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EXHIBIT 10.14
SECURITY AGREEMENT dated as of April 30,
1997, among NC MERGER COMPANY, a Wisconsin
corporation (the "Borrower"), each subsidiary of the
Borrower listed on Schedule I hereto (each such
subsidiary, individually, a "Subsidiary Guarantor"
and, collectively, the "Subsidiary Guarantors"; the
Subsidiary Guarantors and the Borrower are referred
to collectively herein as the "Grantors") and THE
CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation
("Chase"), as collateral agent (in such capacity, the
"Collateral Agent") for the Secured Parties (as
defined herein).
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997
(as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"), among the Borrower, NFC Castings, Inc. ("Holdings"), the lenders
from time to time party thereto (the "Lenders") and Chase, as administrative
agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent"), Collateral
Agent and issuing bank (in such capacity, the "Issuing Bank").
The Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower, and the Issuing
Bank has agreed to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower,
pursuant to, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions specified in, the
Credit Agreement. Holdings and each Subsidiary Guarantor has agreed to
guarantee, among other things, all the obligations of the Borrower under the
Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the
Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit are conditioned upon, among other
things, the execution and delivery by the Grantors of an agreement in the form
hereof to secure (a) the due and punctual payment by the Borrower of (i) the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest (including interest accruing
during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar
proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on
the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or
more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be
made by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter of
Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of
disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral and
(iii) all other monetary obligations, including reasonable fees, costs, expenses
and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or
otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of
whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Borrower to the Secured
Parties under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) the due and
punctual performance of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities
of the Borrower under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the
covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of each Loan Party under or
pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (d) the due and
punctual payment and performance of all obligations of the Borrower under each
Interest Rate Protection Agreement entered into with any counterparty that was a
Lender at the time such Interest Rate Protection Agreement was entered into (all
the monetary and other obligations described in the preceding clauses (a)
through (d) being collectively called the "Obligations").
Accordingly, the Grantors and the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself
and each Secured Party (and each of their respective successors or assigns),
hereby agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Definition of Terms Used Herein. Unless the context
otherwise requires, all capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have
the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 1.02. Definition of Certain Terms Used Herein. As used herein,
the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Account Debtor" shall mean any person who is or who may become
obligated to any Grantor under, with respect to or on account of an Account.
"Accounts" shall mean any and all right, title and interest of any
Grantor to payment for goods and services sold or leased, including any such
right evidenced by chattel paper, whether due or to become due, whether or not
it has been earned by performance, and whether now or hereafter acquired or
arising in the future, including accounts receivable from Affiliates of the
Grantors.
"Accounts Receivable" shall mean all Accounts and all right, title and
interest in any returned goods, together with all rights, titles, securities and
guarantees with respect thereto, including any rights to stoppage in transit,
replevin, reclamation and resales, and all related security interests, liens and
pledges, whether voluntary or involuntary, in each case whether now existing or
owned or hereafter arising or acquired.
"Collateral" shall mean all (a) Accounts Receivable, (b) Documents, (c)
Equipment, (d) General Intangibles, (e) Inventory, (f) cash and cash accounts
(including the Concentration Account, the Collection Deposit Accounts and the
General Fund Account) and (g) Proceeds.
"Collection Deposit Account" shall mean a lockbox account of a Grantor
maintained for the benefit of the Secured Parties with the Collateral Agent or
with a Sub-Agent pursuant to a Lockbox and Depository Agreement.
"Concentration Account" shall mean the cash collateral account
established at the office of Chase located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX
00000, in the name of the Collateral Agent, Account No. [ ].
"Copyright License" shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter
in effect, granting any right to any third party under any Copyright now or
hereafter owned by any Grantor or which such Grantor otherwise has the right to
license, or granting any right to such Grantor under any Copyright now or
hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of such Grantor under any
such agreement.
"Copyrights" shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter
acquired by any Grantor: (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the
copyright laws of the United States or any other country, whether as author,
assignee, transferee or otherwise, and (b) all registrations and applications
for registration of any such copyright in the United States or any other
country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and
pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office,
including those listed on Schedule II.
"Credit Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
preliminary statement of this Agreement.
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"Documents" shall mean all instruments, files, records, ledger sheets
and documents covering or relating to any of the Collateral.
"Equipment" shall mean all equipment, furniture and furnishings, and
all tangible personal property similar to any of the foregoing, including tools,
parts and supplies of every kind and description, and all improvements,
accessions or appurtenances thereto, that are now or hereafter owned by any
Grantor. The term Equipment shall include Fixtures.
"Fixtures" shall mean all items of Equipment, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, of any Grantor that become so related to particular real
estate that an interest in them arises under any real estate law applicable
thereto.
"General Fund Account" shall mean the general fund account established
at the office of Chase located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, in the
name of the Borrower, Account No. [ ].
"General Intangibles" shall mean all choses in action and causes of
action and all other assignable intangible personal property of any Grantor of
every kind and nature (other than Accounts Receivable) now owned or hereafter
acquired by any Grantor, including corporate or other business records,
indemnification claims, contract rights (including rights under leases, whether
entered into as lessor or lessee, Interest Rate Protection Agreements and other
agreements), Intellectual Property, goodwill, registrations, franchises, tax
refund claims and any letter of credit, guarantee, claim, security interest or
other security held by or granted to any Grantor to secure payment by an Account
Debtor of any of the Accounts Receivable.
"Intellectual Property" shall mean all intellectual and similar
property of any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired
by any Grantor, including inventions, designs, Patents, Copyrights, Licenses,
Trademarks, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary technical and business
information, know-how, show-how or other data or information, software and
databases and all embodiments or fixations thereof and related documentation,
registrations and franchises, and all additions, improvements and accessions to,
and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the
foregoing.
"Inventory" shall mean all goods of any Grantor, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, held for sale or lease, or furnished or to be furnished by
any Grantor under contracts of service, or consumed in any Grantor's business,
including raw materials, intermediates, work in process, packaging materials,
finished goods, semi-finished inventory, scrap inventory, manufacturing supplies
and spare parts, and all such goods that have been returned to or repossessed by
or on behalf of any Grantor.
"License" shall mean any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright
License or other license or sublicense to which any Grantor is a party,
including those listed on Schedule III (other than those license agreements in
existence on the date hereof and listed on Schedule III and those license
agreements entered into after the date hereof, which by their terms prohibit
assignment or a grant of a security interest by such Grantor as licensee
thereunder).
"Lockbox and Depository Agreement" shall mean a Lockbox and Depository
Agreement substantially in the form of Annex 1 hereto among the Borrower, the
Collateral Agent and a Sub-Agent.
"Lockbox System" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 5.01.
"Obligations" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
preliminary statement of this Agreement.
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"Patent License" shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in
effect, granting to any third party any right to make, use or sell any invention
on which a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or which any Grantor
otherwise has the right to license, is in existence, or granting to any Grantor
any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent, now or hereafter
owned by any third party, is in existence, and all rights of any Grantor under
any such agreement.
"Patents" shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter
acquired by any Grantor: (a) all letters patent of the United States or any
other country, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications
for letters patent of the United States or any other country, including
registrations, recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent
and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any other country, including
those listed on Schedule IV, and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisions,
continuations-in-part, renewals or extensions thereof, and the inventions
disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, use and/or sell the
inventions disclosed or claimed therein.
"Perfection Certificate" shall mean a certificate substantially in the
form of Annex 2 hereto, completed and supplemented with the schedules and
attachments contemplated thereby, and duly executed by a Financial Officer and
the chief legal officer of the Borrower.
"Proceeds" shall mean any consideration received from the sale,
exchange, license, lease or other disposition of any asset or property that
constitutes Collateral, any value received as a consequence of the possession of
any Collateral and any payment received from any insurer or other person or
entity as a result of the destruction, loss, theft, damage or other involuntary
conversion of whatever nature of any asset or property which constitutes
Collateral, and shall include (a) all cash and negotiable instruments received
by or held on behalf of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Lockbox System, (b)
any claim of any Grantor against any third party for (and the right to xxx and
recover for and the rights to damages or profits due or accrued arising out of
or in connection with) (i) past, present or future infringement of any Patent
now or hereafter owned by any Grantor, or licensed under a Patent License, (ii)
past, present or future infringement or dilution of any Trademark now or
hereafter owned by any Grantor or licensed under a Trademark License or injury
to the goodwill associated with or symbolized by any Trademark now or hereafter
owned by any Grantor, (iii) past, present or future breach of any License and
(iv) past, present or future infringement of any Copyright now or hereafter
owned by any Grantor or licensed under a Copyright License and (c) any and all
other amounts from time to time paid or payable under or in connection with any
of the Collateral.
