SECURITY AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.5
This SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 1, 2007, among Baseline Oil & Gas Corp. (“Baseline”) and those additional entities that hereafter become parties hereto by executing the form of Supplement attached hereto as Annex 1 (collectively, jointly and severally, the “Grantors” and each, individually a “Grantor”), and The Bank of New York, in its capacity as collateral agent for the benefit of itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders (together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Baseline has sold its 12 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2012 in the aggregate amount of $115,000,000 (the “Initial Notes”) and has authorized the creation of an issue of 12 1/2% Senior Secured Exchange Notes due 2012 to be exchanged, at par, for Initial Notes (the Initial Notes, such Exchange Notes, and all promissory notes given in replacement or exchange for any thereof or in renewal and extension of any thereof, being herein collectively called the “Notes”);
WHEREAS, Baseline, as issuer, and The Bank of New York, as indenture trustee and collateral agent, have entered into that certain Indenture dated as of October 1, 2007 (as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated, the “Indenture”) in connection with the Notes;
WHEREAS, Agent has agreed to act as agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Indenture, this Agreement, and the other Transaction Documents; and
WHEREAS, in order to induce the initial purchasers of the Notes to purchase the Initial Notes, Grantors have agreed to grant a continuing security interest in and to the Collateral in order to secure the prompt and complete payment, observance and performance of, among other things, their respective Secured Obligations, and
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the recitals made above and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Defined Terms. All capitalized terms used herein (including in the preamble and recitals hereof) without definition shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. Any terms used in this Agreement that are defined in the Code shall be construed and defined as set forth in the Code unless otherwise defined herein or in the Indenture; provided, however, that if the Code is used to define any term used herein and if such term is defined differently in different Articles of the Code, the definition of such term contained in Article 9 of the Code shall govern. In addition to those terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, as used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “Account” means an account (as that term is defined in the Code).
(b) “Account Debtor” means an account debtor (as that term is defined in the Code).
(c) “Books” means books and records (including each Grantor’s Records indicating, summarizing, or evidencing such Grantor’s assets (including the Collateral) or liabilities, each Grantor’s Records relating to such Grantor’s business operations or financial condition, and each Grantor’s goods or General Intangibles related to such information).
(d) “Cash Equivalents” has the meaning specified therefor in the Indenture.
(e) “Chattel Paper” means chattel paper (as that term is defined in the Code) and includes tangible chattel paper and electronic chattel paper.
(f) “Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection, priority, or remedies with respect to Agent’s Lien on any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “Code” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions thereof relating to such attachment, perfection, priority, or remedies.
(g) “Collateral” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.
(h) “Commercial Tort Claims” means commercial tort claims (as that term is defined in the Code), and includes those commercial tort claims listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto.
(i) “Control Agreement” means a control agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, executed and delivered by a Grantor, the First Priority Agent if there are First Priority Claims outstanding and otherwise the Agent, and the applicable securities intermediary (with respect to a Securities Account) or bank (with respect to a Deposit Account).
(j) “Copyrights” means works of authorship (whether or not published, and whether or not copyrightable), copyrights and copyright registrations, including the copyright registrations and recordings thereof and all applications in connection therewith listed on Schedule 2 attached hereto and made a part hereof, and (i) all reissues, restorations, reversions, continuations, extensions or renewals thereof, (ii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable under and with respect thereto, including, payments under all licenses entered into in connection therewith and damages and payments for past or future infringements or dilutions thereof, (iii) the right to xxx for past, present and future infringements and dilutions thereof, (iv) the goodwill of each Grantor’s business symbolized by the foregoing and connected therewith, and (v) all of each Grantor’s rights corresponding thereto throughout the world.
(k) “Copyright Security Agreement” means each Copyright Security Agreement among Grantors, or any of them, and Agent, for the benefit of itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders, in substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, pursuant to which Grantors have granted to Agent, for the benefit of itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders, a security interest in all their respective Copyrights.
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(l) “Deposit Account” means a deposit account (as that term is defined in the Code).
(m) “Equipment” means equipment (as that term is defined in the Code).
(n) “Event of Default” has the meaning specified therefor in the Indenture.
(o) “First Priority Claims” has the meaning specified in the Intercreditor Agreement.
(p) “First Priority Agent” means the “First Priority Agent” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.
(q) “General Intangibles” means general intangibles (as that term is defined in the Code) and, in any event, includes, payment intangibles, contract rights, rights to payment, rights arising under common law, statutes, or regulations, choses or things in action, goodwill (including the goodwill associated with any Trademark, Patent, or Copyright), Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, URLs and domain names, industrial designs, other industrial or Intellectual Property or rights therein or applications therefor, whether under license or otherwise, rights in programs, programming materials, blueprints, drawings, purchase orders, customer lists, monies due or recoverable from pension funds, route lists, rights to payment and other rights under any royalty or licensing agreements, including Intellectual Property Licenses, infringement claims, rights in computer programs, information contained on computer disks or tapes, software, literature, reports, catalogs, pension plan refunds, pension plan refund claims, insurance premium rebates, tax refunds, and tax refund claims, interests in a partnership or limited liability company which do not constitute a security under Article 8 of the Code, and any other personal property other than Commercial Tort Claims, money, Accounts, Chattel Paper, Deposit Accounts, goods, Investment Related Property, and Negotiable Collateral.
(r) “Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local, or other governmental or administrative body, instrumentality, board, department, or agency or any court, tribunal, administrative hearing body, arbitration panel, commission, or other similar dispute-resolving panel or body.
(s) “Grantor” and “Grantors” have the meanings specified therefor in the recitals to this Agreement.
(t) “Guarantee” has the meaning specified therefor in the Indenture.
(u) “Holders” means all Persons in whose name a Note is registered on the books of the registrar under the Indenture.
(v) “Hydrocarbon Interests” means all rights, titles, interests and estates now owned or hereafter acquired in and to oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, oil, gas and casinghead gas leases, or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, mineral fee or lease
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interests, farm-outs, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests, oil payments, production payment interests and similar mineral interests, including any reserved or residual interest of whatever nature.
(w) “Hydrocarbons” means, collectively, oil, gas, coal seam gas, casinghead gas, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons, all products and byproducts refined, separated, settled and dehydrated therefrom and all products and byproducts refined therefrom, including, without limitation, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, refined lubricating oils, diesel fuel, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, helium, sulfur, geothermal steam, water, carbon dioxide, and all other minerals.
(x) “Initial Notes” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals to this Agreement.
(y) “Indenture” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals to this Agreement.
(z) “Insolvency Proceeding” means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under any provision of Title 11 of the United States Code, as in effect from time to time, or under any other state or federal bankruptcy or insolvency law, assignments for the benefit of creditors, formal or informal moratoria, compositions, extensions generally with creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other similar relief.
(aa) “Intellectual Property” means any and all Intellectual Property Licenses, Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, the goodwill associated with such Trademarks, confidential and proprietary information, trade secrets and know-how (including processes, schematics, databases, formulae, drawings, prototypes, models, designs, technical data, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and marketing plans and proposals), all computer software, Internet web sites, and all other intellectual property or proprietary rights and claims or causes of action arising out of or related to an infringement, misappropriation or other violation of any of the foregoing, including rights to recover for past, present and future violations thereof.
