Exhibit 10.47
COLLATERAL AGREEMENT
(MHW, LTD.)
THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 1st day of June, 2004 by and among MHW, LTD.,
a New York corporation ("Collateral Agent") with its principal place of business
located at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, CASTLE BRANDS (USA)
CORP., a Delaware corporation ("CB-US"), with its principal place of business
located at 00-00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx X, Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000 and JPMORGAN CHASE
BANK, a New York banking organization, as Trustee, ("Trustee"), with a corporate
trust office located at 000 Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Collateral Agent is an importer, marketer and distributor of
distilled spirits, wines and malt beverages throughout the United States of
America and holds such regulatory licenses as are necessary in each of the
States in or into which it conducts business; and
WHEREAS, CB-US possesses the exclusive rights to import and market certain
beverage alcohol products in the United States (as identified in Exhibit "A"
hereto as such exhibit may be amended from time to time, hereinafter the
"Alcoholic Beverages") and utilizes the services of Collateral Agent to
distribute the Alcoholic Beverages in the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, CB-US and Collateral Agent have entered into a "Distribution
Services Agreement" restated as of December 1, 2003, by letter agreement of even
date herewith ("Services Agreement"), a true copy of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit "B", and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Services Agreement, Collateral Agent
sells the Alcoholic Beverages beneficially owned by CB-US to CB-US's customers;
WHEREAS, Collateral Agent takes or may take title to the Inventory of
Alcoholic Beverages, exercises custody and control over the accounts arising
from the sale thereof and collects the proceeds thereof (the "Accounts"); and
WHEREAS, CB-US seeks to enter into a Trust Indenture (the "Trust
Indenture") of even date herewith with Trustee for the purpose of issuing
certain 8% Senior Secured Notes, Series 2004 (the "Secured Notes") of CB-US
thereunder, pursuant to which CB-US's inventory and accounts receivable shall be
pledged to Trustee as collateral for CB-US's indebtedness and other obligations;
and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of Collateral Agent that CB-US cause
the issuance of the Secured Notes under the Trust Indenture in order that CB-US
may continue and expand its business, in general, and specifically with
Collateral Agent; and
WHEREAS, as a condition to the issuance of the Secured Notes, the Trust
Indenture contemplates that Trustee shall have a first priority and sole
security interest in the Alcoholic Beverages, Accounts and other assets of CB-US
in the possession or under the control of Collateral Agent; and
WHEREAS, in order to provide Trustee with the required security interest,
Collateral Agent has agreed to consent to the assignment of the Services
Agreement with CB-US and, to and for the benefit of Trustee and the owners from
time to time of the Secured Notes, to enter into this Agreement; and
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the one dollar and other
valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, it is hereby
agreed as follows:
I. DEFINITIONS:
"Accounts" for the purposes of this Agreement, shall mean all items
described in the UCC definition thereof and all of the following, whether or not
so described (in all cases whether now existing or hereafter created), solely to
the extent to which they arise from the sale of the Alcoholic Beverages by
Collateral Agent: all obligations of any kind at any time due or owing to CB-US
or Collateral Agent and all rights of CB-US or Collateral Agent to receive
payment or any other consideration (whether classified under the UCC or the law
of any other state as accounts, Accounts, contract rights, chattel paper,
General Intangibles, or otherwise) including without limitation invoices,
contract rights, Accounts, general intangibles, choses-in-action, notes, drafts,
acceptances, instruments and all other debts, obligations and liabilities in
whatever form owing to CB-US or Collateral Agent from any person, firm,
corporation, governmental authority or other entity, together with all security
for any thereof, and all of CB-US's or Collateral Agent's rights to goods sold
(whether delivered, undelivered, in transit or returns), represented by any
thereof, together with all proceeds and products of any of the foregoing.
"Agreement" shall mean this Agreement together with any and all amendments,
modifications, and supplements hereto as same are executed among the parties
from time to time.
"Alcoholic Beverages" shall have the same meaning as set forth in the
preamble of this Agreement, together with all packing materials, labels and the
like related thereto and paid tax stamps affixed thereto.
"Business Day" or "Business Days" shall mean any day except Saturdays,
Sundays or legal holidays for banks in the State of New York on which commercial
banks located in the State of New York are open and conducting business.
"CB-US Security Agreement" shall mean that certain General Security
Agreement of even date herewith by and among CB-US and Trustee.
"Collateral" shall mean all the following, wherever located and whether now
existing or hereafter created or arising and whether now owned or hereafter
acquired by CB-US or Collateral Agent: (i) Accounts arising from the sale of the
Alcoholic Beverages; (ii) Inventory of the Alcoholic Beverages, and shall
include, without limitation: (a) all documents of title, policies or
certificates of insurance, securities, chattel paper and other documents and
instruments evidencing or pertaining to any thereof; all claims of CB-US or
Collateral Agent against third parties for loss of or damage to, or otherwise
relating to, any of the Collateral; (b) any moneys, drafts, notes, items,
leases, general or special deposits, balances, sums, proceeds and credits of
CB-US or Collateral Agent arising from the Collateral; (iii) all rights and
remedies which CB US
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or Collateral Agent might exercise with respect to any of the Collateral; and
(iv) all accessions and additions to, replacements and substitutions for, and
proceeds and products of, the Collateral.
"MHW Security Agreement" shall mean that certain Security Agreement of Even
date herewith by and among Collateral Agent and Trustee.
"Obligations" shall mean and include the Secured Notes, together with all
loans, advances, debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties owing by
CB-US to Trustee or any Affiliate of Trustee of any kind or nature, present or
future, whether or not evidenced by any note, guaranty or other instrument,
arising under any agreement or by operation of law, whether or not for the
payment of money, whether arising by reason of an extension of credit, loan,
guaranty, indemnification or in any other manner, whether direct or indirect
(including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to
become due, now due or hereafter arising and however acquired, including,
without limitation, all interest, charges, expenses, commitment, facility,
collateral management or other fees, reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses,
consulting fees and expenses and any other sum chargeable to CB-US under this
Agreement, the other Secured Notes Document, or the Trust Indenture.
"Secured Notes Documents" shall mean this Agreement, the MHW Security
Agreement, the CB-US Security Agreement and the Trust Indenture, together with
promissory notes issued thereunder, and any and all other documents, instruments
or agreements executed in connection therewith or herewith as the same may be
modified, amended, restated or replaced from time to time.
"Services Agreement" shall have the same meaning as set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.
"UCC" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of
New York, and, as to issues of perfection and exercise of remedies only, the
Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the jurisdiction (i)
wherein any of the Collateral is located or (ii) governing the Collateral.
II. INTEREST OF COLLATERAL AGENT IN COLLATERAL:
It is hereby understood, agreed, and acknowledged that:
(a) Collateral Agent and CB-US have entered into the Services Agreement;
(b) pursuant to the Services Agreement Collateral Agent shall sell
Alcoholic Beverages beneficially owned by CB-US to customers of and at the
request of CB-US;
(c) Collateral Agent's interest in the Inventory of Alcoholic Beverages,
the Accounts, the proceeds thereof or other assets of CB-US coming into
Collateral Agent's possession shall be for the benefit of itself; CB-US and
Trustee;
(d) to the extent Collateral is in the possession, custody, dominion or
control of Collateral Agent, all such Collateral shall at all times beneficially
be, and equitably be deemed to
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be, property of CB-US which is held by Collateral Agent, in its capacity as
agent for, and in trust for the benefit of, CB-US and Trustee;
(e) Collateral Agent shall hold no rights in the Collateral and no interest
therein which may be pledged, transferred, conveyed, encumbered or otherwise
delivered to third parties without the express, prior, written consent of both
CB-US and Trustee, except as may be provided herein or required by law;
(f) Collateral Agent hereby waives any right of setoff, claim, lien,
encumbrance or security interest it may have or hereafter claim to have with
respect to any Collateral or proceeds thereof coming into its possession, and
further, waives any claim it may now or hereafter have to seek reimbursement
from the proceeds of the Accounts or Collateral, except the right to the
"Collateral Agent Profits Security" as provided in Article VI.
III. SECURITY INTEREST OF TRUSTEE:
(a) CB-US and Collateral Agent hereby acknowledge that this Agreement
constitutes written notification, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by
Collateral Agent, that CB-US has granted to Trustee a first priority security
interest in the Collateral and that for the limited purpose of perfecting the
Trustee's security interest in the Collateral in accordance with the provisions
of the UCC, Collateral Agent shall serve as the agent of CB-US and Trustee in
the possession, custody, dominion and control over the Collateral.
(b) In furtherance of the agreements set forth in subsection III(a),
Collateral Agent hereby agrees:
(i) to promptly make all necessary entries or notations in its books
and records to reflect the interest of CB-US and Trustee in the Collateral;
(ii) to include a specific reference to CB-US's trade name, "Castle
Brands," on each invoice arising from the sale of the Alcoholic Beverages;
(iii) that Trustee's interest, liens, security interests and rights in
the Collateral shall at all times be prior to and superior to any rights, claims
and interests which Collateral Agent may have in or with respect to the
Collateral;
(iv) to execute and deliver such other instruments and agreements,
including, but without limitation, a security agreement with respect to the
Accounts and Alcoholic Beverages, as Trustee shall deem reasonably necessary to
effectuate the intent and purpose of this Agreement;
(v) that Collateral Agent will file a form UCC-1 financing statement
with respect to Collateral Agent and describing the Accounts and the Alcoholic
Beverages as collateral; and
(vi) in the event Collateral Agent determines to file a petition or
proceeding under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any other analogous state
or federal statute for the relief of debtors or has filed against it any such
petition or proceeding, to forthwith, and without
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the necessity of demand, turn over all proceeds of the Accounts and the
Alcoholic Beverages to Trustee in the form received.