"Secured Parties" shall mean (a) the Lenders, (b) the Administrative
Agent, (c) the Collateral Agent, (d) the Issuing Bank, (e) each counterparty to
an Interest Rate Protection Agreement entered into with the Borrower if such
counterparty was a Lender at the time the Interest Rate Protection Agreement was
entered into, (f) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation
undertaken by any Grantor under any Loan Document and (g) the successors and
assigns of each of the foregoing.
"Security Interest" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.01.
"Sub-Agent" shall mean a financial institution which shall have
delivered to the Collateral Agent an executed Lockbox and Depository Agreement.
"Trademark License" shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter
in effect, granting to any third party any right to use any Trademark now or
hereafter owned by any Grantor or which any Grantor otherwise has the right to
license, or granting to any Grantor any right to use any Trademark now or
hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any Grantor under any such
agreement.
"Trademarks" shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter
acquired by any Grantor: (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names,
corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious
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business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, other source or business
identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like nature, now existing or
hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all
registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including
registrations and registration applications in the United States Patent and
Trademark Office, any State of the United States or any similar offices in any
other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all extensions or
renewals thereof, including those listed on Schedule V, (b) all goodwill
associated therewith or symbolized thereby and (c) all other assets, rights and
interests that uniquely reflect or embody such goodwill.
SECTION 1.03. Rules of Interpretation. The rules of interpretation
specified in Section 1.02 of the Credit Agreement shall be applicable to this
Agreement.
ARTICLE II
Security Interest
SECTION 2.01. Security Interest. As security for the payment or
performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby
bargains, sells, conveys, assigns, sets over, mortgages, pledges, hypothecates
and transfers to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the
ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral
Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured
Parties, a security interest in, all of such Grantor's right, title and interest
in, to and under the Collateral (the "Security Interest"). Without limiting the
foregoing, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to file one or more
financing statements (including fixture filings), continuation statements,
filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States
Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other
country) or other documents for the purpose of perfecting, confirming,
continuing, enforcing or protecting the Security Interest granted by each
Grantor, without the signature of any Grantor, and naming any Grantor or the
Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as secured party.
SECTION 2.02. No Assumption of Liability. The Security Interest is
granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other
Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of
any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Collateral.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
The Grantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the
Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties that:
SECTION 3.01. Title and Authority. Each Grantor has good and valid
rights in and title to the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to
grant a Security Interest hereunder and has full power and authority to grant to
the Collateral Agent the Security Interest in such Collateral pursuant hereto
and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other person other
than any consent or approval which has been obtained.
SECTION 3.02. Filings. (a) The Perfection Certificate has been duly
prepared, completed and executed and the information set forth therein is
correct and complete. Fully executed Uniform Commercial Code financing
statements (including fixture filings, as applicable) or other appropriate
filings, recordings or registrations containing a description of the Collateral
have been delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing in each governmental,
municipal or other office specified in Schedule 6 to the Perfection Certificate,
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which are all the filings, recordings and registrations (other than filings
required to be made in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the
United States Copyright Office in order to perfect the Security Interest in
Collateral consisting of United States Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights) that
are necessary to publish notice of and protect the validity of and to establish
a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent
(for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Collateral in
which the Security Interest may be perfected by filing, recording or
registration in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its
territories and possessions, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling,
recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary in any such
jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable law with respect to the filing
of continuation statements.
(b) Each Grantor represents and warrants that fully executed security
agreements in the form hereof and containing a description of all Collateral
consisting of Intellectual Property have been delivered to the Collateral Agent
for recording by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United
States Copyright Office pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Section 261, 15 U.S.C. Section
1060 or 17 U.S.C. Section 205 and the regulations thereunder, as applicable, and
otherwise as may be required pursuant to the laws of any other necessary
jurisdiction, to protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and
perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the ratable
benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Collateral consisting of
Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights in which a security interest may be perfected
by filing, recording or registration in the United States (or any political
subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions, or in any other
necessary jurisdiction, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling,
recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary (other than
such actions as are necessary to perfect the Security Interest with respect to
any Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (or registration
or application for registration thereof) acquired or developed after the date
hereof).
SECTION 3.03. Validity of Security Interest. The Security Interest
constitutes (a) a legal and valid security interest in all the Collateral
securing the payment and performance of the Obligations, (b) subject to the
filings described in Section 3.02 above, a perfected security interest in all
Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or
registering a financing statement or analogous document in the United States (or
any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant
to the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law in such jurisdictions and
(c) a security interest that shall be perfected in all Collateral in which a
security interest may be perfected upon the receipt and recording of this
Agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United
States Copyright Office, as applicable, within the three month period
(commencing as of the date hereof) pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Section 261 or 15
U.S.C. Section 1060 or the one month period (commencing as of the date hereof)
pursuant to 17 U.S.C. Section 205 and otherwise as may be required pursuant to
the laws of any other necessary jurisdiction. The Security Interest is and shall
be prior to any other Lien on any of the Collateral, other than Liens expressly
permitted to be prior to the Security Interest pursuant to Section 6.02 of the
Credit Agreement (including any such Lien expressly permitted pursuant to such
Section 6.02 in respect of which a release in a form acceptable to the
Collateral Agent has been delivered to the Collateral Agent).
SECTION 3.04. Absence of Other Liens. The Collateral is owned by the
Grantors free and clear of any Lien, except for Liens expressly permitted
pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement (including any such Lien
expressly permitted pursuant to such Section 6.02 in respect of which a release
in a form acceptable to the Collateral Agent has been delivered to the
Collateral Agent). The Grantor has not filed or consented to the filing of (a)
any financing statement or analogous document under the Uniform Commercial Code
or any other applicable laws covering any Collateral, (b) any assignment in
which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or any security agreement or similar
instrument covering any Collateral with the United States Patent and Trademark
Office or the United States Copyright Office or (c) any assignment in which any
Grantor assigns any Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument
covering any Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other
office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security
agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except, in each case, for
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Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement
(including any such Lien expressly permitted pursuant to such Section 6.02 in
respect of which a release in a form acceptable to the Collateral Agent has been
delivered to the Collateral Agent).
ARTICLE IV
Covenants
SECTION 4.01. Change of Name; Location of Collateral; Records; Place of
Business. (a) Each Grantor agrees promptly to notify the Collateral Agent in
writing of any change (i) in its corporate name or in any trade name used to
identify it in the conduct of its business or in the ownership of its
properties, (ii) in the location of its chief executive office, its principal
place of business, any office in which it maintains original books or records
relating to Collateral owned by it or any office or facility at which Collateral
owned by it is located (including the establishment of any such new office or
facility), (iii) in its identity or corporate structure or (iv) in its Federal
Taxpayer Identification Number. Each Grantor agrees not to effect or permit any
change referred to in the preceding sentence unless all filings have been made
under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required in order for
the Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a
valid, legal and perfected first priority security interest in all the
Collateral. Each Grantor agrees promptly to notify the Collateral Agent if any
material portion of the Collateral owned or held by such Grantor is damaged or
destroyed.
(b) Each Grantor agrees to maintain, at its own cost and expense, such
complete and accurate records with respect to the Collateral owned by it as is
consistent with its current practices and in accordance with such prudent and
standard practices used in industries that are the same as or similar to those
in which such Grantor is engaged, but in any event to include complete
accounting records indicating all payments and proceeds received with respect to
any part of the Collateral, and, at such time or times as the Collateral Agent
may reasonably request, promptly to prepare and deliver to the Collateral Agent
a duly certified schedule or schedules in form and detail reasonably
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent showing the identity, amount and location
of any and all Collateral.