(bb) “Intellectual Property Licenses” means all rights under or interests in any patent, trademark, copyright or other intellectual property, including software license agreements with any other party, whether the applicable Grantor is a licensee or licensor under any such license agreement, including the license agreements listed on Schedule 3 attached hereto and made a part hereof, and the right to use the foregoing in connection with the enforcement of Agent’s and the Holders’ rights under the Transaction Documents, including the right to prepare for sale and sell any and all Inventory and Equipment now or hereafter owned by any Grantor and now or hereafter covered by such licenses.
(cc) “Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of October 1, 2007 among Baseline, Xxxxx Fargo Foothills, Inc., as agent for the First Priority Secured Parties (as defined therein), Agent, and The Bank of New York, as agent for the Third Priority Secured Parties (as defined therein).
(dd) “Inventory” means inventory (as that term is defined in the Code).
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(ee) “Investment Related Property” means (i) investment property (as that term is defined in the Code), and (ii) all of the following regardless of whether classified as investment property under the Code: all Pledged Interests, Pledged Operating Agreements, and Pledged Partnership Agreements.
(ff) “Negotiable Collateral” means letters of credit, letter of credit rights, instruments, promissory notes, drafts and documents (as that term is defined in the Code) and, in any event, including payment intangibles, contract rights, rights to payment, rights arising under common law, statutes, or regulations, choses or things in action, goodwill (including the goodwill associated with any Trademark, Patent, or Copyright), Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, URLs and domain names, industrial designs, other industrial or Intellectual Property or rights therein or applications therefor, whether under license or otherwise, programs, programming materials, blueprints, drawings, purchase orders, customer lists, monies due or recoverable from pension funds, route lists, rights to payment and other rights under any royalty or licensing agreements, including Intellectual Property Licenses, infringement claims, computer programs, information contained on computer disks or tapes, software, literature, reports, catalogs, pension plan refunds, pension plan refund claims, insurance premium rebates, tax refunds, and tax refund claims, uncertificated securities, and any other personal property other than Commercial Tort Claims, money, Accounts, Chattel Paper, Deposit Accounts, goods, Investment Related Property, and Negotiable Collateral.
(gg) “Notes” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals to this Agreement.
(hh) “Obligations” means the Obligations, as defined in the Indenture, in respect of the Transaction Documents.
(ii) “Oil and Gas Properties” means all Hydrocarbon Interests; personal property and/or real property now or hereafter pooled or unitized with Hydrocarbon Interests; presently existing or future unitization, pooling agreements and declarations of pooled units and the units created thereby (including without limitation all units created under orders, regulations and rules of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction) which may affect all or any portion of the Hydrocarbon Interests; pipelines, gathering lines, compression facilities, tanks and processing plants; oil xxxxx, gas xxxxx, water xxxxx, injection xxxxx, platforms, spars or other offshore facilities, casings, rods, tubing, pumping units and engines, Christmas trees, derricks, separators, gun barrels, flow lines, gas systems (for gathering, treating and compression), and water systems (for treating, disposal and injection); interests held in royalty trusts whether presently existing or hereafter created; Hydrocarbons in and under and which may be produced, saved, processed or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests, the lands covered thereby and all Hydrocarbons in pipelines, gathering lines, tanks and processing plants and all rents, issues, profits, proceeds, products, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Hydrocarbon Interests; tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances and personal property and/or real property in any way appertaining, belonging, affixed or incidental to the Hydrocarbon Interests, and all rights, titles, interests and estates described or referred to above, including any and all real property, now owned or hereafter acquired, used or held for use in connection with the operating, working or development of any of such Hydrocarbon Interests or personal property and/or Real Property and including any and all surface leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes
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together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing; oil, gas and mineral leasehold, fee and term interests, overriding royalty interests, mineral interests, royalty interests, net profits interests, net revenue interests, oil payments, production payments, carried interests, leases, subleases, farmouts and any and all other interests in Hydrocarbons; in each case whether now owned or hereafter acquired directly or indirectly.
(jj) “Patents” means inventions, discoveries and ideas, whether patentable or not, and all patents, registrations and applications therefor, including the patents and patent applications listed on Schedule 4 attached hereto and made a part hereof, and (i) all reissues, continuations, continuations-in-part, substitutes, extensions or renewals thereof and improvements thereon, (ii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including payments under all licenses entered into in connection therewith and damages and payments for past or future infringements or dilutions thereof, (iii) the right to xxx for past, present and future infringements and dilutions thereof, and (iv) all of each Grantor’s rights corresponding thereto throughout the world.
(kk) “Patent Security Agreement” means each Patent Security Agreement among Grantors, or any of them, and Agent, for the benefit of itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders, in substantially the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, pursuant to which Grantors have granted to Agent, for the benefit of itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders, a security interest in all their respective Patents.
(ll) “Permitted Discretion” means a determination made in the exercise of reasonable (from the perspective of a secured creditor) business judgment.
(mm) “Permitted Liens” has the meaning specified therefor in the Indenture.
(nn) “Person” has the meaning specified therefor in the Indenture.
(oo) “Pledged Companies” means, each Person listed on Schedule 5 hereto as a “Pledged Company”, together with each other Person, all or a portion of whose Stock, is acquired or otherwise owned by a Grantor after the Closing Date.
(pp) “Pledged Interests” means all of each Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to all of the Stock now or hereafter owned by such Grantor, regardless of class or designation, including all substitutions therefor and replacements thereof, all proceeds thereof and all rights relating thereto, also including any certificates representing the Stock, the right to request after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default that such Stock be registered in the name of Agent or any of its nominees, the right to receive any certificates representing any of the Stock and the right to require that such certificates be delivered to Agent together with undated powers or assignments of investment securities with respect thereto, duly endorsed in blank by such Grantor, all warrants, options, share appreciation rights and other rights, contractual or otherwise, in respect thereof and of all dividends, distributions of income, profits, surplus, or other compensation by way of income or liquidating distributions, in cash or in kind, and cash, instruments, and other property from time to time received, receivable, or otherwise distributed in respect of or in addition to, in substitution of, on account of, or in exchange for any or all of the foregoing.
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(qq) “Pledged Interests Addendum” means a Pledged Interests Addendum substantially in the form of Exhibit C to this Agreement.
(rr) “Pledged Note Addendum” means a Pledged Note Addendum substantially in the form of Exhibit E to this Agreement.
(ss) “Pledged Notes” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 5(h).
(tt) “Pledged Operating Agreements” means all of each Grantor’s rights, powers, and remedies under the limited liability company operating agreements of each of the Pledged Companies that are limited liability companies.
(uu) “Pledged Partnership Agreements” means all of each Grantor’s rights, powers, and remedies under the partnership agreements of each of the Pledged Companies that are partnerships.
(vv) “Proceeds” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.
