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EXHIBIT 10.34
SECURITY AGREEMENT
This SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is dated as of December 16,
1999 between STAR SCIENTIFIC, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Debtor"), and XXXXX
& XXXXXXXXXX TOBACCO CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Lender").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, Debtor has entered into a Loan Agreement dated October 12,
1999 (as the same may hereafter be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Loan Agreement") with Lender providing for a
loan in the amount of $13,200,000 under Credit Facility A, and subject to the
fulfillment of certain conditions, a subsequent loan in the amount of $8,800,000
under Credit Facility B (collectively, the "Loan") to be made to Debtor by
Lender;
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligations of the Lender
under the Loan Agreement that Debtor shall have granted the Liens contemplated
by this Agreement;
WHEREAS, Star is engaged in two lines of business (i) the production
and sale of discount brand cigarettes (the "Discount Cigarette Business") and
(ii) the acquisition of tobacco which has been or will be specially cured to
reduce the nitrosamines levels ("Low TSNA Tobacco") and the development of a low
nitrosamine cigarette using the Low TSNA Tobacco (the "Star Curea Business"),
and
WHEREAS, Star and Lender have agreed that Star will grant Lender a
security interest in certain of the assets comprising the Star Curea Business.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and in order to
induce Lender to make the Loan contemplated by the Loan Agreement, and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, Debtor hereby agrees with Lender as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions
1.1 Certain Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined herein, all
capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings given to such
terms in the Loan Agreement or in Exhibit A annexed hereto.
1.2 Other Definition Provisions. References to "Sections",
"subsections", "Exhibits" and "Schedules" shall be to Sections, subsections,
Exhibits and Schedules, respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise
specifically provided. Any of the terms defined in Exhibit A may, unless the
context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural depending on
the reference. All references to statutes and related regulations shall include
(unless otherwise specifically provided herein) any amendments of same and any
successor statutes and regulations.
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SECTION 2. Grant of Security Interests
In order to secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of
the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof, Debtor hereby
grants to Lender, a purchase money continuing first priority security interest
in and to all right, title and interest of Debtor in the following property,
whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising and regardless of
where located (all being collectively referred to as the "Collateral"):
(A) Barns;
(B) Leaf Inventory;
(C) Proceeds of all or any of the property described in subparts
(A) - (B) above.
SECTION 3. Security for Secured Obligations
This Agreement secures the prompt and complete payment and performance
of the obligations of Debtor hereunder and under the Loan Agreement and Other
Loan Documents to which it is a party, now or hereafter existing, and all
renewals, extensions and restructurings of any of the above (all such debts,
obligations and liabilities of Debtor being collectively referred to herein as
the "Secured Obligations".
SECTION 4. Representations and Warranties
Debtor represents and warrants as follows:
4.1 Binding Obligation. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid
and binding obligation of Debtor, enforceable against Debtor in accordance with
its terms.
4.2 Location of Equipment and Inventory. All of the Equipment and
Inventory is located at the places specified on Schedule I. The Barns comprising
a part of the Equipment are mobile and will be located in one or more of the
following states: Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Debtor will
annually and, upon request from Lender, promptly within ten (10) Business Days
inventory the Collateral and provide Lender with the current location and serial
numbers of the Barns. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Debtor will
within ten (10) Business Days assemble the Collateral at a location designated
by Lender.
4.3 Ownership of Collateral. Debtor owns the Collateral free and
clear of any Lien.
4.4 Office Locations; Fictitious Names. The principal place of
business, the chief executive office and the office where Debtor keeps its books
and records are located at the places specified in subpart A of Schedule I. All
other locations of Collateral are specified in subpart B of Schedule I. If any
location specified on Schedule I is not owned by Debtor, the name and address of
the owner of such property is set forth opposite such location. Debtor
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does not do business and has not done business during the past five years under
any corporate name, trade-name or fictitious business name except as disclosed
on Schedule II.
4.5 Perfection. This Agreement creates a valid first priority
security interest in the Collateral, securing the payment of the Secured
Obligations.
SECTION 5. Further Assurances; Covenants
5.1. Other Documents and Actions. Debtor will, from time to time,
promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents and take all
further action that may be necessary, or that Lender may reasonably request, in
order to perfect and protect the Security Interests granted or purported to be
granted hereby or to enable Lender to exercise and enforce its rights and
remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, Debtor will: (a) execute and file such financing or
continuation statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or
notices, as may be necessary, or as Lender may reasonably request, in order to
perfect and preserve the Security Interests granted or purported to be granted
hereby; (b) during normal business hours and, prior to the occurrence of an
Event of Default, upon two (2) Business Days' prior notice from Lender, allow
inspection of the Collateral by Lender or persons designated by Lender, and (c)
upon Lender's request, appear in and defend any action or proceeding that may
affect Debtor's title to, or the Security Interests of the Lender in, the
Collateral.