SECTION 4.02. Periodic Certification. Each year, at the time of
delivery of annual financial statements with respect to the preceding fiscal
year pursuant to Section 5.04 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower shall
deliver to the Collateral Agent a certificate executed by a Financial Officer
and the chief legal officer of the Borrower (a) setting forth the information
required pursuant to Section 2 of the Perfection Certificate or confirming that
there has been no change in such information since the date of such certificate
or the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to this Section
4.02 and (b) certifying that all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements
(including fixture filings, as applicable) or other appropriate filings,
recordings or registrations, including all refilings, rerecordings and
reregistrations, containing a description of the Collateral have been filed of
record in each governmental, municipal or other appropriate office in each
jurisdiction identified pursuant to clause (a) above to the extent necessary to
protect and perfect the Security Interest for a period of not less than 18
months after the date of such certificate (except as noted therein with respect
to any continuation statements to be filed within such period). Each certificate
delivered pursuant to this Section 4.02 shall identify in the format of Schedule
II, III, IV or V, as applicable, all Intellectual Property of any Grantor in
existence on the date thereof and not then listed on such Schedules or
previously so identified to the Collateral Agent.
SECTION 4.03. Protection of Security. Each Grantor shall, at its own
cost and expense, take any and all actions reasonably necessary to defend title
to the Collateral against all persons and to defend the Security Interest of the
Collateral Agent in the Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not
expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement (including
any such Lien expressly
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permitted pursuant to such Section 6.02 in respect of which a release in a form
acceptable to the Collateral Agent has been delivered to the Collateral Agent).
SECTION 4.04. Further Assurances. Each Grantor agrees, at its own
expense, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such
further instruments and documents and take all such actions as the Collateral
Agent may from time to time request to better assure, preserve, protect and
perfect the Security Interest and the rights and remedies created hereby,
including the payment of any reasonable fees and taxes required in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the granting of the Security
Interest and the filing of any financing statements (including fixture filings)
or other documents in connection herewith or therewith. If any amount payable
under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced
by any promissory note or other instrument, such note or instrument shall be
immediately pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent, duly endorsed in a
manner satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby
authorizes the Collateral Agent, with prompt notice thereof to the Grantors, to
supplement this Agreement by supplementing Schedule II, III, IV or V hereto or
adding additional schedules hereto to specifically identify any asset or item
that may constitute Copyrights, Licenses, Patents or Trademarks; provided,
however, that any Grantor shall have the right, exercisable within 10 days after
it has been notified by the Collateral Agent of the specific identification of
such Collateral, to advise the Collateral Agent in writing of any inaccuracy of
the representations and warranties made by such Grantor hereunder with respect
to such Collateral. Each Grantor agrees that it will use its best efforts to
take such action as shall be reasonably necessary in order that all
representations and warranties hereunder shall be true and correct with respect
to such Collateral within 30 days after the date it has been notified by the
Collateral Agent of the specific identification of such Collateral.
SECTION 4.05. Inspection and Verification. Upon reasonable notice to
the Grantors, the Collateral Agent and such persons as the Collateral Agent may
reasonably designate shall at any reasonable time and from time to time at
reasonable intervals have the right, at the Grantors' own cost and expense, to
inspect the Collateral, all records related thereto (and to make extracts and
copies from such records) and the premises upon which any of the Collateral is
located, to discuss the Grantors' affairs with the officers of the Grantors and
their independent accountants and to verify under reasonable procedures, in
accordance with Sections 5.06 and 5.10 of the Credit Agreement, the validity,
amount, quality, quantity, value, condition and status of, or any other matter
relating to, the Collateral, including, in the case of Accounts or Collateral in
the possession of any third person, by contacting Account Debtors or the third
person possessing such Collateral for the purpose of making such a verification
provided, however, that, unless a Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, in no event shall the Administrative Agent or any
Lender or any of their respective designees contact any customer or supplier of
any Grantor regarding any of the Loan Documents or the Obligations without such
Grantor's prior consent. The Collateral Agent shall have the absolute right to
share any information it gains from such inspection or verification with any
Secured Party (it being understood that any such information shall be deemed to
be "Information" subject to the provisions of Section 9.16 of the Credit
Agreement).
SECTION 4.06. Taxes; Encumbrances. At its option, the Collateral Agent
may discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security
interests or other encumbrances at any time levied or placed on the Collateral
and not permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement (including
any such Lien expressly permitted pursuant to such Section 6.02 in respect of
which a release in a form acceptable to the Collateral Agent has been delivered
to the Collateral Agent), and may pay for the maintenance and preservation of
the Collateral to the extent any Grantor fails to do so as required by the
Credit Agreement or this Agreement, and each Grantor jointly and severally
agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent on demand for any payment made or any
expense incurred by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the foregoing
authorization; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 4.06 shall be
interpreted as
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excusing any Grantor from the performance of, or imposing any obligation on the
Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to cure or perform, any covenants or other
promises of any Grantor with respect to taxes, assessments, charges, fees,
liens, security interests or other encumbrances and maintenance as set forth
herein or in the other Loan Documents.
SECTION 4.07. Assignment of Security Interest. If at any time any
Grantor shall take a security interest in any property of an Account Debtor or
any other person to secure payment and performance of an Account, such Grantor
shall promptly assign such security interest to the Collateral Agent. Such
assignment need not be filed of public record unless necessary to continue the
perfected status of the security interest against creditors of and transferees
from the Account Debtor or other person granting the security interest.
SECTION 4.08. Continuing Obligations of the Grantors. Each Grantor
shall remain liable to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to
be observed and performed by it under each contract, agreement or instrument
relating to the Collateral, all in accordance with the terms and conditions
thereof, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties from and against any and
all liability for such performance.
SECTION 4.09. Use and Disposition of Collateral. None of the Grantors
shall make or permit to be made an assignment, pledge or hypothecation of the
Collateral or shall grant any other Lien in respect of the Collateral, except as
expressly permitted by Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement (including any such
Lien expressly permitted pursuant to such Section 6.02 in respect of which a
release in a form acceptable to the Collateral Agent has been delivered to the
Collateral Agent). None of the Grantors shall make or permit to be made any
transfer of the Collateral and each Grantor shall remain at all times in
possession of the Collateral owned by it, except that (a) Inventory may be sold
in the ordinary course of business and (b) unless and until the Collateral Agent
shall notify the Grantors that an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and that during the continuance thereof the Grantors shall not sell,
convey, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Collateral (which
notice may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing by first class
mail or delivery by hand, Federal Express or any other nationally recognized
courier service), the Grantors may use and dispose of the Collateral in any
lawful manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, each Grantor agrees that it shall not permit any Inventory to be in
the possession or control of any warehouseman, bailee, agent or processor at any
time unless such warehouseman, bailee, agent or processor shall have been
notified of the Security Interest and shall have agreed in writing to hold the
Inventory subject to the Security Interest and the instructions of the
Collateral Agent and to waive and release any Lien held by it with respect to
such Inventory, whether arising by operation of law or otherwise.
SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Modification of Accounts. None of the
Grantors will, without the Collateral Agent's prior written consent, which,
prior to the occurrence and continuance of any Default or Event of Default, will
not be unreasonably withheld, grant any extension of the time of payment of any
of the Accounts Receivable, compromise, compound or settle the same for less
than the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any person liable for
the payment thereof or allow any credit or discount whatsoever thereon, other
than extensions, credits, discounts, compromises or settlements granted or made
in the ordinary course of business and consistent with its current practices and
in accordance with such prudent and standard practices used in industries that
are the same as or similar to those in which such Grantor is engaged.
SECTION 4.11. Insurance. The Grantors, at their own expense, shall
maintain or cause to be maintained insurance covering physical loss or damage to
the Inventory and Equipment in accordance with Section 5.02 of the Credit
Agreement. Each Grantor irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the
Collateral Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the
Collateral Agent) as such Grantor's true and lawful agent (and attorney-in-fact)
for the purpose, during the continuance of an Event of Default,
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of making, settling and adjusting claims in respect of Collateral under policies
of insurance, endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument
or other item of payment for the proceeds of such policies of insurance and for
making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto. In the event that
any Grantor at any time or times shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the
policies of insurance required hereby or to pay any premium in whole or part
relating thereto, the Collateral Agent may, without waiving or releasing any
obligation or liability of the Grantors hereunder or any Event of Default, in
its sole discretion, obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such
premium and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Collateral Agent
deems advisable. All sums disbursed by the Collateral Agent in connection with
this Section 4.11, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, expenses
and other charges relating thereto, shall be payable, upon written demand, by
the Grantors to the Collateral Agent and shall be additional Obligations secured
hereby.