(ww) “Real Property” means any estates or interests in real property now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor and the improvements thereto.
(xx) “Records” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or which is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
(yy) “Security Interest” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.
(zz) “Secured Obligations” means, (a) with respect to Baseline, all of its present and future Obligations under each and every Note at any time outstanding pursuant to the Indenture, including all principal thereof, premium, if any, and interest thereon, (b) with respect to each Grantor other than Baseline, all of its present and future Obligations under its Guarantee, and (c) with respect to every Grantor, all of its other present and future Obligations arising from this Agreement, the Indenture, or the other Transaction Documents, including, in the case of each of clauses (a), (b) and (c), reasonable attorneys fees and expenses and any interest, fees, or expenses that accrue after the filing of an Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in whole or in part as a claim in any Insolvency Proceeding.
(aaa) “Securities Account” means a securities account (as that term is defined in the Code).
(bbb) “Stock” means all shares, options, warrants, interests, participations, or other equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a Person, whether voting or nonvoting, including common stock, preferred stock, or any other “equity security” (as such term is defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act).
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(ccc) “Supporting Obligations” means Supporting Obligations (as such term is defined in the Code), and includes letters of credit and guaranties issued in support of Accounts, Chattel Paper, documents, General Intangibles, instruments, or Investment Related Property.
(ddd) “Trademarks” means trademarks, trade names, registered trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, registered service marks and service xxxx applications, brand names, certification marks, collective marks, d/b/a’s, Internet domain names, logos, symbols, trade dress, assumed names, fictitious names, and other indicia of origin, including the trade names, registered trademarks, trademark applications, registered service marks and service xxxx applications listed on Schedule 6 attached hereto and made a part hereof, and (i) all extensions, modifications and renewals thereof, (ii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including payments under all licenses entered into in connection therewith and damages and payments for past or future infringements or dilutions thereof, (iii) the right to xxx for past, present and future infringements and dilutions thereof, (iv) the goodwill of each Grantor’s business symbolized by the foregoing and connected therewith, and (v) all of each Grantor’s rights corresponding thereto throughout the world.
(eee) “Trademark Security Agreement” means each Trademark Security Agreement among Grantors, or any of them, and Agent, for the benefit of itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders, in substantially the form of Exhibit D attached hereto, pursuant to which Grantors have granted to Agent, for the benefit of itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders, a security interest in all their respective Trademarks.
(fff) “Transaction Document” means the Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Agreements (as defined in the Indenture), the Control Agreements and any other agreement entered into, now or in the future, by Baseline or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Indenture, the Notes or this Agreement.
(ggg) “URL” means “uniform resource locator,” an internet web address.
2. Grant of Security.
(a) Each Grantor hereby unconditionally grants, assigns and pledges to Agent, for the benefit of itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders, a continuing security interest (hereinafter referred to as the “Security Interest”) in all personal property of such Grantor whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising and wherever located, including such Grantor’s right, title, and interest in and to the following, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising and wherever located (the “Collateral”):
(i) all of such Grantor’s Accounts;
(ii) all of such Grantor’s Books;
(iii) all of such Grantor’s Chattel Paper;
(iv) all of such Grantor’s interest with respect to any Deposit Account;
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(v) all of such Grantor’s Equipment and fixtures;
(vi) all of such Grantor’s General Intangibles;
(vii) all of such Grantor’s Inventory;
(viii) all of such Grantor’s Investment Related Property;
(ix) all of such Grantor’s Negotiable Collateral;
(x) all of such Grantor’s rights in respect of Supporting Obligations;
(xi) all of such Grantor’s interest with respect to any Commercial Tort Claims;
(xii) all of such Grantor’s money, Cash Equivalents, or other assets of such Grantor that now or hereafter come into the possession, custody, or control of Agent (or its agent or designee);
(xiii) all of such Grantor’s Hydrocarbons and Hydrocarbon Interests;
(xiv) all of such Grantor’s Oil and Gas Properties; and
(xv) all of the proceeds and products, whether tangible or intangible, of any of the foregoing, including proceeds of insurance or commercial tort claims covering or relating to any or all of the foregoing, and any and all Accounts, Books, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claims, Deposit Accounts, Equipment, General Intangibles, Inventory, Investment Related Property, Negotiable Collateral, Supporting Obligations, money, or other tangible or intangible property resulting from the sale, lease, license, exchange, collection, or other disposition of any of the foregoing, the proceeds of any award in condemnation with respect to any of the property of Grantors, any rebates or refunds, whether for taxes or otherwise, and all proceeds of any such proceeds, or any portion thereof or interest therein, and the proceeds thereof, and all proceeds of any loss of, damage to, or destruction of the above, whether insured or not insured, and, to the extent not otherwise included, any indemnity, warranty, or Guarantee payable by reason of loss or damage to, or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing (the “Proceeds”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “Proceeds” includes whatever is receivable or received when Investment Related Property or proceeds are sold, exchanged, collected, or otherwise disposed of, whether such disposition is voluntary or involuntary, and includes proceeds of any indemnity or Guarantee payable to any Grantor or Agent from time to time with respect to any of the Investment Related Property.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the term “Collateral” shall not include, and no Grantor is pledging, nor granting a security interest hereunder in, any of such Grantor’s right, title or interest in (A) any license, contract or agreement to which such Grantor is a party as of the date hereof or any of its right, title or interest thereunder to the extent, but only to the extent, that such a grant would, under the express terms of such license, contract or agreement on the date hereof result in a breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, such license, contract or agreement (other than to the extent that any such term (i) has been waived or (ii)
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would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-408, 9-409 of the Code or other applicable provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law (including the Bankruptcy Code) or principles of equity); provided, that (x) immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such provision, the Collateral shall include, and such Grantor shall be deemed to have granted a security interest in, all such right, title and interest as if such provision had never been in effect and (y) the foregoing exclusion shall in no way be construed so as to limit, impair or otherwise affect Agent’s unconditional continuing security interest in and liens upon any rights or interest of a Grantor in or to the proceeds of, or any monies due or to become due under, any such license, contract or agreement or (B) all intent-to-use United States trademark applications for which an amendment to allege use or statement of use has not been filed under 15 U.S.C. § 1051(c) or 15 U.S.C. § 1051(d), respectively, or if filed, has not been deemed in conformance with 15 U.S.C. § 1051(a) or examined and accepted, respectively, by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, provided that, upon such filing and acceptance, such intent-to-use applications shall be included in the definition of Collateral.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the term “Collateral” shall not include (A) in the case of a first tier foreign Subsidiary, more than 65% (or such greater percentage that, due to a change in applicable law after the date hereof, (i) would not reasonably be expected to cause the undistributed earnings of such foreign Subsidiary as determined for United States federal income tax purposes to be treated as a deemed dividend to such foreign Subsidiary’s United States parent and (ii) would not reasonably be expected to cause any adverse tax consequences) of the issued and outstanding shares of Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) (it being understood and agreed that the Collateral shall include 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) or other equity interest of such foreign Subsidiary) or (B) in the case of all other foreign Subsidiaries, any of the issued and outstanding shares of Stock.
