Contract
Exhibit 4.5
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT is subject to the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2009 (as such agreement may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”), among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent for the ABL Secured Parties referred to therein, U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent for the Term Debt Secured Parties referred to therein, Smithfield Foods, Inc. and the other Grantors (as defined below).
AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as it may be amended or modified from time to time, this “Security Agreement”) is entered into as of July 2, 2009 by and between Smithfield Foods, Inc., a Virginia corporation (the “Company”), and the other Persons listed on the signature pages hereof (each, including the Company, a “Grantor”, and collectively, the “Grantors”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) for the Secured Parties and amends and restates in full the Security Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2005, among the Company, the subsidiary grantors from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent for the Secured Parties, as defined therein.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
The Company, the Administrative Agent, certain of the Lenders and others are party to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2005 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”). Each Grantor is entering into this Security Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to enter into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among the Company, the other Grantors, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the others party thereto (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) and extend credit to the Company under the Credit Agreement and to secure the Secured Obligations (including with respect to any guarantee pursuant to Article X of the Credit Agreement).
ACCORDINGLY, the Grantors and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1. Terms Defined in Credit Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
1.2. Terms Defined in UCC. Terms defined in the UCC which are not otherwise defined in this Security Agreement are used herein as defined in the UCC.
1.3. Definitions of Certain Terms Used Herein. As used in this Security Agreement, in addition to the terms defined in the preamble and in the Preliminary Statement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Accounts” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Additional Grantor” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.16.
“Aircraft Collateral” means that certain Galaxy G200 with FAA registration number N321SF, and that certain Astra with FAA registration number N383SF.
“Article” means a numbered article of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.
“Chattel Paper” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Collateral” has the meaning set forth in Article II.
“Collateral Deposit Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).
“Collateral Report” means any certificate (including any Borrowing Base Certificate), report or other document delivered by any Grantor to the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to the Collateral pursuant to any Loan Document.
“Collection Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b).
“Commercial Tort Claims” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Control” has the meaning set forth in Article 8 or, if applicable, in Section 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 or 9-107 of Article 9 of the UCC.
“Controlled Deposit Account” means a Deposit Account that is subject to a Deposit Account Control Agreement.
“Copyrights” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to the following: (a) all copyrights, rights and interests in copyrights, works protectable by copyright, copyright registrations, and copyright applications; (b) all renewals of any of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, damages or payments for past or future infringements for any of the foregoing; (d) the right to xxx for past, present, and future infringements of any of the foregoing; and (e) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.
“Deposit Account Control Agreement” means an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among any Loan Party, a banking institution holding such Loan Party’s funds, and the Administrative Agent with respect to collection and control of all deposits and balances held in a deposit account maintained by any Loan Party with such banking institution.
“Deposit Accounts” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Documents” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Equipment” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Excluded Accounts” means (i) deposit accounts, the funds in which are used, in the ordinary course of business, solely for the payment of salaries and wages, workers’ compensation, pension benefits and similar expenses or taxes related thereto, (ii) each deposit account used, in the ordinary course of business, solely for daily accounts payable and that has an ending daily balance of zero, (iii) each account, all the cash and Permitted Investments contained in which are subject to a Lien permitted under Section 6.02(h) of the Credit Agreement, (iv) each account, all the cash and Permitted Investments contained in which are subject to a Lien pursuant to Section 6.02(t) of the Credit Agreement to cash collateralize obligations under letters of credit or in respect of Banking Services Obligations; (v) each account, all the cash and Permitted Investments contained in which consist of proceeds of the issuance of any debt securities pursuant to Section 6.01(b), 6.01(r) or 6.01(g) (solely to the extent such debt securities constitute an extension, refinancing or renewal of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(b) or 6.01(r) of the Credit Agreement) and/or proceeds from the sale, transfer
2
or other disposition of Term Debt Priority Collateral, in each case, to the extent depositing such cash or Permitted Investments in such account is required pursuant to the Senior Secured Notes Documents and (iv) accounts of the Grantors holding cash or Permitted Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any one time.
“Excluded Collateral” has the meaning set forth in Article II.
“Excluded Payments” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(d)(iii).
“Exhibit” refers to a specific exhibit to this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.
“Farm Products” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Fixtures” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock” means the issued and outstanding Equity Interests entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) of any Foreign Subsidiary.
“General Intangibles” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Goods” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Instruments” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Intellectual Property” means the collective reference to all rights, priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise, including, without limitation, the Copyrights, the Patents, the Trademarks and the Licenses, and all rights to xxx at law or in equity for any Infringement thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom.
“Inventory” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Investment Property” means the collective reference to (i) all “investment property” as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(49) of the UCC (other than any Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock excluded from the definition of “Pledged Stock”) and (ii) whether or not constituting “investment property” as so defined, all Pledged Notes and all Pledged Stock.
“Issuer” means any issuer of any Investment Property.
“Joinder” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.16.
“Letter-of-Credit Rights” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Licenses” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to (a) any and all licensing agreements or similar arrangements in and to its Patents, Copyrights, or Trademarks, (b) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past and future breaches thereof, and (c) all rights to xxx for past, present, and future breaches thereof.
“Lock Boxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).
“Lock Box Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).
3
“Margin Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.
“Material Intellectual Property” means the Intellectual Property listed on Exhibit G attached hereto.
“Patents” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to: (a) any and all patents and patent applications; (b) all inventions and improvements described and claimed therein; (c) all reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions, and continuations-in-part thereof; (d) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (e) all rights to xxx for past, present, and future infringements thereof; and (f) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.
“Permitted Liens” means a Lien permitted by Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.
“Pledged Collateral” means all Instruments, Securities and other Investment Property of the Grantors, whether or not physically delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Security Agreement.
“Pledged Notes” means all promissory notes listed on Exhibit C and all other promissory notes issued to or held by any Grantor (other than promissory notes issued in connection with extensions of trade credit by any Grantor in the ordinary course of business).
“Pledged Stock” means the Equity Interests listed on Exhibit C, together with any other shares, stock certificates, options, interests or rights of any nature whatsoever in respect of the Equity Interests of any Person that may be issued or granted to, or held by, any Grantor while this Security Agreement is in effect, in each case, to the extent not constituting Excluded Collateral.
“Receivables” means the Accounts, Chattel Paper, Documents, Investment Property, Instruments and any other rights or claims to receive money which are General Intangibles or which are otherwise included as Collateral.
“Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board (12 CFR Part 221) as from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of the Board relating to the extension of credit by banks for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.
“Section” means a numbered section of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.
“Secured Parties” means the Administrative Agent, the Joint Collateral Agents, the Lead Arrangers, the Lenders, any Affiliate of any Lender to which Secured Obligations are owed, the Issuing Banks and any other holder of Secured Obligations.
“Security” has the meaning set forth in Article 8 of the UCC.
“Stock Rights” means all dividends, instruments or other distributions and any other right or property which the Grantors shall receive or shall become entitled to receive for any reason whatsoever with respect to, in substitution for or in exchange for any Equity Interest constituting Collateral, any right to receive an Equity Interest and any right to receive earnings, in which the Grantors now have or hereafter acquire any right, issued by an issuer of such Equity Interest.
“Supporting Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Term Debt Representative” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.
4
“Trademarks” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to the following: (a) all trademarks (including service marks), trade names, trade dress, trade styles, brand names, corporate names, business names, domain names, logos and other source or business identifiers and the registrations and applications for registration thereof, all common-law rights related thereto, and the goodwill of the business symbolized by the foregoing; (b) all renewals of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims, and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (d) all rights to xxx for past, present, and future infringements of the foregoing, including the right to settle suits involving claims and demands for royalties owing; and (e) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time, of the State of New York or of any other state the laws of which are required as a result thereof to be applied in connection with the attachment, perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, Administrative Agent’s or any other Secured Party’s Lien on any Collateral.
“Vehicles” means all cars, trucks, trailers, construction and earth moving equipment and other vehicles covered by a certificate of title law of any state.
1.4 Other Definitional Provisions. The words “hereof,” “herein”, “hereto” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Security Agreement shall refer to this Security Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Security Agreement, and Section and Exhibit references are to this Security Agreement unless otherwise specified.
The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.
Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Grantor, shall refer to such Grantor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.
1.5 Exhibit Updates. The Grantors may update the Exhibits hereto from time to time to reflect changes to the information contained therein by notifying the Administrative Agent in writing and delivering such updated Exhibits to the Administrative Agent within 15 days of any such change.