SECTION 4.12. Legend. Each Grantor shall legend, in form and manner
reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, its Accounts Receivable and its
books, records and documents evidencing or pertaining thereto with an
appropriate reference to the fact that such Accounts Receivable have been
assigned to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and that
the Collateral Agent has a security interest therein.
SECTION 4.13. Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright
Collateral. (a) Each Grantor agrees that it will not, nor will it permit any of
its licensees to, do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any Patent which is
material to the conduct of such Grantor's business may become invalidated or
dedicated to the public, and agrees that it shall continue to xxxx any products
covered by a Patent with the relevant patent number as necessary and sufficient
to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable patent laws.
(b) Each Grantor (either itself or through its licensees or its
sublicensees) will, for each Trademark material to the conduct of such Grantor's
business, (i) maintain such Trademark in full force free from any claim of
abandonment or invalidity for non-use, (ii) maintain the quality of products and
services offered under such Trademark, (iii) display such Trademark with notice
of Federal or foreign registration to the extent necessary and sufficient to
establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable law and (iv) not
knowingly use or knowingly permit the use of such Trademark in violation of any
third party rights.
(c) Each Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will, for each
work covered by a material Copyright, continue to publish, reproduce, display,
adopt and distribute the work with appropriate copyright notice as necessary and
sufficient to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable
copyright laws.
(d) Each Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent promptly if it knows
that any Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to the conduct of its business
may become abandoned, lost or dedicated to the public, or of any adverse
determination or development (including the institution of, or any such
determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and
Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or any court or similar office
of any country) regarding such Grantor's ownership of any Patent, Trademark or
Copyright, its right to register the same, or to keep and maintain the same.
(e) In no event shall any Grantor, either itself or through any agent,
employee, licensee or designee, file an application for any Patent, Trademark or
Copyright (or for the registration of any Trademark or Copyright) with the
United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or any
office or agency in any political subdivision of the United States or in any
other country or any political subdivision thereof, unless it promptly informs
the Collateral Agent, and, upon reasonable request of the Collateral Agent,
executes and delivers any and all agreements, instruments, documents and papers
as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to evidence the Collateral
Agent's security interest in such Patent, Trademark
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or Copyright, and each Grantor hereby appoints the Collateral Agent as its
attorney-in-fact to execute and file such writings for the foregoing purposes,
all acts of such attorney being hereby ratified and confirmed; such power, being
coupled with an interest, is irrevocable.
(f) Each Grantor will take all necessary steps that are consistent with
the practice in any proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark
Office, United States Copyright Office or any office or agency in any political
subdivision of the United States or in any other country or any political
subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue each material application relating
to the Patents, Trademarks and/or Copyrights (and to obtain the relevant grant
or registration) and to maintain each issued Patent and each registration of the
Trademarks and Copyrights that is material to the conduct of any Grantor's
business, including timely filings of applications for renewal, affidavits of
use, affidavits of incontestability and payment of maintenance fees, and, if
consistent with good business judgment, to initiate opposition, interference and
cancellation proceedings against third parties.
(g) In the event that any Grantor has reason to believe that any
Collateral consisting of a Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to the
conduct of any Grantor's business has been or is about to be infringed,
misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Grantor promptly shall notify
the Collateral Agent and shall, if consistent with good business judgment,
promptly xxx for infringement, misappropriation or dilution and to recover any
and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution, and take
such other actions as are appropriate under the circumstances to protect such
Collateral.
(h) Upon and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each
Grantor shall use its best efforts to obtain all requisite consents or approvals
by the licensor of each Copyright License, Patent License or Trademark License
to effect the assignment of all of such Grantor's right, title and interest
thereunder to the Collateral Agent or its designee.
ARTICLE V
Collections
SECTION 5.01. Lockbox System. (a) The Grantors have established in the
name of the Collateral Agent, and subject to the control of the Collateral Agent
pursuant to the Lockbox and Depository Agreements, for the ratable benefit of
the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, a system of lockboxes and
related deposit accounts (the "Lockbox System") with one or more financial
institutions that are reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent into which
the Proceeds of all Accounts Receivable and Inventory shall be deposited and
forwarded to the Collateral Agent in accordance with the Lockbox and Depository
Agreements.
(b) All Proceeds of Inventory and Accounts Receivable that have been
received on any Business Day through the Lockbox System will be transferred into
the Concentration Account on such Business Day to the extent required by the
applicable Lockbox and Depository Agreement. All Proceeds stemming from the sale
of a substantial portion of the Collateral (other than Proceeds of Accounts)
that have been received by a Grantor on any Business Day will be transferred
into the Concentration Account on such Business Day. All Proceeds received on
any Business Day by the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 5.02 will be
transferred into the Concentration Account on such Business Day.
(c) The Concentration Account is, and shall remain, under the sole
dominion and control of the Collateral Agent. Each Grantor acknowledges and
agrees that (i) such Grantor has no right of withdrawal from the Concentration
Account, (ii) the funds on deposit in the Concentration Account shall continue
to be collateral security for all of the Obligations and (iii) upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of an
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Event of Default, at the Collateral Agent's election, the funds on deposit in
the Concentration Account shall be applied as provided in Section 6.02. So long
as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent
shall promptly remit any funds on deposit in the Concentration Account to the
General Fund Account and the Borrower shall have the right, at any time and from
time to time, to withdraw such amounts from the General Fund Account as it shall
deem to be necessary or desirable.
(d) Effective upon notice to the Grantors from the Collateral Agent
after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default (which
notice may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing by first class
mail, or delivery by hand, Federal Express or any other nationally recognized
courier service), the Concentration Account will, without any further action on
the part of any Grantor, the Collateral Agent or any Sub-Agent, convert into a
closed lockbox account under the exclusive dominion and control of the
Collateral Agent in which funds are held subject to the rights of the Collateral
Agent hereunder. Each Grantor irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent to
notify each Sub-Agent (i) of the occurrence of an Event of Default and (ii) of
the matters referred to in this paragraph (d). Following the occurrence of an
Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may instruct each Sub-Agent to transfer
immediately all funds held in each deposit account to the Concentration Account.
SECTION 5.02. Collections. (a) Each Grantor agrees (i) to notify and
direct promptly each Account Debtor and every other person obligated to make
payments on Accounts Receivable or in respect of any Inventory to make all such
payments directly to the Lockbox System established in accordance with Section
5.01, (ii) to use all reasonable efforts to cause each Account Debtor and every
other person identified in clause (i) above to make all payments with respect to
Accounts Receivable and Inventory directly to such Lockbox System and (iii)
promptly to deposit all payments received by it on account of Accounts
Receivable and Inventory, whether in the form of cash, checks, notes, drafts,
bills of exchange, money orders or otherwise, in the Lockbox System in precisely
the form in which received (but with any endorsements of such Grantor necessary
for deposit or collection), and until they are so deposited such payments shall
be held in trust by such Grantor for and as the property of the Collateral
Agent.
(b) Without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, no
Grantor shall, in a manner adverse to the Lenders, change the general
instructions given to Account Debtors in respect of payment on Accounts to be
deposited in the Lockbox System. Until the Collateral Agent shall have advised
the Grantors to the contrary, each Grantor shall, and the Collateral Agent
hereby authorizes each Grantor to, enforce and collect all amounts owing on the
Inventory and Accounts Receivable, for the benefit and on behalf of the
Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties; provided, however, that such
privilege may at the option of the Collateral Agent be terminated upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default.