IV. RETENTION OF COLLATERAL:
With respect to Collateral delivered to or under the custody and control of
Collateral Agent, Collateral Agent agrees that it shall take no action with
respect to such Collateral, except as provided in the Services Agreement, and
shall deliver all proceeds from the sale of the Alcoholic Beverages or other
Collateral to the Designated Account (as defined below) and further agrees that,
except as provided herein or in the Services Agreement, it shall not, without
the written consent of Trustee, sell, dispose of, liquidate or otherwise release
the Collateral, but shall hold same in trust for the benefit of Trustee.
V. PROVISION OF REPORTS:
(a) At the expense of CB-US, Collateral Agent shall provide Trustee with
such reports and with such access to Collateral Agent's books and records and
permit Trustee to copy and inspect such reports and books and records, all as
Trustee deems necessary or desirable to enable Trustee to monitor the
Collateral. Collateral Agent shall give Trustee access to the premises where the
Collateral is located and Trustee may enter thereon and examine and inspect the
Collateral and may examine, inspect and copy all books and records with respect
thereto at any time during Collateral Agent's normal business hours. Collateral
Agent shall maintain full, accurate and complete records respecting all
Collateral at all times.
(b) At the expense of CB-US, Collateral Agent shall simultaneously send to
Trustee copies of all notices, reports, statements or other information given or
rendered to CB-US pursuant to the Services Agreement and shall notify Trustee,
in writing, not less than thirty (30) Business Days prior to any termination,
amendment, modification or change to the Services Agreement.
VI. DESIGNATED ACCOUNT
(a) Collateral Agent hereby agrees to establish and maintain a special bank
account (the "Designated Account") at Citibank, Inc. (the "Depository Bank") and
to provide Trustee with all information necessary to identify such account. The
Designated Account shall be in the name of Collateral Agent and shall refer to
Collateral Agent's federal tax identification number. Collateral Agent shall
utilize its best efforts to cause the Designated Account to bear a title
suggesting the "in-trust" nature of the funds on deposit in such account. All
original remittances for payment of sales of Alcoholic Beverages or Accounts or
other proceeds of Collateral received by Collateral Agent shall be deposited
into the Designated Account. All such amounts shall be deposited into the
Designated Account, in kind, within one Business Day of receipt by Collateral
Agent.
(b) Collateral Agent shall have sole dominion and control over the
Designated Account; provided, however, that with the consent of CB-US (which is
hereby granted), Collateral Agent shall give the Depository Bank an irrevocable
direction (receipt of which shall be acknowledged in writing by the Depository
Bank) to sweep from the Designated Account on a daily basis all sums on deposit
therein in excess of $27,000.00 (the balance being the
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"Collateral Agent Profits Security"); and direct that all swept sums be sent via
wire transfer to the following account of CB-US: JPMorgan Chase Bank, ABA No.
000000000, Account 00113354238, Account Name: Castle Brands (USA) Corp.
(c) Upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default under the
Trust Indenture and upon the written instruction of Trustee, Collateral Agent
shall give the Depository Bank an irrevocable direction (receipt of which shall
be acknowledged in writing by the Depository Bank) to direct that all sums (in
excess of the Collateral Agent Profits Security) to be swept under subsection
VI(b) above, be instead sent by wire transfer to an account for the benefit of
the Trustee, as instructed by Trustee.
(d) Except as permitted in the following sentence, Collateral Agent shall
not change any direction given to the Depository Bank with respect to the sweep
of the Designated Account required under subsections VI(b) and (c) without the
prior written consent of Trustee and CB-US, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. Provided also, however, the amount of the Collateral
Agent Profits Security maintained in the Designated Account may increase to an
amount which (i) is consistent with the terms of the Services Agreement, (ii) is
documented to the reasonable satisfaction of Trustee, and (ii) does not exceed
the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) at any time without the mutual
written agreement of all parties to this Agreement.
(e) In the event that any remittance or portion of a remittance which does
not arise out of the sale of the Alcoholic Beverages, or other service performed
for the benefit of CB-US under the Service Agreement, is deposited to the
Designated Account and wired to CB-US or Trustee, Collateral Agent shall notify
the recipient of such deposit and the recipient shall promptly remit all funds
which are not related to CB-US to Collateral Agent via wire transfer to such
account as Collateral Agent shall direct.