ARTICLE II
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
Each Grantor hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in, to and under all personal property and other assets, whether now owned by or owing to, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of such Grantor (including under any trade name or derivations thereof), and whether owned or consigned by or to, or leased from or to, such Grantor, and regardless of where located (all of which will be collectively referred to as the “Collateral”), including:
(i) | all Accounts; |
(ii) | all Chattel Paper; |
(iii) | all Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Licenses; |
(iv) | all Documents; |
(v) | all Equipment; |
(vi) | all Fixtures; |
5
(vii) | all General Intangibles; |
(viii) | all Goods; |
(ix) | all Instruments; |
(x) | all Inventory; |
(xi) | all Investment Property; |
(xii) | all cash or cash equivalents; |
(xiii) | all letters of credit, Letter-of-Credit Rights and Supporting Obligations; |
(xiv) | all Deposit Accounts with any bank or other financial institution (including all cash and other items deposited therein or credited thereto); |
(xv) | all Commercial Tort Claims listed on Exhibit H; |
(xvi) | all Farm Products; |
(xvii) | and all accessions to, substitutions for and replacements, proceeds (including Stock Rights), insurance proceeds and products of the foregoing, together with all books and records, customer lists, credit files, computer files, programs, printouts and other computer materials and records related thereto and any General Intangibles at any time evidencing or relating to any of the foregoing; |
to secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of the Secured Obligations; provided, however, that notwithstanding any of the other provisions set forth in this Article II, this Security Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any of the following assets, now owned or hereafter acquired or arising (the following assets being hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excluded Collateral”): (a) any treasury stock of the Company; (b) any Equity Interest or group of Equity Interests issued by a Foreign Subsidiary representing more than 65% of the total outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary; (c) any lease, license, contract, or agreement to which any Grantor is a party or any of its rights or interests thereunder if and for so long as the grant of such security interest shall constitute or result in (i) the abandonment, invalidation or unenforceability of any right, title or interest of any Grantor therein or (ii) a breach or termination pursuant to the terms of, or a default under, any such lease, license, contract or agreement (other than to the extent that any such Lien or other obligation would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408, or 9-409 of the UCC (or any successor provision or provisions)), (d) any asset owned by any Grantor that is subject to a Permitted Lien or other contractual obligation that prohibits or requires the consent of any Person (other than the Company) not obtained as a condition to the creation of any lien on such asset (other than to the extent that any such Lien or other obligation would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408, or 9-409 of the UCC (or any successor provision or provisions)), (e) any “intent to use” Trademark applications for which a statement of use has not been filed (but only until such statement is filed, at which point such application shall constitute Collateral hereunder), (f) any property to the extent that such grant of such security interest is prohibited by any Requirement of Law of a Governmental Authority or requires a consent not obtained of any Governmental Authority pursuant to such Requirement of Law is ineffective under applicable law, (g) any Vehicle, (h) all Aircraft Collateral and (i) Margin Stock owned by any Grantor on the Effective Date and Margin Stock purchased by the Grantors subsequent to the Effective Date in an aggregate fair market value not to exceed $2,000,000; provided that no Margin Stock shall constitute Excluded Collateral upon the Company delivering a Form FR U-1 in accordance with Section 5.6.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each Grantor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties that:
3.1. Title, Perfection and Priority. Such Grantor has good and valid rights in or the power to transfer the Collateral and title to the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a security interest hereunder, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted under Section 4.1(e), and has full power and authority to grant to the Administrative Agent the security interest in such Collateral pursuant hereto. When financing statements have been filed in the appropriate offices against such Grantor in the locations listed on Exhibit D, the Administrative Agent will have a fully perfected first priority security interest (or, at any time when the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, a perfected security interest with the priority required pursuant thereto) in that Collateral of the Grantor in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, subject only to Liens permitted under Section 4.1(e).
6
3.2. Type and Jurisdiction of Organization, Organizational and Identification Numbers. The type of entity of such Grantor, its state of organization, the organizational number issued to it by its state of organization and its federal employer identification number are set forth on Exhibit A.
3.3. Principal Location. (a) In the case of a Grantor that is not a registered organization, such Grantor’s mailing address and the location of its place of business (if it has only one) or its chief executive office (if it has more than one place of business), are disclosed in Exhibit A, and (b) in the case of other Grantors, as of the Effective Date, or, with respect to any Additional Grantor, such other date such Grantor became a party hereto, such Grantor’s mailing address and the location of its place of business (if it has only one) or its chief executive office (if it has more than one place of business), are disclosed in Exhibit A.
3.4. [Intentionally omitted]
3.5. Deposit Accounts. All of such Grantor’s Deposit Accounts (other than deposit accounts with total aggregate balances of less than $1,000,000 that are Excluded Accounts) are listed on Exhibit B.
3.6. Exact Names. As of the Effective Date, or, with respect to any Additional Grantor, such other date such Grantor becomes a party hereto, such Grantor’s name in which it has executed this Security Agreement is the exact name as it appears in such Grantor’s organizational documents, as amended, as filed with such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization. As of the Effective Date, such Grantor has not, (a) during the past five years (i) other than as set forth in Part A of Exhibit A, been known by or used any other corporate or fictitious name, (ii) except as described on Exhibit E, been a party to any merger or consolidation or (iii) except as described in Exhibit E, acquired all of the Equity Interests or all or substantially all of the assets, or a business unit, division, product line or line of business of a Person or (b) during the past four months, except as described in Exhibit E, been a party to any acquisition other than those described in clause (a)(iii) of this Section 3.6.
3.7. Letter-of-Credit Rights and Chattel Paper. As of the Effective Date, Exhibit F lists all Letter-of-Credit Rights that are not Supporting Obligations and Chattel Paper of such Grantor involving amounts, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $10,000,000. As of the date of the most recent delivery of quarterly and annual financial statements in accordance with the Credit Agreement, Exhibit F lists all Chattel Paper of such Grantor involving amounts, individually, in excess of $10,000,000. All actions requested by the Administrative Agent to be taken by such Grantor to protect and perfect the Administrative Agent’s Lien on the Chattel Paper listed on Exhibit F (including the delivery of all originals and the placement of a legend on all Chattel Paper as required hereunder) have been duly taken. The Administrative Agent will have a fully perfected security interest in the Chattel Paper listed on Exhibit F prior to any other Liens other than Permitted Prior Liens. Such Grantor has not pledged, assigned or delivered any letter of credit or Chattel Paper to any third party other than the Administrative Agent or the Term Debt Representative (to the extent required by the Intercreditor Agreement).
7
3.8. Accounts and Chattel Paper.
(a) The names of the obligors, amounts owing, due dates and other information with respect to its Accounts and Chattel Paper are and will be correctly stated in all material respects in all records of such Grantor relating thereto and in all invoices and Collateral Reports with respect thereto furnished to the Administrative Agent by such Grantor from time to time. As of the time when each Account or each item of Chattel Paper arises, such Grantor shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such Account or Chattel Paper, as the case may be, and all records relating thereto, are genuine and in all material respects what they purport to be.
(b) With respect to its Accounts, as of the date of the most recently delivered Borrowing Base Certificate, (i) all Accounts specified as Eligible Accounts in such Borrowing Base Certificate are Eligible Accounts; (ii) except as specifically disclosed on the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate, to such Grantor’s knowledge, there are no facts, events or occurrences which in any way impair the validity or enforceability of any Eligible Account or could reasonably be expected to reduce the amount payable thereunder as shown on such Grantor’s books and records and any invoices, statements and Collateral Reports with respect thereto; and (iii) such Grantor has no knowledge that any Account Debtor in respect of any Eligible Account is unable generally to pay its debts as they become due.
(c) In addition, with respect to all of its Accounts indicated in any Borrowing Base Certificate to be an Eligible Account, (i) the amounts shown on all invoices, statements and Collateral Reports with respect thereto are actually and absolutely owing to such Grantor as indicated thereon and are not in any way contingent; (ii) the obligations set forth in Section 7.1 have been satisfied; and (iii) to such Grantor’s knowledge, all Account Debtors have the capacity to contract.
3.9. Inventory. (a) With respect to any of its Inventory scheduled or listed on the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate, Exhibit A sets forth the information required thereby for all of such Grantor’s Inventory (other than Inventory in transit) located at a location (i) owned by such Grantor and (ii) which is leased by such Grantor as lessee (x) where the aggregate value of the Inventory of such Grantor at such location is in excess of $5,000,000 and (y) where at least 80% of the Inventory of the Grantors at all leased real properties is located, as designated in Part B of Exhibit A and (b)(i) as of the Effective Date, Part C of Exhibit A sets forth the information required thereby for all of such Grantor’s Inventory located at a location at which Inventory is held in a public warehouse or is otherwise held by a bailee or on consignment where the aggregate value of the Inventory of such Grantor at such location is in excess of $1,000,000 and (ii) with respect to any of its Inventory scheduled or listed on the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered subsequent to the Effective Date, Part C of Exhibit A sets forth the information required thereby for all of such Grantor’s Inventory located at a location at which Inventory is held in a public warehouse or is otherwise held by a bailee or on consignment (x) where the aggregate value of the Inventory of such Grantor at such location is in excess of $5,000,000 and (y) where at least 80% of the Inventory located at locations at which Inventory is held in a public warehouse or is otherwise held by a bailee or on consignment. In addition (a) such Inventory specified therein as Eligible Inventory satisfies the requirements applicable thereto, (b) such Inventory has been produced in accordance with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, and all rules, regulations and orders thereunder and (c) the completion of manufacture, sale or other disposition of such Inventory (other than Inventory of the type described in clause (n) of the definition of Eligible Inventory) by the Administrative Agent following an Event of Default shall not require the consent of any Person and shall not constitute a breach or default under any contract or agreement to which such Grantor is a party or to which such property is subject.
3.10. Intellectual Property.
(a) [Intentionally Omitted].
(b) Except for dispositions permitted under the Credit Agreement, such Grantor owns or has the right to use all Material Intellectual Property free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.