SECTION 5.03. Power of Attorney. Each Grantor irrevocably makes,
constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent (and all officers, employees or
agents designated by the Collateral Agent with notice to the Grantor) as such
Grantor's true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, and in such capacity the
Collateral Agent shall have the right, with power of substitution for each
Grantor and in each Grantor's name or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the
Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties, upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default (a) to receive, endorse, assign and/or
deliver any and all notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders or other
evidences of payment relating to the Collateral or any part thereof; (b) to
demand, collect, receive payment of, give receipt for and give discharges and
releases of all or any of the Collateral; (c) to sign the name of any Grantor on
any invoice or xxxx of lading relating to any of the Collateral; (d) to send
verifications of Accounts Receivable to any Account Debtor; (e) to commence and
prosecute any and all suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any
court of competent jurisdiction to collect or otherwise realize on all or any of
the Collateral or to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral; (f) to
settle, com promise, compound, adjust or defend any actions, suits or
proceedings relating to all or any of the Collateral; (g) to notify, or to
require any Grantor to notify, Account Debtors to make payment directly to the
Collateral Agent; and (h) to use, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, make
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any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with all or any of the
Collateral, and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the
purposes of this Agreement, as fully and completely as though the Collateral
Agent were the absolute owner of the Collateral for all purposes; provided,
however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring or
obligating the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to make any commitment or
to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by
the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party, or to present or file any claim or
notice, or to take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof
or the moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property covered
thereby, and no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Collateral Agent or
any Secured Party with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof shall give
rise to any defense, counterclaim or offset in favor of any Grantor or to any
claim or action against the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party. It is
understood and agreed that the appointment of the Collateral Agent as the agent
and attorney-in-fact of the Grantors for the purposes set forth above is coupled
with an interest and is irrevocable. The provisions of this Section shall in no
event relieve any Grantor of any of its obligations hereunder or under any other
Loan Document with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or impose any
obligation on the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to proceed in any
particular manner with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, or in any
way limit the exercise by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of any other
or further right which it may have on the date of this Agreement or hereafter,
whether hereunder, under any other Loan Document, by law or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI
Remedies
SECTION 6.01. Remedies upon Default. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor agrees to deliver each item of
Collateral to the Collateral Agent on demand, and it is agreed that the
Collateral Agent shall have the right to take any of or all the following
actions at the same or different times: (a) with respect to any Collateral
consisting of Intellectual Property, on demand, to cause the Security Interest
to become an assignment, transfer and conveyance of any of or all such
Collateral by the applicable Grantors to the Collateral Agent, or to license or
sublicense, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive
or non-exclusive basis, any such Collateral throughout the world on such terms
and conditions and in such manner as the Collateral Agent shall determine (other
than in violation of any then-existing licensing arrangements to the extent that
waivers cannot be obtained), and (b) with or without legal process and with or
without prior notice or demand for performance, to take possession of the
Collateral and without liability for trespass to enter any premises where the
Collateral may be located for the purpose of taking possession of or removing
the Collateral and, generally, to exercise any and all rights afforded to a
secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that the
Collateral Agent shall have the right, subject to the mandatory requirements of
applicable law, to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the
Collateral, at public or private sale or at any broker's board or on any
securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the
Collateral Agent shall deem appropriate. The Collateral Agent shall be
authorized at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the
prospective bidders or purchasers to persons who will represent and agree that
they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not
with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and upon consummation of any
such sale the Collateral Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and
deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such
purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely, free from
any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives
(to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay and appraisal
which such Grantor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule
of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.
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The Collateral Agent shall give the Grantors 10 days' written notice
(which each Grantor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section
9-504(3) of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York or
its equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Collateral Agent's intention to
make any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall
state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker's
board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which
such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof,
will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such public sale
shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such
place or places as the Collateral Agent may fix and state in the notice (if any)
of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to be sold
may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Collateral
Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The Collateral Agent
shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine
not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral
shall have been given. The Collateral Agent may, without notice or publication,
adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time
to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may,
without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so
adjourned. In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on
credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the
Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers
thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall not incur any liability in case any such
purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold
and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon like
notice. At any public (or, to the extent permitted by law, private) sale made
pursuant to this Section, any Secured Party may bid for or purchase, free (to
the extent permitted by law) from any right of redemption, stay, valuation or
appraisal on the part of any Grantor (all said rights being also hereby waived
and released to the extent permitted by law), the Collateral or any part thereof
offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any claim then
due and payable to such Secured Party from any Grantor as a credit against the
purchase price, and such Secured Party may, upon compliance with the terms of
sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property without further accountability
to any Grantor therefor. For purposes hereof, a written agreement to purchase
the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof; the
Collateral Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement
and no Grantor shall be entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion
thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Collateral
Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of Default shall have
been remedied and the Obligations paid in full. As an alternative to exercising
the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by
a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the
Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or
courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a
court-appointed receiver.
SECTION 6.02. Application of Proceeds. The Collateral Agent shall apply
the proceeds of any collection or sale of the Collateral, as well as any
Collateral consisting of cash, as follows:
FIRST, to the payment of all costs and expenses incurred by
the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (in its capacity as
such hereunder or under any other Loan Document) in connection with
such collection or sale or otherwise in connection with this Agreement
or any of the Obligations, including all reasonable court costs and the
reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the
repayment of all advances made by the Collateral Agent hereunder or
under any other Loan Document on behalf of any Grantor and any other
costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right
or remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document;
SECOND, to the payment in full of the Obligations (the amounts
so applied to be distributed among the Secured Parties pro rata in
accordance with the amounts of the Obligations owed to them on the date
of any such distribution); and
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THIRD, as promptly as practicable, to the Grantors, their
successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may
otherwise direct.
The Collateral Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of
application of any such proceeds, moneys or balances in accordance with this
Agreement. Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including
pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding),
the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a
sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold
and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the
application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent
or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.
SECTION 6.03. Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property. For the
purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under
this Article at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to
exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral
Agent an irrevocable, non-exclusive license (exercisable without payment of
royalty or other compensation to the Grantors) to use, license or sub-license
any of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter
acquired by such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and including in
such license reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items
may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the
compilation or printout thereof. The use of such license by the Collateral Agent
shall be exercised, at the option of the Collateral Agent, upon the occurrence
and during the continuation of an Event of Default; provided that any license,
sub-license or other transaction entered into by the Collateral Agent in
accordance herewith shall be binding upon the Grantors notwithstanding any
subsequent cure of an Event of Default.
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous
SECTION 7.01. Notices. All communications and notices hereunder shall
(except as otherwise expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as
provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices
hereunder to any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be given to it at its address or
telecopy number set forth on Schedule I, with a copy to the Borrower.
SECTION 7.02. Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Collateral
Agent hereunder, the Security Interest and all obligations of the Grantors
hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of
validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any
agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or
instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner
or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations,
or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the
Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument,
(c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other collateral, or
any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any
guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Obligations, or (d) any
other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a
discharge of, any Grantor in respect of the Obligations or this Agreement (other
than the indefeasible payment in full of all the Obligations and termination of
all commitments of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank).
SECTION 7.03. Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements,
representations and warranties made by any Grantor herein and in the
certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or
pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the
Secured Parties and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans, and
the execution and delivery to the Lenders of any
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notes evidencing such Loans, regardless of any investigation made by the Lenders
or on their behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect until this
Agreement shall terminate.
SECTION 7.04. Binding Effect; Several Agreement. This Agreement shall
become effective as to any Grantor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf
of such Grantor shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent and a
counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent,
and thereafter shall be binding upon such Grantor and the Collateral Agent and
their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such
Grantor, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective
successors and assigns, except that no Grantor shall have the right to assign or
transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein or in the
Collateral (and any such assignment or transfer shall be void) except as
expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Credit Agreement. This Agreement
shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Grantor and may
be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any
Grantor without the approval of any other Grantor and without affecting the
obligations of any other Grantor hereunder.
SECTION 7.05. Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Agreement any of
the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the
successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements
by or on behalf of any Grantor or the Collateral Agent that are contained in
this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective
successors and assigns.
SECTION 7.06. Collateral Agent's Fees and Expenses; Indemnification.
(a) Each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to pay upon demand to the
Collateral Agent the amount of any and all reasonable expenses, including the
reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of its counsel and of any
experts or agents, which the Collateral Agent may incur in connection with (i)
the administration of this Agreement (including the customary fees and charges
of the Collateral Agent for any audits conducted by it or on its behalf with
respect to the Accounts Receivable or Inventory), (ii) the custody or
preservation of, or the sale of, collection from or other realization upon any
of the Collateral, (iii) the exercise, enforcement or protection of any of the
rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder or (iv) the failure of any Grantor to
perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.
