date of receipt of the invoice or delinquent or that are being contested
in
good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been
maintained in accordance with GAAP; and
(c) Debt
existing on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 5 hereto.
12
ARTICLE
VI
Remedial
Provisions
Section
6.01 Code
and Other Remedies.
(a) Upon
the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative
Agent, on behalf of the Guaranteed Creditors, may exercise, in addition to
all
other rights and remedies granted to them in this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents and in any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or
relating to the Obligations, all rights and remedies of a secured party under
the UCC or any other applicable law or otherwise available at law or equity.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent,
without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest,
advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law referred
to below) to or upon the Guarantor or any other Person (all and each of which
demands, defenses, advertisements and notices are hereby waived), may in such
circumstances forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the
Collateral, or any part thereof, and/or may forthwith sell, assign, give option
or options to purchase, or otherwise dispose of and deliver the Collateral
or
any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), at public or private
sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or office of any Guaranteed
Creditor or elsewhere upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable
and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future
delivery without assumption of any credit risk. Upon any such sale or transfer,
the Administrative Agent shall have the right to deliver, assign and transfer
to
the purchaser or transferee thereof the Collateral so sold or transferred.
The
Administrative Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it
pursuant to this Section
6.01,
after
deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred in connection
therewith or incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral
or
in any way relating to the Collateral or the rights of the Administrative Agent
and the Guaranteed Creditors hereunder, including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, to the payment in whole or in part
of the Obligations, in accordance with Section 11.02(c) of the Credit Agreement,
and only after such application and after the payment by the Administrative
Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, including, without
limitation, Section 9-615 of the UCC, need the Administrative Agent account
for
the surplus, if any, to the Guarantor. To the extent permitted by applicable
law, the Guarantor waives all claims, damages and demands it may acquire against
the Administrative Agent or any Guaranteed Creditor arising out of the exercise
by them of any rights hereunder except to the extent caused by the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or such Guaranteed
Creditor or their respective agents.
(b) In
the
event that the Administrative Agent elects not to sell the Collateral, the
Administrative Agent retains its rights to dispose of or utilize the Collateral
or any part or parts thereof in any manner authorized or permitted by law or
in
equity, and to apply the proceeds of the same towards payment of the
Obligations. Each and every method of disposition of the Collateral described
in
this Agreement shall constitute disposition in a commercially reasonable
manner.
(c) The
Administrative Agent may appoint any Person as agent to perform any act or
acts
necessary or incident to any sale or transfer of the Collateral.
Section
6.02 Pledged
Securities.
(a) Unless
an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative
Agent shall have given notice to the Guarantor of the Administrative Agent’s
intent to exercise its corresponding rights pursuant to Section
6.02(c),
the
Guarantor shall be permitted to receive all cash dividends paid in respect
of
the Pledged Securities paid in the normal course of business of the relevant
Issuer (other than liquidating or distributing dividends), to the extent
permitted by Section 10.04 of the Credit Agreement. Any
13
sums
paid
upon or in respect of any Pledged Securities upon the liquidation or dissolution
of any issuer of any Pledged Securities, any distribution of capital made
on or
in respect of any Pledged Securities or any property distributed upon or
with
respect to any Pledged Securities pursuant to the recapitalization or
reclassification of the capital of any issuer of Pledged Securities or pursuant
to the reorganization thereof shall, unless otherwise subject to a perfected
security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, be delivered to the
Administrative Agent to be held by it hereunder as additional collateral
security for the Obligations. If any sum of money or property so paid or
distributed in respect of any Pledged Securities shall be received by the
Guarantor, the Guarantor shall, until such money or property is paid or
delivered to the Administrative Agent, hold such money or property in trust
for
the Administrative Agent, segregated from other funds of the Guarantor, as
additional security for the Obligations.
(b) Unless
an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the and the
Administrative Agent shall have given notice to the Guarantor of the
Administrative Agent’s intent to exercise its corresponding rights pursuant to
Section
6.02(c),
the
Guarantor shall be entitled to exercise all voting, consent and corporate,
partnership or limited liability company rights with respect to the Pledged
Securities; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast, consent given or
right exercised or other action taken by the Guarantor that would impair the
Collateral, be inconsistent with or result in any violation of any provision
of
the Credit Agreement, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or, without
the
prior consent of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, enable or permit
any
issuer of Pledged Securities to issue any Equity Interest or to issue any other
securities convertible into or granting the right to purchase or exchange for
any Stock of any issuer of Pledged Securities other than as permitted by the
Credit Agreement.
