INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT dated as of September 30, 2009 among ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION the other GRANTORS from time to time party hereto, DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Collateral Agent under the Syndicated Facility Agreement – ABL Revolving...
EXHIBIT
4.3
EXECUTION
VERSION
dated as
of September 30, 2009
among
ACCO
BRANDS CORPORATION
the other
GRANTORS from time to time party hereto,
DEUTSCHE
BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,
as
Collateral Agent
under the
Syndicated Facility Agreement – ABL Revolving Facility,
and
U.S. BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Collateral Trustee
under the
Senior Secured Notes Indenture
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE
I
|
Definitions
|
2
|
SECTION
1.01
|
Construction;
Certain Defined Terms
|
2
|
ARTICLE
II
|
Subordination
of Junior Liens; Certain Agreements
|
24
|
SECTION
2.01
|
Subordination
of Junior Liens
|
24
|
SECTION
2.02
|
No
Action With Respect to Junior Secured Obligations Collateral Subject to
Senior Liens
|
25
|
SECTION
2.03
|
No
Duties of Senior Representative
|
25
|
SECTION
2.04
|
No
Interference; Payment Over; Reinstatement
|
26
|
SECTION
2.05
|
Release
of Liens; Automatic Release of Junior Liens
|
29
|
SECTION
2.06
|
Certain
Agreements With Respect to Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceedings
|
31
|
SECTION
2.07
|
Reinstatement
|
34
|
SECTION
2.08
|
Entry
Upon Premises by the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties
|
34
|
SECTION
2.09
|
Insurance
|
36
|
SECTION
2.10
|
Refinancings
and Additional Secured Debt
|
36
|
SECTION
2.11
|
Amendments
to Security Documents; Legend
|
38
|
SECTION
2.12
|
Reserved.
|
39
|
SECTION
2.13
|
Junior
Secured Obligations Secured Parties Rights as Unsecured
Creditors
|
39
|
ARTICLE
III
|
Bailee
for Perfection; Consent to License to Use Intellectual
Property
|
39
|
SECTION
3.01
|
General
|
39
|
SECTION
3.02
|
Collateral
Proceeds Account.
|
40
|
SECTION
3.03
|
Consent
to License to Use Intellectual Property.
|
41
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
Existence
and Amounts of Liens and Obligations
|
42
|
ARTICLE
V
|
Consent
of Grantors
|
42
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
Representations
and Warranties
|
42
|
SECTION
6.01
|
Representations
and Warranties of Each Party
|
42
|
SECTION
6.02
|
Representations
and Warranties of Each Representative
|
43
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
Miscellaneous
|
43
|
SECTION
7.01
|
Notices
|
43
|
SECTION
7.02
|
Waivers;
Amendment
|
44
|
SECTION
7.03
|
Parties
in Interest
|
44
|
i
SECTION
7.04
|
Survival
of Agreement
|
44
|
SECTION
7.05
|
Counterparts
|
44
|
SECTION
7.06
|
Severability
|
44
|
SECTION
7.07
|
Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process
|
45
|
SECTION
7.08
|
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
|
45
|
SECTION
7.09
|
Headings
|
46
|
SECTION
7.10
|
Conflicts
|
46
|
SECTION
7.11
|
Provisions
Solely to Define Relative Rights
|
46
|
SECTION
7.12
|
Certain
Terms Concerning the Noteholder Collateral Trustee
|
46
|
SECTION
7.13
|
Certain
Terms Concerning ABL Agent and Noteholder Collateral
Trustee
|
47
|
SECTION
7.14
|
Reliance
|
47
|
SECTION
7.15
|
No
Warranties or Liability
|
47
|
SECTION
7.16
|
No
Waiver of Lien Priorities
|
47
|
SECTION
7.17
|
Obligations
Unconditional
|
49
|
EXHIBIT A
– Form of Intercreditor Agreement Joinder
EXHIBIT B
– Form of Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder
ii
This
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT is dated as of September 30, 2009, and is by and among
ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”),
the other GRANTORS from time to time party hereto, DEUTSCHE BANK AG
NEW YORK BRANCH (in its individual capacity, and any successor corporation
thereto by merger, consolidation or otherwise, “DBNY”), as
collateral agent under the ABL Debt Documents (as defined below) (in such
capacity and together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the
“Original
ABL
Agent”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (in its individual capacity,
and any successor corporation thereto by merger, consolidation or otherwise,
“U.S.
Bank”) as collateral trustee under the Indenture (as defined
below). Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings set forth in Section 1.01 below.
WHEREAS,
Holdings and certain of the Grantors have entered into an ABL Credit Agreement,
which provides for a $175,000,000 revolving credit facility to Holdings, certain
of the other Grantors and other subsidiaries of Holdings, which revolving credit
facility may be increased by the Incremental Commitments under (and as defined
in) the ABL Credit Agreement;
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the various ABL Debt Documents, (i) Holdings, other Grantors and
other subsidiaries of Holdings have provided guarantees for the ABL Debt
Obligations and (ii) Holdings, other Grantors and other subsidiaries of Holdings
have provided security for the ABL Debt Obligations;
WHEREAS,
Holdings has entered into an Indenture, dated as of the date hereof (as amended,
supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time
to time, the “Indenture”),
among Holdings, as issuer, the Grantors, as guarantors, and U.S. Bank, as
trustee (in such capacity and together with its successors and assigns in such
capacity, the “Original
Noteholder Collateral Trustee”), pursuant to which senior secured notes
shall be issued by Holdings on the date hereof in an aggregate original
principal amount of $460,000,000;
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the various Indenture Priority Lien Documents, (i) Holdings and the
other Grantors have provided guarantees for the Indenture Priority Lien
Obligations and (ii) Holdings and the other Grantors have provided security for
the Indenture Priority Lien Obligations;
WHEREAS,
Holdings and the other Grantors intend to secure the ABL Debt Obligations under
the ABL Credit Agreement and any other ABL Debt Documents (including any
Permitted Replacement thereof) with a first priority lien on the ABL First Lien
Collateral and a second priority lien on the Noteholder First Lien Collateral;
and
WHEREAS,
Holdings and the other Grantors intend to secure the Indenture Priority Lien
Obligations under the Indenture and any other Indenture Priority Lien Documents
(including any Permitted Replacement thereof) with a first priority lien on the
Noteholder First Lien Collateral and a second priority lien on the ABL First
Lien Collateral.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the ABL Agent (for itself and on behalf of the ABL Secured
Parties), the
Noteholder
Collateral Trustee (for itself and on behalf of the Indenture Priority Lien
Secured Parties and the Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties, if any),
Holdings and the other Grantors party hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
Definitions
SECTION
1.01 Construction;
Certain Defined Terms.
(a) The
definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms
of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun
shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter
forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be
deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word
“will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word
“shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of
or reference to any agreement, instrument, other document, statute or regulation
herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument, other
document, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified, (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed
to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to
include the subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such
subsidiaries, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof and “hereunder,” and words of
similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety
and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references herein to
Articles, Sections and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections
and Annexes of this Agreement, (v) unless otherwise expressly qualified herein,
the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and
effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and
properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights and (vi)
the term “or” is not exclusive.
(b) All
terms used in this Agreement that are defined in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New
York UCC (whether capitalized herein or not) and not otherwise defined herein
have the meanings assigned to them in Article 1, 8 or 9 of the New York
UCC. If a term is defined in Article 9 of the New York UCC and
another Article of the UCC, such term shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Article 9 of the New York UCC.
(c) Unless
otherwise set forth herein, all references herein to the Noteholder Collateral
Trustee shall be deemed to refer to the Noteholder Collateral Trustee in its
capacity as collateral trustee under the Noteholder Collateral Trust
Agreement.
(d) As
used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified
below:
“ABL Agent”
means the Original ABL Agent, and, from and after the date of execution and
delivery of an ABL Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or
other representative of the lenders or holders of the indebtedness and other
Obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together
with its successors in such capacity.
2
“ABL Credit
Agreement” means the Syndicated Facility Agreement – ABL Revolving
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Holdings, certain of the other
Grantors and other subsidiaries of Holdings, as borrowers, ABL Lenders and DBNY,
as administrative agent, as amended, restated, adjusted, waived, renewed,
extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and any credit
agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or any
other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any ABL
Substitute Facility.
“ABL Debt”
means
(a) Indebtedness
outstanding under the ABL Credit Agreement on the date hereof or incurred from
time to time after the date hereof under the ABL Credit Agreement;
and
(b) additional
Indebtedness (including letters of credit and reimbursement obligations with
respect thereto) of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary secured by senior
Liens on ABL Facility Collateral and junior Liens on Noteholder Collateral (or,
with respect to Foreign Subsidiaries, secured by Liens on assets of such Foreign
Subsidiaries that would constitute ABL Facility Collateral if owned by Holdings
or any Guarantor); provided, in the case
of any additional Indebtedness referred to in this clause (b),
that:
(i) on
or before the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred by
Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, such
additional Indebtedness is designated by Holdings, in an Officers’ Certificate
delivered to the Noteholder Collateral Trustee, as “ABL Debt” for purposes of
the Priority Lien Documents; provided,
that such Indebtedness may not be designated as both ABL Debt and Priority Lien
Debt; and
(ii) the
collateral agent or other representative with respect to such Indebtedness, the
ABL Agent, the Noteholder Collateral Trustee, Holdings and each applicable
Grantor have duly executed and delivered this Agreement (or an Intercreditor
Agreement, Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder or a new intercreditor
agreement substantially similar to this Agreement, as in effect on the date
hereof, and in a form reasonably acceptable to each of the parties
hereto).
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness (excluding
Indebtedness representing Hedging Obligations and Indebtedness in respect of
cash management services and treasury management services) constituting
principal outstanding under the ABL Credit Agreement and the other ABL Debt
Documents or any ABL Substitute Facility (as of the date of incurrence of any
such Indebtedness and after giving pro forma effect to the
application of the net proceeds therefrom and with letters of credit or bankers’
acceptances issued under the ABL Credit Agreement and the other ABL Debt
Documents being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount
thereof) exceeds the ABL Lien Cap, then only that portion of such Indebtedness
and such aggregate face amount of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances
equal to the ABL Lien Cap shall be included in ABL Debt and interest, fees,
expenses and indemnification obligations with respect to such Indebtedness and
letters of credit and bankers’
3
acceptances
shall only constitute ABL Debt Obligations to the extent related to Indebtedness
and the face amounts of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances included in
ABL Debt.
“ABL Debt
Documents” means the ABL Credit Agreement and any notes, guarantees,
collateral documents and instruments and agreements executed in connection
therewith (other than any such documents that do not secure ABL Debt
Obligations).
“ABL Debt
Obligations” means ABL Debt and all other Obligations in connection with
the ABL Credit Agreement, including:
(a) additional
Obligations of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary relating to any cash
management services or treasury management services provided to Holdings or any
Restricted Subsidiary by any ABL Lender or lender of any indebtedness under any
ABL Substitute Facility or Affiliate thereof even if the respective ABL Lender
or holder or lender of any indebtedness under any ABL Substitute Facility
subsequently ceases to be an ABL Lender ABL Lender or holder or lender of any
indebtedness under any ABL Substitute Facility (together with successors and
assigns); and
(b) Hedging
Obligations of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary relating to hedging
agreements with any ABL Lender, or lender of any indebtedness under any ABL
Substitute Facility or Affiliate thereof even if the respective ABL Lender or
holder or lender of any indebtedness under any ABL Substitute Facility
subsequently ceases to be an ABL Lender or holder or lender of any indebtedness
under any ABL Substitute Facility (together with successors and
assigns).
“ABL Facility
Collateral” means all assets and properties subject to Liens created by
the ABL Security Documents to secure the ABL Debt Obligations.
“ABL First Lien
Collateral” means all present and future right, title and interest of
Holdings and the Grantors in and to the following, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, existing or arising, and wherever located:
(a) Accounts
and payment intangibles, including tax refunds, but excluding payment
intangibles that constitute identifiable proceeds of Noteholder First Lien
Collateral;
(b) inventory
and all Indebtedness owed to Holdings or any of its subsidiaries that arises
from cash advances to enable the obligor thereof to acquire
inventory;
(c) deposit
accounts, commodity accounts, securities accounts and all lock-boxes at any
bank, including all money and certificated securities, uncertificated
securities, securities entitlements and investment property or other assets
credited thereto or deposited therein (including all cash, cash equivalents,
marketable securities and other funds held in or on deposit in any such deposit
account, commodity account or securities account but excluding all equity
interests owned by Holdings or the Grantors), instruments, including
intercompany notes (subject to the proviso in clause (e) below), chattel paper
and all cash and cash equivalents, including cash and cash equivalents securing
letters of credit or other ABL Debt Obligations;
4
(d) general
intangibles, chattel paper or instruments pertaining to the other items of
property included within clauses (a), (b), (c), (e), (f) and (g) of this
definition;
(e) all
indebtedness of Holdings and any of its subsidiaries that is owing to Holdings
or any Grantor provided that ABL First
Lien Collateral shall not include intercompany indebtedness from Foreign
Subsidiaries owed to Holdings or any Grantor up to an aggregate amount of
$30,000,000;
(f)
books and records, documents and related letters of credit and commercial tort
claims or other claims and causes of action, in each case, to the extent related
primarily to any of the foregoing; and
(g) all
substitutions, replacements, accessions, products, supporting obligations and
proceeds (including, without limitation, insurance proceeds, licenses,
royalties, income, payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit) of all or any
of the foregoing;
except to
the extent that any item of property included in clauses (a) through (g)
constitutes an Excluded Asset and provided that in no case
shall any item included in clauses (a) through (g) include any identifiable cash
proceeds in respect of Noteholder First Lien Collateral or any Net Proceeds from
a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any Noteholder First Lien
Collateral to the extent that such item includes identifiable cash proceeds in
respect of Noteholder First Lien Collateral or any Net Proceeds from a sale of
Noteholder First Lien Collateral that have been (or should have been) deposited
in the Collateral Proceeds Account in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture, until such time as such Net Proceeds are released therefrom in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
“ABL
Lenders” means the lenders from time to time party to the ABL Credit
Agreement.
“ABL Lien
Cap” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (x) $225,000,000
and (y) to the extent the ABL Credit Agreement as entered into on the date
hereof is amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced, restated,
restructured, or refinanced after the date hereof, the fees and transaction
costs in connection therewith.
“ABL Liens”
means Liens on the ABL Facility Collateral created under the ABL Security
Documents to secure the ABL Debt Obligations (including Liens on such Collateral
under the security documents associated with any ABL Substitute
Facility).
“ABL Secured
Parties” means (i) the “Secured Parties” as such term is defined in the
ABL Credit Agreement in effect as of the date hereof and (ii) any term with
substantially the same meaning under any ABL Substitute Facility.