(b) Without limitation of its indemnification obligations under the
other Loan Documents, each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify the
Collateral Agent and the other Indemnitees against, and hold each of them
harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related
expenses, including reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel,
incurred by or asserted against any of them arising out of, in any way connected
with, or as a result of, the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement or any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating hereto
or to the Collateral, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided
that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent
that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable
judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
such Indemnitee.
(c) Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional
Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents. The provisions
of this Section 7.06 shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of
the Loans, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf
of the Collateral Agent or any Lender. All amounts due under this Section 7.06
shall be payable on written demand therefor.
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SECTION 7.07. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (BUT WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS).
SECTION 7.08. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the
Collateral Agent in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a
waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or
power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or
power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder
and of the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of
any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any
provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any
departure by any Grantor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the
same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) below, and then such waiver or consent
shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which
given. No notice to or demand on any Grantor in any case shall entitle such
Grantor or any other Grantor to any other or further notice or demand in similar
or other circumstances.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived,
amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing
entered into by the Collateral Agent and the Grantor or Grantors with respect to
which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent
required in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 7.09. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO
THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL
BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF,
UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.
EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY
OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD
NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B)
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER
INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.09.
SECTION 7.10. Severability. In the event any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular
provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the
validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties shall
endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which
comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable
provisions.
SECTION 7.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which
when taken together shall constitute but one contract (subject to Section 7.04),
and shall become effective as provided in Section 7.04. Delivery of an executed
signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
SECTION 7.12. Headings. Article and Section headings used herein are
for the purpose of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to
affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting,
this Agreement.
18
18
SECTION 7.13. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) Each
Grantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its
property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or
Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any
appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or
enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent
permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that
a final non-appealable judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be
conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or
in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any
right that the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or
any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents against any Grantor or its properties in
the courts of any jurisdiction.
(b) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the
fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may
now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in any
New York State or Federal court. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient
forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(c) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of
process in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.01. Nothing in this
Agreement will affected the right of any party to this Agreement to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 7.14. Termination. This Agreement and the Security Interest
shall terminate when all the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full
(other than Obligations in respect of indemnification and expense reimbursement
obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the extent such
Obligations are not due and payable), the Lenders have no further commitment to
lend, the L/C Exposure has been reduced to zero and the Issuing Bank has no
further commitment to issue Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement, at
which time the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to the Grantors, at
the Grantors' expense, all Uniform Commercial Code termination statements and
similar documents which the Grantors shall reasonably request to evidence such
termination. Any execution and delivery of termination statements or documents
pursuant to this Section 7.14 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the
Collateral Agent. A Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from
its obligations hereunder and the Security Interest in the Collateral of such
Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released in the event that all the
capital stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sold, transferred or
otherwise disposed of to a person that is not an Affiliate of the Borrower in
accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement; provided that the Required
Lenders shall have consented to such sale, transfer or other disposition (to the
extent required by the Credit Agreement) and the terms of such consent did not
provide otherwise.
19
19
SECTION 7.15. Additional Grantors. Upon execution and delivery by the
Collateral Agent and a Subsidiary of an instrument in the form of Annex 3
hereto, such Subsidiary shall become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and
effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution and delivery of
any such instrument shall not require the consent of any Grantor hereunder. The
rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and
effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this
Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
NC MERGER COMPANY,
by
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
NEENAH FOUNDRY COMPANY,
by
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
XXXXXXX CONTROLS CORPORATION,
by
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
NEENAH TRANSPORT, INC.,
by
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
as Collateral Agent,
by
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
20
Schedule I to the
Security Agreement
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
Neenah Foundry Company
Xxxxxxx Controls Corporation
Neenah Transport, Inc.
21
Schedule II to the
Security Agreement
COPYRIGHTS
22
Schedule III to the
Security Agreement
LICENSES
23
Schedule IV to the
Security Agreement
PATENTS
24
Schedule V to the
Security Agreement
TRADEMARKS
25
Annex 1 to the
Security Agreement
LOCKBOX AND DEPOSITORY AGREEMENT dated as of [ ],
among [Name of Grantor], a [ ] corporation (the "Grantor"),
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation
("Chase"), as collateral agent (in such capacity, the
"Collateral Agent") for the Secured Parties (such term, and
each other capitalized term used but not defined herein,
having the meaning given it in the Security Agreement referred
to below) and [ ], a [ ] banking corporation (the
"Sub-Agent").
A. The Grantor and the Collateral Agent are parties to a Security
Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Security Agreement"). Pursuant to the terms of
the Security Agreement, the Grantor has granted to the Collateral Agent, for the
ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in its Accounts
Receivable and other Collateral (including Inventory, cash, cash accounts and
Proceeds) to secure the payment and performance of the Obligations and has
irrevocably appointed the Collateral Agent as its agent to collect amounts due
in respect of Accounts Receivable and Inventory.
B. The Sub-Agent has agreed to act as collection sub-agent of the
Collateral Agent to receive and forward payments with respect to the Accounts
Receivable and Inventory on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. The Collateral Agent hereby appoints the Sub-Agent as its collection
sub-agent under the Security Agreement and authorizes the Sub-Agent, on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, to receive payments in
respect of Collateral consisting of Accounts Receivable and Inventory.
2. The Sub-Agent has established and shall maintain deposit account
number [ ] (including all subaccounts thereof) for the benefit of the
Collateral Agent (such account being called the "Collection Deposit Account").
The Collection Deposit Account shall be designated with the title "The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Collateral Agent under the Neenah Corporation Security
Agreement dated as of April [ ], 1997" (or a similar title). [Subject to the
Sub-Agent's Terms for Remittance Banking (Lockbox) Services attached hereto as
Exhibit A, to the extent that the terms thereof relate to procedures or fees and
to the extent not inconsistent with the terms hereof,] all payments received by
the Sub-Agent in Lockbox Number [ ] and [ ] or any replacements in respect
thereof (the "Lockboxes") shall be promptly deposited in the Collection Deposit
Account and shall not be commingled with other funds. All funds at any time on
deposit in the Collection Deposit Account shall be held by the Sub-Agent for
application in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Sub-Agent agrees
to give the Collateral Agent prompt notice if the Collection Deposit Account
shall become subject to any writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or
similar process. As security for the payment and performance of the Obligations,
the Grantor hereby confirms and pledges, assigns and transfers to the Collateral
Agent, and hereby creates and grants to the Collateral Agent, a security
interest in the Collection Deposit Account, all property and assets held therein
and all Proceeds thereof.
3. The Collection Deposit Account shall be under the sole dominion and
control of the Collateral Agent, who shall possess all right, title and interest
in all of the items from time to time in the Collection Deposit Account and
their Proceeds. The Sub-Agent shall be the Collateral Agent's agent for the
purpose of holding and collecting such items and their Proceeds. Neither the
Grantor nor any person or entity claiming by, through or under the Grantor shall
have any right, title or interest in, or control over the use of, or any right
to withdraw any amount from, the Collection Deposit Account, except that the
Collateral
26
2
Agent shall have the right to withdraw amounts from the Collection Deposit
Account. The Sub-Agent shall be entitled to rely on, and shall act in accordance
with, all instructions given to it by the Collateral Agent with respect to the
Collection Deposit Account. The Collateral Agent shall have the sole power to
agree with the Sub-Agent as to specifications for Lockbox services.
4. Upon receipt of written, telecopy or telephonic notice (which, in
the case of telephonic notice, shall be promptly confirmed in writing or by
telecopy) from the Collateral Agent, the Sub-Agent shall, if so directed in such
notice (subject to the Sub-Agent's right to request that the Collateral Agent
furnish, in form satisfactory to the Sub-Agent, signature cards and/or other
appropriate documentation), promptly transmit or deliver to the Collateral Agent
at the office specified in paragraph 12 hereof (or such other office as the
Collateral Agent shall specify) (a) all funds, if any, then on deposit in, or
otherwise to the credit of, the Collection Deposit Account (provided that funds
on deposit that are subject to collection may be transmitted promptly upon
availability for withdrawal), (b) all checks, drafts and other instruments for
the payment of money received in the Lockboxes and in the possession of the
Sub-Agent, without depositing such checks, drafts or other instruments in the
Collection Deposit Account or any other account and (c) any checks, drafts and
other instruments for the payment of money received in the Lockboxes by the
Sub-Agent after such notice, in whatever form received, provided that the
Sub-Agent may retain a reasonable reserve in a separate deposit account with the
Sub-Agent in respect of unpaid fees and amounts which may be subject to
collection.
