PLEDGE AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.1
This
PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of September __, 2007 (as amended, restated, amended
and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this
“Agreement”),
is
made by each of the undersigned pledgors (collectively, the “Pledgors”)
in
favor of ROYNAT
BUSINESS CAPITAL INC.,
a
Delaware corporation (“Lender”).
W
I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
pursuant to a Secured Promissory Note, dated as of the date hereof (as amended,
restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to
time, the “Note”),
by
and between AZ
LIMOS LLC,
an
Arizona limited liability company (the “Borrower”),
and
the Lender and the other Loan Documents referred to therein, the Lender has
agreed to provide a loan to the Borrower in the aggregate amount of up to
$2,000,000;
WHEREAS,
as a
condition precedent to the making of the advances under the Note, the Pledgors
are required to execute and deliver this Agreement, pledging all the issued
and
outstanding equity interests in the Borrower to Lender as set forth herein;
and
WHEREAS,
Pledgor
has duly authorized the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement;
NOW
THEREFORE,
for
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, and in order to induce the Lender to make Loans to the Borrower
pursuant to the Note, each Pledgor agrees, for the benefit of the Lender, as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions.
Unless
otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms used in this
Agreement, including its preamble and recitals, have the meanings provided
in
the Note.
1.2 UCC
Definitions.
Unless
otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms for which
meanings are provided in the UCC are used in this Agreement, including its
preamble and recitals, with such meanings.
ARTICLE
II
PLEDGE
2.1 Grant
of Security Interest.
Each
Pledgor hereby pledges, assigns, charges, mortgages, delivers, and transfers
to
the Lender, and hereby grants to the Lender, a continuing security interest
in
all of its right, title and interest in and to the following property of such
Pledgor, whether now or hereafter existing or acquired (collectively, the
“Collateral”):
(a) all
membership and any other equity or ownership interests (“Membership
Interests”)
in and
to Borrower now owned, and all additional Membership Interests in and to
Borrower from time to time created or otherwise acquired, by such Pledgor,
including, (i) Borrower’s limited liability company agreement dated on or about
the date hereof (the “Operating
Agreement”),
(ii)
all claims of such Pledgor for damages arising out of or for breach of or
default under such Operating Agreement, (iii) the right of such Pledgor to
terminate such Operating Agreement, to perform and exercise consensual or
voting
rights thereunder, and to compel performance and otherwise exercise all remedies
thereunder, and (iv) all certificates or instruments, if any, evidencing
such
Membership Interests (such Membership Interests being referred to herein
as the
“Pledged
Membership Interests”);
(b) all
distributions, principal, interest and other payments and rights with respect
to
any of the items listed in clause (a)
above;
and
(c) all
Proceeds of any and all of the foregoing Collateral.
2.2 Security
for Secured Obligations.
The
Collateral of Pledgors under this Agreement secures the prompt payment in full
of all obligations of the Borrower under the Loan Documents (the “Secured
Obligations”).
2.3 Delivery
of Collateral. All
certificates or instruments representing or evidencing any Collateral, including
all Pledged Membership Interests, shall be delivered to and held by or on behalf
of the Lender pursuant hereto, shall be in suitable form for transfer by
delivery, and shall be accompanied by all necessary instruments of transfer
or
assignment, duly executed in blank.
2.4 Dividends
on Pledged Membership Interests.
In the
event that any distribution is permitted under the Note to be paid on any
Pledged Membership Interest at a time when no Event of Default (as hereinafter
defined) has occurred and is continuing, such distribution may be paid directly
to Pledgors. If any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, then any
such distribution shall be paid directly to the Lender.
2.5 Continuing
Security Interest; Transfer of Credit Extensions.
This
Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and
shall (a) remain in full force and effect until all the Secured Obligations
are
paid in full in cash and the Note is terminated in accordance with its terms
(the “Termination
Date”),
(b)
be binding upon each Pledgor and its successors, transferees and assigns, and
(c) inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Lender hereunder, to
the
benefit of the Lender.
2.6 Security
Interest Absolute.