(c) Upon
the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon notice by
the
Administrative Agent of its intent to exercise such rights to the Guarantor,
(i)
the
Administrative Agent shall have the right to receive any and all cash dividends,
payments, Property or other Proceeds paid in respect of the Pledged Securities
and make application thereof to the Borrower Obligations in accordance with
Section 11.02(c) of the Credit Agreement, and (ii)
any or
all of the Pledged Securities shall be registered in the name of the
Administrative Agent or its nominee, and (iii)
the
Administrative Agent or its nominee may exercise (A)
all
voting, consent, corporate, partnership or limited liability company and other
rights pertaining to such Pledged Securities at any meeting of shareholders,
partners or members (or other equivalent body), as the case may be, of the
relevant Issuer or Issuers or otherwise and (B) any and all rights of
conversion, exchange and subscription and any other rights, privileges or
options pertaining to such Pledged Securities as if it were the absolute owner
thereof (including, without limitation, the right to exchange at its discretion
any and all of the Pledged Securities upon the merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization or other fundamental change in the
organizational structure of any Issuer, or upon the exercise by the Guarantor
or
the Administrative Agent of any right, privilege or option pertaining to such
Pledged Securities, and in connection therewith, the right to deposit and
deliver any and all of the Pledged Securities with any committee, depositary,
transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms and
conditions as the Administrative Agent may determine), all without liability
except to account for Property actually received by it, but the Administrative
Agent shall have no duty to the Guarantor to exercise any such right, privilege
or option and shall not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in
so
doing.
14
(d) Upon
the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, in order to permit
the Administrative Agent to exercise the voting and other consensual rights
that
it may be entitled to exercise pursuant hereto and to receive all dividends
and
other distributions that it may be entitled to receive hereunder, (i)
the
Guarantor shall promptly execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and
delivered) to the Administrative Agent all such proxies, dividend payment orders
and other instruments as the Administrative Agent may from time to time
reasonably request and (ii)
without
limiting the effect of clause (i) above, the Guarantor hereby grants to the
Administrative Agent an irrevocable proxy to vote all or any part of the Pledged
Securities and to exercise all other rights, powers, privileges and remedies
to
which a holder of the Pledged Securities would be entitled (including giving
or
withholding written consents of shareholders, partners or members, as the case
may be, calling special meetings of shareholders, partners or members, as the
case may be, and voting at such meetings), which proxy shall be effective,
automatically and without the necessity of any action (including any transfer
of
any Pledged Securities on the record books of the Issuer thereof) by any other
Person (including the Issuer of such Pledged Securities or
any
officer or agent thereof).
(e) The
Guarantor hereby authorizes and instructs each Issuer of any Pledged Securities
pledged by the Guarantor hereunder to (i)
comply
with any instruction received by it from the Administrative Agent in writing
that (A) states that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and
(B)
is otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without any other
or further instructions from the Guarantor, and the Guarantor agrees that each
Issuer shall be fully protected in so complying, and (ii)
unless
otherwise expressly permitted hereby, pay any dividends or other payments with
respect to the Pledged Securities directly to the Administrative
Agent.
(f) Upon
the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, if the Issuer
of
any Pledged Securities is the subject of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership,
custodianship or other proceedings under the supervision of any Governmental
Authority, then all rights of the Guarantor in respect thereof to exercise
the
voting and other consensual rights which the Guarantor would otherwise be
entitled to exercise with respect to the Pledged Securities issued by such
Issuer shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the
Administrative Agent who shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise such
voting and other consensual rights, but the Administrative Agent shall have
no
duty to exercise any such voting or other consensual rights and shall not be
responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so doing.
Section
6.03 Private
Sales of Pledged Securities.
(a) The
Guarantor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable to effect
a
public sale of any or all the Pledged Securities, by reason of certain
prohibitions contained in the Securities Act and applicable state securities
laws or otherwise or may determine that a public sale is impracticable or not
commercially reasonable and, accordingly, and may resort to one or more private
sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers which will be obliged to
agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account
for
investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. The
Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in
prices and
15
other
terms less favorable than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding
such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall be deemed to
have
been made in a commercially reasonable manner. The Administrative Agent shall
be
under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Securities for
the
period of time necessary to permit the Issuer thereof to register such
securities for public sale under the Securities Act, or under applicable
state
securities laws, even if such Issuer would agree to do so.