The Grantors agree that the pledge of the shares of Stock of any Subsidiary of a Grantor that is a foreign Subsidiary may be supplemented by one or more separate pledge agreements, deeds of pledge, share charges, or other similar agreements or instruments, executed and delivered by the relevant Grantors in favor of Agent, which pledge agreements will provide for the pledge of such shares of Stock in accordance with the laws of the applicable foreign jurisdiction subject to the limitations set forth above regarding the pledge of Stock securing the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations of such Grantor. With respect to such shares of Stock, Agent may, at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion, take actions in such foreign jurisdictions that will result in the perfection of the Lien created in such shares of Stock.
3. Security for Obligations. This Agreement and the Security Interest created hereby by each Grantor secures the payment and performance of all the Secured Obligations of such Grantor, whether now existing or arising hereafter. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement secures the payment of all amounts which constitute part of such Secured Obligations and would be owed by Grantors, or any of them, to Agent, the Holders or any of them, but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of an Insolvency Proceeding involving any Grantor.
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4. Grantors Remain Liable. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) each of the Grantors shall remain liable under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral, including the Pledged Operating Agreements and the Pledged Partnership Agreements, to perform all of the duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed, (b) the exercise by Agent or any Holder of any of the rights hereunder shall not release any Grantor from any of its duties or obligations under such contracts and agreements included in the Collateral, and (c) neither Agent nor any Holder shall have any obligation or liability under such contracts and agreements included in the Collateral by reason of this Agreement, nor shall either Agent or any Holder be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of any Grantor thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned hereunder. Until an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Indenture, or any other Transaction Document, Grantors shall have the right to possession and enjoyment of the Collateral for the purpose of conducting the ordinary course of their respective businesses, subject to and upon the terms hereof and of the Indenture and the other Transaction Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is the intention of the parties hereto that record and beneficial ownership of the Pledged Interests, including all voting, consensual, and dividend rights, shall remain in the applicable Grantor until the occurrence of an Event of Default and until Agent shall notify the applicable Grantor of Agent’s exercise of voting, consensual, or dividend rights with respect to the Pledged Interests pursuant to Section 15 hereof.
5. Representations and Warranties. Each Grantor hereby represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The exact legal name of each of the Grantors is set forth on the signature pages of this Agreement or a supplemental indenture provided to Agent pursuant to Section 4j.14 of the Indenture.
(b) Schedule 7 attached hereto sets forth all Real Property (other than Oil and Gas Properties) owned by Grantors as of the Closing Date.
(c) Such Grantor is the sole legal and beneficial owner, or exclusive or non-exclusive licensee, of all Intellectual Property rights that are necessary or desirable to the conduct of its business as currently conducted. As of the Closing Date, (i) such Grantor has no ownership interest in, or title to, any Copyrights, Patents or Trademarks that are registered or the subject of pending applications for registrations, except as set forth on Schedules 2(a), 4(a) and 6(a), respectively, attached hereto; (ii) such Grantor has no ownership interest in, or title to, any Copyrights, Patents or Trademarks that are material to such Grantor’s businesses as currently conducted and that are not registered or the subject of pending applications for registrations, except as set forth in Schedules 2(b), 4(b) and 6(b), respectively, attached hereto; and (iii) such Grantor is not a party to any Intellectual Property Licenses, except as set forth on Schedule 3 attached hereto. This Agreement is effective to create a valid and continuing Lien on such Grantor’s Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks and all of its rights and interests in and to any Intellectual Property Licenses. Upon the filing of the Copyright Security Agreement with the United States Copyright Office and the filing of the Patent Security Agreement and the Trademark Security Agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the filing of appropriate financing statements in the jurisdictions listed on Schedule 8 hereto, all
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action necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the Security Interest in and to each Grantor’s Patents, Trademarks, or Copyrights has been taken and such perfected Security Interests are enforceable as such as against any and all creditors of and purchasers from any Grantor. No Grantor has any interest in any Copyright that is necessary in connection with the operation of such Grantor’s business, except for those Copyrights identified on Schedule 2(a) attached hereto which have been registered with the United States Copyright Office.
(d) This Agreement creates a valid security interest in the Collateral of each Grantor, to the extent a security interest therein can be created under the Code, securing the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations of such Grantor. Except to the extent a security interest in the Collateral cannot be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Code, all filings and other actions necessary or desirable to perfect and protect such security interest have been duly taken or will have been taken upon the filing of financing statements listing each applicable Grantor, as a debtor, and Agent, as secured party, in the jurisdictions listed next to such Grantor’s name on Schedule 8 attached hereto. Upon the making of such filings, Agent shall have a first priority perfected security interest, subject to First Priority Claims, in the Collateral of each Grantor to the extent such security interest can be perfected by the filing of a financing statement. All action by any Grantor necessary to protect and perfect such security interest on each item of Collateral has been duly taken.
(e) (i) Except for the Security Interest created hereby, each Grantor is and will at all times be the sole holder of record and the legal and beneficial owner, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, of the Pledged Interests indicated on Schedule 5 as being owned by such Grantor and, when acquired by such Grantor, any Pledged Interests acquired after the Closing Date; (ii) all of the Pledged Interests are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and the Pledged Interests constitute or will constitute the percentage of the issued and outstanding Stock of the Pledged Companies of such Grantor identified on Schedule 5 hereto as supplemented or modified by any Pledged Interests Addendum or any Supplement to this Agreement; (iii) such Grantor has the right and requisite authority to pledge, the Investment Related Property pledged by such Grantor to Agent as provided herein; (iv) all actions necessary or desirable to perfect, establish the first priority (subject to First Priority Claims) of, or otherwise protect, Agent’s Liens in the Investment Related Property, and the proceeds thereof, shall have been duly taken, (A) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement; (B) upon the taking of possession by Agent (or its agent (including the First Priority Agent) or designee) of any certificates constituting the Pledged Interests, to the extent such Pledged Interests are represented by certificates, together with undated powers endorsed in blank by the applicable Grantor; (C) upon the filing of financing statements in the applicable jurisdiction set forth on Schedule 8 attached hereto for such Grantor with respect to the Pledged Interests of such Grantor that are not represented by certificates, and (D) with respect to any Securities Accounts, upon the delivery of Control Agreements with respect thereto; and (v) each Grantor has delivered to and deposited with First Priority Agent (or, with respect to any Pledged Interests created or obtained after the Closing Date, will deliver and deposit in accordance with Sections 6(a) and 8 hereof) all certificates representing the Pledged Interests owned by such Grantor to the extent such Pledged Interests are represented by certificates, and undated powers endorsed in blank with respect to such certificates. None of the Pledged Interests owned or held by such Grantor has been issued or transferred in violation of any securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject.
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(f) No consent, approval, authorization, or other order or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required (i) for the grant of a Security Interest by such Grantor in and to the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement or for the execution, delivery, or performance of this Agreement by such Grantor, or (ii) for the exercise by Agent of the voting or other rights provided for in this Agreement with respect to the Investment Related Property or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement, except as may be required in connection with such disposition of Investment Related Property by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally.
(g) Schedule 9 attached hereto sets forth all motor vehicles owned by Grantors as of the Closing Date, by model, model year and vehicle identification number (“VIN”).
(h) There is no default, breach, violation or event of acceleration existing under any promissory note (as defined in the Code) constituting Collateral and pledged hereunder (the “Pledged Notes”) and no event has occurred or circumstance exists which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default, breach, violation or event of acceleration under the Pledged Notes. Such Grantor, if it is an obligee under a Pledged Note, has not waived any default, breach, violation or event of acceleration under such Pledged Notes. The proceeds of the loans evidenced by the Pledged Notes have been fully disbursed and such Grantor has no obligation to make any future advances or other disbursements under or in respect of the Pledged Notes. A true, correct and complete list of the Pledged Notes is set forth on Schedule 10.
(i) Each Grantor has made in good faith and in accordance with the procedures and regulations of the United States Copyright Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as applicable, all payments, filings and recordations necessary to protect and maintain its interest in the Intellectual Property rights identified on Schedules 2(a), 4(a) and 6(a) in the United States in a manner sufficient to claim in the public record such Grantor’s ownership thereof, including (i) making all necessary registration, maintenance, and renewal fee payments; and (ii) filing all necessary documents, including all applications for registration of such Intellectual Property rights.
(j) Except as set forth on Schedules 2, 4 or 6, no claim has been made in writing and is continuing or, to the best of each Grantor’s knowledge, threatened that the use by any Grantor of any Intellectual Property rights that are material to the conduct of its business does or may violate the Intellectual Property rights of any Person. To the best of each Grantor’s knowledge, there is currently no infringement or unauthorized use of any item of Intellectual Property rights contained on Schedules 2, 4 or 6.
6. Covenants. Each Grantor, jointly and severally, covenants and agrees with Agent and the other Secured Parties that from and after the date of this Agreement and until the date of termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 22 hereof:
(a) Possession of Collateral. In the event that any Collateral, including proceeds, is evidenced by or consists of Negotiable Collateral, Investment Related Property, or Chattel Paper, and if and to the extent that perfection or priority of Agent’s Security Interest is
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dependent on possession, the applicable Grantor, immediately upon the request of Agent and in accordance with Section 8 hereof, shall execute such other documents and instruments as shall be requested by Agent or, if applicable, endorse and deliver physical possession of such Negotiable Collateral, Investment Related Property, or Chattel Paper to the First Priority Agent if there are First Priority Claims outstanding and otherwise to Agent, together with such undated powers endorsed in blank as shall be requested by Agent.
(b) Chattel Paper.
(i) Each Grantor shall take all steps reasonably necessary to grant Agent control of all electronic Chattel Paper in accordance with the Code and all “transferable records” as that term is defined in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act and Section 201 of the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction; and
(ii) If any Grantor retains possession of any Chattel Paper or instruments (which retention of possession shall be subject to the extent permitted hereby and by the Indenture), promptly upon the request of Agent, such Chattel Paper and instruments shall be marked with the following legend: “This writing and the obligations evidenced or secured hereby are subject to the Security Interest of The Bank of New York, as Agent for the benefit of itself and the ratable benefit of the holders of Baseline Oil & Gas Corp.’s 12 1/2% Senior Secured Notes due 2012 and 12 1 /2% Senior Secured Exchange Notes due 2012”.
(c) Control Agreements.
(i) Except to the extent otherwise permitted by the Indenture, each Grantor shall obtain an authenticated Control Agreement, from each bank maintaining a Deposit Account for such Grantor; and
(ii) Except to the extent otherwise permitted by the Indenture, each Grantor shall obtain authenticated Control Agreements, from each issuer of uncertificated securities, securities intermediary, or commodities intermediary issuing or holding any financial assets or commodities to or for any Grantor.
(d) Letter of Credit Rights. Each Grantor that is or becomes the beneficiary of a letter of credit shall promptly (and in any event within 5 Business Days after becoming a beneficiary), notify Agent thereof and, upon the request by Agent, enter into a tri-party agreement with Agent and the issuer or confirmation bank with respect to letter-of-credit rights (as that term is defined in the Code) assigning such letter-of-credit rights to Agent and directing all payments thereunder to Agent’s Account, all in form and substance satisfactory to Agent.
(e) Commercial Tort Claims. Each Grantor shall promptly (and in any event within 5 Business Days of receipt thereof), notify Agent in writing upon incurring or otherwise obtaining a Commercial Tort Claim after the date hereof and, upon request of Agent, promptly amend Schedule 1 to this Agreement to describe such after-acquired Commercial Tort Claim in a manner that reasonably identifies such Commercial Tort Claim, and hereby authorizes the filing of additional financing statements or amendments to existing financial statements describing such Commercial Tort Claims, and agrees to do such other acts or things deemed necessary or desirable by Agent to give Agent a first priority, perfected security interest in any such Commercial Tort Claim.
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(f) Government Contracts. If any Account or Chattel Paper arises out of a contract or contracts with the United States of America or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, Grantors shall promptly (and in any event within 5 Business Days of the creation thereof) notify Agent thereof in writing and execute any instruments or take any steps reasonably required by Agent in order that all moneys due or to become due under such contract or contracts shall be assigned to Agent, for itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders, and shall provide written notice thereof under the Assignment of Claims Act or other applicable law.
(g) Intellectual Property.
(i) Upon request of Agent, in order to facilitate filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, each Grantor shall execute and deliver to Agent one or more Copyright Security Agreements, Trademark Security Agreements, or Patent Security Agreements to further evidence Agent’s Lien on such Grantor’s Patents, Trademarks, or Copyrights, and the General Intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby;
(ii) Each Grantor shall have the duty, to the extent material to or economically desirable in the operation of such Grantor’s business, (A) to promptly xxx for infringement, misappropriation, or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation, or dilution, (B) to prosecute diligently any trademark application or service xxxx application that is part of the Trademarks pending as of the date hereof or hereafter until the termination of this Agreement, (C) to prosecute diligently any patent application that is part of the Patents pending as of the date hereof or hereafter until the termination of this Agreement, and (D) to take reasonable and necessary action to preserve and maintain all of such Grantor’s Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, Intellectual Property Licenses, and its rights therein, including the filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of noncontestability and opposition and interference and cancellation proceedings. Each Grantor shall promptly file an application with the United States Copyright Office for any Copyright that has not been registered with the United States Copyright Office if such Copyright is necessary in connection with the operation of such Grantor’s business. Any expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing shall be borne by the appropriate Grantor. Each Grantor further agrees not to abandon any Trademark, Patent, Copyright, or Intellectual Property License that is material or economically desirable to the operation of such Grantor’s business without the prior written consent of Agent;
(iii) Grantors acknowledge and agree that neither Agent nor any Holder shall have any duties with respect to the Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, or Intellectual Property Licenses. Without limiting the generality of this Section 6(g), Grantors acknowledge and agree that neither Agent nor any Holder shall be under any obligation to take any steps necessary to preserve rights in the Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, or Intellectual Property Licenses against any other Person, but Agent may do so at its option from and after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and all expenses incurred in connection therewith (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and other professionals) shall be for the sole account of Borrowers and shall be chargeable to the Loan Account;
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(iv) In no event shall any Grantor, either itself or through any agent, employee, licensee, or designee, file an application for the registration of any Patent, Trademark, or Copyright with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency without giving Agent prior written notice thereof. Promptly upon any such filing, each Grantor shall comply with Section 6(g)(i) hereof; and
(v) With respect to the Intellectual Property rights that are material to the conduct of Grantors’ businesses, each Grantor agrees to take all necessary steps to protect each such Intellectual Property right. Each Grantor hereby agrees to take corresponding steps with respect to each new or acquired Intellectual Property right to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is now or later becomes entitled that are material to the conduct of their businesses. Any expenses incurred in connection with such activities shall be borne solely by such Grantor.
(h) Investment Related Property.
(i) If any Grantor shall receive or become entitled to receive any Pledged Interests after the Closing Date, it shall promptly (and in any event within 2 Business Days of receipt thereof) deliver to Agent a duly executed Pledged Interests Addendum identifying such Pledged Interests;
(ii) All sums of money and property paid or distributed in respect of the Investment Related Property which are received by any Grantor shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the benefit of Agent segregated from such Grantor’s other property, and such Grantor shall promptly deliver it forthwith to Agent’s in the exact form received;
(iii) Each Grantor shall promptly deliver to Agent a copy of each notice or other communication received by it in respect of any Pledged Interests;
(iv) No Grantor shall make or consent to any amendment or other modification or waiver with respect to any Pledged Interests, Pledged Operating Agreement, or Pledged Partnership Agreement, or enter into any agreement or permit to exist any restriction with respect to any Pledged Interests other than pursuant to the Transaction Documents;
(v) Each Grantor agrees that it will cooperate with Agent in obtaining all necessary approvals and making all necessary filings under federal, state, local, or foreign law in connection with the Security Interest in the Investment Related Property or any sale or transfer thereof; and
(vi) As to all limited liability company or partnership interests, issued under any Pledged Operating Agreement or Pledged Partnership Agreement, each Grantor hereby represents, warrants and covenants that the Pledged Interests issued pursuant to any such agreement (A) are not and shall not be dealt in or traded on securities exchanges or in securities markets, (B) do not and will not constitute investment company securities, and (C) are not and will not be held by such Grantor in a securities account. In addition, none of the Pledged Operating Agreements, the Pledged Partnership Agreements, or any other agreements governing
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any of the Pledged Interests issued under any Pledged Operating Agreement or Pledged Partnership Agreement, provide or shall provide that such Pledged Interests are securities governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction.
(i) [Reserved]
(j) Transfers and Other Liens. Grantors shall not (i) sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any of the Collateral, except as expressly permitted by the Indenture, or (ii) create or permit to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of the Collateral, except for Permitted Liens. The inclusion of Proceeds in the Collateral shall not be deemed to constitute Agent’s consent to any sale or other disposition of any of the Collateral except as expressly permitted in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.
(k) Other Actions as to Any and All Collateral. Each Grantor shall promptly (and in any event within 2 Business Days of acquiring or obtaining such Collateral) notify Agent in writing upon (i) acquiring or otherwise obtaining any Collateral after the date hereof consisting of Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, Intellectual Property Licenses, Investment Related Property, Chattel Paper (electronic, tangible or otherwise), documents (as defined in Article 9 of the Code), promissory notes (as defined in the Code), or instruments (as defined in the Code) or (ii) any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral being or becoming evidenced after the date hereof by any Chattel Paper, documents, promissory notes, or instruments and, in each such case upon the request of Agent and in accordance with Section 8 hereof, promptly execute such other documents and instruments, or if applicable, deliver such Chattel Paper, other documents, promissory notes, instruments or certificates evidencing any Investment Related Property in accordance with Section 6 hereof and do such other acts or things deemed necessary or desirable by Agent to protect Agent’s Security Interest therein.
(l) Pledged Notes.
(i) If any Grantor shall receive or become entitled to receive any Pledged Note after the Closing Date, it shall promptly (and in any event within 2 Business Days of receipt thereof) deliver to Agent a duly executed Pledged Note Addendum identifying such Pledged Note;
(ii) No Grantor will waive or release any obligation of any party to the Pledged Notes without the prior consent of Agent;
(iii) No Grantor will take or omit to take any action or suffer or permit any action to be omitted or taken, the taking or omission of which would result in any right of offset against sums payable under the Pledged Notes;
(iv) Each Grantor shall give Agent copies of all notices (including notices of default) given or received with respect to the Pledged Notes promptly after giving or receiving such notice; and
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(v) Without Agent’s prior written consent, each Grantor shall not, and shall not agree to, assign or surrender its rights and interests under the Pledged Notes nor terminate, cancel, modify, change, supplement or amend the Pledged Notes.
(m) Motor Vehicles. Upon request of Agent, with respect to all motor vehicles owned by any Grantor, Grantor shall deliver to Agent, a certificate of title for all such motor vehicles and shall cause those title certificates to be filed (with Agent’s Lien noted thereon) in the appropriate state motor vehicle filing office.
7. Relation to Other Security Documents. The provisions of this Agreement shall be read and construed with the other Transaction Documents referred to below in the manner so indicated.
(a) Indenture. In the event of any conflict between any provision in this Agreement and a provision in the Indenture, such provision of the Indenture shall control.
(b) Patent, Trademark, Copyright Security Agreements. The provisions of the Copyright Security Agreements, Trademark Security Agreements, and Patent Security Agreements are supplemental to the provisions of this Agreement, and nothing contained in the Copyright Security Agreements, Trademark Security Agreements, or the Patent Security Agreements shall limit any of the rights or remedies of Agent hereunder.
8. Further Assurances.
(a) Each Grantor agrees that from time to time, at its own expense, such Grantor will promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary or that Agent may reasonably request, in order to perfect and protect any Security Interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any of the Collateral.
(b) Each Grantor hereby authorizes the filing by Agent of financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto, and such Grantor will execute and deliver to Agent such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or as Agent may reasonably request, in order to perfect and preserve the Security Interest granted or purported to be granted hereby.
(c) Each Grantor hereby authorizes Agent at any time and from time to time to file, transmit, or communicate, as applicable, financing statements and amendments (i) describing the Collateral as “all personal property of debtor” or “all assets of debtor” or words of similar effect, (ii) describing the Collateral as being of equal or lesser scope or with greater detail, or (iii) that contain any information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the Code for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance. Each Grantor also hereby ratifies any and all financing statements or amendments previously filed by Agent in any jurisdiction.
(d) Each Grantor acknowledges that it is not authorized to file any financing statement or amendment or termination statement with respect to any financing statement filed in connection with this Agreement without the prior written consent of Agent, subject to such Grantor’s rights under Section 9-509(d)(2) of the Code.