All
rights of the Lender and the security interests granted to the Lender hereunder,
and all obligations of Pledgors hereunder, shall be, absolute and unconditional,
irrespective of any of the following conditions, occurrences or
events:
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(a) any
lack
of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document;
(b) the
failure of Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or
remedy against the Borrower, any Pledgor or any other Person under the
provisions of any Loan Document, or otherwise or to exercise any right or remedy
against any other guarantor of, or collateral securing, any Secured
Obligation;
(c) any
change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of,
all
or any of the Secured Obligations or any other extension, compromise or renewal
of any Secured Obligation, including any increase in the Secured Obligations
resulting from the extension of additional credit to any Pledgor or the
Borrower;
(d) any
reduction, limitation, impairment or termination of the Secured Obligations
for
any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or
compromise, and shall not be subject to (and each Pledgor hereby waives any
right to or claim of) any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or
termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality, non-genuineness,
irregularity, compromise, unenforceability of, or any other event or occurrence
affecting, any Secured Obligation or otherwise;
(e) any
amendment to, rescission, waiver, or other modification of, or any consent
to
departure from, any of the terms of any Loan Document;
(f) any
addition, exchange, release, surrender or non-perfection of any collateral,
or
any amendment to or waiver or release of or addition to or consent to departure
from any guaranty, for any of the Secured Obligations; or
(g) any
other
circumstances which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a
legal or equitable discharge of, any Pledgor, the Borrower or
otherwise.
2.7 Pledgors
Remain Liable.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding (a) the exercise by the Lender
of any of its rights hereunder shall not release Pledgors from any of their
respective duties or obligations under any contracts or agreements included
in
the Collateral and (b) the Lender shall not have any obligation or liability
under any such contracts or agreements included in the Collateral by reason
of
this Agreement, nor shall the Lender be obligated to perform any of the
obligations or duties of any Pledgor or to take any action to collect or enforce
any claim for payment assigned hereunder.
2.8 Release;
Termination. Upon
the
Termination Date, the pledge, assignment and security interest granted hereby
shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the applicable
Pledgor. Upon any such termination, the Lender will, at each Pledgor’s expense
(as to any out-of-pocket expenses of Lender) and without any representations,
warranties or recourse of any kind whatsoever, execute and deliver to such
Pledgor such documents as such Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence
such
termination and deliver to such Pledgor all certificates and instruments
representing or evidencing the Collateral pledged by such Pledgor and then
held
by the Lender.
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ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
Each
Pledgor represents and warrants to Lender, as at the date hereof as
follows:
3.1 Ownership;
No Liens, etc.
(a) Schedule
I
hereto
completely and accurately identifies as of the date hereof all of the Membership
Interests of such Pledgor in and to the Borrower;
(b) Pledgor
is the legal and beneficial owner of, and has good and marketable title to
(and
has full right and authority to pledge and assign) such Collateral, free and
clear of all liens and other encumbrances, except for (i) the security interest
granted pursuant hereto in favor of the Lender, (ii) each Pledgor’s obligations
under the Operating Agreement and (iii) each Pledgor’s obligations set forth in
Schedule
I
hereto
(collectively, “Permitted
Liens”);
(c) The
Membership Interests are uncertificated.
3.2 Valid
Security Interest.
The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the delivery of all certificated
Pledged Membership Interests to the Lender are effective to create a valid,
perfected, first priority security interest in such Collateral and all Proceeds
thereof, subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens, securing the payment
of
the Secured Obligations. No filing or other action will be necessary to perfect
or protect such security interest, except with respect to the Pledged Membership
Interests.
3.3 As
to Pledged Membership Interests.
(a)
All of
the Pledged Membership Interests are duly authorized and validly issued, fully
paid, and non-assessable, constitute 100% of all Membership Interests in and
to
the Borrower and represent all of the issued and outstanding Membership
Interests held by Pledgors in and to the Borrower.
(b) The
Operating Agreement, true and complete copies of which has been furnished to
the
Lender, has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by Pledgors, has
not
been amended or otherwise modified, is in full force and effect, and is binding
upon and enforceable against Pledgors in accordance with its terms. There exists
no default under the Operating Agreement by Pledgors.
(c) Each
Pledgor had and has the power and legal capacity to execute and carry out the
provisions of the Operating Agreement to the extent such provisions apply to
such Pledgor. Each Pledgor has substantially performed all of its obligations
to
date under the Operating Agreement, and has not received notice of the failure
of any other party thereto to perform its obligations thereunder.
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3.4 Authorization,
Approval, etc.
Except
for authorizations or approvals that have been obtained as of the date hereof,
no authorization, approval, or other action by, and no notice to or filing
with,
any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required either:
(a) for
the
pledge by each Pledgor of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement or for
the
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by such Pledgor; or
(b) for
the
exercise by the Lender of the voting or other rights provided for in this
Agreement or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this
Agreement, except as may be required in connection with a disposition of such
Pledged Membership Interests by laws affecting the offering and sale of
securities generally.
ARTICLE
IV
COVENANTS
Each
Pledgor covenants and agrees that, until the Termination Date, Pledgor will
perform the obligations set forth in this Article
IV.
4.1 Protect
Collateral; Further Assurances, etc.
(a)
No
Pledgor will create or suffer to exist any lien or other encumbrance on the
Pledged Membership Interests except Permitted Liens. Each Pledgor will warrant
and defend the right and title herein granted unto the Lender in and to the
Collateral (and all right, title, and interest represented by the Collateral)
against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever.
(b) Each
Pledgor agrees that at any time, and from time to time, at the expense of such
Pledgor, it will promptly execute and deliver all further instruments, and
take
all further action, that may be necessary, or that the Lender may reasonably
request, in order to perfect and protect any security interest granted or
purported to be granted hereby or to enable the Lender to exercise and enforce
its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral.
4.2 Powers,
Control, etc.
(a)
Each
Pledgor agrees to deliver to Lender on the date hereof all of its certificated
Pledged Membership Interests, which will be accompanied by duly executed undated
blank powers, or other equivalent instruments of transfer acceptable to the
Lender.
(b) With
respect to uncertificated Pledged Membership Interests, each Pledgor will cause
the Borrower to deliver a written acknowledgement and agreement to the Lender
(A) acknowledging the security interest of the Lender in such Pledged Membership
Interests, (B) confirming that the Borrower has marked the company register
for
such Pledged Membership Interests or other applicable records to reflect such
security interest of the Lender, (C) confirming to the Lender that the Borrower
has not received notice of any lien or other encumbrance (other than Permitted
Liens) upon any Pledged Membership Interests and that it has not agreed to
accept instructions from any Person in respect of such Pledged Membership
Interests and will not accept or execute any instructions to transfer ownership
of such Pledged Membership Interests except from Lender, and (D) agreeing with
each Pledgor for the benefit of the Lender that, upon the occurrence and
continuation of an Event of Default, the Borrower will comply with instructions
with respect to such Pledged Membership Interests originated by the Lender
without further consent of any Pledgor, such acknowledgement and agreement
to be
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.
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(c) Each
Pledgor will, from time to time upon the request of the Lender, promptly
deliver
to the Lender such powers, instruments, and similar documents, satisfactory
in
form and substance to the Lender, with respect to the Collateral as the Lender
may reasonably request and will, from time to time upon the request of the
Lender upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, promptly transfer any
Pledged Membership Interests or other Membership Interests in the Borrower
into
the name of any nominee designated by the Lender.
4.3 Continuous
Pledge.
Each
Pledgor will, at all times, keep pledged to the Lender pursuant hereto all
Collateral, all distributions with respect thereto, and other securities,
instruments, proceeds, and rights from time to time received by or distributable
to such Pledgor in respect of the Pledged Membership Interests.
4.4 Voting
Rights; Dividends, etc.
Each
Pledgor agrees if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing:
(a) without
any request therefor by the Lender, such Pledgor shall, promptly upon receipt
thereof by Pledgor, deliver (properly indorsed where required hereby or
requested by the Lender) to the Lender all distributions, interest, principal,
other cash payments, and proceeds of the Pledged Membership Interests, all
of
which shall be held by the Lender as additional collateral for use in accordance
with Section
6.3;
and
(b) at
such
times as Lender has notified Pledgors of the Lender’s intention to exercise its
voting power under this clause:
(i) the
Lender may exercise (to the exclusion of Pledgors) the voting power and all
other incidental rights of ownership with respect to any Pledged Membership
Interests and such Pledgor hereby grants the Lender an irrevocable proxy,
exercisable under such circumstances, to vote the Pledged Membership Interests;
and
(ii) such
Pledgor shall promptly deliver to the Lender such additional proxies and other
documents as may be necessary to allow the Lender to exercise such voting
power.
The
Lender agrees that until such time as an Event of Default has occurred and
is
continuing and the Lender shall have given the notice referred to in
clause
(b)
above,
each Pledgor shall have the exclusive voting power with respect to its Pledged
Membership Interests; provided,
however,
that no
vote shall be cast, or consent, waiver, or ratification given, or action taken
or any action not taken by any Pledgor that would be inconsistent with or
violate any provision of this Agreement, the Note or any other Loan
Document.
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4.5 As
to Operating Agreement.
(a)
Each
Pledgor shall at its own expense perform and observe all the material terms
and
provisions of the Operating Agreement to be performed or observed by it,
maintain the Operating Agreement in full force and effect, enforce the Operating
Agreement in accordance with its terms, and take all such action to such end
as
may from time to time be reasonably be requested by the Lender; and
(b) No
Pledgor shall:
(i) cancel
or
terminate the Operating Agreement or consent to or accept any cancellation
or
termination thereof; or
(ii) amend,
modify or take any other action in connection with the material terms and
conditions of the Operating Agreement that would impair the value of the
interest or rights of such Pledgor or that would impair the interest or rights
of the Lender.