(b) The
Guarantor agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to do or cause to be
done all such other acts as may reasonably be necessary to make such sale or
sales of all or any portion of the Pledged Securities pursuant to this
Section
6.03
valid
and binding and in compliance with any and all other applicable Governmental
Requirements. The Guarantor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants
contained in this Section
6.03
will
cause irreparable injury to the Guaranteed Creditors, that the Guaranteed
Creditors have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as
a
consequence, that each and every covenant contained in this Section
6.03
shall be
specifically enforceable against the Guarantor, and the Guarantor hereby waives
and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance
of such covenants except for a defense that no Event of Default has occurred
or
is continuing under the Credit Agreement.
Section
6.04 Waiver;
Deficiency.
The
Guarantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale
or
other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay its Obligations
and
the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Administrative
Agent
or any Guaranteed Creditor to collect such deficiency.
Section
6.05 Non-Judicial
Enforcement.
The
Administrative Agent may enforce its rights hereunder without prior judicial
process or judicial hearing, and to the extent permitted by law, the Guarantor
expressly waives any and all legal rights which might otherwise require the
Administrative Agent to enforce its rights by judicial process.
ARTICLE
VII
The
Administrative Agent
Section
7.01 Administrative
Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, Etc.
(a) The
Guarantor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent
and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true
and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the
place and stead of the Guarantor and in the name of the Guarantor or in its
own
name, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take
any
and all reasonably appropriate action and to execute any and all documents
and
instruments which may be reasonably necessary or desirable to accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement, and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Guarantor hereby gives the Administrative Agent the power and
right, on behalf of the Guarantor, without notice to or assent by the Guarantor,
to do any or all of the following:
16
(i) in
the
name of the Guarantor or its own name, or otherwise, take possession of and
indorse and collect any check, draft, note, acceptance or other instrument
for
the payment of moneys due with respect to any Collateral and file any claim
or
take any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise
deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of collecting
any
such moneys due with respect to any other Collateral whenever
payable;
(ii) unless
being disputed under Section 9.04 of the Credit Agreement, pay or discharge
Taxes and Liens levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral, effect
any repairs or any insurance called for by the terms of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document and pay all or any part of the premiums therefor and the
costs thereof;
(iii) execute,
in connection with any sale provided for in Section
6.01
or
Section
6.03,
any
endorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with
respect to the Collateral; and
(iv) (A)
direct any party liable for any payment under any of the Collateral to make
payment of any and all moneys due or to become due thereunder directly to the
Administrative Agent or as the Administrative Agent shall direct; (B) ask or
demand for, collect, and receive payment of and receipt for, any and all moneys,
claims and other amounts due or to become due at any time in respect of or
arising out of any Collateral; (C) commence and prosecute any suits, actions
or
proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to
collect the Collateral or any portion thereof and to enforce any other right
in
respect of any Collateral; (D) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought
against the Guarantor with respect to any Collateral; (E) settle, compromise
or
adjust any such suit, action or proceeding and, in connection therewith, give
such discharges or releases as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate;
and (F) generally, sell, transfer, pledge and make any agreement with respect
to
or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though
the Administrative Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes,
and
do, at the Administrative Agent’s option and the Guarantor’s expense, at any
time, or from time to time, all acts and things which the Administrative Agent
deems necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the
Administrative Agent’s and the Guaranteed Creditors’ security interests therein
and to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as
the
Guarantor might do.
Anything
in this Section
7.01(a)
to the
contrary notwithstanding, the Administrative Agent agrees that it will not
exercise any rights under the power of attorney provided for in this
Section
7.01(a)
unless
an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(b) If
the
Guarantor fails to perform or comply with any of its agreements contained herein
within the applicable grace periods, the Administrative Agent, at its option,
but without any obligation so to do, may perform or comply, or otherwise cause
performance or compliance, with such agreement.
(c) The
expenses of the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with actions
undertaken as provided in this Section
7.01,
together with interest thereon at a rate per annum equal to the post-default
rate specified in Section 3.02(b) of the Credit Agreement, but in no event
to
exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, from the date of payment by the Administrative
Agent to the date reimbursed by the Guarantor, shall be payable by the Guarantor
to the Administrative Agent on demand.
17
(d) The
Guarantor hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall lawfully do or cause
to
be done by virtue and in compliance hereof. All powers, authorizations and
agencies contained in this Agreement are coupled with an interest and are
irrevocable until this Agreement is terminated.
Section
7.02 Duty
of Administrative Agent.
The
Administrative Agent’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and
physical preservation of the Collateral in its possession, under
Section 9-207
of
the UCC or otherwise, shall be to deal with it in the same manner as the
Administrative Agent deals with similar Property for its own account and shall
be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation
of
the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment
substantially equal to that which comparable secured parties accord comparable
collateral. Neither the Administrative Agent, any Guaranteed Creditor nor any
of
their Related Parties shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize
upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any
obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request
of
the Guarantor or any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with
regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The powers conferred on the
Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed Creditors hereunder are solely to
protect the Administrative Agent’s and the Guaranteed Creditors’ interests in
the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent
or
any Guaranteed Creditor to exercise any such powers. The Administrative Agent
and the Guaranteed Creditors shall be accountable only for amounts that they
actually receive as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither they
nor any of their Related Parties shall be responsible to the Guarantor for
any
act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or
willful misconduct. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the
Administrative Agent shall be under no duty whatsoever to make or give any
presentment, notice of dishonor, protest, demand for performance, notice of
non-performance, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, or
other notice or demand in connection with any Collateral or the Obligations,
or
to take any steps necessary to preserve any rights against the Guarantor or
other Person or ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls,
conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any
Collateral, whether or not it has or is deemed to have knowledge of such
matters. The Guarantor, to the extent permitted by applicable law, waives any
right of marshaling in respect of any and all Collateral, and waives any right
to require the Administrative Agent or any Guaranteed Creditor to proceed
against any Person, exhaust any Collateral or enforce any other remedy which
the
Administrative Agent or any Guaranteed Creditor now has or may hereafter have
against any Person.
Section
7.03 Execution
of Financing Statements.
Pursuant to the UCC and any other applicable law, the Guarantor authorizes
the
Administrative Agent to file or record financing statements and other filing
or
recording documents or instruments with respect to the Collateral without the
signature of the Guarantor in such form and in such offices as the
Administrative Agent reasonably determines appropriate to perfect the security
interests of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement. A photographic
or
other reproduction of this Agreement shall be sufficient as a financing
statement or other filing or recording document or instrument for filing or
recording in any jurisdiction.
18
Section
7.04 Authority
of Administrative Agent.
The
Guarantor acknowledges that the rights and responsibilities of the
Administrative Agent under this Agreement with respect to any action taken
by
the Administrative Agent or the exercise or non-exercise by the Administrative
Agent of any option, voting right, request, judgment or other right or remedy
provided for herein or resulting or arising out of this Agreement shall, as
between the Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed Creditors, be governed
by
the Credit Agreement and by such other agreements with respect thereto as may
exist from time to time among them, but, as between the Administrative Agent
and
the Guarantor, the Administrative Agent shall be conclusively presumed to be
acting as agent for the Guaranteed Creditors with full and valid authority
so to
act or refrain from acting, and the Guarantor shall not be under any obligation,
or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.
ARTICLE
VIII
Subordination
of Indebtedness
Section
8.01 Subordination
of All Guarantor Claims.
As used
herein, the term “Guarantor
Claims”
shall
mean all debts and obligations of the Borrower owing to the Guarantor, whether
such debts and obligations now exist or are hereafter incurred or arise, or
whether the obligation of the debtor thereon be direct, contingent, primary,
secondary, several, joint and several, or otherwise, and irrespective of whether
such debts or obligations be evidenced by note, contract, open account, or
otherwise, and irrespective of the Person or Persons in whose favor such debts
or obligations may, at their inception, have been, or may hereafter be created,
or the manner in which they have been or may hereafter be acquired by. After
and
during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Guarantor shall not receive
or collect, directly or indirectly, from any other Guarantor in respect thereof
any amount upon the Guarantor Claims.