“ABL Security
Documents” means the ABL Credit Agreement (insofar as the same grants a
Lien on the Collateral), each Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder and
all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, collateral
agency agreements, debentures, control agreements or other grants or transfers
for security executed and delivered by Holdings or any Grantor creating (or
purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the ABL Agent, in each
case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in
5
part,
from time to time, in accordance with its terms and the provisions of the
Indenture (including any such documents or instruments associated with any ABL
Substitute Facility).
“ABL Substitute
Facility” means any facility with respect to which the requirements
contained in Section 2.10(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied and that
Replaces the ABL Credit Agreement then in existence. For the
avoidance of doubt, no ABL Substitute Facility shall be required to be a
revolving or asset-based loan facility and may be a facility evidenced or
governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note,
indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any ABL Lien
securing such ABL Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this
Agreement for all purposes (including the lien priorities as set forth herein as
of the date hereof).
“Account”
shall mean, without duplication, (i) an account, (ii) any and all
supporting obligations in respect thereof and (iii) any right to payment of
a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, (a) for
property that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or
otherwise disposed of, or (b) for services rendered or to be
rendered.
“Additional
Interest” means all special interest then owing pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement.
“Additional
Priority Lien Debt Documents” means the Additional Priority Lien Debt
Facility and the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents.
“Additional
Priority Lien Debt Facility” means one or more debt facilities,
commercial paper facilities or indentures for which the requirements of Section
2.10(b) of this Agreement have been satisfied, in each case with banks, other
lenders or trustees, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans,
receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders
or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such
receivables), letters of credit, notes or other borrowings, in each case, as
amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured,
increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to
time in accordance with each applicable Secured Document; provided that neither the ABL
Credit Agreement nor any ABL Substitute Facility shall constitute an Additional
Priority Lien Debt Facility at any time.
“Additional
Priority Lien Debt Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any
obligations of such Grantor owed to any Additional Priority Lien Secured Party
(or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Additional Priority Lien Debt
Documents.
“Additional
Priority Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Noteholder
Collateral Trustee, the trustee, agent or other representative of the holders of
any Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such
Series of Priority Lien Debt, the beneficiaries of each indemnification
obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Additional Priority Lien Debt
Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or
lender pursuant to any Series of Priority Lien Debt outstanding at such time;
provided that the
Indenture Priority Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Additional Priority
Lien Secured Parties.
6
“Additional
Priority Lien Security Documents” means all collateral trust agreements,
security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds
of trust, control agreements, guarantees, notes and any other documents or
instruments now existing or entered into after the date hereof that create Liens
on any assets or properties of any Grantor or any of its subsidiaries to secure
any Obligations of the Grantors owed thereunder to any Additional Priority Lien
Secured Parties.
“Additional
Secured Debt” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.10(b).
“Administrative
Agent” means Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, in its capacity as
Administrative Agent under the ABL Credit Agreement, and its successors in such
capacity, and any agent, trustee or other representative representing holders or
lenders under any ABL Substitute Facility.
“Affiliate”
of any specified Person means (a) any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with
such specified Person or (b) any executive officer or director of such specified
Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,”
as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or
policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms
“controlling,”
“controlled
by” and “under common
control with” shall have correlative meanings.
“Bankruptcy
Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code.
“Board of
Directors” means (a) with respect to a corporation, the board of
directors of the corporation; (b) with respect to a partnership, the board of
directors of the general partner of the partnership or of the partnership; and
(c) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person
serving a similar function.
“Capital
Stock” means (a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock, (b) in
the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate
stock, (c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company,
partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited), and (d) any
other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a
share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing
Person.
“Capitalized Lease
Obligations” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made,
the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such
time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance
sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.
“Class”
means every Series of Priority Lien Debt, taken together.
“Collateral”
means all of the assets and property of any Grantor, whether real, personal or
mixed, constituting the ABL Facility Collateral and the Noteholder
Collateral.
7
“Collateral
Proceeds Account” means a segregated account or accounts held by or under
the control of the Noteholder Collateral Trustee or its agent to secure all
Priority Lien Obligations pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to
the Noteholder Collateral Trustee.
“Contingent
Obligations” means with respect to any Person, any obligation of such
Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not
constitute Indebtedness (“primary
obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary
obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including,
without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not
contingent:
(1) to
purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or
indirect security therefor,
(2) to
advance or supply funds:
(a) for
the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or
(b) to
maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise
to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or
(3) to
purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring
the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor
to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect
thereof.
“Credit
Facilities” means one or more debt facilities (including, without
limitation, the ABL Credit Agreement), commercial paper facilities, note
purchase agreements or indentures, in each case with banks, other lenders or
trustees, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables
financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to
special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such
receivables), letters of credit, notes or other borrowings, in each case, as
amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, restated, restructured,
increased, supplemented, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to
time.
“Discharge of ABL
Debt Obligations” means, with respect to any particular ABL Debt
Obligations, the occurrence of all of the following:
(a) termination
or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute ABL
Debt;
(b) payment
in full in cash of the principal of and interest, fees and premium (if any) on
all ABL Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit), other than from the
proceeds of an incurrence of ABL Debt;
(c) (i)
cash collateralization (at the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount
required for release of liens under the terms of the applicable ABL Debt
Document) or other discharge satisfactory to the issuing lender thereof of all
outstanding letters of credit
8
constituting
ABL Debt Obligations and (ii) the termination or expiration of all commitments
to issue letters of credit that would constitute ABL Debt Obligations;
and
(d) payment
in full in cash of all other ABL Debt Obligations that are outstanding and
unpaid at the time the ABL Debt is paid in full in cash (other than any
obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and
other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been
made at such time).
“Discharge of
Priority Lien Obligations” means, with respect to any particular Priority
Lien Obligations, the occurrence of all of the following:
(a) termination
or expiration of all commitments to extend credit that would constitute Priority
Lien Debt;
(b) payment
in full in cash of the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, and
Additional Interest, if any, on all Priority Lien Debt (other than any undrawn
letters of credit), other than from the proceeds of an incurrence of Priority
Lien Debt;
(c) discharge
or cash collateralization (at the lower of (x) 105% of the aggregate undrawn
amount and (y) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn amount required for
release of liens under the terms of the applicable Priority Lien Document) of
all outstanding letters of credit constituting Priority Lien Debt;
and
(d) payment
in full in cash of all other Priority Lien Obligations that are outstanding and
unpaid at the time the Priority Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than
any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and
other liabilities in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been
made at such time).
“Discharge of
Senior Secured Debt Obligations” means, (a) in respect of the Priority
Lien Obligations, the Discharge of the Priority Lien Obligations, and (b) in
respect of the ABL Debt Obligations, the Discharge of the ABL Debt Obligations;
provided that the
Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations shall not be deemed to have
occurred in connection with a Replacement as contemplated by Section
2.10(a).
“Disqualified
Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such
Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is
convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the
happening of any event:
(1)
matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or
otherwise,
(2) is
convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such
Person, or
(3) is
redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, in each
case prior to 91 days after the maturity date of the Indenture Notes; provided, however, that only the
portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so
convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder
thereof prior to such date shall be
9
deemed to
be Disqualified Stock; provided, further, however, that if such Capital
Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of
Holdings or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital
Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required
to be repurchased by Holdings in order to satisfy applicable statutory or
regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or
disability; provided,
further, that any class
of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to
satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not
Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock. Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified
Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the issuer to
repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a Change of Control or an
Asset Sale (each as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement and the Indenture, in
each case, as of the date hereof) will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the
terms of such Capital Stock provide that the issuer may not repurchase or redeem
any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or
redemption complies with the Indenture.
“Domestic
Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings other than a
Restricted Subsidiary that is (a) a “controlled foreign corporation” under
Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code or (b) a Subsidiary of any such
controlled foreign corporation.
“Equally and
Ratably” means, in reference to sharing of Liens or proceeds thereof as
between holders of any Priority Lien Obligations within the same Class, that
such Liens or proceeds:
(a) will
be allocated and distributed to the Secured Debt Representative for each
outstanding Series of Priority Lien Debt within that Class, for the account of
the holders of such Series of Secured Debt, ratably in proportion to the
principal of, and interest and premium (if any) and Additional Interest (if any)
and reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters
of credit, if any, outstanding (whether or not drawings have been made on such
letters of credit) on, each outstanding Series of Priority Lien Debt within that
Class when the allocation or distribution is made, and thereafter;
and
(b) will
be allocated and distributed (if any remain after payment in full of all of the
principal of, and interest and premium (if any) and reimbursement obligations
(contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of credit, if any, outstanding
(whether or not drawings have been made on such letters of credit), on all
outstanding Priority Lien Obligations within that Class) to the Secured Debt
Representative for each outstanding Series of Priority Lien Debt within that
Class, for the account of the holders of any remaining Priority Lien
Obligations, as the case may be, within that Class, ratably in proportion to the
aggregate unpaid amount of such remaining Priority Lien Obligations within that
Class due and demanded (with written notice to the Secured Debt Representative)
prior to the date such distribution is made.
“Event of
Default” means an “Event of Default” under and as defined in the ABL
Credit Agreement, the Indenture or any Additional Priority Lien Debt Documents,
as the context may require.
10
“Equity
Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights
to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible
into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
“Excluded
Assets” means each of the following:
(a) all
interests in real property other than:
(i) fee
interests if the greater of the cost or the book value of such fee interest is
more than $2,000,000; and
(ii) leasehold
interests in real property contemplated to be used by Holdings or the applicable
Grantor for any material manufacturing operations, in each case, as designated
as such by Holdings to the Noteholder Collateral Trustee in writing (except in
cases where Holdings and the Grantors have been unable to obtain the consent of
the landlord of such leased property to the granting of a Lien on such leasehold
interests after using commercially reasonable efforts to do so).
(b) any
property or asset to the extent that the grant of a Lien under the Security
Documents in such property or asset is prohibited by applicable law or requires
any consent of any governmental authority not obtained pursuant to applicable
law; provided that such property or asset shall be an Excluded Asset only to the
extent and for so long as the consequences specified above shall result and
shall cease to be an Excluded Asset and shall become subject to the Lien granted
under the Security Documents, immediately and automatically, at such time as
such consequences shall no longer result;
(c) any
lease, license, contract, property right or agreement to which Holdings or any
Grantor is a party or any of its rights or interests thereunder only to the
extent and only for so long as the grant of a Lien under the Security Documents
shall constitute or result in a breach, termination or default under or requires
any consent not obtained under any such lease, license, contract, agreement or
property right (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered
ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform
Commercial Code (or any successor provision or provisions) of any relevant
jurisdiction or any other applicable law (including the Bankruptcy Code) or
principles of equity); provided that such lease, license, contract, property
right or agreement shall be an Excluded Asset only to the extent and for so long
as the consequences specified above shall result and shall cease to be an
Excluded Asset and shall become subject to the Lien granted under the Security
Documents, immediately and automatically, at such time as such consequences will
no longer result;
(d) Equity
Interests in ACCO Brands Receivables Funding LLC, so long as such entity is a
Receivables Subsidiary;
(e) Equity
Interests or other securities of any subsidiary of Holdings (other than ACCO
Brands Europe Holding LP) to the extent the pledge of such Equity Interests or
other securities would require Holdings to file separate financial statements
with the SEC with respect to such subsidiary pursuant to Rule 3-16 of Regulation
S-X under the
Securities Act, as in effect from time to time; provided that in the event that Rule 3-16 of
Regulation S-X under the
11
Securities
Act is amended, modified or interpreted by the SEC to permit (or is replaced
with another rule or regulation, or any other law, rule or regulation is
adopted, which would permit) all of such subsidiary’s Equity Interests or other
securities to be pledged to secure the Priority Lien Obligations without the
filing with the SEC of separate financial statements of such subsidiary, then
all of the Equity Interests and other securities of such subsidiary shall
automatically be deemed to be part of the Noteholder Collateral (and the
Priority Lien Security Documents shall be amended to reflect such inclusion in
the Noteholder Collateral);
(f)
any amount of Voting Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary exceeding, and
only to the extent that such Voting Equity Interests exceed, 65% of the total
Voting Equity Interests of such Foreign Subsidiary held by Holdings or any
Grantor;
(g) the
Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary other than (A) ACCO Mexicana S.A. de
C.V., ACCO Brands Canada Inc. and ACCO Brands Europe Holding LP; and (B) any
Foreign Subsidiary directly owned by Holdings or any Grantor if the product of
that Foreign Subsidiary’s EBITDA for the preceding fiscal year times 7.0 exceeds
$42,500,000, such determination to be made annually at the conclusion of the
audit of Holdings’s annual financial statements, in each case subject to clauses
(e) and (f) above; and
(h) certain
other items agreed by the parties and as more fully set forth in the Priority
Lien Security Documents.
“Excluded
Subsidiary” means:
(1) ACCO
Brands Receivables Funding LLC; and
(2) any
Foreign Subsidiary.
“Fair Market
Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which
could be negotiated in an arm’s-length, free market transaction, for cash,
between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under
undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.
“Foreign
Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings other than a
Domestic Subsidiary.
“Grantors”
means
(1) each
direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings on the date hereof (other
than any Excluded Subsidiary on the date hereof); and
(2) any
other Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings on the date hereof that executes a
Guarantee of the Indenture Notes pursuant to the Indenture from time to time in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
(3) their
respective successors and assigns until released from their obligations under
the Security Documents pursuant to the Indenture and the ABL Credit
Agreement.
12
“Guarantee”
means, as to any Person, a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or
indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of
assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness of another Person.
“Hedging
Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such
Person under:
(a) currency
exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange,
interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate
or commodity collar agreements; and
(b) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in currency exchange, interest rates and/or commodity prices.
“Holders of
Priority Lien Debt” means (a) the Holders under and as defined in the
Indenture, (b) the holders or lenders pursuant to any Series of Priority Lien
Debt and (c) the holders or lenders of any indebtedness under any Noteholder
Substitute Facility.
“Indebtedness”
means, with respect to any specified Person, without duplication:
(a) any
indebtedness of such Person, without duplication, whether or not contingent, (i)
in respect of borrowed money, (ii) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or
similar instruments or letters of credit (or, without duplication, reimbursement
agreements in respect thereof), excluding letters of credit securing obligations
other than obligations described in subclauses (i), (ii), (v) and (vi) of this
clause (a) and entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person,
to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon, or, if drawn upon, to
the extent such drawing is reimbursed no later than the fifth (5th) Business Day
following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement, (iii) in respect
of bankers’ acceptances, (iv) representing the deferred balance and unpaid
purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an
accrued expense or trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor and
excluding any such balance or unpaid purchase price to the extent that it is
either required to be or at the option of such Person may be satisfied solely
through the issuance of Equity Interests of Holdings that are not Disqualified
Stock, (v) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (vi) representing any
Hedging Obligations, other than Hedging Obligations that are incurred in the
normal course of business and not for speculative purposes, and that do not
increase the Indebtedness of the obligor outstanding at any time other than as a
result of fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or foreign currency
exchange rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation payable
thereunder, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other
than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a
balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in
accordance with GAAP;
(b) to
the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable
for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the Indebtedness of
another
13
Person
(other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the
ordinary course of business);
(c) to
the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a
Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is
assumed by such Person); provided,
however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (i)
the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination, and (ii) the
amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person; and
(d) to
the extent not otherwise included, with respect to Holdings and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, the amount then outstanding (i.e., advanced, and received by, and
available for use by, Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) under any
Receivables Financing (as set forth in the books and records of Holdings or any
Restricted Subsidiary and confirmed by the agent, Trustee or other
representative of the institution or group providing such Receivables
Financing);
provided, however, that notwithstanding
the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (i) Contingent
Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of
borrowed money or (ii) Obligations under or in respect of Qualified Receivables
Financing.