(f) All costs and expenses of the Designated Account shall be borne by
CB-US and CB-US agrees to indemnify and hold Collateral Agent and Trustee
harmless from and against any charges, setoff for returned checks or otherwise
and other reimbursements due to the Depository Bank, which the Depository Bank
may charge against the Designated Account or seek reimbursement for from
Collateral Agent or Trustee.
VII. TRUSTEE AND CB-US AGREEMENTS:
(a) Trustee and CB-US acknowledge that Collateral Agent has made no
representations or claims regarding CB-US to induce Trustee to enter into the
Trust Indenture with CB-US, and Collateral Agent has no responsibility or
liability to Trustee for the Obligations of CB-US.
(b) Trustee and CB-US acknowledge that Collateral Agent's duties with
respect to uncollected Accounts are limited to the provisions of the Services
Agreement and the Collateral Agreement has no obligation to pay the foreign or
domestic suppliers for the Alcoholic Beverages sold for the benefit of the
Trustee and/or CB-US.
(c) In the event that Trustee accelerates the Obligations and makes demand
for payment, Trustee will promptly provide Collateral Agent with written notice.
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(d) Trustee shall reimburse Collateral Agent out of the Trust Estate (as
defined in the Trust Indenture) for all warehouse charges, taxes and Customs
duties applicable to the Alcoholic Beverages that have not been reimbursed by
CB-US and (i) have been paid by Collateral Agent or (ii) are or become
determined under law or contract to be an obligation of Collateral Agent.
To the fullest extent not otherwise provided herein, in performing its
duties and discharging its obligations under this Agreement, the Trustee shall
be entitled to all of the rights, protections and immunities accorded to it as
Trustee under the Trust Indenture, including but not limited to the right of
indemnification from parties other than the Collateral Agent.
VIII. NOTICES:
All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals and other
communications required or permitted hereunder must be in writing and will be
effective upon receipt if delivered personally, or if sent by facsimile
transmission with confirmation of delivery, or by nationally recognized
overnight courier service, to Collateral Agent's, CB-US's and Trustee's
addresses as set forth below or to such other address as any party may give to
the others, in writing, for such purpose.
Collateral Agent: MHW, Ltd.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, President
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
CB-US: Castle Brands (USA) Corp.
00-00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxx, President
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx L.L.P.
0000 XxXxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx XX
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Trustee: JPMorgan Chase Bank
000 Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
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with a copy to: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
IX. CHANGES IN WRITING:
No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement nor
consent to any departure by any party therefrom will be effective unless made in
a writing signed by the parties hereto, and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.
X. ENTIRE AGREEMENT:
This Agreement, including any Exhibits, the Services Agreement and the
Security Agreement (the "MHW Security Agreement") of even date herewith from the
Collateral Agent in favor of the Trustee constitute the entire agreements and
supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. In the event of any
conflicts between this Agreement and the Services Agreement and/or the MHW
Security Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.
XI. Counterparts:
This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterpart copies and by the
parties hereto on separate counterparts, but all such copies shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
XII. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS:
This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and
assigns.
XIII. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION:
This Agreement has been delivered to and accepted by the Trustee and will
be deemed to be made in the State of New York. THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE
INTERPRETED AND THE RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF THE PARTIES HERETO DETERMINED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, EXCLUDING ITS CONFLICT OF
LAWS RULES. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the exclusive
jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located within Manhattan,
New York.
XIV. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL:
EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR CLAIM OF ANY NATURE RELATING TO
THIS AGREEMENT, ANY DOCUMENTS EXECUTED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
TRANSACTION
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CONTEMPLATED IN ANY OF SUCH DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE
FOREGOING WAIVER IS KNOWING AND VOLUNTARY.
XV. TERM:
This Agreement shall commence on the date first set forth above and
continue through May 31, 2007 and, thereafter, automatically shall continue on a
month to month basis. Provided, however, that any termination of this Agreement
shall be on not less than four (4) months' prior written notice from either
Trustee or Collateral Agent.
XVI. SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS:
Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such
provision in any other jurisdiction.
XVII. TABLE OF CONTENTS; HEADINGS:
The headings preceding the text of this Agreement are inserted solely for
convenience of reference and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement or
affect its meaning, construction or effect.
XVIII. EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES:
All of the Exhibits to this Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference
herein and made a part hereof.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement on day and year first written above.
MHW, LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
XXXX XXXXXXXXX
President
CASTLE BRANDS (USA) CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
XXXX XXXXXXX
President
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, TRUSTEE
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
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EXHIBIT "A"
THE "ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES"
Knappogue Castle Whiskey
Celtic Crossing Liquor
Xxxx Vodka
Sea Wynde Rum
British Royal Navy Imperial Rum
Xxxxx'x Irish Cream
Clontarf Irish Whiskey and related Clontarf brands
EXHIBIT A
EXHIBIT "B"
TRUE COPY OF SERVICES AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT B