Section
8.02 Claims
in Bankruptcy.
In the
event of receivership, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, debtor’s relief,
or other insolvency proceedings involving the Guarantor, the Administrative
Agent on behalf of the Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed Creditors shall
have the right to prove their claim in any proceeding, so as to establish their
rights hereunder and receive directly from the receiver, trustee or other court
custodian, dividends and payments which would otherwise be payable upon
Guarantor Claims. The Guarantor hereby assigns such dividends and payments
to
the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the
Guaranteed Creditors for application against the Borrower Obligations as
provided under Section 11.02(c) of the Credit Agreement. Should the
Administrative Agent or Guaranteed Creditor receive, for application upon the
Obligations, any such dividend or payment which is otherwise payable to the
Guarantor, and which shall constitute a credit upon the Guarantor Claims, then
upon payment in full in cash of the Borrower Obligations and the termination
of
all of the Commitments, the intended recipient shall become subrogated to the
rights of the Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed Creditors to the extent
that such payments to the Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed Creditors
on
the Guarantor Claims have contributed toward the liquidation of the Obligations,
and such subrogation shall be with respect to that proportion of the Obligations
which would have been unpaid if the Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed
Creditors had not received dividends or payments upon the Guarantor
Claims.
19
Section
8.03 Payments
Held in Trust.
In the
event that, notwithstanding Section
8.01
and
Section
8.02,
the
Guarantor should receive any funds, payments, claims or distributions which
is
prohibited by such Sections, then it agrees: (a)
to hold
in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed Creditors an amount
equal to the amount of all funds, payments, claims or distributions so received,
and (b)
that it
shall have absolutely no dominion over the amount of such funds, payments,
claims or distributions except to pay them promptly to the Administrative Agent,
for the benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors; and the Guarantor covenants
promptly to pay the same to the Administrative Agent.
Section
8.04 Liens
Subordinate.
The
Guarantor agrees that, until the Borrower Obligations are paid in full in cash
and the termination of all of the Commitments, any Liens securing payment of
the
Guarantor Claims shall be and remain inferior and subordinate to any Liens
securing payment of the Obligations, regardless of whether such encumbrances
in
favor of the Guarantor, the Administrative Agent or any Guaranteed Creditor
presently exist or are hereafter created or attach. Without the prior written
consent of the Administrative Agent, the Guarantor, during the period in which
any of the Borrower Obligations are outstanding or the Commitments are in
effect, shall not (a)
exercise
or enforce any creditor’s right it may have against any debtor in respect of the
Guarantor Claims, or (b)
foreclose, repossess, sequester or otherwise take steps or institute any action
or proceeding (judicial or otherwise, including without limitation the
commencement of or joinder in any liquidation, bankruptcy, rearrangement,
debtor’s relief or insolvency proceeding) to enforce any Lien securing payment
of the Guarantor Claims held by it.
Section
8.05 Notation
of Records.
Upon
the request of the Administrative Agent, all promissory notes and all accounts
receivable ledgers or other evidence of the Guarantor Claims accepted by or
held
by the Guarantor shall contain a specific written notice thereon that the
indebtedness evidenced thereby is subordinated under the terms of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
IX
Miscellaneous
Section
9.01 Waiver.
No
failure on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise and
no
delay in exercising, and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, power,
privilege or remedy or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce
such right, power, privilege or remedy under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right, power, privilege or remedy under this Agreement or any
other Loan Document preclude or be construed as a waiver of any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, privilege or remedy.
The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies
provided by law or equity.
Section
9.02 Notices.
All
notices and other communications provided for herein shall be given in the
manner and subject to the terms of Section 13.01 of the Credit Agreement;
provided that any such notice, request or demand to or upon the Guarantor shall
be addressed to the Guarantor at its notice address set forth on Schedule
1.
20
Section
9.03 Payment
of Expenses, Indemnities, Etc.
(a) The
Guarantor agrees to pay or reimburse each Guaranteed Creditor and the
Administrative Agent for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Person,
including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the
Administrative Agent or any Guaranteed Creditor, in connection with the
enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement or
any
other Loan Document, including, without limitation, all costs and expenses
incurred in collecting against the Guarantor under the guarantee contained
in
ARTICLE
II
or
otherwise enforcing or preserving any rights under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents to which the Guarantor is a party.