“Indenture”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Indenture
Noteholder Security Documents” means the Indenture (insofar as the same
grants a Lien on the Collateral), the Noteholder Collateral Trust Agreement,
each Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder and all security agreements,
pledge agreements, collateral assignments, collateral agency agreements,
debentures, control agreements or other grants or transfers for security
executed and delivered by Holdings or any Grantor creating (or purporting to
create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Noteholder Collateral Trustee, in
each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in
part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and the provisions of the
Indenture (including any such documents or instruments associated with any
Noteholder Substitute Facility).
“Indenture
Notes” means the 10.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 issued under the
Indenture, and any other senior secured notes issued thereunder.
“Indenture
Priority Lien Documents” means the Indenture, the Indenture Noteholder
Security Documents and all other loan documents, notes, guarantees, instruments
and agreements governing or evidencing any Noteholder Substitute
Facility.
“Indenture
Priority Lien Obligations” means, with respect to any Grantor, any
obligations of such Grantor owed to any Indenture Priority Lien Secured Party
(or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Indenture Priority Lien
Documents.
“Indenture
Priority Lien Secured Parties” means, at any time, the Trustee, all
holders of indenture Notes, the Noteholder Collateral Trustee, the trustees,
agents and other representatives of the holders of the Indenture Notes
(including any holders of notes pursuant to supplements executed in connection
with the issuance of Series of Priority Lien Debt under the Indenture) who
maintains the transfer register for such Indenture Notes or such Series of
Priority
00
Xxxx
Xxxx, the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any
Grantor under any Indenture Priority Lien Document and each other holder of, or
obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Indenture Priority
Lien Document outstanding at such time; provided that the Additional
Priority Lien Secured Parties shall not be deemed Indenture Priority Lien
Secured Parties.
“Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding” means:
(a) any
case commenced by or against Holdings or any other Grantor under the Bankruptcy
Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other
proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling
of the assets or liabilities of Holdings or any other Grantor, any receivership
or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to Holdings or any other
Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to Holdings or any other
Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not
voluntary;
(b) any
liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding
up of or relating to Holdings or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not
voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency, unless
otherwise permitted by the Senior Documents;
(c) any
proceeding seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian
or other insolvency official with respect to Holdings or any Grantor or any of
their assets;
(d) any
other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of
creditors of Holdings or any Grantor are determined and any payment or
distribution is or may be made on account of such claims; or
(e) any
analogous procedure or step in any jurisdiction.
“Intercreditor
Agreement Joinder” means an agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit A.
“Investment Grade
Securities” means:
(a) securities
issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States
government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash
Equivalents), in each case with maturities not exceeding two (2) years from the
date of acquisition,
(b) investments
in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in
clause (a), which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending
investment and/or distribution, and
(c) corresponding
instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for
high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two
years from the date of acquisition.
15
“Investments”
means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other
Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees),
advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit
and advances to customers and commission, payroll, travel and similar advances
to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business),
purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity
Interests or other securities issued by any other Person, together with all
items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared
in accordance with GAAP.
“Junior
Documents” means (a) in respect of the Noteholder First Lien Collateral,
the ABL Debt Documents and (b) in respect of the ABL First Lien Collateral, the
Priority Lien Documents.
“Junior
Liens” means (a) in respect of the ABL First Lien Collateral, the
Priority Liens on such Collateral, and (b) in respect of the Noteholder First
Lien Collateral, the ABL Liens.
“Junior
Representative” means (a) with respect to the Noteholder First Lien
Collateral, the ABL Agent and (b) with respect to the ABL First Lien Collateral,
the Noteholder Collateral Trustee.
“Junior Secured
Obligations” means (a) with respect to the Priority Lien Obligations (to
the extent such Obligations are secured, or intended to be secured, by the
Noteholder First Lien Collateral), the ABL Debt Obligations and (b) with respect
to ABL Debt Obligations (to the extent such Obligations are secured, or intended
to be secured, by the ABL First Lien Collateral), the Priority Lien
Obligations.
“Junior Secured
Obligations Collateral” means the Collateral in respect of which the
Junior Representative (on behalf of itself and the Junior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties) holds a Junior Lien.
“Junior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties” means (a) with respect to the Noteholder
First Lien Collateral, the ABL Secured Parties and (b) with respect to the ABL
First Lien Collateral, the Priority Lien Secured Parties.
“Junior Secured
Obligations Security Documents” means (a) with respect to the ABL First
Lien Collateral, the Priority Lien Security Documents, and (b) with respect to
the Noteholder First Lien Collateral, the ABL Security Documents.
“Lien”
means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security
interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not
filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature
thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in
and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform
Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction); provided that in no event
shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.
16
“Lien Sharing and
Priority Confirmation Joinder” means an agreement substantially in the
form of Exhibit B.
“Net
Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by Holdings or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any sale, lease, conveyance or
other disposition of collateral (including, without limitation, any cash
payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or
installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but
excluding the assumption by the acquiring person of Indebtedness relating to the
disposed assets or other consideration received in any other non-cash form), net
of the direct costs relating to such asset sale, lease, conveyance or other
disposition (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment
banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses
Incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after
taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing
arrangements related thereto), amounts required to be applied to the repayment
of principal, premium (if any), Additional Interest (if any) and interest on
Indebtedness required (other than pursuant to the Indenture) to be paid as a
result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be
provided by Holdings as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any
liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and
retained by Holdings after such sale or other disposition thereof, including,
without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and
liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification
obligations associated with such transaction.
“New York
UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in
the State of New York.
“Noteholder
Collateral” means all assets and properties subject to Liens created by
the Indenture Noteholder Security Documents to secure the Indenture Priority
Lien Obligations.
“Noteholder
Collateral Trust Agreement” means the Collateral Trust Agreement, dated
as of September 30, 2009, among Holdings, the subsidiaries of Holdings from time
to time party thereto, the Trustee, the other Secured Debt Representatives from
time to time party thereto and the Noteholder Collateral Trustee, as amended,
restated, adjusted, waived, renewed, extended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, in accordance with each applicable Secured
Document.
“Noteholder
Collateral Trustee” means the Original Noteholder Collateral Trustee,
and, from and after the date of execution and delivery of an Noteholder
Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent, trustee or other
representative of the lenders or other holders of the indebtedness and other
obligations evidence thereunder or governed thereby, in each case, together with
its successors in such capacity.
“Noteholder First
Lien Collateral” means all of the tangible and intangible properties and
assets at any time owned or acquired by Holdings or any Grantor,
except:
(a) Excluded
Assets; and
(b) ABL
First Lien Collateral.
17
“Noteholder
Substitute Facility” means any facility with respect to which the
requirements contained in Section 2.10(a) of this Agreement have been satisfied
and that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to the ABL Debt Documents, the
proceeds of which are used to, among other things, Replace the Indenture and/or
any Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility then in existence. For the
avoidance of doubt, no Noteholder Substitute Facility shall be required to be
evidenced by notes or other instruments and may be a facility evidenced or
governed by a credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note,
indenture or any other agreement or instrument; provided that any such
Noteholder Substitute Facility shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement
for all purposes (including the lien priority as set forth herein as of the date
hereof) as the other Liens securing the Priority Lien Obligations are subject to
under this Agreement.
“Obligations”
means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, expenses, indemnifications,
reimbursements, damages and other liabilities (including all interest accruing
after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, even if such
interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding)
under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
“Officer”
means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief
Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the
Secretary, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President or any Assistant Vice
President of such Person.
“Officers’
Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of Holdings by at least
two Officers of Holdings, one of whom must be the principal executive officer,
the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting
officer of Holdings.
“Original
ABL
Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble
hereto.
“Original
Noteholder Collateral Trustee” has the meaning assigned to that term in
the preamble hereto.
“Original
Trustee” means U.S. Bank National Association, in its capacity as trustee
under the Indenture, and together with its successors in such
capacity.
“Person”
means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability
company, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other
entity.
“Permitted
Replacement” means, as to any Indebtedness, the Replacement of such
Indebtedness to refinance such existing Indebtedness; provided that, in the case of
such Replacing Indebtedness, the following conditions are
satisfied:
(a) the
weighted average life to maturity of such Replacement of such Indebtedness shall
be greater than or equal to the weighted average life to maturity of the
Indebtedness being refinanced;
18
(b) the
principal amount of such Replacement of such Indebtedness shall be less than or
equal to (i) the principal amount then outstanding of the Indebtedness being
refinanced or (ii) in the case of a revolving credit facility, the amount of the
commitment thereunder at the time of such Replacement, except to the extent an
increase in the principal amount or the committed amount, as applicable, is
permitted at such time pursuant to the ABL Debt Documents and Indenture Priority
Lien Documents which then remain in effect; and
(c) the
terms applicable to such Replacement of such Indebtedness and, if applicable,
the related guarantees of such Permitted Replacement, shall not violate the
applicable requirements contained in any Indenture Priority Lien Documents or
ABL Debt Documents which remain outstanding after giving effect to the
respective Permitted Replacement.
“Priority
Lien” means a Lien granted by the Priority Lien Documents to the
Noteholder Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any property of Holdings or any
Grantor to secure Priority Lien Obligations.
“Priority Lien
Cap” means, as of any date of determination, $495,000,000.
“Priority Lien
Debt” means:
(a) the
Indenture Notes initially issued by Holdings under the Indenture;
and
(b) additional
notes issued under any indenture or Other Indebtedness (including
letters of credit and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) of
Holdings with respect to which the requirements of Section 2.10(b) have been
satisfied that is secured equally and ratably with the Indenture Notes by a
Priority Lien that was permitted to be incurred and so secured under each
applicable Priority Lien Document; provided, in the case of any additional notes
or other Indebtedness referred to in this clause (b), that:
(i) on
or before the date on which such additional notes were issued or Indebtedness is
incurred by Holdings, such additional notes or other Indebtedness, as
applicable, is designated by Holdings, in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to
the Noteholder Collateral Trustee, as “Priority Lien Debt” for the
purposes of the Secured Debt Documents; provided that no Series of Priority Lien Debt
may be designated as both ABL Debt and Priority Lien Debt;
(ii) such
additional notes or such Indebtedness is governed by an indenture or a credit
agreement, as applicable, or other agreement that includes a Lien Sharing and
Priority Confirmation Joinder; and
(iii) all
requirements set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement as to the confirmation,
grant or perfection of the Noteholder Collateral Trustee’s Lien to secure such
additional notes or such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are
satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of
this clause (iii) will be conclusively established if Holdings delivers to
the Noteholder Collateral Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that
19
such
requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such notes or
such Indebtedness is “Priority Lien
Debt”).
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness constituting
principal outstanding under the Priority Lien Documents (as of the date of
incurrence of any such Indebtedness and after giving pro forma effect to the
application of the net proceeds therefrom) exceeds the Priority Lien Cap, then
only that portion of such Indebtedness equal to the Priority Lien Cap shall be
included in Priority Lien Debt and interest, fees, expenses and indemnification
obligations with respect to such Indebtedness shall only constitute Priority
Lien Obligations to the extent related to Indebtedness included in the Priority
Lien Debt.
“Priority Lien
Documents” means the Indenture Priority Lien Documents and the Additional
Priority Lien Debt Documents.
“Priority Lien
Obligations” means Priority Lien Debt and all other Obligations in
respect thereof.
“Priority Lien
Secured Parties” means the Indenture Priority Lien Secured Parties and
the Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties.
“Priority Lien
Security Documents” means the Indenture Noteholder Security Documents and
the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents.
“Qualified
Receivables Financing” means any Receivables Financing of a Receivables
Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:
(a) the
Board of Directors of Holdings shall have determined in good faith that such
Qualified Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants,
termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair
and reasonable to Holdings and the Receivables Subsidiary;
(b) all
sales of accounts receivable and related assets to the Receivables Subsidiary
are made at Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by Holdings);
and
(c) the
financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof
shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by Holdings) and may include
Standard Securitization Undertakings.
The grant
of a security interest in any accounts receivable of Holdings or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) to secure ABL Debt
Obligations, Priority Lien Obligations shall not be deemed a Qualified
Receivables Financing.
“Real Estate
Asset” means, at any time of determination, any fee interest then owned
by Holdings or any Grantor in any real property.
“Receivables
Financing” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be
entered into by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which Holdings
or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a
Receivables Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries); and (b) any other Person (in the case of
20
a
transfer by a Receivables Subsidiary), or may grant a security interest in, any
accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of Holdings
or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without
limitation, all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and
all Guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable,
proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets which are customarily
transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in
connection with asset securitization transactions involving accounts receivable
and any Hedging Obligations entered into by Holdings or any such Subsidiary in
connection with such accounts receivable.
“Receivables
Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of receivables in
a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising as a result
of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as
a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted
defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action
taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the
seller.
“Receivables
Subsidiary” means a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings (or
another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Qualified Receivables
Financing with Holdings in which Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings makes an
Investment and to which Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings transfers
accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other
than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other),
collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities
incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Board of
Directors of Holdings (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary
and:
(a) no
portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise)
of which (i) is Guaranteed by Holdings or any other Subsidiary of Holdings
(excluding Guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest
on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is
recourse to or obligates Holdings or any other Subsidiary of Holdings in any way
other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects
any property or asset of Holdings or any other Subsidiary of Holdings, directly
or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other
than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;
(b) with
which neither Holdings nor any other Subsidiary of Holdings has any material
contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which
Holdings reasonably believes to be no less favorable to Holdings or such
Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are
not Affiliates of Holdings; and
(c) to
which neither Holdings nor any other Subsidiary of Holdings has any obligation
to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity
to achieve certain levels of operating results.
Any such
designation by the Board of Directors of Holdings shall be evidenced to the
Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the
Board of Directors
21
of
Holdings giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate
certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing
conditions.
“Registration
Rights Agreement” means (a) the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
September 30, 2009 among Holdings, the Grantors and the initial purchasers
listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the Priority Lien Debt and (b) any
other similar Registration Rights Agreement relating to Additional Priority Lien
Debt Obligations.