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9. Agent’s Right to Perform Contracts, Exercise Rights, etc. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Agent (or its designee) (a) may proceed to perform any and all of the obligations of any Grantor contained in any contract, lease, or other agreement and exercise any and all rights of any Grantor therein contained as fully as such Grantor itself could, (b) shall have the right to use any Grantor’s rights under Intellectual Property Licenses in connection with the enforcement of Agent’s rights hereunder, including the right to prepare for sale and sell any and all Inventory and Equipment now or hereafter owned by any Grantor and now or hereafter covered by such licenses, and (c) shall have the right to request that any Stock is pledged hereunder be registered in the name of Agent or any of its nominees.
10. Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Each Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints Agent its attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or otherwise, at such time as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, to take any action and to execute any instrument which Agent may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including:
(a) to ask, demand, collect, xxx for, recover, compromise, receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in connection with the Accounts or any other Collateral of such Grantor;
(b) to receive and open all mail addressed to such Grantor and to notify postal authorities to change the address for the delivery of mail to such Grantor to that of Agent;
(c) to receive, endorse, and collect any drafts or other instruments, documents, Negotiable Collateral or Chattel Paper;
(d) to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings which Agent may deem necessary or desirable for the collection of any of the Collateral of such Grantor or otherwise to enforce the rights of Agent with respect to any of the Collateral;
(e) to repair, alter, or supply goods, if any, necessary to fulfill in whole or in part the purchase order of any Person obligated to such Grantor in respect of any Account of such Grantor;
(f) to use any labels, Patents, Trademarks, trade names, URLs, domain names, industrial designs, Copyrights, advertising matter or other industrial or intellectual property rights, in advertising for sale and selling Inventory and other Collateral and to collect any amounts due under Accounts, contracts or Negotiable Collateral of such Grantor; and
(g) Agent on behalf of the Holders shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to bring suit in its own name to enforce the Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights and Intellectual Property Licenses and, if Agent shall commence any such suit, the appropriate Grantor shall, at the request of Agent, do any and all lawful acts and execute any and all proper documents reasonably required by Agent in aid of such enforcement.
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To the extent permitted by law, each Grantor hereby ratifies all that such attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until this Agreement is terminated.
11. Agent May Perform. If any Grantor fails to perform any agreement contained herein, Agent may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement, and the reasonable expenses of Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be payable, jointly and severally, by Grantors.
12. Agent’s Duties. The powers conferred on Agent hereunder are solely to protect Agent’s interest in the Collateral, for the benefit of itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders, and shall not impose any duty upon Agent to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its actual possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral. The Agent shall not be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any security interest in the Collateral. The Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Agent in good faith. The Agent shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, except to the extent such action or omission constitutes gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Agent, for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, for the validity of the title of the Company to the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral.
13. Collection of Accounts, General Intangibles and Negotiable Collateral. At any time upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, Agent or Agent’s designee may (a) notify Account Debtors of any Grantor that such Grantor’s Accounts, General Intangibles, Chattel Paper or Negotiable Collateral have been assigned to Agent, for the benefit of the itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders, or that Agent has a security interest therein, and (b) collect such Grantor’s Accounts, General Intangibles and Negotiable Collateral directly, and any collection costs and expenses shall constitute part of such Grantor’s Secured Obligations under the Transaction Documents.
14. Disposition of Pledged Interests by Agent. None of the Pledged Interests existing as of the date of this Agreement are, and none of the Pledged Interests hereafter acquired on the date of acquisition thereof will be, registered or qualified under the various federal or state securities laws of the United States and disposition thereof after an Event of Default may be restricted to one or more private (instead of public) sales in view of the lack of such registration. Each Grantor understands that in connection with such disposition, Agent may approach only a
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restricted number of potential purchasers and further understands that a sale under such circumstances may yield a lower price for the Pledged Interests than if the Pledged Interests were registered and qualified pursuant to federal and state securities laws and sold on the open market. Each Grantor, therefore, agrees that: (a) if Agent shall, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, sell or cause the Pledged Interests or any portion thereof to be sold at a private sale, Agent shall have the right to rely upon the advice and opinion of any nationally recognized brokerage or investment firm (but shall not be obligated to seek such advice and the failure to do so shall not be considered in determining the commercial reasonableness of such action) as to the best manner in which to offer the Pledged Interest or any portion thereof for sale and as to the best price reasonably obtainable at the private sale thereof; and (b) such reliance shall be conclusive evidence that Agent has handled the disposition in a commercially reasonable manner.
15. Voting Rights.
(a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, (i) Agent may, at its option, and with prior notice to any Grantor, and in addition to all rights and remedies available to Agent under any other agreement, at law, in equity, or otherwise, exercise all voting rights, and all other ownership or consensual rights in respect of the Pledged Interests owned by such Grantor, but under no circumstances is Agent obligated by the terms of this Agreement to exercise such rights, and (ii) if Agent duly exercises its right to vote any of such Pledged Interests, each Grantor hereby appoints Agent, such Grantor’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and IRREVOCABLE PROXY to vote such Pledged Interests in any manner Agent deems advisable for or against all matters submitted or which may be submitted to a vote of shareholders, partners or members, as the case may be. The power-of-attorney granted hereby is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable.
(b) For so long as any Grantor shall have the right to vote the Pledged Interests owned by it, such Grantor covenants and agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Agent, vote or take any consensual action with respect to such Pledged Interests which would adversely affect the rights of Agent or any Holder or the value of the Pledged Interests.
16. Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(a) Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein, in the other Transaction Documents, or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party on default under the Code or any other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor expressly agrees that, in any such event, Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, advertisement or notice of any kind (except a notice specified below of time and place of public or private sale) to or upon any of Grantors or any other Person (all and each of which demands, advertisements and notices are hereby expressly waived to the maximum extent permitted by the Code or any other applicable law), may take immediate possession of all or any portion of the Collateral and (i) require Grantors to, and each Grantor hereby agrees that it will at its own expense and upon request of Agent forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by Agent and make it available to Agent at one or more locations where such Grantor regularly maintains Inventory,
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and (ii) without notice except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any of Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit, and upon such other terms as Agent may deem commercially reasonable. Each Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least 10 days notice to any of Grantors of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification and specifically such notice shall constitute a reasonable “authenticated notification of disposition” within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the Code. Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.
(b) Agent is hereby granted a license or other right to use, without liability for royalties or any other charge, each Grantor’s labels, Patents, Copyrights, rights of use of any name, trade secrets, trade names, Trademarks, service marks and advertising matter, URLs, domain names, industrial designs, other industrial or intellectual property or any property of a similar nature, whether owned or licensable by any of Grantors or with respect to which any of Grantors have sublicensable rights under license, sublicense, or other agreements, as it pertains to the Collateral, in preparing for sale, advertising for sale and selling any Collateral, and each Grantor’s rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements shall inure to the benefit of Agent.
(c) Any cash held by Agent as Collateral and all cash proceeds received by Agent in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied against the Secured Obligations in the order set forth in Section 6.10 of the Indenture, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event the proceeds of Collateral are insufficient to satisfy all of the Secured Obligations of each Grantor in full, each Grantor shall remain liable for any such deficiency in its Secured Obligations.