(b) The
Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed
Creditors harmless from, any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting
from any delay in paying, any and all Other Taxes which may be payable or
determined to be payable with respect to any of the Collateral or in connection
with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) The
Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed
Creditors harmless from, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any
kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement,
performance and administration of this Agreement to the extent the Borrower
would be required to do so pursuant to Section 13.03 of the Credit
Agreement.
Section
9.04 Amendments
in Writing.
None of
the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be waived, amended, supplemented
or otherwise modified except in accordance with Section 13.02 of the Credit
Agreement.
Section
9.05 Successors
and Assigns.
The
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the Guarantor and its
successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative
Agent and the Guaranteed Creditors and their respective successors and assigns.
The Guarantor may not assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or
obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and any such purported assignment,
transfer or delegation shall be null and void.
Section
9.06 Survival;
Revival; Reinstatement.
(a) All
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Guarantor
herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection
with
or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document to which it is a party
shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Administrative Agent and
the
Lenders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the
making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other
party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or
any
Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect
representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended
hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal
of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable
under the Credit
21
Agreement
is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired
or
terminated. The provisions of Section
9.03
shall
survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans and the
Commitments or the termination of this Agreement, any other Loan Document
or any
provision hereof or thereof.
(b) To
the
extent that any payments on the Guarantor Obligations or proceeds of any
Collateral are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or
preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, debtor in
possession, receiver or other Person under any bankruptcy law, common law or
equitable cause, then to such extent, the Guarantor Obligations so satisfied
shall be revived and continue as if such payment or proceeds had not been
received and the Administrative Agent’s and the Guaranteed Creditors’ Liens,
security interests, rights, powers and remedies under this Agreement and each
other Loan Document shall continue in full force and effect. In such event,
each
Loan Document shall be automatically reinstated and the Borrower shall take
such
action as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and the
Guaranteed Creditors to effect such reinstatement.
Section
9.07 Counterparts;
Integration; Effectiveness.
(a) This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto
on
different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all
of
which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.
(b) This
Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with
respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire
contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof
and
supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written,
relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG
THE
PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,
CONTEMPERANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.
(c) This
Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the
Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received
counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each
of
the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to
the
benefit of the parties hereto, the Lenders and their respective successors
and
assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this
Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed
counterpart of this Agreement.
Section
9.08 Severability.
Any
provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be
ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability
without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions hereof or thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision
in a
particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
22
Section
9.09 Set-Off.
If an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each
of
its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits
(general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held
and
other obligations (of whatsoever kind, including, without limitations
obligations under Swap Agreements) at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate
to or for the credit or the account of the Guarantor against any of and all
the
obligations of the Guarantor owed to such Lender now or hereafter existing
under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, irrespective of whether or not such
Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each
Lender under this Section
9.09
are in
addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which
such Lender or its Affiliates may have.
Section
9.10 Governing
Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.
(a) THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS
OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK. NOTWITHSTANDING
ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, IN THE EVENT THAT, BY
REASON OF MANDATORY PROVISIONS OF LAW, ANY OF THE ATTACHMENT, PERFECTION OR
PRIORITY OF THE SECURED PARTY’S SECURITY INTEREST IN ANY OF THE PLEDGED
SECURITIES IS REQUIRED TO BE GOVERNED BY THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE AS IN
EFFECT IN A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK (THE “OTHER
UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE”),
THEN,
FOR PURPOSES OF THE PROVISIONS HEREOF RELATING TO SUCH ATTACHMENT, PERFECTION,
THE EFFECT THEREOF OR PRIORITY, AND FOR PURPOSES OF DEFINITIONS RELATED TO
SUCH
PROVISIONS, SUCH OTHER UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE SHALL CONTROL.
(b) ANY
LEGAL
ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT
SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY
OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND (TO THE
EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW) IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH PARTY HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION
TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH
IT
MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING
IN
SUCH RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS. THIS SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION IS NON-EXCLUSIVE
AND DOES NOT PRECLUDE A PARTY FROM OBTAINING JURISDICTION OVER ANOTHER PARTY
IN
ANY COURT OTHERWISE HAVING JURISDICTION.
23
(c) EACH
PARTY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OF ANY OF THE
AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES
THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO IT AT THE ADDRESS
SPECIFIED IN SECTION 13.01 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT (OR SUCH OTHER ADDRESS AS
IS
SPECIFIED PURSUANT TO SECTION 13.01 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT) OR SCHEDULE 1
HERETO, AS APPLICABLE, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER
SUCH MAILING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF A PARTY OR ANY HOLDER
OF
A NOTE TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANOTHER PARTY IN ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION.
(d) EACH
PARTY HEREBY (1) IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING
TO
THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN;
(2)
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT
IT
MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECOVER IN ANY SUCH LITIGATION ANY SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY,
PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES OTHER THAN, OR IN ADDITION TO,
ACTUAL DAMAGES; (3) CERTIFIES THAT NO PARTY HERETO NOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE OR
AGENT OF COUNSEL FOR ANY PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE,
OR IMPLIED THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO
ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS, AND (4) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED
TO
ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS
AND
CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 9.10.
Section
9.11 Headings.
Article
and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience
of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the
construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this
Agreement.
Section
9.12 Acknowledgments.
The
Guarantor hereby acknowledges that:
(a) it
has
been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party;
(b) neither
the Administrative Agent nor any Guaranteed Creditor has any fiduciary
relationship with or duty to the Guarantor arising out of or in connection
with
this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between
the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and Guaranteed
Creditors, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely
that
of debtor and creditor;
24
(c) no
joint
venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists
by
virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Guaranteed Creditors
or
among the Guarantor and the Guaranteed Creditors; and
(d) Each
of
the parties hereto specifically agrees that it has a duty to read this
Agreement, the Security Instruments and the other Loan Documents and agrees
that
it is charged with notice and knowledge of the terms of this Agreement, the
Security Instruments and the other Loan Documents; that it has in fact read
this
Agreement, the Security Instruments and the other Loan Documents and is fully
informed and has full notice and knowledge of the terms, conditions and effects
thereof; that it has been represented by independent legal counsel of its choice
throughout the negotiations preceding its execution of this Agreement and the
Security Instruments; and has received the advice of its attorney in entering
into this Agreement and the Security Instruments; and that it recognizes that
certain of the terms of this Agreement and the Security Instruments result
in
one party assuming the liability inherent in some aspects of the transaction
and
relieving the other party of its responsibility for such liability. EACH
PARTY HERETO AGREES AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT CONTEST THE VALIDITY OR
ENFORCEABILITY OF ANY EXCULPATORY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER
SECURITY INSTRUMENTS ON THE BASIS THAT THE PARTY HAD NO NOTICE OR KNOWLEDGE
OF
SUCH PROVISION OR THAT THE PROVISION IS NOT “CONSPICUOUS.”
Section
9.13 Additional
Guarantors and Guarantors.
Each
Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Agreement
pursuant to Section 9.14 of the Credit Agreement shall become an
Guarantor
for all
purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary of
an
Assumption Agreement and shall thereafter have the same rights, benefits and
obligations as the Guarantor party hereto on the date hereof. Any guarantor
that
is required to pledge Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries shall execute and
deliver a Supplement, if such Equity Interests were not previously
pledged.
Section
9.14 Releases.
(a) Release
Upon Payment in Full.
The
grant of a security interest hereunder and all of rights, powers and remedies
in
connection herewith shall remain in full force and effect until the
Administrative Agent has (i)
retransferred and delivered all Collateral in its possession to the Guarantor,
and (ii)
executed
a written release or termination statement and reassigned to the Guarantor
without recourse or warranty any remaining Collateral and all rights conveyed
hereby. Upon the complete payment of the Borrower Obligations, the termination
of all of the Commitments and the compliance by the Guarantor with all covenants
and agreements hereof, the Administrative Agent, at the expense of the Borrower,
will promptly release, reassign and transfer the Collateral to the Guarantor
and
declare this Agreement to be of no further force or effect.
(b) Partial
Releases.