“Replaces”
means, (a) in respect of any agreement with reference to the ABL Credit
Agreement or the ABL Debt Obligations or any ABL Substitute Facility, that such
agreement refunds, refinances or replaces the ABL Credit Agreement or such ABL
Substitute Facility in whole (in a transaction that is in compliance with
Section 2.10(a)) and that all commitments thereunder are terminated, or, to the
extent permitted by the terms of the ABL Credit Agreement or such ABL Substitute
Facility, in part, and (b) in respect of any indebtedness with reference to the
Priority Lien Documents or the Priority Lien Obligations or any Noteholder
Substitute Facility, that such indebtedness refunds, refinances or replaces the
Priority Lien Documents or such Noteholder Substitute Facility in whole (in a
transaction that is in compliance with Section 2.10(a)) and that all commitments
thereunder are terminated, or, to the extent permitted by the terms of the
Priority Lien Documents or such Noteholder Substitute Facility, in
part. “Replace,”
“Replaced”
and “Replacement”
shall have correlative meanings.
“Representative”
means (a) in the case of any Priority Lien Obligations, the Noteholder
Collateral Trustee, and (b) in the case of any ABL Debt Obligations, the ABL
Agent.
“Restricted
Subsidiary” of a Person means any subsidiary of Holdings that is not an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Sale and
Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now
owned or hereafter acquired by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby
Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and
Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than
leases between Holdings and a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings or between
Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings.
“SEC” means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Secured Debt
Representative” means (a) in the case of the Indenture Notes, Noteholder
Collateral Trustee, and (b) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien
Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of
Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of
Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of such Series of
Priority Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the security
documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement
governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt.
“Secured
Parties” means the Priority Lien Secured Parties and the ABL Secured
Parties.
“Secured
Documents” means the Priority Lien Documents and the ABL Debt
Documents.
22
“Security
Documents” means the Indenture Noteholder Security Documents, the ABL
Security Documents and the Additional Priority Lien Security
Documents.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Senior
Documents” means (a) in respect of the Noteholder First Lien Collateral,
the Priority Lien Documents, and (b) in respect of the ABL First Lien
Collateral, the ABL Debt Documents.
“Senior
Liens” means (a) in respect of the ABL First Lien Collateral, the ABL
Liens on such Collateral, and (b) in respect of the Noteholder First Lien
Collateral, the Priority Liens on such Collateral.
“Senior
Representative” means (a) with respect to the Noteholder First Lien
Collateral, the Noteholder Collateral Trustee, and (b) with respect to the ABL
First Lien Collateral, the ABL Agent.
“Senior Secured
Obligations” means (a) with respect to the ABL Debt Obligations (to the
extent such obligations are secured, or are intended to be secured, by the
Noteholder First Lien Collateral), the Priority Lien Obligations, and (b) with
respect to Priority Lien Obligations (to the extent such obligations are
secured, or are intended to be secured, by the ABL First Lien Collateral), the
ABL Debt Obligations.
“Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral” means the Collateral in respect of which the
Senior Representative (on behalf of itself and the applicable Senior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties) holds a Senior Lien.
“Senior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties” means (a) with respect to the Noteholder
First Lien Collateral, the Priority Lien Secured Parties, and (b) with respect
to the ABL First Lien Collateral, the ABL Secured Parties.
“Senior Secured
Obligations Security Documents” means (a) with respect to the ABL First
Lien Collateral, the ABL Security Documents, and (b) with respect to the
Noteholder First Lien Collateral, the Indenture Noteholder Security Documents
and the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents.
“Series of
Priority Lien Debt” means, severally, the Indenture Notes and any
additional notes, any Credit Facility (other than the ABL Credit Agreement) and
other Indebtedness that constitutes Priority Lien Debt.
“Standard
Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties,
covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by Holdings or
any Subsidiary of Holdings which Holdings has determined in good faith to be
customary in a Receivables Financing including, without limitation, those
relating to the servicing of the assets of a Receivables Subsidiary, it being
understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a
Standard Securitization Undertaking.
23
“subsidiary”
means, with respect to any specified Person (a) any corporation, association or
other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares
of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency)
to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the
time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more
of the other subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and (b)any
partnership (i) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of
which is such Person or a subsidiary of such Person or (ii) the only general
partners of which are such Person or one or more subsidiaries of such Person (or
any combination thereof).
“TIA” means
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on
the date hereof.
“Trustee”
means the Original Trustee, and, from and after the date of execution and
delivery of the Noteholder Substitute Facility, the agent, collateral agent,
trustee or other representative of the lenders or other holders of the
indebtedness and other obligations evidenced thereunder or governed thereby,
together with its successors in such capacity.
“Unrestricted
Subsidiary” means
(a) any
subsidiary of Holdings that at the time of determination shall be designated an
Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of Holdings in accordance with
the Indenture; and
(b) any
subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Voting Equity
Interests” of any Person as of any date means the Equity Interests of
such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of
Directors of such Person.
“Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary” means any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a
Restricted Subsidiary.
“Wholly Owned
Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the
outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than
directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by
one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one
or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
ARTICLE
II
Subordination
of Junior Liens; Certain Agreements
SECTION
2.01 Subordination of Junior
Liens.
(a) The
grant of the ABL Liens pursuant to the ABL Security Documents and the grant of
the Priority Liens pursuant to the Indenture Noteholder Security Documents and
the Additional Priority Lien Security Documents create two separate and distinct
Liens on the Collateral.
24
(b) All
Junior Liens in respect of any Collateral are expressly subordinated and made
junior in right, priority, operation and effect to any and all Senior Liens in
respect of such Collateral, notwithstanding anything contained in this
Agreement, the Priority Lien Documents, the ABL Debt Documents or any other
agreement or instrument or operation of law to the contrary, and irrespective of
the time, order or method of creation, attachment or perfection of such Junior
Liens and Senior Liens or any failure, defect or deficiency or alleged failure,
defect or deficiency in any of the foregoing.
(c) It
is acknowledged that (i) the Senior Secured Obligations may be increased from
time to time pursuant to the terms of the Senior Documents, (ii) a portion of
the Senior Secured Obligations consists or may consist of indebtedness that is
revolving in nature, and the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time
or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed,
and (iii) the Senior Secured Obligations may be increased, extended, renewed,
replaced, restated, supplemented, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or
otherwise amended or modified from time to time, all without affecting the
subordination of the Junior Liens hereunder or the provisions of this Agreement
defining the relative rights of the ABL Secured Parties and the Priority Lien
Secured Parties. The lien priorities provided for herein shall not be
altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, modification, supplement,
extension, increase, renewal, restatement or Replacement of either the Junior
Secured Obligations (or any part thereof) or the Senior Secured Obligations (or
any part thereof), by the release of any Collateral or of any guarantees for any
Senior Secured Obligations or by any action that any Representative or Secured
Party may take or fail to take in respect of any Collateral.
SECTION
2.02 No Action With Respect to Junior Secured
Obligations Collateral Subject to Senior Liens. Subject
to Section 2.04 and 2.13, no Junior Representative or other Junior Secured
Obligations Secured Party shall commence or instruct any Junior Representative
to commence any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to,
seek to have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for
or over, attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or
power with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in
or realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any
Junior Secured Obligations Collateral under any Junior Secured Obligations
Security Document, applicable law or otherwise until the associated Discharge of
Senior Secured Debt Obligations, it being agreed that only the Senior
Representative, acting in accordance with the applicable Senior Secured
Obligations Security Documents, shall be entitled to take any such actions or
exercise any such remedies prior to the associated Discharge of Senior Secured
Debt Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Junior
Representative may, on behalf of any Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party,
subject to Section 2.05, take all such actions as it shall deem necessary to (i)
perfect or continue the perfection of its Junior Liens or (ii) to create,
preserve or protect (but not enforce or exercise remedies with respect to) the
Junior Liens on any Collateral.
SECTION
2.03 No Duties of Senior
Representative. Each
Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that neither
the Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party
shall have any duties or other obligations to such Junior Secured Obligations
Secured Party with respect to any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral, other
than, upon demand of the Junior Representative, to transfer to the Junior
25
Representative,
(i) any proceeds remaining from the sale or disposition of any such Collateral
that constitutes Junior Secured Obligations Collateral in which the Junior
Secured Obligations Secured Party continues to hold a security interest
following the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations and (ii)
if the Senior Representative is in possession of all or any part of the Senior
Secured Obligations Collateral, after the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt
Obligations, such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral or any part thereof
remaining, in each case without representation or warranty on the part of the
Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Obligations Secured
Party. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Junior Secured
Obligations Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that until the associated
Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations secured by any Collateral on which
such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party holds a Junior Lien, the Senior
Representative shall be entitled, for the benefit of the holders of such Senior
Secured Obligations, to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of or deal with such
Collateral, as provided herein and in the Senior Secured Obligations Security
Documents, without regard to any Junior Lien or any rights to which the holders
of the Junior Secured Obligations would otherwise be entitled as a result of
such Junior Lien. Without limiting the foregoing, each Junior Secured
Obligations Secured Party agrees that neither the Senior Representative nor any
other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall have any duty or obligation
first to marshal or realize upon any type of Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral (or any other collateral securing the Senior Secured Obligations), or
to sell, dispose of or otherwise liquidate all or any portion of such Collateral
(or any other collateral securing the Senior Secured Obligations), in any manner
that would maximize the return to the Junior Secured Obligations Secured
Parties, notwithstanding that the order and timing of any such realization,
sale, disposition or liquidation may affect the amount of proceeds actually
received by the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties from such
realization, sale, disposition or liquidation. Following the
associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the Junior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties may, subject to any other agreements binding on such
Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, assert their rights under the New
York UCC or otherwise to any proceeds remaining following a sale, disposition or
other liquidation of Collateral by, or on behalf of the Junior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties. Each of the Junior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties waives any claim such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party
may now or hereafter have against the Senior Representative or any other Senior
Secured Obligations Secured Party (or their representatives) arising out of any
actions which the Senior Representative or the Senior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties take or omit to take (including actions with respect to the
creation, perfection or continuation of Liens on any Collateral, actions with
respect to the foreclosure upon, sale, release or depreciation of, or failure to
realize upon, any of the Collateral and actions with respect to the collection
of any claim for all or any part of the Senior Secured Obligations from any
account debtor, guarantor or any other party) in accordance with this Agreement
and the Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents or any other agreement
related thereto or to the collection of the Senior Secured Obligations or the
valuation, use, protection or release of any security for the Senior Secured
Obligations.
SECTION
2.04 No Interference; Payment Over;
Reinstatement.
(a) Each
Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that (i) it shall not take or
cause to be taken any action the purpose or effect of which is, or could be, to
make any Junior Lien pari passu with, or
to give such Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party any preference or priority
relative to, any Senior Lien with respect to the Collateral subject to
26
such
Senior Lien, (ii) it shall not challenge or question in any proceeding the
validity or enforceability of any Senior Secured Obligations or Senior Secured
Obligations Security Document, or the validity, attachment, perfection or
priority of any Senior Lien, (iii) it shall not take or cause to be taken any
action the purpose or intent of which is, or could be, to interfere, hinder,
delay or prohibit, in any manner, whether by judicial proceedings or otherwise,
any sale, transfer or other disposition of the Collateral subject to any Junior
Lien by any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties secured by Senior Liens
on such Collateral or any Senior Representative acting on their behalf, (iv) it
shall have no right to (A) direct any Senior Representative or any holder of
Senior Secured Obligations to exercise any right, remedy or power with respect
to the Collateral subject to any Junior Lien or (B) consent to the exercise by
any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party
of any right, remedy or power with respect to the Collateral subject to any
Junior Lien, (v) it will not institute any suit or assert in any suit or
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any claim against any Senior Representative
or other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party seeking damages from or other
relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise with respect
to, and neither any Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured
Obligations Secured Party shall be liable for, any action taken or omitted to be
taken by such Senior Representative or other Senior Secured Obligations Secured
Party with respect to any Collateral securing such Senior Secured Obligations
that is subject to any Junior Lien, (vi) it will not seek, and hereby waives any
right, to have any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral subject to any Junior
Lien or any part thereof marshaled upon any foreclosure or other disposition of
such Collateral and (vii) it will not attempt, directly or indirectly, whether
by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to challenge or question the validity or
enforceability of any provision of this Agreement.
(b) Subject
to Section 2.04(d) below, the Junior Representative and each other Junior
Secured Obligations Secured Party hereby agrees that if it shall obtain
possession of any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral or shall realize any
proceeds or payment in respect of any such Collateral, pursuant to any Junior
Secured Obligations Security Document or by the exercise of any rights available
to it under applicable law or in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or
through any other exercise of remedies, at any time prior to the associated
Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, then it shall hold such
Collateral, proceeds or payment in trust for the applicable Senior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties and transfer such Collateral, proceeds or payment,
as the case may be, to the Senior Representative reasonably promptly after
obtaining actual knowledge or receiving notice from the Senior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties that it has possession of such Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral or proceeds or payments as the case may
be. Each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that if, at
any time, it obtains actual knowledge or receives notice that all or part of any
payment with respect to any Senior Secured Obligations previously made shall be
rescinded for any reason whatsoever, such Junior Secured Obligations Secured
Party shall promptly pay over to the Senior Representative any payment received
by it and then in its possession or under its control in respect of any
Collateral subject to any Senior Lien securing such Senior Secured Obligations
and shall promptly turn any Collateral subject to any such Senior Lien then held
by it over to the Senior Representative, and the provisions set forth in this
Agreement shall be reinstated as if such payment had not been made, until the
payment and satisfaction in full of the Senior Secured Obligations. Anything
contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, this Section 2.04(b) shall not
apply to any proceeds of Senior Secured Obligations Collateral realized in a
transaction not prohibited by the Senior Documents, the Junior Documents and
this
27
Agreement
and as to which the possession or receipt thereof by the Junior Representative
or other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party is otherwise permitted by the
Senior Documents, the Junior Documents and this Agreement.