5.2 Lender Authorized. Debtor hereby authorizes Lender to file one
or more financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relating
to all or any part of the Collateral and reflecting the terms of this Agreement
without the signature of Debtor to the extent permitted by law.
5.3 Corporate or Name Change. Without the prior written consent of
Lender, Debtor will not change Debtor's name.
5.4 Business Locations. Debtor will give Lender thirty (30) days
prior written notice of any change in Debtor's chief place of business, of any
new location of business, and of any new location for any of the Collateral.
With respect to any new location (which in any event shall be within the
continental United States), Debtor will execute such documents and take such
actions as Lender deems necessary to perfect and protect the Security Interests.
5.5 Instruments. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of
an Event of Default (i) Debtor will deliver and pledge to Lender all Instruments
duly endorsed and accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or
assignment, all in form and substance satisfactory to Lender and (ii) Debtor
will xxxx conspicuously all chattel paper with a legend, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Lender, indicating that such chattel paper is subject
to the Security Interests and will, upon Lender's request from time to time,
deliver possession thereof to Lender.
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5.6 Certificates of Title. Upon Lender's request, Debtor shall
promptly deliver to Lender any and all certificates of title, applications for
title or similar evidence of ownership of all Equipment and shall cause Lender
to be named as lienholder on any such certificate of title or other evidence of
ownership. Debtor shall not permit any Equipment to become a fixture to real
estate.
5.7 Collateral Description. Debtor will furnish to Lender, from time
to time, statements and schedules further identifying and describing the
Collateral and such other reports in connection with the Collateral as Lender
may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.
5.8 No Transfer/Assignment. Debtor shall not sell, assign, transfer,
convey or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral other than immaterial
dispositions in the ordinary course of business of items replaced with items of
equal or greater value, nor create, incur or permit to exist any pledge,
mortgage, lien, charge, encumbrance or security interest in or upon any of the
Collateral except in favor of the Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long
as no Event of Default (which when used herein shall have the meaning ascribed
to such term in the Loan Agreement) has occurred and is continuing, Debtor shall
have the exclusive, nontransferable right and license to use the Intellectual
Property and the exclusive right to grant to other Persons licenses and
sublicenses with respect to the Intellectual Property.
5.9 Taxes. Debtor shall, at its cost and expense, pay when due all
taxes, charges and assessments against any of the Collateral, except those
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings with timely payment of any
amounts due prior to delinquency, and all rent due on any and all premises where
the Collateral may be located.
5.10 Defense of Claims. Debtor shall, at its cost and expense, defend
against all actions, claims and demands affecting the Collateral, the Security
Interest or Debtors' or Lender's right, title, interest or benefit in or to the
Collateral; Debtors shall give Lender notice of any such action, claim or demand
promptly and in any event within five (5) days;
5.11 Maintenance. Debtor shall maintain the Collateral in good
condition, ordinary wear and tear resulting from its intended use excepted.
SECTION 6. Lender Appointed Attorney-in-Fact
Debtor hereby irrevocably appoints Lender as Debtor's attorney-in-fact,
with full authority in the place and stead of Debtor and in the name of Debtor,
Lender or otherwise, from time to time after the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default in Lender's discretion to take any action and
to execute any instrument that Lender may deem necessary or advisable to
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation:
(a) to obtain and adjust insurance required to be paid to Lender;
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(b) to ask, demand, collect, xxx for, recover, compound, receive and
give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in
respect of any of the Collateral;
(c) to receive, endorse, and collect any drafts or other
instruments, documents and chattel paper, in connection with clauses (a) and (b)
above;
(d) to file any claims or take any action or institute any
proceedings that Lender may reasonably deem necessary for the collection of any
of the Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights of Lender with respect to
any of the Collateral;
(e) to pay or discharge taxes or Liens, levied or placed upon or
threatened in writing against the Collateral, the legality or validity thereof
and the amounts necessary to discharge the same to be determined by Lender in
its sole discretion;
(f) to sign and endorse any invoices, freight or express bills,
bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, assignments, verifications and
notices in connection with Accounts and other documents (including without
limitation financing statements, continuation statements and other documents
necessary or advisable to perfect the Security Interests) relating to the
Collateral; and
(g) generally to sell, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with
respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely
as though Lender were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and to do, at
Lender's option and Debtor's expense, at any time or from time to time, all acts
and things that Lender reasonably deems necessary to protect, preserve or
realize upon the Collateral.
Debtor hereby ratifies and approves all acts of Lender made or taken pursuant to
this Section 7. Neither Lender nor any person designated by Lender shall be
liable for any acts or omissions or for any error of judgment or mistake of fact
or law excluding gross negligence and willful misconduct. This power, being
coupled with an interest, is irrevocable so long as this Agreement shall remain
in force.