(d) Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that the Secured Obligations arose out of a commercial transaction, and agrees that if an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing Agent shall have the right to an immediate writ of possession without notice of a hearing. Agent shall have the right to the appointment of a receiver for the properties and assets of each Grantor, and each Grantor hereby consents to such rights and such appointment and hereby waives any objection such Grantor may have thereto or the right to have a bond or other security posted by Agent.
17. Remedies Cumulative. Each right, power, and remedy of Agent as provided for in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise shall be cumulative and concurrent and shall be in addition to every other right, power, or remedy provided for in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise by Agent, of any one or more of such rights, powers, or remedies shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise by Agent of any or all such other rights, powers, or remedies.
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18. Marshaling. Agent shall not be required to marshal any present or future collateral security (including but not limited to the Collateral) for, or other assurances of payment of, the Secured Obligations or any of them or to resort to such collateral security or other assurances of payment in any particular order, and all of its rights and remedies hereunder and in respect of such collateral security and other assurances of payment shall be cumulative and in addition to all other rights and remedies, however existing or arising. To the extent that it lawfully may, each Grantor hereby agrees that it will not invoke any law relating to the marshaling of collateral which might cause delay in or impede the enforcement of Agent’s rights and remedies under this Agreement or under any other instrument creating or evidencing any of the Secured Obligations or under which any of the Secured Obligations is outstanding or by which any of the Secured Obligations is secured or payment thereof is otherwise assured, and, to the extent that it lawfully may, each Grantor hereby irrevocably waives the benefits of all such laws.
19. Indemnity and Expenses.
(a) Each Grantor agrees to indemnify Agent and the Holders from and against all claims, lawsuits and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys fees) growing out of or resulting from this Agreement (including enforcement of this Agreement) or any other Transaction Document to which such Grantor is a party, except claims, losses or liabilities resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification as determined by a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction. This provision shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the Indenture and the repayment of the Secured Obligations.
(b) Grantors, jointly and severally, shall, upon demand, pay to Agent (or Agent, may charge to the Loan Account) all the expenses which Agent may incur in connection with (i) the administration of this Agreement, (ii) the custody, preservation, use or operation of, or, upon an Event of Default, the sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, any of the Collateral in accordance with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, (iii) the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of Agent hereunder or (iv) the failure by any of Grantors to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.
20. Merger, Amendments; Etc. THIS AGREEMENT, TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by any of Grantors herefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Agent, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Agent and each of Grantors to which such amendment applies.
21. Addresses for Notices. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be given in the form and manner and delivered to Agent at its address
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specified in the Indenture and to any of the Grantors at their respective addresses specified in the Indenture or a supplemental indenture, as applicable, or, as to any party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other party.
22. Continuing Security Interest: Assignments of the Notes. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall (a) remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been paid in full in cash in accordance with the provisions of the Transaction Documents, (b) be binding upon each Grantor, and their respective successors and assigns, and (c) inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Agent and its successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (c), any Holder may, in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of the Notes held by it to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to such Lender herein or otherwise. Upon payment in full in cash of the Obligations in accordance with the provisions of the Transaction Documents, the Security Interest granted hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to Grantors or any other Person entitled thereto. At such time, Agent will file or authorize the filing of appropriate termination statements provided to it to terminate such Security Interest. No transfer or renewal, extension, assignment, or termination of this Agreement or of the Indenture, any other Transaction Document, or any other instrument or document executed and delivered by any Grantor to Agent nor any additional Advances or other loans made by any Lender to Borrowers, nor the taking of further security, nor the retaking or re-delivery of the Collateral to Grantors, or any of them, by Agent, nor any other act of the Holders, or any of them, shall release any of Grantors from any obligation, except a release or discharge executed in writing by Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. Agent shall not by any act, delay, omission or otherwise, be deemed to have waived any of its rights or remedies hereunder, unless such waiver is in writing and signed by Agent and then only to the extent therein set forth. A waiver by Agent of any right or remedy on any occasion shall not be construed as a bar to the exercise of any such right or remedy which Agent would otherwise have had on any other occasion.
23. Governing Law. THE VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS ARISING HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER OR RELATED HERETO SHALL BE DETERMINED UNDER, GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
24. New Subsidiaries. Pursuant to Section 4.14 of the Indenture, any new direct or indirect Subsidiary (whether by acquisition or creation) of any Borrower or any other Grantor is required to enter into this Agreement by executing and delivering in favor of Agent a supplement to this Agreement in the form of Annex 1 attached hereto. Upon the execution and delivery of Annex 1 by such new Subsidiary, 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 instrument adding an additional Grantor as a party to this Agreement 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 hereunder.
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25. Agent. Each reference herein to any right granted to, benefit conferred upon or power exercisable by the “Agent” shall be a reference to Agent, for the benefit of itself and the ratable benefit of the Holders.
26. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Agreement but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and binding effect of this Agreement. The foregoing shall apply to each other Transaction Document mutatis mutandis.
(b) Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof in that jurisdiction or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
(c) Headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used in connection with the interpretation of any provision hereof.
(d) The pronouns used herein shall include, when appropriate, either gender and both singular and plural, and the grammatical construction of sentences shall conform thereto.
(e) Unless the context of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document clearly requires otherwise, references to the plural include the singular, references to the singular include the plural, the terms “includes” and “including” are not limiting, and the term “or” has, except where otherwise indicated, the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and similar terms in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document refer to this Agreement or such other Transaction Document, as the case may be, as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement or such other Transaction Document, as the case may be. Section, subsection, clause, schedule, and exhibit references herein are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any reference in this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document to any agreement, instrument, or document shall include all alterations, amendments, changes, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions, joinders, and supplements, thereto and thereof, as applicable (subject to any restrictions on such alterations, amendments, changes, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions, joinders, and supplements set forth herein). Any reference herein or in any other Transaction Document to the satisfaction or repayment in full of the Obligations shall mean the repayment in full in cash (or cash collateralization in accordance with the terms hereof) of all Obligations other than unasserted contingent indemnification Obligations. Any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s
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successors and assigns. Any requirement of a writing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document shall be satisfied by the transmission of a Record and any Record so transmitted shall constitute a representation and warranty as to the accuracy and completeness of the information contained therein.
(f) In connection with its execution and acting hereunder, Agent is entitled to all rights, privileges, protections, immunities, benefits and indemnities provided to it as Trustee under the Indenture.
27. REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, THE LIEN AND SECURITY INTEREST GRANTED TO THE AGENT, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITSELF AND THE HOLDERS, PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHT OR REMEDY BY THE AGENT AND THE OTHER SECURED PARTIES HEREUNDER ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFLICT OR INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT SHALL CONTROL.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties hereto have executed this Agreement by and through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.
GRANTOR: | BASELINE OIL & GAS CORP., a Nevada corporation | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||||
AGENT: | THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Agent | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||||
Title: | Vice President |