(c) Neither
the Noteholder Collateral Trustee nor the ABL Collateral Agent shall commence
any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings with respect to, seek to
have a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed for or over,
attempt any action to take possession of, exercise any right, remedy or power
with respect to, or otherwise take any action to enforce its interest in or
realize upon, or take any other action available to it in respect of, any Senior
Secured Obligations Collateral consisting of indebtedness of Holdings or any of
its subsidiaries that is owing to Holdings or any Grantor until (x) in the case
of any such enforcement action desired to be taken by the Noteholder Collateral
Trustee, the Noteholder Collateral Trustee (as directed by the Indenture
Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties,
if any) has designated in writing to the ABL Collateral Agent that portion of
indebtedness from Foreign Subsidiaries owed to Holdings or any Grantor, in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30,000,000, that shall constitute
Noteholder First Lien Collateral and (y) in the case of any such enforcement
action desired to be taken by the ABL Collateral Agent, the ABL Collateral Agent
has notified the Noteholder Collateral Trustee in writing that it desires to
take such an action and the Noteholder Collateral Trustee (as directed by the
Indenture Priority Lien Secured Parties and the Additional Priority Lien Secured
Parties, if any) has designated in writing to the ABL Collateral Agent that
portion of indebtedness from Foreign Subsidiaries owed to Holdings or any
Grantor, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30,000,000, that shall
constitute Noteholder First Lien Collateral; provided that if the Noteholder Collateral
Trustee fails to make such designation within 120 days of such written notice by
the ABL Collateral Agent, the ABL Collateral Agent shall have the right to
designate that portion of indebtedness from Foreign Subsidiaries owed to
Holdings or any Grantor, in an aggregate principal amount equal to $30,000,000,
that shall constitute Noteholder First Lien Collateral (that portion of the
indebtedness from Foreign Subsidiaries owed to Holdings or any Grantor, in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30,000,000, designated as Noteholder
First Lien Collateral by the Noteholder Collateral Trustee or the ABL Collateral
Agent pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) being the “Designated Noteholder First Lien
Collateral”). For the avoidance of doubt, (i) any designation
by the Noteholder Collateral Trustee or the ABL Collateral Agent pursuant to
this Section 2.04(c) shall be considered final and binding, (ii) neither the ABL
Collateral Agent nor any ABL Secured Party shall have any right to take any such
enforcement action against any Designated Noteholder First Lien Collateral until
the Discharge of Priority Lien Obligations and (iii) neither the Noteholder
Collateral Trustee nor any Priority Lien Secured Party shall have any right to
take any such enforcement action against any Collateral consisting of
indebtedness of Holdings or any of its subsidiaries that is owing to Holdings or
any Grantor that is not Designated Noteholder First Lien Collateral until the
Discharge of ABL Debt Obligations.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything in Section 2.04(b) to the contrary, the ABL Agent shall be entitled
(but not required) to retain possession of documents and instruments evidencing
indebtedness from Foreign Subsidiaries owed to Holdings or any Grantor and the
ABL Agent agrees that it shall hold any such documents and instruments in its
possession as collateral agent for the ABL Secured Parties and as bailee for and
agent for the Noteholder Collateral Trustee (on behalf of the Priority Lien
Secured Parties) solely for the purpose of
28
perfecting
the security interest granted under the Priority Lien Security Documents; provided that (i) at such time, if any, as the
aggregate principal amount of indebtedness from Foreign Subsidiaries owed to
Holdings or any Grantor is less than or equal to $30,000,000, the Noteholder
Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to possession of all documents and
instruments evidencing such indebtedness, and the ABL Agent and each other ABL
Secured Party hereby agrees that, at any such time, it shall hold any such
documents and instruments in trust for the applicable Indenture Priority Lien
Secured Parties and transfer any such documents and instruments to the
Noteholder Collateral Trustee reasonably promptly after receiving written notice
from the Indenture Priority Lien Secured Parties that the aggregate principal
amount of indebtedness from Foreign Subsidiaries owed to Holdings or any Grantor
is less than or equal to $30,000,000 and (ii) at such time, if any, as a portion
of the indebtedness from Foreign Subsidiaries owed to Holdings or any Grantor
has been designated as Noteholder First Lien Collateral pursuant to Section
2.04(c), the Noteholder Collateral Trustee shall be entitled to possession of
all documents and instruments evidencing such Designated Noteholder First Lien
Collateral, and the ABL Agent and each other ABL Secured Party hereby agrees
that, at any such time, it shall hold any such documents and instruments in
respect of such Designated Noteholder First Lien Collateral in trust for the
applicable Indenture Priority Lien Secured Parties and transfer any such
documents and instruments in respect of such Designated Noteholder First Lien
Collateral to the Noteholder Collateral Trustee reasonably promptly after
receiving written notice from the Indenture Priority Lien Secured Parties that
such designation has been made (or after making such designation, if such
designation is made by the ABL Collateral Agent pursuant to Section
2.04(c)).
(e) If
at any time the Senior Secured Obligations under the Senior Documents are
secured by assets of the Grantors of the type constituting Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral that do not also secure the Junior Secured Obligations,
then the Junior Secured Obligations shall be secured at such time by a second
priority lien on such assets to the same extent provided in the Junior Secured
Obligations Security Documents with respect to the other Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral. If the Senior Secured Obligations under the
Senior Documents are secured by assets of the Grantors of the type constituting
Junior Secured Obligations Collateral that do not also secure the Junior Secured
Obligations, then the Junior Secured Obligations shall be secured at such time
by a first priority lien on such assets to the same extent provided in the
Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents with respect to the other Junior
Secured Obligations Collateral.
SECTION
2.05 Release of Liens; Automatic Release of Junior
Liens.
(a) The
Junior Representative and each other Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party
agree that (i) in the event the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties
release their Lien on any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral subject to any
Junior Lien pursuant to the terms contained in this Agreement (other than a
release in connection with a sale, transfer or other disposition of Senior
Secured Obligations Collateral, which shall be governed by clause (a)(ii)
below), such Junior Lien on such Collateral shall terminate and be released
automatically, unconditionally and without further action, unless, at the time
of such release by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, an Event of
Default shall then have occurred and be continuing under any Junior Documents
(provided that any Junior Lien that
would have
29
otherwise
been released and terminated pursuant to this clause (a)(i) in the absence of
such an Event of Default under the Junior Documents shall terminate and be
released automatically and without further action when such Event of Default
(and all other Events of Default under the Junior Documents)) ceases to exist;
and (ii) in the event of a sale, transfer or other disposition of Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral subject to any Junior Lien (regardless of whether an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Junior Documents at
the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition), such Junior Lien on such
Collateral shall terminate and be released automatically and without further
action if the applicable Senior Liens on such Collateral are released and if
such sale, transfer or other disposition either (A) is then not prohibited by
the Junior Documents or (B) occurs in connection with the foreclosure upon or
other exercise of rights and remedies with respect to such Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral; provided that
such Junior Lien shall remain in place with respect to any proceeds of a sale,
transfer or other disposition under this clause (a)(ii) that remain after the
associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations. In addition,
for the avoidance of doubt, the Junior Representative and each Junior Secured
Obligations Secured Party agree that, with respect to any property or assets
that would otherwise constitute Senior Secured Obligations Collateral, the
requirement that a Junior Lien attach to, or be perfected with respect to, such
property or assets shall be waived automatically and without further action so
long as the requirement that a Senior Lien attach to, or be perfected with
respect to, such property or assets is waived by the Senior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties (or the Senior Representative) in accordance with the Senior
Documents and so long as no Event of Default under the Junior Documents shall
have occurred, be continuing or would result therefrom at such
time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of release of Liens
by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties on all or substantially all of
the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral (other than when such
release occurs in connection with the Senior Secured Obligations Secured
Parties’ foreclosure upon or other exercise of rights and remedies with respect
to such Collateral in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), no release
of the Junior Lien on such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral under this
Section 2.05 shall be made unless (A) consent to the release of such Junior
Liens has been given by the requisite percentage or number of the Junior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties at the time outstanding as provided for in the
applicable Junior Documents and (B) Holdings has delivered an Officers’
Certificate to the ABL Agent, the Noteholder Collateral Trustee and the Secured
Debt Representatives (if any) certifying that all such consents have been
obtained.
(b) The
ABL Agent and the Noteholder Collateral Trustee agree for the benefit of
Holdings and the other Grantors that, with respect to the release of any
Collateral, if the ABL Agent or Noteholder Collateral Trustee, as applicable, at
any time receives:
(i) an
Officers’ Certificate stating that (A) the signing officers have read Article 2
of this Agreement and understand the provisions and the definitions relating
hereto, (B) such officers have made such examination or investigation as is
necessary to enable such Persons to express an informed opinion as to whether or
not the conditions precedent in this Agreement and all other Secured Documents,
if any, relating to the release of such Collateral have been complied with and
(C) to the best knowledge of such officers, such conditions
precedent, if any, have been complied with;
30
(ii) the
proposed instrument or instruments releasing such Lien as to such property in
recordable form, if applicable; and
(iii) prior
to the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the written
confirmation of the applicable Senior Representative, not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed (or, at any time after the associated Discharge of Senior
Secured Debt Obligations, the Junior Representative) (such confirmation to be
given promptly following receipt of, and based solely on, the Officers’
Certificate described in clause (i) above) that, in its reasonable judgment,
such release is permitted by Section 2.05(a) and the respective Secured
Documents governing the Priority Lien Obligations or the ABL Debt Obligations,
as applicable, the holders of which such Representative represents;
then the
ABL Agent or Noteholder Collateral Trustee, as applicable, will promptly execute
(with such acknowledgements and/or notarizations as are required) and deliver
such release to Holdings or other applicable Grantor on or before the later of
(x) the date specified in such request for such release and (y) the fifth
business day after the date of receipt of the items required by this Section
2.05(b) by the applicable Representative.
(c) The
Junior Representative agrees to execute and deliver (at the sole cost and
expense of the Grantors) all such releases and other instruments as shall
reasonably be requested by the Senior Representative to evidence and confirm any
release of Junior Secured Obligations Collateral provided for in this Section
2.05.
SECTION
2.06 Certain Agreements With Respect to Insolvency
or Liquidation Proceedings.
(a) This
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the
commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding by or against Holdings
or any of its subsidiaries.
(b) If
Holdings or any of its subsidiaries shall become subject to a case under the
Bankruptcy Code and shall, as debtor(s)-in-possession, move for approval of
financing (“DIP
Financing”) to be provided by one or more lenders (the “DIP Lenders”) under Section
364 of the Bankruptcy Code or the use of cash collateral under Section 363 of
the Bankruptcy Code, each Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that
it will raise no objection or opposition (or join any third party in any
objection or opposition), and will waive any claim such Person may now or
hereafter have, to any such financing or to the Liens on the Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral securing the same (“DIP Financing Liens”) or to
any use of cash collateral that constitutes Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral, or to any grant of administrative expense priority under Section 364
of the Bankruptcy Code, unless (i) the Senior Secured Obligations Secured
Parties, or a representative authorized by the Senior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties, shall then oppose or object to such DIP Financing or such DIP
Financing Liens or use of such cash collateral or (ii) such DIP Financing Liens
are neither senior to, nor rank pari passu
with, the Senior Liens upon any property of the estate in such Insolvency
or Liquidation Proceeding. To the extent such DIP Financing Liens are
senior to, or rank pari passu with, the
31
Senior
Liens, the Junior Representative will, on behalf of the other Junior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties, subordinate the Junior Liens on the Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral to the Senior Liens and the DIP Financing Liens, so long
as the Junior Representative on behalf of Junior Secured Obligations Secured
Parties retain Liens on all the Junior Secured Obligations Collateral, including
proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of the Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding, with the same priority as existed prior to the commencement of the
case under the Bankruptcy Code.
(c) Until
the Discharge of the Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the Junior Representative,
on behalf of itself and the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, shall
not seek relief from the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral,
without the prior written consent of the Senior Representative.
(d) The
Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and the Junior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties, shall not contest (or support any other Person contesting) (i)
any request by the Senior Representative or the Senior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties for adequate protection with respect to any Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral or (ii) any objection by the Senior Representative or the
Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties to any motion, relief or proceeding
based on the Senior Representative or the Senior Secured Obligations Secured
Parties claiming a lack of adequate protection with respect to the Senior
Secured Obligations Collateral. Notwithstanding the previous
sentence, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, (A) if the holders of
Senior Secured Obligations (or any subset thereof) shall be granted adequate
protection in the form of additional collateral in the nature of assets
constituting Senior Secured Obligations Collateral in connection with any DIP
Financing, then the Junior Representative, on behalf of itself or the Junior
Secured Obligations Secured Parties, may seek or request adequate protection in
the form of a Lien on such additional collateral, which Lien will be
subordinated to the Liens securing the Senior Secured Obligations and such DIP
Financing (and all obligations relating thereto) on the same basis as the other
Liens on Senior Secured Obligations securing the Junior Secured Obligations are
so subordinated to the Senior Secured Obligations under this Agreement, and (B)
in the event the Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and the Junior
Secured Obligations Secured Parties, seeks or requests adequate protection in
respect of Senior Secured Obligations Collateral securing Junior Secured
Obligations and such adequate protection is granted in the form of additional
collateral in the nature of assets constituting Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral, then the Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and the Junior
Secured Obligations Secured Parties, agrees that the Senior Representative will
also be granted a senior Lien on such additional collateral as security for the
Senior Secured Obligations and for any such DIP Financing provided by the Senior
Secured Obligations Secured Parties and that any Lien on such additional
collateral securing the Junior Secured Obligations will be subordinated to the
Liens on such collateral securing the Senior Secured Obligations and any such
DIP Financing provided by the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties (and
all obligations relating thereto) and to any other Liens granted to Senior
Secured Obligations Secured Parties as adequate protection on the same basis as
the other Liens on Senior Secured Collateral securing the Junior Secured
Obligations are so subordinated to such Senior Secured Obligations under this
Agreement.
32
(e) Each
Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party agrees that it will not object to or
oppose a sale or other disposition of any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral
(or any portion thereof) under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other
provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the Senior Secured Obligations Secured
Parties shall have consented to such sale or disposition of such Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral and all Senior Liens and Junior Liens will attach to the
proceeds of the sale.
(f) The
holders of Junior Secured Obligations and the Junior Representative will not
file or prosecute in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding any motion for
adequate protection (or any comparable request for relief) based upon their
interest in the Collateral under the Junior Liens, except that the holders of
Junior Secured Obligations and the Junior Representative may:
(i) freely
seek and obtain relief granting a Junior Lien co-extensive in all respects with,
but subordinated (as set forth in Section 2.01) to, all Liens granted in the
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding to, or for the benefit of, the holders of
Senior Secured Obligations;
(ii) freely
seek and obtain any relief upon a motion for adequate protection (or any
comparable relief), without any condition or restriction whatsoever, at any time
after the associated Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations;
and
(iii) freely
vote on any plan of reorganization or similar dispositive restructuring
plan.
(g) If,
in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, debt obligations of the reorganized
debtor secured by Liens upon any property of the reorganized debtor shall be
distributed, pursuant to a plan or reorganization or similar dispositive
restructuring plan, both on account of ABL Debt Obligations and on account of
Priority Lien Obligations, then to the extent the debt obligations distributed
on account of the ABL Debt Obligations and on account of the Priority Lien
Obligations are secured by Liens upon the same property, the provisions of this
Agreement shall survive the distribution of such debt obligations pursuant to
such plan and shall apply with like effect to the Liens securing such debt
obligations.