8
(c) On the date hereof, all Material Intellectual Property is valid, subsisting, unexpired and enforceable, has not been abandoned and to such Grantor’s knowledge, does not infringe, impair, misappropriate, dilute or otherwise violate (“Infringe”) the intellectual property rights of any other Person and is not being Infringed by any other Person.
(d) Except as set forth in Exhibit G, on the date hereof, none of the Material Intellectual Property is the subject of any licensing or franchising agreement pursuant to which such Grantor is the licensor.
(e) No holding, decision or judgment has been rendered by any Governmental Authority which would limit, cancel or challenge the validity, enforceability, ownership or use of, or such Grantor’s rights in, any Intellectual Property in any respect, and such Grantor knows of no valid basis for same, in each case, in any respect that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) No action or proceeding is pending, or, to the knowledge of such Grantor, threatened or imminent, on the date hereof (i) seeking to limit, cancel or challenge the validity, enforceability, ownership or use of any Intellectual Property or such Grantor’s interest therein, or (ii) which, if adversely determined, would materially affect the value of any Intellectual Property to such Grantor, in each case, in any respect that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) This Security Agreement is effective to create a valid and continuing Lien and, upon filing of appropriate financing statements in the offices listed on Exhibit D and a short form of this Security Agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, fully perfected first priority security interests (or, at any time when the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, a perfected security interest with the priority required pursuant thereto) in favor of the Administrative Agent on such Grantor’s Material Intellectual Property, such perfected security interests are enforceable as such as against any and all creditors of and purchasers from such Grantor; and all action necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the Administrative Agent’s Lien on such Grantor’s Material Intellectual Property has been duly taken.
3.11. Filing Requirements. As of the Effective Date, none of such Grantor’s Equipment is covered by any certificate of title, except for Vehicles and Aircraft Collateral. As of the Effective Date, none of the Collateral owned by such Grantor is of a type for which security interests or liens may be perfected by filing under any federal statute except for (a) Vehicles; (b) Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights held by such Grantor; and (c) other Collateral in an aggregate amount not in excess of $5,000,000.
3.12. No Financing Statements, Security Agreements. No effective financing statement or security agreement describing all or any portion of the Collateral which has not lapsed or been terminated naming such Grantor as debtor has been filed or is of record in any relevant jurisdiction except (a) for financing statements or security agreements naming the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties as the secured party or (b) as permitted by Section 4.1(e).
3.13. Pledged Collateral.
(a) As of the Effective Date, or, with respect to any Additional Grantor, such other date such Grantor became a party hereto, Exhibit C sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Pledged Collateral held by such Grantor; provided that (i) with respect to Equity Interests issued by a Subsidiary that constitute Pledged Collateral, Exhibit C sets forth all such Equity Interests; (ii) with respect to Equity Interests issued by a non-Subsidiary, Exhibit C sets forth all such Equity Interests with an individual value in excess of $5,000,000; provided that the aggregate value of all such Equity Interests not listed on Exhibit C shall not exceed $15,000,000, (iii) with respect to Instruments issued by a non-Subsidiary, Exhibit C sets forth all such Instruments with an individual value in excess of $5,000,000; provided that the aggregate value of all such Instruments not listed on Exhibit C shall not exceed $15,000,000; and (iv) with respect to Securities issued by a non-Subsidiary held in a securities account, Exhibit C sets forth all such Securities with an individual value in excess of $5,000,000; provided that the aggregate value of all such Securities not listed on Exhibit C shall not
9
exceed $15,000,000. As of the Effective Date, such Grantor is the direct, sole beneficial owner and sole holder of record of the Pledged Collateral listed on Exhibit C as being owned by it, free and clear of any Liens, except for the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties hereunder, the Permitted Equity Liens and, with respect to Pledged Collateral other than Equity Interests, Liens permitted by Section 4.1(e). Such Grantor further represents and warrants that (i) all Pledged Stock has been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Pledged Collateral) duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and (ii) all Pledged Collateral which represents Indebtedness owed to such Grantor by any other Grantor or Subsidiary thereof has been duly authorized, authenticated or issued and delivered by the issuer of such Indebtedness and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of such issuer and such issuer is not in default thereunder.
(b) In addition, (i) none of the Pledged Collateral owned by it has been issued or transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the value of such Collateral or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent in respect thereof, (ii) other than in connection with a disposition permitted pursuant Section 6.05 of the Credit Agreement, there are existing no options, warrants, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to such Pledged Stock or which obligate any issuer of any Pledged Stock that is a Subsidiary of the Company to issue additional Equity Interests, and (iii) with respect to any Pledged Stock issued by a Subsidiary of the Company, no consent, approval, authorization, or other action by, and no giving of notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required for the pledge by such Grantor of such Pledged Stock pursuant to this Security Agreement or for the execution, delivery and performance of this Security Agreement by such Grantor, or for the exercise by the Administrative Agent of the voting or other rights provided for in this Security Agreement or for the remedies in respect of the Pledged Stock pursuant to this Security Agreement, except as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally.
(c) As of the Effective Date, or, with respect to any Additional Grantor, such other date such Grantor became a party hereto, except as set forth in Exhibit C, such Grantor owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each issuer of Pledged Stock owned by it and none of the Pledged Collateral which represents Indebtedness owed to such Grantor is subordinated in right of payment to other Indebtedness (other than any such Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Secured Obligations) or subject to the terms of an indenture.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
From the date of this Security Agreement, and thereafter until this Security Agreement is terminated, each Grantor agrees that:
4.1. General.
(a) Collateral Records. Such Grantor will maintain in all material respects complete and accurate books and records with respect to the Collateral owned by it, and furnish to the Administrative Agent, with sufficient copies for each of the Lenders, such reports relating to such Collateral as the Administrative Agent shall from time to time reasonably request.
(b) Authorization to File Financing Statements; Ratification. Such Grantor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to file, and if requested will deliver to the Administrative Agent, all financing statements and other documents and take such other actions as may from time to time be requested by the Administrative Agent in order to maintain a first priority perfected security interest (or, at any time when the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, a perfected security interest with the priority required pursuant thereto) in and, if applicable, Control of, the Collateral owned by such Grantor. Any financing statement filed by the
10
Administrative Agent may be filed in any filing office in any UCC jurisdiction and may (i) indicate such Grantor’s Collateral (1) as all assets of the Grantor or words of similar effect, regardless of whether any particular asset comprised in the Collateral falls within the scope of Article 9 of the UCC or such jurisdiction, or (2) by any other description which reasonably approximates the description contained in this Security Agreement, and (ii) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including (A) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to such Grantor, and (B) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of real property to which the Collateral relates. Such Grantor also agrees to furnish any such information to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request. Such Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Administrative Agent to have filed in any UCC jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.
(c) Further Assurances. Such Grantor will, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, furnish to the Administrative Agent statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral owned by it and such other reports and information in connection with its Collateral as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in such detail as the Administrative Agent may reasonably specify. Such Grantor also agrees to take any and all actions necessary to defend title to the Collateral against all persons and to defend the security interest of the Administrative Agent in its Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not expressly permitted hereunder.
(d) Disposition of Collateral. Such Grantor will not sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the Collateral owned by it except for dispositions permitted pursuant to Section 6.05 of the Credit Agreement.
(e) Liens. Such Grantor will not create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien on the Collateral owned by it except (i) the security interest created by this Security Agreement, and (ii) other Permitted Liens.
(f) Other Financing Statements. Such Grantor will not authorize the filing of any financing statement naming it as debtor covering all or any portion of the Collateral owned by it, except, in the case of Equity Interests, in respect of Permitted Equity Liens, and in the case of any other Collateral, in respect of Liens permitted by Section 4.1(e). Such Grantor acknowledges that it is not authorized to file any financing statement or amendment or termination statement with respect to any financing statement without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, subject to such Grantor’s rights under Section 9-509(d)(2) of the UCC.
(g) Locations. Such Grantor will not maintain any Collateral owned by it at any location other than those locations listed on Exhibit A, unless it shall have notified the Administrative Agent in writing, by amending, supplementing or restating Exhibit A hereto to add any such other location, within 15 days of the end of any calendar month in which any Collateral is located at any such other location and shall have obtained a Collateral Access Agreement for each such location to the extent required by Section 4.13 (provided that such requirement shall not apply with respect to locations leased or subleased by the Grantors where the aggregate value of the Inventory of the Grantors at such property is equal to or less than $5,000,000, so long as at least 80% of the Inventory of the Grantors at all leased or subleased locations is listed on Exhibit A).
(h) Compliance with Terms. Such Grantor will perform and comply with all obligations in respect of the Collateral owned by it and all agreements to which it is a party or by which it is bound relating to such Collateral except to the extent any failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
4.2. Receivables.
(a) Certain Agreements on Receivables. Such Grantor will not make or agree to make any discount, credit, rebate or other reduction in the original amount owing on a Receivable or accept in satisfaction of a Receivable less than the original amount thereof, except that, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such Grantor may reduce the amount of any Receivable in accordance with its present policies and in the ordinary course of business or otherwise as appropriate in its commercially reasonable business judgment.
11
(b) Collection of Receivables. Except as otherwise provided in this Security Agreement, such Grantor will use commercially reasonable efforts to collect and enforce, at such Grantor’s sole expense and as appropriate in its commercially reasonable business judgment, all amounts due or hereafter due to such Grantor under the Receivables owned by it.