5. The Sub-Agent is hereby instructed and authorized to transfer by
wire transfer or Automated Clearing House ("ACH") from the Collection Deposit
Account all funds that are from time to time deposited or otherwise credited to
such account (after such funds become available to the Sub-Agent, either through
the Federal Reserve System or other clearing mechanism used by the Sub-Agent's
branch and to the extent such funds exceed $1,000), to such account as the
Collateral Agent may from time to time direct, provided that, unless the
Collateral Agent otherwise instructs, no such transfer shall be required if such
transfer would result in the transfer of an amount less than $1,000. Unless
otherwise directed by the Collateral Agent, such funds shall be transferred on
each business day by wire transfer or ACH and shall be identified as follows:
The Chase Manhattan Bank
ABA Number
For credit to The Chase Manhattan Bank, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Account Number
Re: Neenah Corporation Cash Collateral Account
These transfer instructions and authorizations may not be amended,
altered or revoked by the Grantor without the prior written consent of the
Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent, however, shall have the right to amend
or revoke these transfer instructions and authorizations at any time without the
consent of the Grantor.
6. The Sub-Agent shall furnish the Collateral Agent with monthly
statements setting forth the amounts deposited in the Collection Deposit Account
and all transfers and withdrawals therefrom, and shall furnish such other
information at such times as shall be reasonably requested by the Collateral
Agent.
7. The fees for the services of the Sub-Agent shall be mutually agreed
upon between the Grantor and the Sub-Agent and shall be the obligation of the
Grantor; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the terms of any agreement
under which the Collection Deposit Account shall have been established with the
Sub-Agent, the Grantor and the Sub-Agent agree not to terminate such Collection
Deposit Account for any reason (including the failure of the Grantor to pay such
fees) for so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect (it being understood
that the foregoing shall not be construed to prohibit the resignation of the
Sub-Agent in accordance with paragraph 9 below). Neither the Collateral Agent
nor the Secured Parties shall
27
3
have any liability for the payment of any such fees. The Sub-Agent may perform
any of its duties hereunder by or through its agents, officers or employees.
8. The Sub-Agent hereby represents and warrants that (a) it is a
banking corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of [] and has full corporate power and authority under such laws to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and (b) the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Sub-Agent have
been duly and effectively authorized by all necessary corporate action and this
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Sub-Agent and constitutes
a valid and binding obligation of the Sub-Agent enforceable in accordance with
its terms.
9. The Sub-Agent may resign at any time as Sub-Agent hereunder by
delivery to the Collateral Agent of written notice of resignation not less than
thirty days prior to the effective date of such resignation. The SubAgent may be
removed by the Collateral Agent at any time, with or without cause, by written,
telecopy or telephonic notice (which, in the case of telephonic notice, shall be
promptly confirmed in writing or by telecopy) of removal delivered to the
Sub-Agent. Upon receipt of such notice of removal, or delivery of such notice of
resignation, the Sub-Agent shall (subject to the Sub-Agent's right to request
that the Collateral Agent furnish, in form satisfactory to the Sub-Agent,
signature cards and/or other appropriate documentation), promptly transmit or
deliver to the Collateral Agent at the office specified in paragraph 12 (or such
other office as the Collateral Agent shall specify) (a) all funds, if any, then
on deposit in, or otherwise to the credit of, the Collection Deposit Account
(provided that funds on deposit that are subject to collection may be
transmitted promptly upon availability for withdrawal), (b) all checks, drafts
and other instruments for the payment of money received in the Lockboxes and in
the possession of the Sub-Agent, without depositing such checks, drafts or other
instruments in the Collection Deposit Account or any other account and (c) any
checks, drafts and other instruments for the payment of money received in the
Lockboxes by the Sub-Agent after such notice, in whatever form received.
10. The Grantor consents to the appointment of the Sub-Agent and agrees
that the Sub-Agent shall incur no liability to the Grantor as a result of any
action taken pursuant to an instruction given by the Collateral Agent in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The Grantor agrees to
indemnify and defend the Sub-Agent against any loss, liability, claim or expense
(including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from the Sub-Agent's entry into
this Agreement and actions taken hereunder, except to the extent resulting from
the Sub-Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.
11. The term of this Agreement shall extend from the date hereof until
the earlier of (a) the date on which the Sub-Agent has been notified in writing
by the Collateral Agent that the Sub-Agent has no further duties under this
Agreement, (b) the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full and all
commitments of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank have been terminated and (c) the
date of termination specified in the notice of removal given by the Collateral
Agent, or notice of resignation given by the Sub-Agent, as the case may be,
pursuant to paragraph 9. The obligations of the Sub-Agent contained in the last
sentence of paragraph 9 and in paragraph 15, and the obligations of the Grantor
contained in paragraphs 7 and 10, shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
12. All notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be delivered by hand or by courier service, mailed by certified or
registered mail or sent by telecopy (except where telephonic instructions or
notices are authorized herein) and shall be effective on the day on which
received (a) in the case of the Collateral Agent, to The Chase Manhattan Bank,
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention of [Collateral Monitoring
Department], and (b) in the case of the Sub-Agent, addressed to [ ],
Attention of [ ]. For purposes of this Agreement, any officer of the
Collateral Agent shall be authorized to act, and to give instructions and
notices, on behalf of the Collateral Agent hereunder.
28
4
13. The Sub-Agent will not assign or transfer any of its rights or
obligations hereunder (other than to the Collateral Agent) without the prior
written consent of the other parties hereto, and any such attempted assignment
or transfer shall be void.
14. Except as provided in paragraph 5 above, this Agreement may be
amended only by a written instrument executed by the Collateral Agent, the
Sub-Agent and the Grantor, acting by their duly authorized representative
officers.
15. Except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement with respect
to rights of set off available to the Sub-Agent in its capacity as a Lender (if
and so long as the Sub-Agent is a Lender thereunder), the SubAgent hereby
irrevocably waives any right to set off against, or otherwise deduct from, any
funds held in the Collection Deposit Account and all items (and Proceeds
thereof) that come into its possession in connection with the Collection Deposit
Account any indebtedness or other claim owed by the Grantor or any affiliate
thereof to the Sub-Agent; provided, however, that this paragraph shall not limit
the ability of the Sub-Agent to, and the Sub-Agent may, (a) exercise any right
to set off against, or otherwise deduct from, any such funds to the extent
necessary for the Sub-Agent to collect any fees owed to it by the Grantor in
connection with the Collection Deposit Account, (b) charge back and net against
the Collection Deposit Account any returned or dishonored items or other
adjustments in accordance with the Sub-Agent's usual practices and (c) (i)
establish the reserves contemplated in paragraph 4 in respect of unpaid fees and
amounts which may be subject to collection and (ii) transfer funds in respect of
such reserves from the Collection Deposit Account to the separate deposit
account with the Sub-Agent as contemplated in paragraph 4.
16. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the Collateral Agent, the SubAgent, the Grantor and their respective permitted
successors and assigns.
17. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one
and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page to this
Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually
executed counterpart hereof.
18. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF [ ] GOVERN THE
COLLECTION DEPOSIT ACCOUNT, THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT
TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS).
19. The Sub-Agent shall be an independent contractor. This Agreement
does not give rise to any partnership, joint venture or fiduciary relationship.
20. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood
that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall
not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other
jurisdiction). The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace
29
5
the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the
economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above
written.
[Name of Grantor],
by
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
as Collateral Agent,
by
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Name of Sub-Agent],
by
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
30
Annex 2 to the
Security Agreement
[Form Of]
PERFECTION CERTIFICATE
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997
(as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"), among NC Merger Company (the "Borrower"), NFC Castings, Inc.
("Holdings"), the lenders from time to time party thereto (the "Lenders") and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as administrative agent for the Lenders, collateral
agent for the Lenders and as issuing bank. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the
Credit Agreement and the Security Agreement.