(h) Neither
the Junior Representative nor any Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party shall
oppose or seek to challenge any claim made by the Senior Representative or any
Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party for allowance in any Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding of Senior Secured Obligations consisting of post-petition
interest, fees or expenses to the extent of the value of the Lien of the Senior
Secured Obligations Secured Parties on the Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral, without regard to the existence of the Lien of the Junior
Representative on behalf of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties on
the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral. Neither the Senior Representative nor
any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party will oppose or seek to challenge
any claim made by the Junior Representative nor any Junior Secured Obligations
Secured Party for allowance in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of
Junior Secured Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees or
expenses to the extent of the value of the Lien of the Junior Representative on
33
behalf of
the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties on Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral (after taking into account the Lien of Senior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties on the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral).
(i) Each
of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties waives any claim such Junior
Secured Obligations Secured Party may now or hereafter have against the Senior
Representative or any other Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party (or their
representatives) arising out of the election by the Senior Representative or any
Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, of the application of Section
1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code and/or out of any cash collateral or financing
arrangement or out of any grant of a security interest in connection with the
Senior Secured Obligations Collateral in any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding.
SECTION
2.07 Reinstatement. In
the event that any of the Senior Secured Obligations shall be paid in full and
such payment or any part thereof shall subsequently, for whatever reason
(including an order or judgment for disgorgement of a preference under the
Bankruptcy Code, or any similar law, or the settlement of any claim in respect
thereof), be required to be returned or repaid, the terms and conditions of this
Article II shall be fully applicable thereto until all such Senior Secured
Obligations shall again have been paid in full in cash.
SECTION
2.08 Entry Upon Premises by the ABL Agent and the
ABL Secured Parties.
(a) If
the ABL Agent takes any enforcement action with respect to the ABL First Lien
Collateral, the Priority Lien Secured Parties (i) shall reasonably cooperate
with the ABL Agent (at the sole cost and expense of the ABL Agent and subject to
the condition that the Priority Lien Secured Parties shall have no obligation or
duty to take any action or refrain from taking any action that could reasonably
be expected to result in the incurrence of any liability or damage to the
Priority Lien Secured Parties) in its efforts to enforce its security interest
in the ABL First Lien Collateral and to finish any work-in-process and assemble
the ABL First Lien Collateral including any collection, sale, lease, exchange,
transfer or other disposition of the ABL First Lien Collateral, whether by
foreclosure or otherwise, or that would limit, invalidate, avoid or set aside
any Lien or ABL Security Document with respect to the ABL First Lien Collateral
or subordinate the priority of the ABL Debt Obligations to the Priority Lien
Obligations with respect to the ABL Facility Collateral or grant the Liens with
respect to the ABL First Lien Collateral securing the Priority Lien Obligations
equal ranking to the Liens with respect to the ABL First Lien Collateral
securing the ABL Debt Obligations, (ii) waive any and all rights it may have as
a junior lien creditor with respect to the ABL First Lien Collateral or
otherwise to object to the manner in which the ABL Agent or the holders of ABL
Debt Obligations seek to enforce or collect the ABL Debt Obligations or the
Liens granted in any of the ABL First Lien Collateral, regardless of whether any
action or failure to act by or on behalf of the ABL Agent or holders of ABL Debt
Obligations is adverse to the interest of the holders of Priority Lien
Obligations, (iii) shall not take any action designed or intended to hinder or
restrict in any respect the ABL Agent from enforcing its security interest in
the ABL First Lien Collateral or from finishing any work-in-process or
assembling the ABL First Lien Collateral, and (iv) shall permit the ABL Agent,
its employees, agents, advisers and representatives, at the
34
sole cost
and expense of the ABL Secured Parties and upon reasonable advance notice, to
enter upon and use the Noteholder First Lien Collateral (including (A)
equipment, processors, computers and other machinery related to the storage or
processing of records, documents or files and (B) intellectual property), for a
period not to exceed 180 days after the taking of such enforcement action, for
purposes of (1) assembling and storing the ABL First Lien Collateral and
completing the processing of and turning into finished goods of any ABL First
Lien Collateral consisting of work-in-process, (2) selling any or all of the ABL
First Lien Collateral located in or on such Noteholder First Lien Collateral,
whether in bulk, in lots or to customers in the ordinary course of business or
otherwise, (3) removing any or all of the ABL First Lien Collateral located on
such Noteholder First Lien Collateral, (4) otherwise processing, shipping,
producing, storing, completing, supplying, leasing, selling or otherwise
handling, dealing with, assembling or disposing of, in any lawful manner, the
ABL First Lien Collateral, and/or (5) taking reasonable actions to protect,
secure and otherwise enforce the rights of the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured
Parties in and to the ABL First Lien Collateral; provided, however, that nothing contained in
this Agreement shall restrict the rights of the Noteholder Collateral Trustee
from selling, assigning or otherwise transferring any Noteholder First Lien
Collateral prior to the expiration of such 180-day period if the purchaser,
assignee or transferee thereof agrees to be bound by the provisions of this
Section. If any stay or other order prohibiting the exercise of
remedies with respect to the ABL First Lien Collateral has been entered by a
court of competent jurisdiction, such 180-day period shall be tolled during the
pendency of any such stay or other order. If the ABL Agent conducts a
sale or auction of the ABL First Lien Collateral at any of the real property
included within the Noteholder First Lien Collateral, the ABL Agent shall
provide the Noteholder Collateral Trustee with reasonable notice and use
reasonable efforts to hold such sale or auction in a manner which would not
unduly disrupt the Noteholder Collateral Trustee’s use of, access to and
preservation of the value of the Noteholder First Lien Collateral.
(b) During
the period of actual occupation, use or control by the ABL Secured Parties
and/or the ABL Agent (or their employees, agents, advisers and representatives)
of any Noteholder First Lien Collateral, the ABL Secured Parties and the ABL
Agent shall be obligated to repair at their expense any physical damage to such
Noteholder First Lien Collateral resulting from such occupancy, use or control,
and to leave such Noteholder First Lien Collateral in substantially the same
condition as it was at the commencement of such occupancy, use or control,
ordinary wear and tear excepted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no
event shall the ABL Secured Parties or the ABL Agent have any liability to the
Priority Lien Secured Parties pursuant to this Section 2.08(b) as a result of
any condition (including any environmental condition, claim or liability) on or
with respect to the Noteholder First Lien Collateral existing prior to the date
of the exercise by the ABL Secured Parties or the ABL Agent, as the case may be,
of their rights under this Section 2.08(b) and the ABL Secured Parties shall
have no duty or liability to maintain the Noteholder First Lien Collateral in a
condition or manner better than that in which it was maintained prior to the use
thereof by the ABL Secured Parties, or for any diminution in the value of the
Noteholder First Lien Collateral that results solely from ordinary wear and tear
resulting from the use of the Noteholder First Lien Collateral by the ABL
Secured Parties in the manner and for the time periods specified under this
Section 2.08(b). Without limiting the rights granted in this
paragraph, the ABL Secured Parties and the ABL Agent, to the extent that rights
have been exercised under this Section 2.08(b) by the ABL Agent, shall cooperate
with the Priority Lien Secured Parties in connection with any efforts made by
the Priority Lien Secured Parties to sell the Noteholder First Lien
Collateral.
35
(c) The
Noteholder Collateral Trustee shall be entitled, as a condition of permitting
such access and use, to demand and receive assurances reasonably satisfactory to
it that the access or use requested and all activities incidental
thereto:
(i) will
be permitted, lawful and enforceable under applicable law and shall be conducted
in accordance with prudent manufacturing practices; and
(ii) will
be adequately insured for damage to property and liability to persons, including
property and liability insurance for the benefit of the Noteholder Collateral
Trustee and the holders of the Priority Lien Obligations, at no cost to the
Noteholder Collateral Trustee or such holders.
The Noteholder Collateral Trustee (i)
shall provide reasonable cooperation to the ABL Agent in connection with the
manufacture, production, completion, handling, removal and sale of any ABL
Facility Collateral by the ABL Agent as provided above and (ii) shall be
entitled to receive from the ABL Agent fair compensation and reimbursement for
their reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with such
cooperation, support and assistance to the ABL Agent. The Noteholder
Collateral Trustee and/or any such purchaser (or its transferee or successor)
shall not otherwise be required to manufacture, produce, complete, remove,
insure, protect, store, safeguard, sell or deliver any inventory subject to any
Lien held by the ABL Agent on the ABL Facility Collateral or to provide any
support, assistance or cooperation to the ABL Agent in respect
thereof.
SECTION
2.09 Insurance. Unless
and until written notice the by ABL Agent to the Noteholder Collateral Trustee
that the Discharge of the ABL Debt Obligations has occurred, as between the ABL
Agent, on the one hand, and the Noteholder Collateral Trustee, on the other
hand, only the ABL Agent will have the right (subject to the rights of Holdings
under the ABL Debt Documents) to adjust settlement for any insurance policy
covering ABL First Lien Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to
approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding (or any deed
in lieu of condemnation) affecting the ABL First Lien
Collateral. Unless and until written notice by the Noteholder
Collateral Trustee to the ABL Agent that the Discharge of the Priority Lien
Obligations has occurred, as between the ABL Agent, on the one hand, and the
Noteholder Collateral Trustee, on the other hand, only the Noteholder Collateral
Trustee will have the right (subject to the rights of Holdings under the
Priority Lien Documents) to adjust settlement for any insurance policy covering
the Noteholder First Lien Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to
approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding solely
affecting the Noteholder First Lien Collateral. To the extent that an
insured loss covers or constitutes both ABL First Lien Collateral and Noteholder
First Lien Collateral, then the ABL Agent and the Noteholder Collateral Trustee
will work jointly and in good faith to collect, adjust settlement (subject to
the rights of the Grantors under the ABL Debt Documents and the Priority Lien
Documents) under the relevant insurance policy.
SECTION
2.10 Refinancings and Additional Secured
Debt.
(a) Upon
receipt of a notice stating that Holdings or any other Grantor has entered into
a new Senior Document in respect of a Permitted Replacement of Senior
36
Secured
Obligations (which notice shall include the identity of the new ABL Agent or
Noteholder Collateral Trustee, as applicable, such agent, the “New Agent”), and
delivery by the New Agent of an Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder,
the ABL Agent or Noteholder Collateral Trustee, as applicable, shall promptly
(i) enter into such documents and agreements (including amendments or
supplements to this Agreement) as Holdings or such New Agent shall reasonably
request in order to provide to the New Agent the rights contemplated hereby, in
each case consistent in all material respects with the terms hereof and (ii)
deliver to the New Agent any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral held by the
ABL Agent or Noteholder Collateral Trustee, as applicable, together with any
necessary endorsements (or otherwise allow the New Agent to obtain control of
such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral). The New Agent shall
agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Holdings
and the other applicable Grantors will be permitted to designate as an
additional holder of Priority Lien Obligations (including the Obligations
incurred under each Series of Priority Lien Debt) hereunder each Person who is,
or who becomes, the registered holder of Priority Lien Debt incurred by Holdings
or such other Grantor after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the
terms of all applicable Secured Documents. Holdings or other
applicable Grantor may effect such designation by delivering to the Noteholder
Collateral Trustee and the ABL Agent, each of the following:
(i) an
Officers’ Certificate stating that Holdings or such other Grantor intends to
incur additional Priority Lien Debt (“Additional Secured Debt”)
which will be Priority Lien Debt permitted by each applicable Secured Document
to be incurred and secured by a Priority Lien equally and ratably with all
previously existing and future Priority Lien Debt;
(ii) an
authorized agent, trustee or other representative on behalf of the holders or
lenders of any Additional Secured Debt must be designated as an additional
holder of Priority Lien Obligations (including the Obligations incurred under
each Series of Priority Lien Debt) hereunder and must, prior to such
designation, sign and deliver on behalf of the holders or lenders of such
Additional Secured Debt a Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder, and,
to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such transaction, a new
intercreditor agreement substantially similar to this Agreement, as in effect on
the date hereof; and
(iii) evidence
that Holdings or such other Grantor has duly authorized, executed (if
applicable) and recorded (or caused to be recorded) in each appropriate
governmental office all relevant filings and recordations deemed necessary by
Holdings or other Grantor and the holder of such Additional Secured Debt, or its
Secured Debt Representative, to ensure that the Additional Secured Debt is
secured by the Collateral in accordance with the Priority Lien Security
Documents.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow Holdings or
any other Grantor to incur additional indebtedness unless otherwise permitted by
the terms of each applicable Secured Document.
37
SECTION
2.11 Amendments to Security Documents;
Legend.
(a) Without
the prior written consent of the Senior Representative, no Junior Secured
Obligations Security Document may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
or entered into to the extent such amendment, supplement or modification, or the
terms of any new Junior Secured Obligations Security Document, would contravene
the provisions of this Agreement.
(b) In
the event that the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties or the Senior
Representative enter into any amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of
the Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents for the purpose of adding to,
or deleting from, or waiving or consenting to any departures from any provisions
of, any Senior Secured Obligations Security Document or changing in any manner
the rights of the Senior Representative, the Senior Secured Obligations Secured
Parties, any of the Grantors thereunder (including the release of any Liens in
Senior Secured Obligations Collateral to the extent permitted by Section 2.05),
then such amendment, waiver or consent shall apply automatically to any
comparable provision of the comparable Junior Secured Obligations Security
Document without the consent of the Junior Representative or any Junior Secured
Obligations Secured Party and without any action by the Junior Representative,
Holdings or any other Grantor; provided,
however, that (A) no such amendment, waiver or consent may have the
effect of (i) removing assets that constitute Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral subject to the Lien of the Junior Secured Obligations Security
Documents, except to the extent that a release of such Lien is permitted by
Section 2.05, and provided that there is
a corresponding release of such Lien securing the Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral, (ii) imposing duties on the Junior Representative without its
consent or (iii) permitting other Liens on the Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral not permitted under the terms of the Junior Secured Obligations
Security Documents or Section 2.06 and (B) notice of such amendment, waiver or
consent shall have been given to the Junior Representative within ten Business
Days after the effective date of such amendment, waiver or consent.
(c) The
Grantors agree that each Security Document shall include the following language
(with any necessary modifications to give effect to applicable definitions) (or
language to similar effect approved by the Representative):
“Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the liens and security interests granted to the
[ABL Agent][Noteholder Collateral Trustee] pursuant to this Agreement in any
[ABL Facility Collateral][Noteholder Collateral] and the exercise of any right
or remedy by the [ABL Agent][Noteholder Collateral Trustee] with respect to any
[ABL Facility Collateral][Noteholder Collateral] hereunder are subject to the
provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2009 (as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“ABL/Senior Secured
Notes Intercreditor Agreement”), among ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), the other
GRANTORS from time to time party thereto, DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
(“DBNY”), as
ABL Facility Collateral Agent, and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Noteholder
Collateral Trustee, and certain other Persons party or that may become
38
party
thereto from time to time. In the event of any conflict between the
terms of the ABL/Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement, the terms of the
Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.”