(c) Delivery of Invoices. At the request of the Administrative Agent, such Grantor will promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent duplicate invoices with respect to each Account requested by the Administrative Agent and owned by such Grantor bearing such language of assignment as the Administrative Agent shall specify.
(d) Disclosure of Counterclaims on Receivables. If (i) any discount, credit or agreement to make a rebate or to otherwise reduce the amount owing on any Eligible Account in excess of $500,000 owned by such Grantor exists or (ii) if, to the knowledge of such Grantor, any dispute, setoff, claim, counterclaim or defense exists or has been asserted or threatened with respect to any such Eligible Account in excess of $500,000, such Grantor will disclose such fact to the Administrative Agent in writing together with the delivery of each Borrowing Base Certificate.
(e) Electronic Chattel Paper. Such Grantor shall take all steps requested by the Administrative Agent to grant the Administrative Agent Control of all electronic chattel paper involving amounts in excess of $5,000,000, in accordance with the UCC and all “transferable records” as defined in each of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.
4.3. Inventory and Equipment.
(a) Maintenance of Goods. Such Grantor will do all things necessary to maintain, preserve, protect and keep its Inventory and the Equipment material to the conduct of its business in good repair and working and saleable condition, except for (i) damaged or defective goods arising in the ordinary course of such Grantor’s business, (ii) ordinary wear and tear in respect of the Equipment, (iii) casualty events (to the extent such casualty, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect) and (iv) dispositions permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement.
(b) Returned Inventory. Such Grantor shall, at such time as any Financial Officer of such Grantor knows or should have known, promptly report to the Administrative Agent any return of Inventory involving an amount in excess of $20,000,000. Each such report shall indicate the reasons for the returns and the locations and condition of the returned Inventory. In the event any Account Debtor returns Inventory to such Grantor when an Event of Default exists, such Grantor, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, shall: (i) hold the returned Inventory in trust for the Administrative Agent; (ii) segregate all returned Inventory from all of its other property; (iii) dispose of the returned Inventory solely according to the Administrative Agent’s written instructions; and (iv) not issue any credits or allowances with respect thereto without the Administrative Agent’s prior written consent. All returned Inventory shall be subject to the Administrative Agent’s Liens thereon. Whenever any Inventory is returned, the related Account shall be deemed ineligible to the extent of the amount owing by the Account Debtor with respect to such returned Inventory and such returned Inventory shall not be Eligible Inventory.
(c) Inventory Count; Perpetual Inventory System. Such Grantor will conduct a physical count of its Inventory or other similar procedure in accordance with GAAP at least once per fiscal year, and after and during the continuation of an Event of Default, at such other times as the Administrative Agent requests. Such Grantor, at its own expense, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the results of each physical verification, which such Grantor has made, or has caused any other Person to make on its behalf, of all or any portion of its Inventory. Such Grantor will maintain a perpetual inventory reporting system at all times.
12
4.4. Delivery of Instruments, Securities, Chattel Paper and Documents. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, such Grantor will (a) deliver to the Administrative Agent, immediately upon execution of this Security Agreement any Chattel Paper, Certificated Securities (other than Certificated Securities that represent Equity Interests in Subsidiaries) and Instruments constituting Collateral owned by it whose value exceeds $5,000,000, and within 30 days of the execution of this Security Agreement, the originals of all Certificated Securities that represent Equity Interests in Subsidiaries, (b) hold in trust for the Administrative Agent upon receipt and (i) promptly thereafter deliver to the Administrative Agent, all Certificated Securities that represent Equity Interests in Subsidiaries and (ii) contemporaneously with the delivery of quarterly and annual financial statements in accordance with the Credit Agreement, deliver to the Administrative Agent any such Chattel Paper, Certificated Securities and Instruments constituting Collateral whose value exceeds $5,000,000; provided that with respect to a new issuance of Certificated Securities that represent Equity Interests of an issuer whose Equity Interests have previously been pledged to the Administrative Agent, such newly issued Certificated Securities shall be delivered within 30 days of such issuance, (c)(i) cause any Indebtedness of a Subsidiary owed to any Grantor in excess of $5,000,000 and (ii) use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause any Indebtedness of a non-Subsidiary owed to any Grantor in excess of $5,000,000 to be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note (or subject to a global note) that, in either case, is pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, with such notes being accompanied by proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable Grantor and such other instruments or documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request; provided that the Company will deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed global note for loans among the Company and the Subsidiaries together with proper instruments of assignment duly executed and such other instruments or documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request within 30 days of the Effective Date, or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree, in its sole discretion, and (d) upon the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request, deliver to the Administrative Agent (and thereafter hold in trust for the Administrative Agent upon receipt and immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent) any Document evidencing or constituting Collateral with a value in excess of $3,000,000.
4.5. Uncertificated Pledged Collateral. (a) Such Grantor will permit the Administrative Agent from time to time to cause the appropriate issuers that are Subsidiaries (and, if held with a securities intermediary, such securities intermediary) of uncertificated securities or other types of Pledged Collateral owned by it not represented by certificates to xxxx their books and records with the numbers and face amounts of all such uncertificated securities or other types of Pledged Collateral not represented by certificates and all rollovers and replacements therefor to reflect the Lien of the Administrative Agent granted pursuant to this Security Agreement. With respect to any Pledged Collateral issued by another Grantor included in the Collateral owned by it, such Grantor will at the request of the Administrative Agent take any actions necessary to cause (a) the issuers of uncertificated securities which are Pledged Collateral and (b) any securities intermediary which is the holder of any such Pledged Collateral, to cause the Administrative Agent to have and retain Control over such Pledged Collateral other than Pledged Collateral that constitutes Permitted Investments in an Excluded Account. With respect to any Pledged Collateral issued by a Person other than a Grantor with an individual value in excess of $5,000,000 included in the Collateral owned by it, such Grantor will at the request of the Administrative Agent use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause (a) the issuers of uncertificated securities which are Pledged Collateral and (b) any securities intermediary which is the holder of any such Pledged Collateral, to cause the Administrative Agent to have and retain Control over such Pledged Collateral other than Pledged Collateral that constitutes Permitted Investments in an Excluded Account. Without limiting the foregoing, such Grantor will, if requested by the Administrative Agent, with respect to any such Pledged Collateral held with a securities intermediary, cause such securities intermediary to enter into a control agreement with the Administrative Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, giving the Administrative Agent Control other than with respect to Pledged Collateral that constitutes Permitted Investments in an Excluded Account.
13
(b) Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that each interest in any limited liability company or limited partnership that is a Subsidiary pledged hereunder that is represented by a certificate, shall be a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the New York UCC and governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the applicable jurisdiction and, unless otherwise approved by the Administrative Agent, shall at all times hereafter be represented by a certificate, which shall be a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the New York UCC and governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of such jurisdiction.
(c) Each Grantor further acknowledges and agrees that (i) the interests in any limited liability company or limited partnership that is a Subsidiary pledged hereunder and not represented by a certificate shall not be a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the New York UCC and shall not be governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the applicable jurisdiction and (ii) the Grantors shall at no time elect to treat any such interest as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the New York UCC or issue any certificate representing such interest (except that the Grantors may elect to so treat any such interest as a “security” and issue any certificate representing such interest if promptly thereafter the applicable Grantor delivers such certificate to the Administrative Agent).
(d) In the event the interests in any limited liability company or limited partnership not represented by a certificate are pledged by a Grantor hereunder after the Effective Date such Grantor shall promptly thereafter provide the Administrative Agent with the information required by the applicable jurisdiction for the filing of a financing statement (or an amendment to a financing statement) with respect to the uncertificated interests so pledged.
4.6. Pledged Collateral.
(a) Changes in Capital Structure of Issuers. Such Grantor will not (i) permit or suffer any Subsidiary that is an issuer of an Equity Interest constituting Pledged Collateral owned by it to dissolve, merge, liquidate, retire any of its Equity Interests or other Instruments or Securities evidencing ownership, reduce its capital, sell or encumber all or substantially all of its assets (except for dissolutions, mergers or liquidations permitted pursuant to Section 6.03 of the Credit Agreement, Permitted Liens and sales of assets permitted pursuant to Section 4.1(d)) or merge or consolidate with any other entity (except for mergers or consolidations permitted pursuant to Section 6.03 of the Credit Agreement), or (ii) vote any such Pledged Collateral in favor of any of the foregoing.
(b) Issuance of Additional Securities. Except as permitted by the Credit Agreement, such Grantor will not permit or suffer any Subsidiary that is an issuer of Pledged Stock owned by it to issue additional Equity Interests, any right to receive the same or any right to receive earnings, except to such Grantor or any other Grantor.
(c) Registration of Pledged Collateral. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such Grantor will permit any registerable Pledged Collateral owned by it to be registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee at any time at the option of the Administrative Agent.
(d) Exercise of Rights in Pledged Collateral.
(i) Without in any way limiting the foregoing and subject to clause (ii) below, such Grantor shall have the right to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to the Pledged Collateral owned by it for all purposes not inconsistent with this Security Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided, however, that no vote or other right shall be exercised or action taken which would have the effect of impairing the rights of the Administrative Agent in respect of such Pledged Collateral.
14
(ii) Such Grantor will permit the Administrative Agent or its nominee at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, without notice, to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to the Pledged Collateral owned by it, including, without limitation, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges, or options pertaining to any Equity Interest or Investment Property constituting such Pledged Collateral as if it were the absolute owner thereof.
(iii) Such Grantor shall be entitled to collect and receive for its own use all cash dividends and interest paid in respect of the Pledged Collateral held by it to the extent not in violation of the Credit Agreement other than dividends and interest paid at any time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (collectively referred to as the “Excluded Payments”); provided, however, that until actually paid, all rights to such distributions shall remain subject to the Lien created by this Security Agreement.
(iv) All Excluded Payments, whenever paid or made, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent to hold as Pledged Collateral (or, if paid in cash, deposited in a Controlled Deposit Account) and shall, if received by such Grantor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, be segregated from the other property or funds of such Grantor, and be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent as Pledged Collateral or deposited in a Controlled Deposit Account, as applicable, in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).
(v) Such Grantor hereby authorizes and instructs each issuer of any Investment Property pledged by such Grantor hereunder to, and each Grantor that is an issuer of Investment Property pledged by another Grantor agrees and consents to, (i) comply with any instruction received by it from the Administrative Agent in writing (and any other issuer from time to time hereby agrees to comply with such instruction) that (x) states that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) is otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Security Agreement, without any other or further instructions from such Grantor, and each Grantor agrees that each Issuer shall be fully protected in so complying, and (ii) unless otherwise expressly permitted hereby, pay any dividends or other payments with respect to the Investment Property directly to the Administrative Agent.
4.7. Intellectual Property.
(a) At the request of the Administrative Agent such Grantor will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to secure all consents and approvals necessary or appropriate for the assignment to or benefit of the Administrative Agent of any Material Intellectual Property held by such Grantor and to enforce the security interests granted hereunder.
(b) To the extent constituting Material Intellectual Property, such Grantor will (i) continue to use in all material respects each Trademark in connection with each and every trademark class of goods or services applicable to its current business in order to maintain such Trademark in full force free in all material respects from any claim of abandonment for non-use, (ii) maintain as in the past the quality of all products and services offered under such Trademark in all material respects, (iii) use each Trademark with all appropriate notices of registration and other legends required by applicable laws in all material respects, (iv) not adopt or use any xxxx which is confusingly similar or a colorable imitation of such Trademark unless the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, shall obtain a perfected security interest in such xxxx pursuant to this Agreement, and (v) not (and use commercially reasonable efforts to not permit any licensee or sublicensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby such Trademark could reasonably be expected to become invalidated or impaired in any material respect.
(c) Such Grantor will not do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any Patent may become forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public, in any respect that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
15
(d) Such Grantor will not (and will use commercially reasonably efforts to not permit any licensee or sublicensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby any portion of the Copyrights may become invalidated or otherwise impaired to the extent that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Such Grantor will not (either itself or through licensees) do any act whereby any portion of any Copyright may fall into the public domain to the extent that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will not do any act that knowingly uses any Intellectual Property to Infringe the intellectual property rights of any other Person in each case, in any respect that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Such Grantor shall notify the Administrative Agent promptly if it knows or has reason to know that any application or registration relating to any Material Intellectual Property is reasonably likely to become forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public, or of any material adverse determination or development (including, without limitation, the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any court or tribunal in any country) regarding such Grantor’s rights in, or the validity, enforceability, ownership or use of any Material Intellectual Property, including, without limitation, its right to register the same, or to keep and maintain the same.
(g) Upon request of the Joint Collateral Agents, such Grantor shall execute and deliver any and all security agreements as the Joint Collateral Agents may request to evidence the Administrative Agent’s security interest in any registered Intellectual Property (or, with respect to any Material Intellectual Property, the Administrative Agent’s first priority security interest therein).
(h) Such Grantor shall take all actions necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to maintain the registration of each of its material Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (now or hereafter existing), including the filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of incontestability and opposition and interference and cancellation proceedings, unless such Grantor shall determine, in its reasonable business judgment, that such Patent, Trademark or Copyright is not material to the conduct of such Grantor’s business or the business of the Grantors, taken as a whole.
(i) Such Grantor shall, unless it shall, in its reasonable business judgment, determine that such Intellectual Property is in no way material to the conduct of its business or operations (or the business or operations of the Grantors, taken as a whole), promptly take such actions as such Grantor shall reasonably deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Intellectual Property, including, by suing for Infringement, and recovering any and all damages for such Infringement. In the event that such Grantor institutes suit because any of its Intellectual Property constituting Collateral is Infringed, such Grantor shall comply with Section 4.8.
4.8 Commercial Tort Claims. Such Grantor shall promptly, and in any event within 30 days after the same is acquired by it, notify the Administrative Agent of any Commercial Tort Claim (as defined in the UCC) in excess of $10,000,000 acquired by it and, unless the Administrative Agent otherwise consents, such Grantor shall enter into an amendment to this Security Agreement, in the form of Exhibit I hereto, granting to Administrative Agent a first priority security interest (or, at any time when the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, a perfected security interest with the priority required pursuant thereto) in such Commercial Tort Claim.
4.9. [Intentionally omitted]
4.10. [Intentionally omitted]
4.11. No Interference. Such Grantor agrees that it will not interfere with any right, power and remedy of the Administrative Agent provided for in this Security Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise, or the exercise or beginning of the exercise by the Administrative Agent of any one or more of such rights, powers or remedies.
16
4.12. [Intentionally omitted]
4.13. Collateral Access Agreements. Such Grantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a Collateral Access Agreement, from the lessor of each leased property, mortgagee of owned property or bailee or consignee with respect to any warehouse, processor or converter facility or other location where Inventory is stored or located, which agreement or letter shall provide access rights, contain a waiver or subordination of all Liens or claims that the landlord, mortgagee, bailee or consignee may assert against the Inventory at that location, and shall otherwise be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent; provided that (i) such Grantor shall not be required to seek to obtain a Collateral Access Agreement with respect to any location where Inventory is held by a bailee or on consignment at which the value of the Inventory stored or located is less than $5,000,000 so long as the aggregate amount of the Inventory of all Grantors at such locations for which the Grantors do not seek to obtain Collateral Access Agreements does not exceed 80% of the Inventory of the Grantors at all locations where Inventory is held by a bailee or on consignment and (ii) Grantor shall not be required to seek to obtain a Collateral Access Agreement with respect to locations which are real property leased by such Grantor where the aggregate value of the Inventory of such Grantor at such location is less than $5,000,000 so long as the aggregate amount of the Inventory of all Grantors at such locations for which the Grantors do not seek to obtain Collateral Access Agreements does not exceed 80% of the Inventory of the Grantors at all leased real properties is located. With respect to such locations or warehouse space leased as of the Effective Date and thereafter, if the Administrative Agent has not received a Collateral Access Agreement as of the Effective Date (or, if later, as of the date such location is acquired or leased), the Grantors’ Eligible Inventory at that location shall be subject to such Reserves as may be established by the Administrative Agent. Such Grantor shall timely and fully pay and perform its obligations under all leases and other agreements with respect to each leased location or third party warehouse where any Inventory is or may be located.
4.14. Deposit Account Control Agreements. Such Grantor will provide to the Administrative Agent a Deposit Account Control Agreement in respect of each deposit account of such Grantor, other than any Excluded Account, duly executed on behalf of such Grantor and each financial institution holding such deposit account of such Grantor; provided that, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, defer delivery of any such Deposit Account Control Agreement, establish a Reserve with respect to any deposit account for which the Administrative Agent has not received such Deposit Account Control Agreement, and may require such Grantor to open and maintain a new deposit account with a financial institution subject to a Deposit Account Control Agreement; provided further that no such Deposit Account Control Agreement shall be required prior to the date that is 60 days following the Effective Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall agree in its sole discretion).
4.15. Change of Name or Location. Such Grantor shall not (a) change its name as it appears in official filings in the state of its incorporation or organization, (b) in the case of a Grantor that is not a registered organization, change its chief executive office or sole place of business, as applicable, as set forth in this Security Agreement, (c) change the type of entity that it is, (d) change its organization identification number, if any, issued by its state of incorporation or organization, or (e) change its state of incorporation or organization, in each case, unless it shall have provided the Administrative Agent at least fifteen days’ days prior written notice thereof and taken any action reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in connection therewith to continue the perfection following such change of any Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of Secured Parties, in any Collateral; provided that any new location shall be in the United States.
4.16. Updated Collateral Information. Such Grantor shall promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent from time to time upon the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request, such updates to the information covered by Article III, including any of Exhibits A through I hereto, such that such updated information and exhibits are true and correct as of the date so furnished.
17
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
5.1. Remedies.
(a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may exercise any or all of the following rights and remedies:
(i) those rights and remedies provided in this Security Agreement, the Credit Agreement, or any other Loan Document; provided that this Section 5.1(a) shall not be understood to limit any rights or remedies available to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties prior to an Event of Default;
(ii) those rights and remedies available to a secured party under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Collateral) or under any other applicable law (including, without limitation, any law governing the exercise of a bank’s right of setoff or bankers’ lien) when a debtor is in default under a security agreement;
(iii) give notice of sole control or any other instruction under any Deposit Account Control Agreement or any other control agreement with any securities intermediary and take any action therein with respect to such Collateral;
(iv) without notice (except as specifically provided in Section 8.1 or elsewhere herein), demand or advertisement of any kind to any Grantor or any other Person, enter the premises of any Grantor where any Collateral is located (through self-help and without judicial process) to collect, receive, assemble, process, appropriate, sell, lease, assign, grant an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of, deliver, or realize upon, the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales (which sales may be adjourned or continued from time to time with or without notice and may take place at any Grantor’s premises or elsewhere), for cash, on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk, and upon such other terms as the Administrative Agent may deem commercially reasonable; and
(v) concurrently with written notice to the applicable Grantor, transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral, to exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations, to exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto, to collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon and to otherwise act with respect to the Pledged Collateral as though the Administrative Agent was the outright owner thereof.
(b) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, may comply with any applicable state or federal law requirements in connection with a disposition of the Collateral and compliance will not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right of equity redemption, which equity redemption the Grantor hereby expressly releases.
18
(d) Until the Administrative Agent is able to effect a sale, lease, or other disposition of Collateral, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to hold or use Collateral, or any part thereof, to the extent that it deems appropriate for the purpose of preserving Collateral or its value or for any other purpose deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may, if it so elects, seek the appointment of a receiver or keeper to take possession of Collateral and to enforce any of the Administrative Agent’s remedies (for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and Secured Parties), with respect to such appointment without prior notice or hearing as to such appointment.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Secured Parties shall be required to (i) make any demand upon, or pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies against, any Grantor, any other obligor, guarantor, pledgor or any other Person with respect to the payment of the Secured Obligations or to pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral therefor or any direct or indirect guarantee thereof, (ii) marshal the Collateral or any guarantee of the Secured Obligations or to resort to the Collateral or any such guarantee in any particular order, or (iii) effect a public sale of any Collateral.
(f) Each Grantor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof in accordance with clause (a) above. Each Grantor also acknowledges that any private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private. The Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit any Grantor or the issuer of the Pledged Collateral to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under applicable state securities laws, even if the applicable Grantor and the issuer would agree to do so.
5.3. Grantor’s Obligations Upon Default. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor will:
(a) assemble and make available to the Administrative Agent the Collateral and all books and records relating thereto at any place or places specified by the Administrative Agent, whether at a Grantor’s premises or elsewhere;
(b) permit the Administrative Agent, by the Administrative Agent’s representatives and agents, to enter, occupy and use any premises where all or any part of the Collateral, or the books and records relating thereto, or both, are located, to take possession of all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, to remove all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, and to conduct sales of the Collateral, without any obligation to pay the Grantor for such use and occupancy;
(c) prepare and file, or cause an issuer of Pledged Collateral to prepare and file, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other applicable government agency, registration statements, a prospectus and such other documentation in connection with the Pledged Collateral as the Administrative Agent may request, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and furnish to the Administrative Agent, or cause an issuer of Pledged Collateral to furnish to the Administrative Agent, any information regarding the Pledged Collateral in such detail as the Administrative Agent may specify;
(d) take, or cause an issuer of Pledged Collateral to take, any and all actions necessary to register or qualify the Pledged Collateral to enable the Administrative Agent to consummate a public sale or other disposition of the Pledged Collateral; and
19
(e) at its own expense, cause the independent certified public accountants then engaged by each Grantor to prepare and deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, at any time, and from time to time, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request, the following reports with respect to the applicable Grantor: (i) a reconciliation of all Accounts; (ii) an aging of all Accounts; (iii) trial balances; and (iv) a test verification of such Accounts.
5.4. Grant of Intellectual Property License. For the purpose of enabling the Administrative Agent to exercise the rights and remedies under this Article V at such time as the Administrative Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby (a) grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, an irrevocable, nonexclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to any Grantor) to use, license or sublicense any Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and including in such license access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof and (b) irrevocably agrees that the Administrative Agent may sell any of such Grantor’s or any other Grantor’s Inventory directly to any person, including without limitation persons who have previously purchased any such Inventory and in connection with any such sale or other enforcement of the Administrative Agent’s rights under this Security Agreement, may sell Inventory which bears any Trademark owned by or licensed to such Grantor and any Inventory that is covered by any Copyright owned by or licensed to such Grantor and the Administrative Agent may finish any work in process and affix any Trademark owned by or licensed to such Grantor and sell such Inventory as provided herein.
5.5. Subordination. Each Grantor and each Issuer that executes and delivers any Acknowledgement and Consent confirming that it is bound hereby, hereby agrees that, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, all Indebtedness owing to it by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of such Grantor’s Secured Obligations or Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be.
5.6. Margin Stock. In the event that the aggregate fair market value of the Margin Stock owned by the Grantors exceeds $2,000,000, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Form FR U-1 reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE VI
ACCOUNT VERIFICATION; ATTORNEY IN FACT; PROXY
6.1. Account Verification. The Administrative Agent may upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, in the Administrative Agent’s own name, in the name of a nominee of the Administrative Agent, or in the name of any Grantor communicate (by mail, telephone, facsimile or otherwise) with the Account Debtors of any such Grantor, parties to contracts with any such Grantor and obligors in respect of Instruments of any such Grantor to verify with such Persons, to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction, the existence, amount, terms of, and any other matter relating to, Accounts, Instruments, Chattel Paper, payment intangibles and/or other Receivables.
6.2. Authorization for Secured Party to Take Certain Action.
(a) Each Grantor irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent at any time and from time to time in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney in fact (i) to execute on behalf of such Grantor as debtor and to file financing statements necessary or desirable in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, (ii) to endorse and collect any cash proceeds of the Collateral, (iii) to file a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Security Agreement or any financing statement with respect to the Collateral as a financing statement and to file any other financing statement or amendment of a financing statement (which does not add new collateral or add a debtor) in such offices as the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion deems necessary or desirable to perfect and to maintain the perfection
20
and priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, (iv) to contact and enter into one or more agreements with the issuers of uncertificated securities which are Pledged Collateral or with securities intermediaries holding Pledged Collateral as may be necessary or advisable to give the Administrative Agent Control over such Pledged Collateral, (v) to apply, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the proceeds of any Collateral received by the Administrative Agent to the Secured Obligations as provided in Section 7.3, (vi) to discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees or Liens on the Collateral (except for such Liens as are specifically permitted hereunder), (vii) to contact Account Debtors for any reason, (viii) to demand payment or enforce payment of the Receivables in the name of the Administrative Agent or such Grantor and to endorse any and all checks, drafts, and other instruments for the payment of money relating to the Receivables, (ix) to sign such Grantor’s name on any invoice or xxxx of lading relating to the Receivables, drafts against any Account Debtor of the Grantor, assignments and verifications of Receivables, (x) to exercise all of such Grantor’s rights and remedies with respect to the collection of the Receivables and any other Collateral, (xi) to settle, adjust, compromise, extend or renew the Receivables, (xii) to settle, adjust or compromise any legal proceedings brought to collect Receivables, (xiii) to prepare, file and sign such Grantor’s name on a proof of claim in bankruptcy or similar document against any Account Debtor of such Grantor, (xiv) to prepare, file and sign such Grantor’s name on any notice of Lien, assignment or satisfaction of Lien or similar document in connection with the Receivables, (xv) to change the address for delivery of mail addressed to such Grantor to such address as the Administrative Agent may designate and to receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to such Grantor, and (xvi) to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out this Security Agreement; and such Grantor agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent on demand for any payment made or any expense incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that, this authorization shall not relieve such Grantor of any of its obligations under this Security Agreement or under the Credit Agreement.
(b) All acts of said attorney or designee are hereby ratified and approved. The powers conferred on the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, under this Section 6.2 are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party to exercise any such powers. The Administrative Agent agrees that, except for the powers granted in Section 6.2(a)(i)-(vi) and Section 6.2(a)(xvi), it shall not exercise any power or authority granted to it unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
6.3. Proxy. EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS ITS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT (AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6.2 ABOVE) WITH RESPECT TO ITS PLEDGED COLLATERAL, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION TO DO SO. IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT SHALL INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES AND REMEDIES TO WHICH A HOLDER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL WOULD BE ENTITLED (INCLUDING GIVING OR WITHHOLDING WRITTEN CONSENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS, CALLING SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS AND VOTING AT SUCH MEETINGS). SUCH PROXY SHALL BE EFFECTIVE, AUTOMATICALLY AND WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF ANY ACTION (INCLUDING ANY TRANSFER OF ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL ON THE RECORD BOOKS OF THE ISSUER THEREOF) BY ANY PERSON (INCLUDING THE ISSUER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL OR ANY OFFICER OR AGENT THEREOF), UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT.
6.4. Nature of Appointment; Limitation of Duty. THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT IN THIS ARTICLE VI IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE UNTIL THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT IS TERMINATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8.14. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN, NEITHER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, NOR ANY SECURED PARTY, NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE ANY DUTY TO EXERCISE ANY RIGHT OR POWER GRANTED HEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE OR TO PRESERVE
21
THE SAME AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURE TO DO SO OR FOR ANY DELAY IN DOING SO, EXCEPT IN RESPECT OF DAMAGES ATTRIBUTABLE SOLELY TO THEIR OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT AS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION; PROVIDED THAT, IN NO EVENT SHALL THEY BE LIABLE FOR ANY PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
ARTICLE VII
COLLECTION AND APPLICATION OF COLLATERAL PROCEEDS; DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS
7.1. Collection of Receivables.
(a) On or before the date that is 60 days following the Effective Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall agree in its sole discretion), each Grantor shall (a) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent Deposit Account Control Agreements for each Deposit Account (other than an Excluded Account) maintained by such Grantor into which cash, checks or other similar payments relating to or constituting payments made in respect of Receivables will be deposited (each, a “Collateral Deposit Account”), which Collateral Deposit Accounts are identified as such on Exhibit B, and (b) establish lock box service (the “Lock Boxes”) with the bank(s) set forth in Exhibit B, which lock boxes shall be subject to irrevocable lockbox agreements in the form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Administrative Agent and shall be accompanied by an acknowledgment by the bank where the Lock Box is located of the Lien of the Administrative Agent granted hereunder and of irrevocable instructions to wire all amounts collected therein to the Collection Account or any other Controlled Deposit Account (a “Lock Box Agreement”). After the Effective Date, each Grantor will comply with the terms of Section 7.2.
(b) As soon as the applicable Lock Box Agreements or Deposit Account Control Agreements have been established in accordance with Section 7.1(a), each Grantor shall direct all of its Account Debtors to forward payments directly to Lock Boxes subject to Lock Box Agreements or Collateral Deposit Accounts. At all times during any Cash Dominion Period the Administrative Agent shall have sole access to the Lock Boxes and Collateral Deposit Accounts and each Grantor shall take all actions necessary to grant the Administrative Agent such sole access. At no time during a Cash Dominion Period shall any Grantor remove any item from a Lock Box or from a Collateral Deposit Account without the Administrative Agent’s prior written consent. If any Grantor should refuse or neglect to notify any Account Debtor to forward payments directly to a Lock Box subject to a Lock Box Agreement or a Collateral Deposit Account after notice from the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall, notwithstanding the language set forth in Section 6.2(b), be entitled to make such notification directly to Account Debtor. If notwithstanding the foregoing instructions, any Grantor receives any proceeds of any Receivables during any Cash Dominion Period, such Grantor shall receive such payments as the Administrative Agent’s trustee, and shall promptly deposit all cash, checks or other similar payments related to or constituting payments made in respect of Receivables received by it in a Collateral Deposit Account. During any Cash Dominion Period, all funds deposited into any Lock Box subject to a Lock Box Agreement or a Collateral Deposit Account will be swept on a daily basis into a collection account maintained by the Company with the Administrative Agent (the “Collection Account”). The Administrative Agent shall hold and apply funds received into the Collection Account as provided by the terms of Section 7.3.
7.2. Covenant Regarding New Deposit Accounts; Lock Boxes. Before opening or replacing any Collateral Deposit Account or other Deposit Account (other than an Excluded Account), or establishing a new Lock Box, each Grantor shall cause each bank or financial institution in which it seeks to open (i) a Deposit Account, to enter into a Deposit Account Control Agreement with the Administrative Agent in order to give the Administrative Agent Control of such Deposit Account, or (ii) a Lock Box, to enter into a Lock Box Agreement with the Administrative Agent in order to give the Administrative Agent Control of the Lock Box. In the case of Deposit Accounts or Lock Boxes maintained with Lenders, the terms of such letter shall be subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement regarding setoffs.
22
7.3. Application of Proceeds; Deficiency. All amounts deposited in the Collection Account shall be deemed received by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.18 of the Credit Agreement and shall, after having been credited to the Collection Account, be applied (and allocated) by Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.10(b) of the Credit Agreement, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and no Cash Dominion Period is in effect, collections which are received into the Collection Account shall be deposited into the Company’s Funding Account rather than being used to reduce amounts owing under the Credit Agreement. At any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing the Administrative Agent may require all other cash proceeds of the Collateral, which are not required to be applied to the Obligations pursuant to Section 2.10(b) of the Credit Agreement, to be deposited in a special non-interest bearing cash collateral account with the Administrative Agent and held there as security for the Secured Obligations. No Grantor shall have any control whatsoever over said cash collateral account. Any such proceeds of the Collateral shall be applied, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, in the order set forth in Section 2.18 of the Credit Agreement unless a court of competent jurisdiction shall otherwise direct. The balance, if any, after all of the Secured Obligations have been satisfied, shall be deposited by the Administrative Agent into the Company’s general operating account with the Administrative Agent. The Grantors shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay all Secured Obligations, including any attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by Administrative Agent or any Lender to collect such deficiency.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
8.1. Waivers. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, each Grantor hereby waives notice of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other disposition of all or any part of the Collateral may be made. To the extent such notice may not be waived under applicable law, any notice made shall be deemed reasonable if sent to the Grantors, addressed as set forth in Article IX, at least ten days prior to (i) the date of any such public sale or (ii) the time after which any such private sale or other disposition may be made. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages, and demands against the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of the Collateral, except such as arise solely out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent it may lawfully do so, each Grantor absolutely and irrevocably waives and relinquishes the benefit and advantage of, and covenants not to assert against the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party, any valuation, stay, appraisal, extension, moratorium, redemption or similar laws and any and all rights or defenses it may have as a surety now or hereafter existing which, but for this provision, might be applicable to the sale of any Collateral made under the judgment, order or decree of any court, or privately under the power of sale conferred by this Security Agreement, or otherwise. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Grantor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with this Security Agreement or any Collateral.
8.2. Limitation on Administrative Agent’s and Secured Parties’ Duty with Respect to the Collateral. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to clean-up or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. The Administrative Agent and each Secured Party shall use reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession or under its control. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Secured Party shall have any other duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or nominee of the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party, or any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on the Administrative Agent to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that it is commercially reasonable for the Administrative Agent (i) to fail to incur expenses deemed significant by the Administrative Agent to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to transform raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (ii) to fail to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of, or to obtain or, if not required by other law, to fail to obtain governmental or third party consents for the collection or disposition of Collateral to
23
be collected or disposed of, (iii) to fail to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors or other Persons obligated on Collateral or to remove Liens on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (iv) to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (v) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (vi) to contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as such Grantor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of such Collateral, (vii) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (viii) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capacity of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (ix) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (x) to disclaim disposition warranties, such as title, possession or quiet enjoyment, (xi) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Administrative Agent against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Administrative Agent a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (xii) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent, to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist the Administrative Agent in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. Each Grantor acknowledges that the purpose of this Section 8.2 is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by the Administrative Agent would be commercially reasonable in the Administrative Agent’s exercise of remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by the Administrative Agent shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section 8.2. Without limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 8.2 shall be construed to grant any rights to any Grantor or to impose any duties on the Administrative Agent that would not have been granted or imposed by this Security Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section 8.2.
8.3. Compromises and Collection of Collateral. The Grantors and the Administrative Agent recognize that setoffs, counterclaims, defenses and other claims may be asserted by obligors with respect to certain of the Receivables, that certain of the Receivables may be or become uncollectible in whole or in part and that the expense and probability of success in litigating a disputed Receivable may exceed the amount that reasonably may be expected to be recovered with respect to a Receivable. In view of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that the Administrative Agent may at any time and from time to time, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, compromise with the obligor on any Receivable, accept in full payment of any Receivable such amount as the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion shall determine or abandon any Receivable, and any such action by the Administrative Agent shall be commercially reasonable so long as the Administrative Agent acts in good faith based on information known to it at the time it takes any such action.
8.4. Secured Party Performance of Debtor Obligations. Without having any obligation to do so, the Administrative Agent may perform or pay any obligation which any Grantor has agreed to perform or pay in this Security Agreement and failed to so in the time frame required hereunder, and the Grantors shall reimburse the Administrative Agent for any amounts paid by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 8.4. The Grantors’ obligation to reimburse the Administrative Agent pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be a Secured Obligation payable not later than 10 Business Days after receipt of a reasonably detailed invoice therefor.
8.5. Specific Performance of Certain Covenants. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in Sections 4.1(d), 4.1(e), 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 5.3, or 8.7 or in Article VII will cause irreparable injury to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, that the Administrative Agent and Lenders have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breaches and therefore agrees, without limiting the right of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders to seek and obtain specific performance of other obligations of the Grantors contained in this Security Agreement, that the covenants of the Grantors contained in the Sections referred to in this Section 8.5 shall be specifically enforceable against the Grantors.
24
8.6. Dispositions Not Authorized. No Grantor is authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral except as set forth in Section 4.1(d) and notwithstanding any course of dealing between any Grantor and the Administrative Agent or other conduct of the Administrative Agent, no authorization to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral (except as set forth in Section 4.1(d)) shall be binding upon the Administrative Agent or the Secured Parties unless such authorization is in writing signed by the Administrative Agent with the consent or at the direction of the Required Lenders required under Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement).
8.7. No Waiver; Amendments; Cumulative Remedies. No delay or omission of the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party to exercise any right or remedy granted under this Security Agreement shall impair such right or remedy or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy shall not preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. No waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of this Security Agreement whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by the Administrative Agent with the concurrence or at the direction of the Lenders required under Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement (and in compliance with the Intercreditor Agreement) and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All rights and remedies contained in this Security Agreement or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties until the Secured Obligations have been paid in full. No notice to or demand on any Grantor in any case shall entitle such Grantor or any other Grantor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
8.8. Limitation by Law; Severability of Provisions. All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Security Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of law, and all the provisions of this Security Agreement are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that they shall not render this Security Agreement invalid, unenforceable or not entitled to be recorded or registered, in whole or in part. Any provision in this Security Agreement that is held to be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid without affecting the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or the operation, enforceability, or validity of that provision in any other jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of this Security Agreement are declared to be severable.
8.9. Reinstatement. This Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against any Grantor for liquidation or reorganization, should any Grantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of any creditor or creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of any Grantor’s assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.
8.10. Benefit of Agreement. The terms and provisions of this Security Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Grantors, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns (including all persons who become bound as a debtor to this Security Agreement), except that no Grantor shall have the right to assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Security Agreement or any interest herein, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. No sales of participations, assignments, transfers, or other dispositions of any agreement governing the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner impair the Lien granted to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, hereunder.
8.11. Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties of the Grantors contained in this Security Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Security Agreement.
25
8.12. Taxes and Expenses. Any taxes (including income taxes) payable or ruled payable by Federal or State or other taxing entity or authority in respect of this Security Agreement shall be paid by the Grantors, together with interest and penalties, if any. The Grantors shall reimburse, as set forth in Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement, the Administrative Agent for any and all out-of-pocket expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, collection and enforcement of this Security Agreement and in the audit, analysis, administration, collection, preservation or sale of the Collateral (including the expenses and charges associated with any periodic or special audit of the Collateral). Any and all costs and expenses incurred by the Grantors in the performance of actions required pursuant to the terms hereof shall be borne solely by the Grantors.
8.13. Headings. The title of and section headings in this Security Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the terms and provisions of this Security Agreement.
8.14. Termination; Release. (a) This Security Agreement shall continue in effect (notwithstanding the fact that from time to time there may be no Secured Obligations outstanding) until (i) the Credit Agreement has terminated pursuant to its express terms and (ii) all of the Secured Obligations (other than any Banking Services Obligations, Swap Obligations or contingent indemnification obligations not yet due and payable) have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full (or with respect to any outstanding Letters of Credit, a cash deposit or Supporting Letter of Credit has been delivered to the Administrative Agent as required by the Credit Agreement) and no commitments of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders which would give rise to any Secured Obligations (other than any Banking Services Obligations, Swap Obligations or contingent indemnification obligations not yet due and payable) are outstanding.
(b) Liens on the Collateral will be released in accordance with Section 9.02(d) of the Credit Agreement and Section 4.2 of the Intercreditor Agreement.
8.15. Entire Agreement. This Security Agreement together with the other Loan Documents embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Grantors and the Administrative Agent relating to the Collateral and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Grantors and the Administrative Agent relating to the Collateral.
8.16. Additional Grantors. Each Grantor acknowledges that, pursuant to Section 5.15 of the Credit Agreement, the Company and each other Loan Party is required to cause each Material Subsidiary created or acquired after the Effective Date and any Subsidiary that otherwise becomes a Material Subsidiary after the Effective Date to become a party hereto as an additional Grantor (each such Person, an “Additional Grantor”) by executing and delivering a Joinder Agreement (a “Joinder”) substantially in the form of Exhibit E to the Credit Agreement along with supplements to the Exhibits to this Security Agreement necessary to reflect additional Collateral provided by the Additional Grantor. Upon delivery of any such Joinder to the Administrative Agent, notice of which is hereby waived by the Grantors, each such Additional Grantor shall be deemed a Grantor hereunder and shall be as fully a party hereto as if such Additional Grantor were an original signatory hereto. Each Grantor expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be discharged, diminished or otherwise affected (a) by the addition or release of any other Grantor hereunder, (b) by any failure by the Company or any Grantor to cause any Subsidiary of the Company to become an Additional Grantor or a Grantor hereunder or (c) by reason of the Administrative Agent’s or any of the other Secured Party’s actions in effecting, or failure to effect, any such Joinder, or in releasing any Grantor hereunder, in each case, without the necessity of giving notice to or obtaining the consent of any other Grantor. This Security Agreement shall be fully effective as to any Grantor that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any other Person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Grantor hereunder.
8.17. CHOICE OF LAW. THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.
26
8.18. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OTHER SECURED PARTY TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY GRANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY ANY GRANTOR AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OTHER SECURED PARTY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OTHER SECURED PARTY INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK.
8.19. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GRANTOR, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH OTHER SECURED PARTY HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.
8.20. Indemnity. Each Grantor hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and the respective Related Parties of the foregoing as provided in Section 9.03(b) of the Credit Agreement.
8.21. Counterparts. This Security Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Security Agreement by signing any such counterpart.
8.22. Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Security Agreement, the Liens, security interests and rights granted pursuant to this Security Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be as set forth in, and subject to the terms and conditions of (and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Administrative Agent hereunder or thereunder shall be subject to the terms and conditions of), the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict between this Security Agreement or any other Loan Document and the Intercreditor Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement shall control, and no right, power, or remedy granted to the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be exercised by the Administrative Agent, and no direction shall be given by the Administrative Agent in contravention of the Intercreditor Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent (and the Secured Parties) shall be subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, and, with respect to the Term Debt Priority Collateral until the Term Debt Obligations Payment Date, any obligation of the Company and other Grantor hereunder or under any other Loan Document with respect to the delivery or control of any Term Debt Priority Collateral, the novation of any lien on any certificate of title, xxxx of lading or other document, the giving of any notice to any bailee or other Person, the provision of voting rights or the obtaining of any consent of any Person, in each case in connection with any Term Debt Priority Collateral shall be deemed to be satisfied if the Company or such Grantor, as applicable, complies with the requirements of the similar provision of the applicable Term Debt Document. Until the Term Debt Obligations Payment Date, the delivery of any Term Debt Priority Collateral to the Term Debt Representative pursuant to the Term Loan Documents shall satisfy any delivery requirement hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
27
ARTICLE IX
NOTICES
9.1. Sending Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Security Agreement shall be sent in accordance with Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.
ARTICLE X
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. has been appointed Administrative Agent for the Secured Parties hereunder pursuant to Article VIII of the Credit Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties to this Security Agreement that any authority conferred upon the Administrative Agent hereunder is subject to the terms of the delegation of authority made by the Secured Parties to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and that the Administrative Agent has agreed to act (and any successor Administrative Agent shall act) as such hereunder only on the express conditions contained in such Article VIII. Any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Article VIII of the Credit Agreement shall be entitled to all the rights, interests and benefits of the Administrative Agent hereunder.
[Signature Page Follows]
28
Execution Version
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantors and the Administrative Agent have executed this Security Agreement as of the date first above written.
GRANTORS: | ||||
Smithfield Foods, Inc., | ||||
a Virginia corporation | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President, Finance | |||
Xxxxx’x Realty Partnership, a North Carolina general partnership | ||||
Xxxxxxx’x Realty Partnership, a North Carolina general partnership | ||||
Smithfield-Xxxxxxx’x Farms, a Virginia general partnership | ||||
By: | Xxxxxx-Xxxxx, LLC, | |||
as a general partner of each | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President |
814 Americas, Inc., | ||||
a Delaware corporation | ||||
Xxxxxx-Xxxxxxx Meats LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||||
Farmland Distribution Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
Farmland Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
Xxxxxxxx Transportation Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
Xxxx Xxxxxxx & Co., a Delaware corporation | ||||
LPC Transport, Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
Xxxxxx Farms of Texhoma, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation | ||||
Xxxxxx-Xxxxx LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||||
North Side Foods Corp., a Delaware corporation | ||||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Incorporated, a Delaware corporation | ||||
PC Express, Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
Premium Standard Farms, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||||
RMH Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
The Smithfield Packing Company, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation | ||||
Smithfield Purchase Corporation, a North Carolina corporation | ||||
Smithfield Transportation Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
Stefano Foods, Inc., a North Carolina corporation | ||||
Valleydale Transportation Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President |
Jonmor Investments, Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
Patcud Investments, Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
SFFC, Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
SF Investments, Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President/Assistant Secretary/ | |||
Assistant Treasurer |
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as | ||
Administrative Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
Title: | Executive Director |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the US Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of July 2, 2009 (the “Agreement”), made by the Grantors parties thereto for the benefit of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and US Collateral Agent. The undersigned agrees for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the US Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties as follows:
1. The undersigned will be bound by the terms of the Agreement and will comply with such terms insofar as such terms are applicable to the undersigned.
2. The undersigned will notify the US Collateral Agent promptly in writing of the occurrence of any of the events described in Section 4.6(d)(iii) or 4.6(d)(iv) of the Agreement.
3. The terms of Sections 4.5(b), 4.5(c), 4.6(d)(v), 5.2(f), 5.3(c), 5.3(d) and 5.5 of the Agreement shall apply to it, mutatis mutandis, with respect to all actions that may be required of it pursuant to Section 4.5(b), 4.5(c), 4.6(d)(v), 5.2(f), 5.3(c), 5.3(d) or 5.5 of the Agreement.
[NAME OF ISSUER] |
||||
By: |
| |||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Address for Notices: | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
Attention: |
| |||
Facsimile: |
|