If any
of the Collateral shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the
Guarantor in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement, then the
Administrative Agent, at the request and sole expense of the Guarantor, shall
promptly execute and deliver to the Guarantor all releases or other documents
reasonably necessary or desirable for the release of the Liens created hereby
on
such Collateral and the Equity Interests of the Issuer thereof. At the request
and sole expense of the Borrower, the Guarantor shall be released from its
obligations hereunder in the event that all the Equity Interests of the
Guarantor shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in a
transaction
25
permitted
by the Credit Agreement; provided that the Borrower shall have delivered
to the
Administrative Agent, at least ten Business Days prior to the date of the
proposed release, a written request of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower
for
release identifying the Guarantor and the terms of the sale or other disposition
in reasonable detail, including the price thereof and any expenses in connection
therewith, together with a certification by the Borrower stating that such
transaction is in compliance with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.
(c) Retention
in Satisfaction.
Except
as may be expressly applicable pursuant to Section 9-620
of the
UCC, no action taken or omission to act by the Administrative Agent or the
Guaranteed Creditors hereunder, including, without limitation, any exercise
of
voting or consensual rights or any other action taken or inaction, shall be
deemed to constitute a retention of the Collateral in satisfaction of the
Obligations or otherwise to be in full satisfaction of the Obligations, and
the
Obligations shall remain in full force and effect, until the Administrative
Agent and the Guaranteed Creditors shall have applied payments (including,
without limitation, collections from Collateral) towards the Obligations in
the
full amount then outstanding or until such subsequent time as is provided in
Section
9.14(a).
Section
9.15 Acceptance.
The
Guarantor hereby expressly waives notice of acceptance of this Agreement,
acceptance on the part of the Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed Creditors
being conclusively presumed by their request for this Agreement and delivery
of
the same to the Administrative Agent.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
26
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Guaranty and Pledge
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above
written.
GUARANTOR: |
Petro Resources
Corporation,
a Delaware
corporation
|
By: /s/
Xxxxx X.
Xxxx
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
|
27
Acknowledged
and Agreed to as
of
the
date first written above by:
ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT:
|
X.
X. XXXXX SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P.
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
X.X.
Xxxxx Partners, LLC,
its
general partner
|
|
|
||
By: /s/
illegible
Name:________________________
Title:_________________________
|
28
Schedule
1
NOTICE
ADDRESSES OF GUARANTOR
Petro
Resources Corporation
Schedule
1 - 1
Schedule
2
DESCRIPTION
OF PLEDGED SECURITIES
Pledged
Securities:
Owner
|
Issuer
|
Percentage
Owned
|
Percentage
Pledged
|
Class
of Stock or
other
Equity Interest
|
No.
of
Shares
|
Certificate
No.
|
Petro
Resources Corporation
|
PRC
Williston LLC
|
100%
|
100%
|
Limited
liability company
|
Schedule
2 - 1
Schedule
3
FILINGS
AND OTHER ACTIONS
REQUIRED
TO PERFECT SECURITY INTERESTS
1.
|
Filing
of UCC-1 Financing Statement with respect to the Collateral with
the
Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware.
|
Schedule 3
- 1
Schedule
4
LOCATION
OF JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Legal
name of the Guarantor: Petro Resources Corporation
Address:
All
names
and trade names that the Guarantor has used in the last five years:
Jurisdictions
of organization over the last five years:
Current
jurisdiction of organization:
Organizational
number:
Taxpayer
identification number:
Location
of chief executive office or sole place of business over the last five years:
Schedule 4
- 1
Schedule
5
DEBT
Schedule 5
- 1
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AND CONSENT
The
undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Guaranty and Pledge
Agreement dated as of February ___, 2007 (the “Guaranty
and Pledge Agreement”),
made
by the Guarantor for the benefit of X.X. XXXXX SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND,
L.P.,
as Administrative Agent. The undersigned agrees for the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed Creditors as follows:
1. The
undersigned will be bound by the terms of the Guaranty and Pledge Agreement
and
will comply with such terms insofar as such terms are applicable to the
undersigned.
2. The
terms
of Section
6.01(a)
and
Section
6.03
of the
Guaranty and Pledge Agreement shall apply to it, mutatis
mutandis,
with
respect to all actions that may be required of it pursuant to Section
6.02(a)
or
Section
6.03
of the
Guaranty and Pledge Agreement.
[NAME
OF ISSUER]
By:
______________________________________
Title:
Address
for Notices:
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Fax:
______________________________________
|
* This
consent is necessary only with respect to any Issuer which is not also an
Guarantor. This consent may be modified or eliminated with respect to any Issuer
that is not controlled by a Guarantor.