(d) In
addition, the Grantors agree that each mortgage in favor of the ABL Secured
Parties covering any Noteholder Collateral shall contain such other language as
the Noteholder Collateral Trustee may reasonably request to reflect the
subordination of such mortgage to the mortgage in favor of the Noteholder
Collateral Trustee covering such Noteholder Collateral.
SECTION
2.12 Reserved.
SECTION
2.13 Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties
Rights as Unsecured Creditors. Notwithstanding
the provisions of Sections 2.02, 2.04(a) and 2.06(b), (c) and (d) or otherwise,
both before and during an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any of the
Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties may take any actions and exercise any
and all rights that would be available to a holder of unsecured claims,
including, without limitation, the commencement of an Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding against Holdings or any other Grantor in accordance with applicable
law; provided, that the
Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties may not take any of the actions
prohibited by Section 2.02, clauses (i) through (vii) of Section 2.04(a) or
Section 2.06(b), (c) and (d); provided, further, that in the event
that any of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties becomes a judgment
lien creditor in respect of any Collateral as a result of its enforcement of its
rights as an unsecured creditor with respect to the Junior Secured Obligations,
such judgment lien shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement for all
purposes (including in relation to the Senior Secured Obligations) as the other
Liens securing the Junior Secured Obligations are subject to this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
III
Bailee
for Perfection;
Consent
to License to Use Intellectual Property
SECTION
3.01 General. (a)
The Senior Representative agrees to hold that part of the Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral that is in its possession or control (or in the
possession or control of its agents or bailees) to the extent that possession or
control thereof is taken to perfect a Senior Lien thereon under the UCC as
collateral agent for the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties and as
bailee for and, with respect to any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral that
cannot be perfected in such manner, as agent for, the Junior Representative (on
behalf of the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties) and any assignee
thereof solely for the purpose of perfecting the security interest granted under
the Junior Secured Obligations Security Documents and the Senior Secured
Obligations Security Documents, respectively, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Section.
(b) Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, until the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt
Obligations, the Senior Representative shall be entitled to deal with the Senior
Secured Obligations Collateral in accordance with the terms of the Senior
Documents as if the Liens of the Junior Representative under the Junior Secured
Obligations Security Documents did
39
not
exist. The rights of the Junior Representative shall at all times be
subject to the terms of this Agreement and to the Senior Representative’s rights
under the Senior Documents.
(c) The
Senior Representative shall have no obligation whatsoever to any Senior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties or the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties to
ensure that the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral is genuine or owned by any
of the Grantors or to preserve rights or benefits of any Person except as
expressly set forth in this Section. The duties or responsibilities
of the Senior Representative under this Section shall be limited solely to
holding the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral as bailee or agent in
accordance with this Section.
(d) The
Senior Representative acting pursuant to this Section shall not have by reason
of the any Security Documents, this Agreement or any other document a fiduciary
relationship in respect of any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party, the
Senior Representative or any Junior Secured Notes Secured Party.
(e) Upon
the Discharge of Senior Secured Debt Obligations, the Senior Representative
shall deliver or cause to be delivered the remaining Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral (if any) in its possession or in possession of its agents or bailees,
together with any necessary endorsements, (I) first, to the Junior
Representative to the extent Junior Secured Obligations remain outstanding and
(II) second, to the applicable Grantor to the extent no Senior Secured
Obligations or Junior Secured Obligations remain outstanding (in each case, so
as to allow such Person to obtain control of such Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral) and will cooperate with the Junior Representative in assigning
(without recourse to or warranty by the Senior Representative or any Senior
Secured Obligations Secured Party or agent or bailee thereof) control over any
other Senior Secured Obligations Collateral under its control. The
Senior Representative further agrees to take all other action reasonably
requested by such Person in connection with such Person obtaining a first
priority interest in the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral or as a court of
competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
(f) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, if, for any reason, any Senior Secured
Obligations remain outstanding upon the Discharge of the Senior Secured Debt
Obligations, all rights of the Senior Representative hereunder and under the
Senior Secured Obligations Security Documents (1) with respect to the delivery
and control of any part of the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral, and (2) to
direct, instruct, vote upon or otherwise influence the maintenance or
disposition of such Senior Secured Obligations Collateral, shall immediately,
and (to the extent permitted by law) without further action on the part of
either of the Junior Representative or the Senior Representative, pass to the
Junior Representative, who shall thereafter hold such rights for the benefit of
the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party. Each of the Senior
Representative and the Grantors agrees that it will, if any Senior Secured
Obligations remain outstanding upon the Discharge of the Senior Secured Debt
Obligations, take any other action required by any law or reasonably requested
by the Junior Representative, in connection with the Junior Representative’s
establishment and perfection of a first priority security interest in the Senior
Secured Obligations Collateral.
SECTION
3.02 Collateral Proceeds
Account. The
Grantors, the Representatives, the Secured Parties and all other parties hereto
agree that only proceeds of the
40
Noteholder
First Lien Collateral may be deposited in the Collateral Proceeds Account and
agree to so instruct each account debtor of each Grantor and each other
applicable Person and to take all other actions necessary to give effect to the
intent of this Section 3.02. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Noteholder Collateral Trustee hereby agrees that if the
Collateral Proceeds Account contains any proceeds of the ABL First Lien
Collateral, it shall hold such proceeds in trust for the ABL Secured Parties and
transfer such proceeds to the ABL Secured Parties reasonably promptly after
obtaining actual knowledge or notice from the ABL Secured Parties that it has
possession of such proceeds in accordance with Section 2.04(b).
SECTION
3.03 Consent to License to Use Intellectual
Property. The
Noteholder Collateral Trustee (and any purchaser, assignee or transferee of
assets as provided in Section 2.8) (a) consents (without any representation,
warranty or obligation whatsoever) to the grant by any Grantor to the ABL Agent
of a non-exclusive royalty-free license to use for a period not to exceed 180
days (commencing with the initiation of any enforcement of Liens by either the
Noteholder Collateral Trustee (provided that the ABL Agent
has received notice thereof) or the ABL Agent) any patent, trademark or
proprietary information of such Grantor that is subject to a Lien held by the
Noteholder Collateral Trustee pursuant to the Priority Lien Documents (or
acquired by any purchaser assignee or transferee from any Grantor, as the case
may be) and (b) solely to the extent such entity has acquired ownership of any
patent, trademark or proprietary information from Holdings or any Grantor in
accordance with the Priority Lien Documents and has the rights to so license
such patent, trademark or proprietary information, grant to the ABL Agent a
non-exclusive royalty-free license to use for a period not to exceed 180 days
(commencing with the earlier of (x) the initiation of any enforcement of Liens
by either the Noteholder Collateral Trustee (provided that the ABL Agent
has received notice thereof) or the ABL Agent and (y) the purchase, assignment
or transfer of such patent, trademark or proprietary information, as the case
may be) any patent, trademark or proprietary information that is subject to a
Lien held by the Noteholder Collateral Trustee pursuant to the Priority Lien
Documents (or subject to such purchase, assignment or transfer, as the case may
be), in each of the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), solely to the extent
reasonably necessary in connection with the ABL Agent’s enforcement of any Lien
held by the ABL Agent upon any inventory or other ABL Facility Collateral of
Holdings or any Grantor pursuant to the ABL Debt Documents and solely to the
extent the use of such patent, trademark or proprietary information is
reasonably necessary for the ABL Agent to process, ship, produce, store,
complete, supply, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of any such inventory in any
lawful manner in accordance with its rights under the ABL Debt Documents and
this Agreement.
If the
Noteholder Collateral Trustee shall take actual possession of any documentation
of Holdings or any Grantor (whether such documentation is in the form of a
writing or is stored in any data equipment or data record in the physical
possession of the Noteholder Collateral Trustee), then upon request of the ABL
Agent and reasonable advance notice, the Noteholder Collateral Trustee shall
permit the ABL Agent or its representative to inspect and copy such
documentation solely if and to the extent that, and the ABL Agent certifies to
the Noteholder Collateral Trustee that:
(i) such
documentation contains, or in the good faith opinion of the ABL Agent is
reasonably likely to contain, information reasonably necessary to the
enforcement by the ABL Agent of the ABL Agent’s Liens upon
41
any ABL
Facility Collateral pursuant to the ABL Debt Documents and this Agreement;
and
(ii) the
ABL Agent and the holders of ABL Debt Obligations are entitled to receive and
use such information under applicable law and, in doing so, shall comply with
all obligations imposed by law or contract in respect of the disclosure or use
of such information.
ARTICLE
IV
Existence
and Amounts of Liens and Obligations
Whenever
a Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its
rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the
existence or amount of any Senior Secured Obligations (or the existence of any
commitment to extend credit that would constitute Senior Secured Obligations) or
Junior Secured Obligations, or the existence of any Lien securing any such
obligations, or the Collateral subject to any such Lien, it may request that
such information be furnished to it in writing by the other Representative and
shall be entitled to make such determination on the basis of the information so
furnished; provided,
however, that if a
Representative shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested
information, the requesting Representative shall be entitled to make any such
determination by such method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith
judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of the
Grantors. Each Representative may rely conclusively, and shall be
fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance
with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a
court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to the Grantors or
any of their subsidiaries, any Secured Party or any other person as a result of
such determination.
ARTICLE
V
Consent
of Grantors
Each
Grantor hereby consents to the provisions of this Agreement and the
intercreditor arrangements provided for herein and agrees that the obligations
of the Grantors under the Security Documents will in no way be diminished or
otherwise affected by such provisions or arrangements (except as expressly
provided herein).
ARTICLE
VI
Representations
and Warranties
SECTION
6.01 Representations and Warranties of Each
Party. Each
party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as
follows:
(a) Such
party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite power and authority
to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
42
(b) This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party.
(c) The
execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement (i) do not
require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other
action by any governmental authority of which the failure to obtain could
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect, (ii) will not violate
any applicable law or regulation or any order of any governmental authority or
any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon such party which could
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect and (iii) will not
violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of such
party.
SECTION
6.02 Representations and Warranties of Each
Representative. Each
of the Noteholder Collateral Trustee and the ABL Agent represents and warrants
to the other parties hereto that it is authorized under the Noteholder
Collateral Trust Agreement and the ABL Credit Agreement, as the case may be, to
enter into this Agreement.
ARTICLE
VII
Miscellaneous
SECTION
7.01 Notices. All
notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and
shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or
registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:
(a) if
to the ABL Agent, to Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch at 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000; Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx; Telecopy No. (000)
000-0000;
(b) if
to the Noteholder Collateral Trustee, to U.S. Bank National Association at 000
Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000; Attention: Corporate
Trust Services; Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000;
(c) if
to Holdings or to either of the Grantors, to ACCO Brands Corporation at: 000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000; Attention: General Counsel;
Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000; and
(d) if
to any other Secured Debt Representative, to such address as specified in the
Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation Joinder.
Any party
hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other
communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto (and for this
purpose a notice to the Grantors shall be deemed to be a notice to each
Grantor). All notices and other communications given to any party
hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to
have been given on the date of receipt (if a business day) and on the next
business day thereafter (in all other cases) if delivered by hand or overnight
courier service or sent by telecopy or on the date five business days after
dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent
or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 7.01 or
in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in
accordance with this Section 7.01. As agreed to in writing among the
Grantors, the Noteholder
43
Collateral
Trustee and the ABL Agent from time to time, notices and other communications
may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the
applicable person provided from time to time by such person.
SECTION
7.02 Waivers; Amendment.
(a) No
failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right or
power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or
discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or
power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative
and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise
have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any
departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same
shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or
consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for
which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case
shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or
other circumstances.
(b) Neither
this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be terminated, waived, amended or
modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into
by each Representative and the Grantors; provided, however, that this Agreement may be
amended from time to time (x) as provided in Section 2.10 and (y) at the sole
request and expense of the Grantors, and without the consent of either
Representative, to add, pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement Joinder,
additional Grantors whereupon such Person will be bound by the terms hereof to
the same extent as if it had executed and delivered this Agreement as of the
date hereof. Any amendment of this Agreement that is proposed to be
effected without the consent of a Representative as permitted by the proviso to
the preceding sentence shall be submitted to such Representative for its review
at least 5 business days prior to the proposed effectiveness of such
amendment.
SECTION
7.03 Parties in Interest. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns, as well as the other Secured
Parties, all of whom are intended to be bound by, and to be third party
beneficiaries of, this Agreement.
SECTION
7.04 Survival of Agreement. All
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this
Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties
hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement.
SECTION
7.05 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an
original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single
contract. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by
facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed
counterpart of this Agreement.
44
SECTION
7.06 Severability. Any
provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the
invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not
invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties
shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which
comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable
provisions.
SECTION
7.07 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to
Service of Process.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES (BUT
GIVING EFFECT TO SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATION
LAW).
(b) Each
party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its
property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of
New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of
the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in
any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for
recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any
such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or,
to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the
parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding
shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the
judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this
Agreement shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to
bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any
jurisdiction.
(c) Each
party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest
extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b)
of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient
forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such
court.
(d) Each
party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner
provided for notices in Section 7.01. Nothing in this Agreement will
affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other
manner permitted by law.
SECTION
7.08 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH
PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY
HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER
PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR
45
OTHERWISE,
THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE
FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE
BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL
WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION
7.09 Headings. Article,
Section and Annex headings used herein are for convenience of reference only,
are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to
be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION
7.10 Conflicts. In
the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this
Agreement and the provisions of any Secured Documents, the provisions of this
Agreement shall control; provided, however, that if any of the
provisions of the Priority Lien Security Documents limit, qualify or conflict
with the duties imposed by the provisions of the TIA, the TIA shall
control.
SECTION
7.11 Provisions Solely to Define Relative
Rights. The
provisions of this Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of
defining the relative rights of the ABL Secured Parties, on the one hand, and
the Priority Lien Secured Parties, on the other hand. None of the
Grantors, any other Grantor or any other creditor thereof shall have any rights
or obligations hereunder, except as expressly provided in this Agreement (provided that nothing in this
Agreement (other than Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.10, 2.11 or Article VII) is
intended to or will amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the ABL
Credit Agreement or the Indenture), and neither Holdings nor any other Grantor
may rely on the terms hereof (other than Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.10, 2.11,
Article VI and Article VII). Nothing in this Agreement is intended to
or shall impair the obligations of Holdings or any other Grantor, which are
absolute and unconditional, to pay the Obligations under the Secured Documents
as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their
terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any
Secured Document, the Grantors shall not be required to act or refrain from
acting (a) pursuant to this Agreement or any Priority Lien Document with respect
to any ABL First Lien Collateral in any manner that would cause a default under
any ABL Debt Document, or (b) pursuant to this Agreement or any ABL Debt
Document with respect to any Noteholder First Lien Collateral in any manner that
would cause a default under any Priority Lien Document.