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SECTION 7. Remedies
If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Lender
may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to all other rights and
remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and
remedies of a secured party on default under the UCC (whether or not the UCC
applies to the affected Collateral) and also may: (a) require Debtor to, and
Debtor hereby agrees that it will, at its expense and upon request of Lender
forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by Lender and make
it available to Lender at a place to be designated by Lender; (b) without notice
or demand or legal process, except as otherwise required by law, enter upon any
premises of Debtor and take possession of the Collateral; and (c) without notice
except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or
more parcels at public or private sale, at the Lender's offices or elsewhere, at
such time or times, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and at such
price or prices and upon such other terms as Lender may deem commercially
reasonable. Debtor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required
by law, at least ten (10) days notice to Debtor of the time and place of any
public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall
constitute commercially reasonable notification. At any sale of the Collateral,
if permitted by law, Lender may bid (which bid may be, in whole or in part, in
the form of cancellation of indebtedness) for the purchase of the Collateral or
any portion thereof for the account of Lender. Lender shall not be obligated to
make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. To
the extent permitted by law, Debtor hereby specifically waives all rights of
redemption, stay or appraisal which it has or may have under any law now
existing or hereafter enacted.
SECTION 8. License of Intellectual Property
[***]
Note: Redacted portions have been marked with [***]. The redacted portions are
subject to a request for confidential treatment that has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
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SECTION 9. Limitation on Duty of Lender with Respect to Collateral
Lender shall have no duty with respect to any Collateral in its
possession or control (or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee of
Lender) or with respect to any income thereon or the preservation of rights
against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto except for Lender's
gross negligence or willful misconduct. Lender shall not be liable or
responsible for any loss or damage to any of the Collateral, or for any
diminution in the value thereof, by reason of the act or omission of any
warehouseman, carrier, forwarding agency, consignee or other agent or bailee
selected by Lender in good faith.
SECTION 10. Application of Proceeds
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
the proceeds of any sale of, or other realization upon, all or any part of the
Collateral and any cash held in any of Debtor's accounts shall be applied:
first, to all fees, costs and expenses incurred by Lender with respect to the
Loan Agreement, the Other Loan Documents or the Collateral; second, to accrued
and unpaid interest on the Secured Obligations (including any interest which but
for the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued on such amounts);
third, to the principal amounts of the Secured Obligations outstanding; and
fourth, the surplus, if any, to Debtor.
SECTION 11. Expenses
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default,
all costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees, legal expenses and court
costs) incurred by Lender in enforcing or protecting the Security Interests or
any of its remedies under this Agreement shall be payable by Debtor on demand,
shall constitute Secured Obligations, shall bear interest until paid at the
highest rate provided in the Loan Agreement and shall be secured by the
Collateral.
SECTION 12. Termination of Security Interests: Release of Collateral
Upon payment in full of all Secured Obligations, the Security Interests
shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to Debtor. Upon
such termination of the Security Interests or release of any Collateral, Lender
will, execute and deliver to Debtor such documents as Debtor shall reasonably
request to evidence the termination of the Security Interests or the release of
such Collateral, as the case may be.
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SECTION 13. Reinstatement.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 12, this Agreement shall
continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time
any amount received by Lender in respect of the Secured Obligations is rescinded
or must otherwise be restored or returned by Lender upon the insolvency,
bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of any Debtor or upon the
appointment of any intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar official
for any Debtor or any substantial part of its properties, or otherwise, all as
though such payments had not been made.
SECTION 14. Notices
All notices, approvals, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be given in accordance with the notice provisions of the Loan
Agreement.
SECTION 15. Successors and Assigns
This Agreement is for the benefit of Lender and its successors and
assigns, and in the event of an assignment of all or any of the Secured
Obligations as permitted under the Loan Agreement, the rights hereunder, to the
extent applicable to the Secured Obligations so assigned, may be transferred
with such Secured Obligations. This Agreement shall be binding on Debtor and its
successors and assigns.
SECTION 16. Changes in Writing
No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of
this Agreement or consent to any departure by Debtor therefrom, shall in any
event be effective without the written concurrence of Lender and Debtor.
SECTION 17. Applicable Law
Except as otherwise provided for herein, this Agreement shall be
governed by, and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, the
internal laws of the State of Virginia, without regard to conflicts of laws
principles.
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SECTION 18. Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver: Remedies
Cumulative
No failure or delay on the part of Lender in the exercise of any power,
right or privilege hereunder shall impair such power, right or privilege or be
construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other
or further exercise thereof or any other right, power or privilege. All rights
and remedies existing under this Agreement are cumulative to, and not exclusive
of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.
SECTION 19. Headings
Section and subsection headings in this Agreement are included herein
for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this
Agreement for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.
SECTION 20. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument and any of the
parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE FOR SECURITY AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of
the day first written above.
STAR SCIENTIFIC, INC. XXXXX & XXXXXXXXXX TOBACCO
CORPORATION
By: By:
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Name: Name:
Title: Title:
