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EXHIBIT 4.24
ASSIGNMENT OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
THIS ASSIGNMENT OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS (as amended, this
"ASSIGNMENT") is executed as of May 1, 1998, by the undersigned ("ASSIGNOR") for
the benefit of NationsBank of Texas, N.A.("AGENT"), as Administrative Agent for
itself and for the Lenders (collectively, "LENDERS") now or hereafter party to
the Credit Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
A. NCI Building Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("BORROWER"),
Agent and Lenders and other parties named therein have executed a Credit
Agreement dated March 25, 1998 (as amended, supplemented or restated, the
"CREDIT AGREEMENT"), together with certain other Loan Documents.
B. Metal Building Components Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation and
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Borrower is a limited general partner of MBCI
Operating, L.P., a Texas limited partnership.
C. It is expressly understood among Assignor, Borrower and Lenders that
the execution and delivery of this Assignment is a condition precedent to
Lenders' obligations to extend credit under the Credit Agreement and Agent's
obligation to issue LCs under the Credit Agreement.
D. Assignor's board of directors has determined that the Assignor may
benefit directly or indirectly from Borrower's execution of the Credit Agreement
as the Assignor may be the indirect recipient of funds advanced by Lenders to
Borrower under the Credit Agreement or the account party of LCs issued by Agent
pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and as such the value of the consideration
received and to be received by it under the Loan Documents is reasonably worth
at least as much as its liability and obligation under this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. UNLESS OTHERWISE DEFINED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT,
ANY CAPITALIZED TERM USED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT HAS THE MEANING GIVEN THAT TERM IN
THE CREDIT AGREEMENT OR IN THE UCC. If the definition given a term in the Credit
Agreement conflicts with the definition given that term in the UCC, the Credit
Agreement definition shall control to the extent allowed by Law. If the
definition given a term in Chapter 9 of the UCC conflicts with the definition
given that term in any other chapter of the UCC, the Chapter 9 definition shall
control. As used in this Assignment:
"ASSIGNMENT" means this Assignment together with all schedules
and annexes attached to this Assignment, and all amendments and modifications to
this Assignment, the schedules and exhibits.
"ASSIGNOR" includes, without limitation, Assignor as a
debtor-in-possession, and any receiver, trustee, liquidator, conservator,
custodian, or similar party hereafter appointed for Assignor or all or
substantially all of Assignor's assets pursuant to any liquidation,
conservatorship, bankruptcy, moratorium,
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rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar Law from
time to time in effect affecting the rights of creditors generally.
"COLLATERAL" means Assignors's right, title and interest in
and to the Partnership Interests, including after acquired Collateral and
proceeds of the Collateral.
"CREDIT AGREEMENT" is defined in the Recitals.
"DEFAULT" means a "Default" under and as defined in the Credit
Agreement.
"OBLIGATION" means the "Obligation"under and as defined in the
Credit Agreement.
"PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS" means all partnership interests, now
or hereafter owned by Assignor in any Subsidiary and all distributions, cash,
instruments and other property from time-to-time received, receivable or
otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange of any Partnership Interest.
"SECURITY INTEREST" means the security interests granted and
the transfers, pledges and collateral assignments made under SECTION 3 of this
Assignment.
"UCC" means (a) generally, and with respect to the definitions
above, the Uniform Commercial Code, as adopted in Texas, as amended from time to
time, and (b) with respect to rights in states other than Texas, the Uniform
Commercial Code as enacted in the applicable state, as amended from time to
time.
2. Credit Agreement. This Assignment is being executed and delivered
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement. Each Security
Interest is a "Lien" referred to in the Credit Agreement.
3. Security Interest. In order to secure the full and complete payment
and performance of the Obligation when due, Assignor hereby grants to Agent a
security interest in, and pledges and assigns to Agent: (a) the Collateral, and
(b) all present and future accounts, contract rights, general intangibles,
chattel paper, documents, instruments, cash and noncash proceeds and other
rights arising from or by virtue of, or from the voluntary or involuntary sale
or other disposition of, or collections with respect to, or claims against any
other person with respect to, the Collateral. Such security interest is granted,
and such pledge and assignment is made, as security only and shall not subject
Lenders to, or transfer or in any way affect or modify, any obligation of
Assignor with respect to any of the Collateral or any transaction involving or
giving rise thereto.
4. No Assumption or Modification. The Security Interest is given to
secure the prompt, unconditional and complete payment and performance of the
Obligation when due, and is given as security only. Agent does not assume and
shall not be liable for any of Assignor's liabilities, duties, or obligations
under or in connection with the Collateral. Agent's acceptance of this
Assignment, or its taking any action in carrying out this Assignment, does not
constitute Agent's approval of the Collateral or Agent's assumption of any
obligation under or in connection with the Collateral. This Assignment does not
affect or modify Assignor's obligations with respect to the Collateral.
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5. Fraudulent Conveyance. Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Assignment to the contrary, Assignor agrees that if, but for the application of
this SECTION 5 the Obligation or any Security Interest would constitute a
preferential transfer under 11 U.S.C. Section 547, a fraudulent conveyance under
11 U.S.C. Section 548 (or any successor section) or a fraudulent conveyance or
transfer under any state fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer Law or
similar Law in effect from time to time (each a "FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCE"), then
the Obligation and each affected Security Interest will be enforceable against
Assignor to the maximum extent possible without causing the Obligation or any
Security Interest to be a Fraudulent Conveyance, and shall be deemed to have
been automatically amended to carry out the intent of this SECTION 5.
6. Representations and Warranties. To the extent applicable, Assignor
hereby adopts and restates each of the representations and warranties in the
Credit Agreement and further represents and warrants to Lenders as follows:
(a) Except as provided in the relevant partnership agreement,
the assignment, pledge, or transfer of the Partnership Interests is not subject
to any restrictions other than restrictions imposed by applicable securities and
partnership laws.
(b) Except as provided in the relevant partnership agreement,
Assignor owns the Collateral free and clear of all liens.
(c) The information contained in item B in the recitals above
is true and accurate and the Collateral is accurately described in this
Assignment.
7. Covenants. Assignor shall:
(a) Promptly notify Agent of any change in any fact or
circumstances represented or warranted by Assignor with respect to any of the
Collateral.
(b) Promptly notify Agent of any additional partnership
interest that it acquires or owns in any domestic partnership that becomes a
Subsidiary subsequent to the execution of this Assignment.
(c) Promptly notify Agent of any claim, action or proceeding
affecting the security interest granted and the pledge and assignment made under
PARAGRAPH 3 or title to all or any of the Collateral and, at the request of
Lenders, appear in and defend, at Assignor's expense, any such action or
proceeding.
(d) Except as permitted under the Credit Agreement, not sell,
assign or otherwise dispose of any Collateral.
(e) Not create, incur or suffer to exist any other lien upon
any of the Collateral.
(f) At Assignor's expense and Agent's request, file or cause
to be filed such applications and take such other actions as Agent may request
to obtain the consent or approval of any tribunal to Agent's rights hereunder,
including, without limitation, the right to sell all the Collateral upon a
Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement) without additional consent or
approval from such tribunal (and, because Assignor
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agrees that Agent's remedies at law for failure of Assignor to comply with this
provision would be inadequate and that such failure would not be adequately
compensable in damages, Assignor agrees that its covenants in this provision may
be specifically enforced).
(g) From time to time promptly execute and deliver to Agent
all such other assignments, certificates, supplemental documents, and financing
statements (if appropriate), and do all other acts or things as Agent may
reasonably request in order to more fully create, evidence, perfect, continue
and preserve the priority of the Security Interest.
8. Default; Remedies. Should a Default occur and be continuing, Agent
may, at its election, exercise any and all rights available to a secured party
under the UCC, in addition to any and all other rights afforded by the Loan
Documents, at law, in equity, or otherwise, or applying by appropriate judicial
proceedings for appointment of a receiver for all or part of the Collateral (and
Assignor hereby consents to any such appointment).