SECTION
7.12 Certain Terms Concerning the Noteholder
Collateral Trustee. The
Noteholder Collateral Trustee is executing and delivering this Agreement solely
in its capacity as such and pursuant to direction set forth in the Noteholder
Collateral Trust Agreement; and in so doing, the Noteholder Collateral Trustee
shall not be responsible for the terms or sufficiency of this Agreement for any
purpose. The Noteholder Collateral Trustee shall have no duties or obligations
under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties as may be expressly
set forth in this Agreement as duties on its part to be performed or
observed. In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or
forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to the Agreement, the Noteholder
Collateral Trustee shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities,
indemnities and other protections granted to it under the Indenture (including
without limitation Sections 7.01, 7.02, 7.04, 7.07 and 7.11 thereof), and, in
the case of the Noteholder Collateral Trustee, the Priority Lien Security
Documents.
46
SECTION
7.13 Certain Terms Concerning ABL Agent and
Noteholder Collateral Trustee. Neither
the ABL Agent nor the Noteholder Collateral Trustee shall have any liability or
responsibility for the actions or omissions of any other Secured Party, or for
any other Secured Party’s compliance with (or failure to comply with) the terms
of this Agreement. Neither the ABL Agent nor the Noteholder
Collateral Trustee shall have individual liability to any Person if it shall
mistakenly pay over or distribute to any Secured Party (or the Grantors) any
amounts in violation of the terms of this Agreement, so long as the ABL Agent or
the Noteholder Collateral Trustee, as the case may be, is acting in good
faith.
SECTION
7.14 Reliance. Other
than any reliance on the terms of this Agreement, the Junior Representative, on
behalf of itself and the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties under its
Junior Documents, acknowledges that it and such Junior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties have, independently and without reliance on the Senior
Representative or any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, and based on
documents and information deemed by them appropriate, made their own credit
analysis and decision to enter into the Junior Documents and be bound by the
terms of this Agreement and they will continue to make their own credit decision
in taking or not taking any action under the Indenture or this
Agreement.
SECTION
7.15 No Warranties or Liability. The
Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and the Junior Secured Obligations,
acknowledges and agrees that the Senior Representative and the Senior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties have made no express or implied representation or
warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality,
completeness, collectibility or enforceability of any of the Senior Documents,
the ownership of any Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens
thereon. The Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties will be
entitled to manage and supervise their respective loans and extensions of credit
under their respective Senior Documents in accordance with law and as they may
otherwise, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate. The Senior
Representative and the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties shall have no
duty to the Junior Representative or any of the Junior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties to act or refrain from acting in a manner which allows, or
results in, the occurrence or continuance of an event of default or default
under any agreements with Holdings or any other Grantor (including the Senior
Documents and the Junior Documents), regardless of any knowledge thereof which
they may have or be charged with.
SECTION
7.16 No Waiver of Lien Priorities.
(a) No
right of the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, the Senior
Representative or any of them to enforce any provision of this Agreement or any
Senior Document shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any
act or failure to act on the part of Holdings or any other Grantor or by any act
or failure to act by any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party or the Senior
Representative, or by any noncompliance by any Person with the terms, provisions
and covenants of this Agreement, any of the Senior Documents or any of the
Junior Documents, regardless of any knowledge thereof which the Senior
Representative or the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, or any of
them, may have or be otherwise charged with.
(b) Without
in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph (but subject to
the rights of Holdings and the other Grantors under the Senior Documents and
subject to the provisions of Section 2.11), the Senior Secured Obligations
47
Secured
Parties, the Senior Representative and any of them may, at any time and from
time to time in accordance with the Senior Documents and/or applicable law,
without the consent of, or notice to, the Junior Representative or any Junior
Secured Obligations Secured Party, without incurring any liabilities to the
Junior Representative or any Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties and
without impairing or releasing the Lien priorities and other benefits provided
in this Agreement (even if any right of subrogation or other right or remedy of
the Junior Representative or any Junior Secured Obligations Secured Party is
affected, impaired or extinguished thereby) do any one or more of the
following:
(i) make
loans and advances to any Grantor or issue, guaranty or obtain letters of credit
for account of any Grantor or otherwise extend credit to any Grantor, in any
amount and on any terms, whether pursuant to a commitment or as a discretionary
advance and whether or not any default or event of default or failure of
condition is then continuing;
(ii) change
the manner, place or terms of payment or change or extend the time of payment
of, or amend, renew, exchange, increase or alter, the terms of any of the Senior
Secured Obligations or any Lien on any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral or
guaranty thereof or any liability of Holdings or any other Grantor, or any
liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof (including any
increase in or extension of the Senior Secured Obligations, without any
restriction as to the amount, tenor or terms of any such increase or extension)
or otherwise amend, renew, exchange, extend, modify or supplement in any manner
any Liens on the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral held by the Senior
Representative or any of the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, the
Senior Secured Obligations or any of the Senior Documents;
(iii) sell,
exchange, realize upon, enforce or otherwise deal with in any manner (subject to
the terms hereof) and in any order any part of the Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral or any liability of Holdings or any other Grantor to the Senior
Secured Obligations Secured Parties or the Senior Representative, or any
liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof;
(iv) settle
or compromise any Senior Secured Obligation or any other liability of Holdings
or any other Grantor or any security therefor or any liability incurred directly
or indirectly in respect thereof; and
(v) exercise
or delay in or refrain from exercising any right or remedy against Holdings or
any other Grantor or any other Person, elect any remedy and otherwise deal
freely with Holdings, any other Grantor or any Senior Secured Obligations
Collateral and any security and any guarantor or any liability of Holdings or
any other Grantor to the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties or any
liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof.
(c) The
Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and the Junior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties, also agrees that the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties
and the Senior Representative shall have no liability to the Junior
Representative or any Junior
48
Secured
Obligations Secured Party, and the Junior Representative, on behalf of itself
and the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, hereby waives any claim
against any Senior Secured Obligations Secured Party or the Senior
Representative, arising out of any and all actions which the Senior Secured
Obligations Secured Parties or the Senior Representative may take or permit or
omit to take with respect to:
(i) the
Senior Documents (other than this Agreement);
(ii) the
collection of the Senior Secured Obligations; or
(iii) the
foreclosure upon, or sale, liquidation or other disposition of, any Senior
Secured Obligations Collateral.
The Junior Representative, on behalf of
itself and the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, agrees that the
Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties and the Senior Representative have no
duty to the Junior Representative or the Junior Secured Obligations Secured
Parties in respect of the maintenance or preservation of the Senior Secured
Obligations Collateral, the Senior Secured Obligations or
otherwise.
(iv) The
Junior Representative, on behalf of itself and the Junior Secured Obligations
Secured Parties, agrees not to assert and hereby waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or
otherwise claim the benefit of, any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other
similar right that may otherwise be available under applicable law with respect
to the Senior Secured Obligations Collateral or any other similar rights a
junior secured creditor may have under applicable law.
SECTION
7.17 Obligations
Unconditional. All
rights, interests, agreements and obligations of the Senior Representative and
the Senior Secured Obligations Secured Parties and the Junior Representative and
the Junior Secured Obligations Secured Parties, respectively, hereunder shall
remain in full force and effect irrespective of:
(a) any
lack of validity or enforceability of any Senior Document or any Junior
Document;
(b) except
as otherwise set forth in the Agreement, any change permitted hereunder in the
time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other terms of, all or any of the
Senior Secured Obligations or Junior Secured Obligations, or any amendment or
waiver or other modification permitted hereunder, whether by course of conduct
or otherwise, of the terms of any Senior Document or any Junior
Document;
(c) any
exchange of any security interest in any Senior Secured Obligations Collateral
or any amendment, waiver or other modification permitted hereunder, whether in
writing or by course of conduct or otherwise, of all or any of the Senior
Secured Obligations or Junior Secured Obligations;
(d) the
commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of Holdings
or any other Grantor; or
49
(e) any
other circumstances which otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or
a discharge of, Holdings or any other Grantor in respect of the Senior Secured
Obligations, or of the Junior Representative or any Junior Secured Obligations
Secured Party in respect of this Agreement.
[Remainder
of this page intentionally left blank]
50
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first
above written.
DEUTSCHE
BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,
as
ABL Agent
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President | |||
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President | |||
INTERCREDITOR
AGREEMENT
U.S.
BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Noteholder Collateral Trustee
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By:
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/s/Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President | |||
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
ACCO
BRANDS CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Senior Vice
President, Secretary and General Counsel |
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ACCO BRANDS USA LLC
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President and Secretary | |||
GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President and Secretary | |||
DAY-TIMERS INC.
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Secretary | |||
ACCO BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Secretary | |||
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
ACCO EUROPE FINANCE HOLDINGS, LLC
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President and Secretary | |||
ACCO EUROPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LLC
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President and Secretary | |||
ACCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President and Secretary | |||
GBC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President and Secretary | |||
XXXXX INTERNATIONAL, INC.
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President and Secretary | |||
INTERCREDITOR
AGREEMENT
POLYBLEND CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President and Secretary | |||
SWINGLINE, INC.
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By:
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/s/Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: Vice President and Secretary | |||
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
A
to
Intercreditor Agreement
[FORM
OF]
INTERCREDITOR
AGREEMENT JOINDER
The
undersigned, _____________________, a _______________, hereby agrees to become
party as a [Grantor] under the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of September 30,
2009 (the “Intercreditor
Agreement”) among ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”),
the Grantors from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch,
as agent under the ABL Credit Agreement (as defined therein) and U.S. Bank
National Association, as collateral trustee under the Indenture (as defined
therein), for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be
bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned
had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date
thereof.
The
provisions of Article 7 of the Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like
effect to this Joinder.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Intercreditor Agreement
Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or representatives as of
___________________, 20____.
[_________________________________________] | |||
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By:
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Name: ______________________________________ | |||
Title: _______________________________________ | |||
[Notice Address] |
Exhibit
A-1
EXHIBIT
B
to
Intercreditor Agreement
[FORM
OF]
LIEN
SHARING AND PRIORITY CONFIRMATION JOINDER
Reference
is made to the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2009 (as
amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified and in effect
from time to time, the “Intercreditor
Agreement”) among ACCO Brands Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”),
the other Grantors from time to time party thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York
Branch (in its individual capacity, and any successor corporation thereto by
merger, consolidation or otherwise, “DBNY”), as
collateral agent under the ABL Credit Agreement (as defined below) (the “ABL
Agent”), and U.S. Bank National Association (in its individual capacity,
and any successor corporation thereto by merger, consolidation or otherwise,
“U.S.
Bank”) as collateral trustee under the Indenture (as defined
below).
Capitalized
terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in
the Intercreditor Agreement. This Lien Sharing and Priority
Confirmation Joinder is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section
2.10[a][b] of the Intercreditor Agreement as a condition precedent to the debt
for which the undersigned is acting as representative being entitled to the
rights and obligations of being additional secured debt under the Intercreditor
Agreement.
1. Joinder. The
undersigned, [_________________], a [_______________], (the “New
Representative”) as [trustee] [collateral trustee] [administrative agent]
[collateral agent] under that certain [described applicable indenture,
credit agreement or other document governing the additional secured debt]
hereby:
(a) represents
that the New Representative has been authorized to become a party to the
Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of the [ABL Secured Parties under an ABL
Substitute Facility][Indenture Priority Lien Secured Parties under the
Noteholder Substitute Facility][Additional Priority Lien Secured Parties under
the Additional Priority Lien Debt Facility] as [an ABL Agent under an ABL
Substitute Facility] [a Noteholder Collateral Trustee under a Noteholder
Substitute Facility] [a Secured Debt Representative] under the Intercreditor
Agreement for all purposes thereof on the terms set forth therein, and to be
bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as fully as if the undersigned
had executed and delivered the Intercreditor Agreement as of the date thereof;
and
(b) agrees
that its address for receiving notices pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement
shall be as follows:
[Address];
2. Lien Sharing and Priority
Confirmation.
[Option A: to be used if Additional
Debt constitutes ABL
Debt] The undersigned New Representative, on behalf of itself
and each holder of ABL Debt Obligations for which the undersigned is acting as
[Administrative Agent]
hereby agrees, for the enforceable benefit of all
Exhibit
B-1
Secured
Parties and each existing and future Secured Debt Representative, and as a
condition to being treated as ABL Debt Obligations under the Intercreditor
Agreement, that the New Representative is bound by the provisions of the
Intercreditor Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of ABL
Liens. [or]
[Option B: to be used if Additional
Debt constitutes a Series
of Priority Lien Debt] The undersigned New Representative, on
behalf of itself and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of
Priority Lien Debt [that constitutes Noteholder Substitute Facility] for which
the undersigned is acting as [Secured Debt Representative][Noteholder Collateral
Trustee] hereby agrees, for the enforceable benefit of all Secured Parties and
each existing and future Secured Debt Representative, and as a condition to
being treated as Secured Debt under the Intercreditor Agreement,
that:
(a) all
Priority Lien Obligations will be and are secured Equally and Ratably by all
Priority Liens at any time granted by Holdings or any other Grantor to secure
any Obligations in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt, whether or not
upon property otherwise constituting Collateral for such Series of Priority Lien
Debt, and that all such Priority Liens will be enforceable by the Noteholder
Collateral Trustee with respect to such Series of Priority Lien Debt for the
benefit of all holders of Priority Lien Obligations Equally and
Ratably;
(b) the
New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of
Priority Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Secured Debt
Representative] are bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement,
including the provisions relating to the ranking of Priority Liens and the order
of application of proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens; and
(c) the
New Representative and each holder of Obligations in respect of the Series of
Priority Lien Debt for which the undersigned is acting as [Secured Debt Representative]
appoints the Noteholder Collateral Trustee and consents to the terms of the
Intercreditor Agreement and the performance by the Noteholder Collateral Agent
of, and directs the Noteholder Collateral Agent to perform, its obligations
under the Intercreditor Agreement, the Noteholder Collateral Trust Agreement and
the other Security Documents, together with all such powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto.
3. Governing Law and
Miscellaneous Provisions. The provisions of Article 7 of the
Intercreditor Agreement will apply with like effect to this Lien Sharing and
Priority Confirmation Joinder.
Exhibit B-2
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Lien Sharing and Priority
Confirmation Joinder to be executed by their respective officers or
representatives as of [___________________, 20____].
[insert name of New Representative] | |||
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By
|
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Name: | |||
Title: | |||
The
Noteholder Collateral Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of this Lien Sharing
and Priority Confirmation Joinder and agrees to act as Noteholder Collateral
Trustee for the New Representative and the holders of the Obligations
represented thereby:
[•],
as
Noteholder Collateral Trustee
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By
|
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Name: | |||
Title: | |||
The ABL Agent hereby acknowledges receipt of this Lien Sharing and
Priority Confirmation Joinder and agrees to act as ABL Agent for the New
Representative and the holders of the Obligations represented
thereby:____________________________,
[•],
as ABL Agent
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By
|
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Name: | |||
Title: | |||
Exhibit B-3