The undersigned, a Financial Officer and a legal officer, respectively,
of the Borrower, hereby certify to the Collateral Agent and each other Secured
Party as follows:
1. Names. (a) The exact corporate name of each Grantor under the
Security Agreement, as such name appears in its respective certificate of
incorporation, is as follows:
(b) Set forth below is each other corporate name each Grantor has had
in the past five years, together with the date of the relevant change:
(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 1 hereto, no Grantor has changed
its identity or corporate structure in any way within the past five years.
Changes in identity or corporate structure would include mergers, consolidations
and acquisitions, as well as any change in the form, nature or jurisdiction of
corporate organization. If any such change has occurred, include in Schedule 1
the information required by Sections 1 and 2 of this certificate as to each
acquiree or constituent party to a merger or consolidation.
(d) The following is a list of all other names (including trade names
or similar appellations) used by each Grantor or any of its divisions or other
business units in connection with the conduct of its business or the ownership
of its properties at any time during the past five years:
(e) Set forth below is the Federal Taxpayer Identification Number of
each Grantor:
2. Current Locations. (a) The chief executive office of each Grantor is
located at the address set forth opposite its name below:
Grantor Mailing Address County State
(b) Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are all locations
where such Grantor maintains any books or records relating to any Accounts
Receivable (with each location at which chattel paper, if any, is kept being
indicated by an "*"):
Grantor Mailing Address County State
(c) Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are all the
places of business of such Grantor not identified in paragraph (a) or (b) above:
Grantor Mailing Address County State
31
2
(d) Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are all the
locations where such Grantor maintains any Collateral not identified above:
Grantor Mailing Address County State
(e) Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are the names and
addresses of all persons other than such Grantor that have possession of any of
the Collateral of such Grantor:
Grantor Mailing Address County State
3. Unusual Transactions. All Accounts Receivable have been originated
by the Grantors and all Inventory has been acquired by the Grantors in the
ordinary course of business.
4. File Search Reports. Attached hereto as Schedule 4(A) are true
copies of file search reports from the Uniform Commercial Code filing offices
where filings described in Section 3.19 of the Credit Agreement are to be made.
Attached hereto as Schedule 4(B) is a true copy of each financing statement or
other filing identified in such file search reports.
5. UCC Filings. Duly signed financing statements on Form UCC-1 in
substantially the form of Schedule 5 hereto have been prepared for filing in the
Uniform Commercial Code filing office in each jurisdiction where a Grantor has
Collateral as identified in Section 2 hereof.
6. Schedule of Filings. Attached hereto as Schedule 6 is a schedule
setting forth, with respect to the filings described in Section 5 above, each
filing and the filing office in which such filing is to be made.
7. Filing Fees. All filing fees and taxes payable in connection with
the filings described in Section 5 above have been paid.
8. Stock Ownership. Attached hereto as Schedule 8 is a true and correct
list of all the duly authorized, issued and outstanding stock of the Borrower
and each Subsidiary and the record and beneficial owners of such stock. Also set
forth on Schedule 8 is each equity investment of the Borrower and each
Subsidiary that represents 50% or less of the equity of the entity in which such
investment was made.
9. Notes. Attached hereto as Schedule 9 is a true and correct list of
all notes held by Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary and all
intercompany notes between Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary and
between each Subsidiary and each other such Subsidiary.
10. Advances. Attached hereto as Schedule 10 is (a) a true and correct
list of all advances made by the Borrower to any subsidiary of the Borrower, or
made by any subsidiary of the Borrower or any other subsidiary of the Borrower,
which advances will be on and after the date hereof evidenced by one or more
intercompany notes pledged to the Collateral Agent under the Pledge Agreement,
and (b) a true and correct list of all unpaid intercompany transfers of goods
sold and delivered by or to the Borrower or any subsidiary of the Borrower.
11. Mortgage Filings. Attached hereto as Schedule 11 is a schedule
setting forth, with respect to each Mortgaged Property, (i) the exact corporate
name of the corporation that owns such property as such name
32
3
appears in its certificate of incorporation, (ii) if different from the name
identified pursuant to clause (i), the exact name of the current record owner of
such property reflected in the records of the filing office for such property
identified pursuant to the following clause and (iii) the filing office in which
a Mortgage with respect to such property must be filed or recorded in order for
the Collateral Agent to obtain a perfected security interest therein.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this certificate
on this [ ] day of [ ].
NC MERGER COMPANY,
by
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:[Financial Officer]
by
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title: [Legal Officer]
33
Annex 3 to the
Security Agreement
SUPPLEMENT NO. __ dated as of , to the Security
Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997, among NC MERGER COMPANY,
a Wisconsin corporation (the "Borrower"), each subsidiary of
the Borrower listed on Schedule I thereto (each such
subsidiary, individually, a "Subsidiary Guarantor" and,
collectively, the "Subsidiary Guarantors"; the Subsidiary
Guarantors and the Borrower are referred to collectively
herein as the "Grantors") and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New
York banking corporation ("Chase"), as collateral agent (in
such capacity, the "Collateral Agent") for the Secured Parties
(as defined herein).
A. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997
(as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"), among the Borrower, NFC Castings, Inc., ("Holdings"), the lenders
from time to time party thereto (the "Lenders"), and Chase, as administrative
agent for the Lenders, Collateral Agent and issuing bank (in such capacity, the
"Issuing Bank").
B. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Security Agreement and the
Credit Agreement.
C. The Grantors have entered into the Security Agreement in order to
induce the Lenders to make Loans and the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of
Credit. Section 7.15 of Security Agreement provides that additional Subsidiaries
of the Borrower may become Grantors under the Security Agreement by execution
and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned
Subsidiary (the "New Grantor") is executing this Supplement in accordance with
the requirements of the Credit Agreement to become a Grantor under the Security
Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans and the
Issuing Bank to issue additional Letters of Credit and as consideration for
Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously issued.
Accordingly, the Collateral Agent and the New Grantor agree as follows:
SECTION 1. In accordance with Section 7.15 of the Security Agreement,
the New Grantor by its signature below becomes a Grantor under the Security
Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a
Grantor and the New Grantor hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of
the Security Agreement applicable to it as a Grantor thereunder and (b)
represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a
Grantor thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. In
furtherance of the foregoing, the New Grantor, as security for the payment and
performance in full of the Obligations (as defined in the Security Agreement),
does hereby create and grant to the Collateral Agent, its successors and
assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a
security interest in and lien on all of the New Grantor's right, title and
interest in and to the Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement) of the
New Grantor. Each reference to a "Grantor" in the Security Agreement shall be
deemed to include the New Grantor. The Security Agreement is hereby incorporated
herein by reference.
SECTION 2. The New Grantor represents and warrants to the Collateral
Agent and the other Secured Parties that this Supplement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and
binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject
to the effects of applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization
or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and equitable principles
of general applicability (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
SECTION 3. This Supplement 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
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constitute a single contract. This Supplement shall become effective when the
Collateral Agent shall have received counterparts of this Supplement that, when
taken together, bear the signatures of the New Grantor and the Collateral Agent.
Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile
transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart
of this Supplement.
SECTION 4. The New Grantor hereby represents and warrants that (a) set
forth on Schedule I attached hereto is a true and correct schedule of the
location of any and all Collateral of the New Grantor and (b) set forth under
its signature hereto, is the true and correct location of the chief executive
office of the New Grantor.
SECTION 5. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Security
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS).
SECTION 7. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein and in the Security Agreement shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular
provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the
validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties hereto shall
endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which
comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable
provisions.
SECTION 8. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing
and given as provided in Section 7.01 of the Security Agreement. All
communications and notices hereunder to the New Grantor shall be given to it at
the address set forth under its signature below.
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SECTION 9. The New Grantor agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent for
its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Supplement,
including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel for
the Collateral Agent.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Grantor and the Collateral Agent have duly
executed this Supplement to the Security Agreement as of the day and year first
above written.
[Name Of New Grantor],
by
Name:
Title:
Address:
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
Collateral Agent,
by
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
36
Schedule I
to Supplement No.___ to the
Security Agreement
LOCATION OF COLLATERAL
Description Location
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