(a) Notice. Reasonable notification of the time and place of
any public sale of the Collateral, or reasonable notification of the time after
which any private sale or other intended disposition of the Collateral is to be
made, shall be sent to Assignor and to any other person entitled to notice under
the UCC; provided that if any of the Collateral threatens to decline speedily in
value or is of the type customarily sold on a recognized market, Agent may sell
or otherwise dispose of the Collateral without notification, advertisement, or
other notice of any kind. It is agreed that notice sent or given not less than
five Business Days prior to the taking of the action to which the notice relates
is reasonable for the purposes of this subparagraph.
(b) Sales of Partnership Interests. In connection with the
sale of the Collateral, Agent is authorized, but not obligated, to limit
prospective purchasers to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by Agent to
render such sale exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and any applicable state securities laws, and no sale so
made in good faith by Lenders shall be deemed not to be "commercially
reasonable" because so made.
(c) Application of Proceeds. Agent shall apply the proceeds of
any sale or other disposition of the Collateral under this PARAGRAPH 8 in the
following order: First, to the payment of all its expenses incurred in preparing
any of the Collateral for sale(s) or other disposition(s), in arranging for such
sale(s) or other disposition(s), and in actually selling or disposing of the
same (all of which are part of the Obligation); second, toward repayment of
amounts expended by Agent under Paragraph 8; third, toward payment of the
balance of the Obligation in accordance with the Credit Agreement. Any surplus
remaining shall be delivered to Assignor or as a court of competent jurisdiction
may direct. If the proceeds are insufficient to pay the Obligation in full,
Borrower, Assignor and other Guarantors shall remain jointly and severally
liable for any deficiency.
9. Other Rights of Agent and Lenders.
(a) Performance. In the event Assignor shall fail to perform
any of its obligations hereunder with respect to the Collateral, then Agent may,
at its option, but without being required to do so, take such action which
Assignor is required, but has failed or refused, to take. Any sum which may be
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expended or paid by Agent under this subparagraph (including, without
limitation, court costs and attorneys' fees) shall bear interest from the dates
of expenditure or payment at the Maximum Rate (as defined in the Credit
Agreement) until paid and, together with such interest, shall be payable by
Assignor upon demand and shall be part of the Obligation.
(b) Collection. Upon notice from Agent, each person or entity
obligated with respect to any of the Collateral, whether as an issuer, account
debtor or otherwise (an "OBLIGOR") is hereby authorized and directed by Assignor
to make payments on any of the Collateral (including, without limitation,
dividends and other distributions) directly to Agent, regardless of whether
Assignor was previously making collections thereon. Subject to Subparagraph (e)
hereof, until such notice is given, Assignor is authorized to retain and expend
all payments made on Collateral. Agent shall have the right in its own name or
in the name of Assignor to compromise or extend time of payment with respect to
all or any portion of the Collateral for such amounts and upon such terms as
Agent may determine; to demand, collect, receive, receipt for, xxx for, compound
and give acquittances for any and all amounts due or to become due with respect
to Collateral; to take control of cash and other proceeds of any Collateral; to
endorse the name of Assignor on any notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money
orders or other evidences of payment on Collateral that may come into the
possession of Agent; to send requests for verification of obligations to any
Obligor; and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the intent
of this agreement. If any Obligor fails or refuses to make payment on any
Collateral when due, Agent is authorized, in its sole discretion, either in its
own name or in the name of Assignor, to take such action as Agent shall deem
appropriate for the collection of any such amounts. Regardless of any other
provision hereof, however, Agent shall never be liable for its failure to
collect, or for its failure to exercise diligence in the collection of, any
amounts owed with respect to Collateral, nor shall it be under any duty whatever
to anyone except Assignor to account for funds that it shall actually receive
hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Agent shall have no
responsibility for ascertaining any maturities, calls, conversions, exchanges,
offers, tenders or similar matters relating to any Collateral, or for informing
Assignor with respect to any of such matters (irrespective of whether Agent
actually has, or may be deemed to have, knowledge thereof). The receipt of Agent
to any Obligor shall be a full and complete release, discharge and acquittance
to such Obligor, to the extent of any amount so paid to Lenders. The rights
granted Agent under this subparagraph may be exercised at any time, whether or
not a Default has occurred and is continuing.
(c) Record Ownership of Partnership Interests. Whether or not
a Default has occurred and is continuing and to the extent applicable, Agent at
any time may have the Collateral registered in its name, or in the name of its
nominee or nominees, as assignee; and Agent shall execute and deliver to
Assignor all such proxies, powers of attorney, dividend coupons or orders and
other documents as Assignor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling
Assignor to exercise the voting rights and powers which it is entitled to
exercise hereunder and to receive the distributions and other payments which it
is authorized to receive and retain hereunder. Nothing in this Assignment shall
prohibit the payment of cash distributions by the Partnership if such
distribution is permitted under the Credit Agreement.
(d) Partnership Action. So long as no Default has occurred,
Assignor shall be entitled to exercise all rights pertaining to the Collateral.
After the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default, the right to vote
or take action as a result of owning the Collateral shall be vested exclusively
in Agent. To this end, Assignor irrevocably appoints Agent the proxy and
attorney-in-fact of Assignor, with full power of substitution, to vote and to
act with respect to the Collateral, subject to the understanding that
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such proxy may not be exercised unless a Default has occurred and is continuing.
The proxy herein granted is coupled with an interest, is irrevocable, and shall
continue until the Obligation has been paid and performed in full.
(e) Certain Proceeds. Any and all distributions in property
made on or in respect of the Collateral, and any proceeds of the Collateral,
whether such distributions, or proceeds result from a subdivision, combination
or reclassification of the partnership interests of Assignor or as a result of
any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which
Assignor may be a party, or otherwise, shall be part of the Collateral
hereunder, shall, if received by Assignor, be held in trust for the benefit of
Agent, and shall forthwith be delivered to Agent (accompanied by proper
instruments of assignment and/or stock and/or bond powers executed by Assignor
in accordance with Agent's instructions) to be held subject to the terms hereof.
Any cash proceeds of Collateral which come into the possession of Agent may, at
Agent's option, be applied in whole or in part to the Obligation (to the extent
then due), be released in whole or in part to or on the written instructions of
Assignor for any general or specific purpose, or be retained in whole or in part
by Lenders as additional Collateral.
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) Reference to Miscellaneous Provisions. This Assignment is
one of the "Loan Documents" referred to in the Credit Agreement, and,
therefore, this Assignment is subject to the applicable provisions of
SECTION 14 of the Credit Agreement, all of which are incorporated in
this Assignment by reference the same as if set forth in this
Assignment verbatim.
(b) Term. Upon full and final payment of the Obligation and
final termination of the Lenders' commitment to lend under the Credit
Agreement without Lenders' having exercised their rights under this
Assignment, this Assignment shall terminate; provided that no Obligor
on any of the Collateral shall be obligated to inquire as to the
termination of this Assignment, but shall be fully protected in making
payment directly to Lenders, which payment shall be promptly paid over
to Assignor after termination of this Assignment.
(c) Notice. Any notice or communication required or permitted
under this Assignment must be given as prescribed in the Credit
Agreement.
(d) Governing Law. THIS ASSIGNMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED--AND ITS
PERFORMANCE ENFORCED--UNDER TEXAS LAW.
(e) Credit Agreement. In the event of any conflict or
inconsistency between the terms hereof and the Credit Agreement, the
terms of the Credit Agreement shall be controlling.
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EXECUTED as of the date set forth in the preamble.
METAL BUILDING COMPONENTS HOLDING,
INC., as Assignor
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and a Lender
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
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Title: Vice President
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