ARTICLE
V
THE
LENDER
5.1 Lender
May Perform.
If any
Pledgor fails to perform any agreement contained herein, the Lender may itself
perform, or cause performance of, such agreement, and the reasonable expenses
of
the Lender incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by such Pledgor
pursuant to Section
6.4.
5.2 Lender
Has No Duty.
(a)
The
powers conferred on the Lender hereunder are solely to protect its interest
in
the Collateral and shall not impose any duty on it to exercise any such powers.
Neither the Lender nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents
shall
be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral
or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or
otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of Pledgors or any other
Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral.
Neither the Lender nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents
shall
be responsible to Pledgors for any act or failure to act hereunder, except
for
their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) Each
Pledgor assumes all responsibility and liability arising from or relating to
the
use, sale or other disposition of the Collateral other than liabilities
resulting from Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Secured
Obligations shall not be affected by any failure of the Lender to take any
steps
to perfect the pledge and security interest granted hereunder or to collect
or
realize upon the Collateral, nor shall loss or damage to the Collateral release
Pledgors from any of their obligations hereunder.
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ARTICLE
VI
REMEDIES
6.1 Certain
Remedies.
If (x)
any Pledgor fails to satisfy any of its obligations hereunder and such failure
shall continue for 15 business days after notice thereof from Lender or (y)
any
“Event of Default” as defined in the Note shall have occurred (each, an
“Event
of Default”):
(a) The
Lender may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights
and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights
and remedies of a Lender on default under the UCC and also may, without demand
of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice
of
any kind (except any notice required by applicable law referred to below) to
or
upon Pledgors or any other Person (all and each of which demands, defenses,
advertisements and notices are hereby waived), sell, lease, assign, give option
or options to purchase, or otherwise dispose of and deliver the Collateral
or
any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing) in one or more parcels
at public or private sale, at any of the Lender’s offices or elsewhere, for
cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such other terms as the Lender
may deem commercially reasonable. Each Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice
of sale shall be required by applicable law, at least ten (10) days’ prior
notice to Pledgors of the time and place of any public sale or the time after
which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification.
The Lender shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless
of
notice of sale having been given. The Lender may adjourn any public or private
sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor,
and
such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which
it
was so adjourned.
(b) The
Lender may:
(i) transfer
all or any part of the Collateral into the name of the Lender or its nominee,
with or without disclosing that such Collateral is subject to the lien and
security interest hereunder;
(ii) notify
the parties obligated on any of the Collateral to make payment to the Lender
of
any amount due or to become due thereunder;
(iii) enforce
collection of any of the Collateral by suit or otherwise, and surrender, release
or exchange all or any part thereof, or compromise or extend or renew for any
period (whether or not longer than the original period) any obligations of
any
nature of any party with respect thereto;
8
(iv) endorse
any checks, drafts, or other writings in each Pledgor’s name to allow collection
of the Collateral;
(v) take
control of any proceeds of the Collateral;
(vi) execute
(in the name, place and stead of Pledgor) endorsements, assignments, stock
powers and other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to all
or
any of the Collateral; and
(vii) enforce
compliance with, and take any and all actions with respect to, the Operating
Agreement to the full extent as though the Lender were the absolute owner of
the
Pledged Membership Interests, and other Collateral, including the right to
receive all distributions and other payments that are made pursuant to such
Operating Agreement.
The
Lender shall give Pledgors ten (10) days’ written notice (which each Pledgor
agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-612 of the UCC)
of
the Lender’s intention to make any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case
of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the
case
of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board
or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the
Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board
or
exchange. Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within
ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Lender may fix and
state in the notice (if any) of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral,
or
portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate
parcels, as the Lender may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine.
The
Lender shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall
determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such
Collateral shall have been given. The Lender may, without notice or publication
adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time
to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale
may,
without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was
so
adjourned. In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on
credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the
Lender until the sale price is paid by the purchase or purchasers thereof,
but
the Lender shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or
purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in
case
of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon like notice. At
any
public (or, to the extent permitted by law, private) sale made pursuant to
this
Section, the Lender (for the Lender) may bid for or purchase, free (to the
extent permitted by law) from any right of redemption, stay, valuation or
appraisal on the part of Pledgor (all said rights being also hereby waived
and
released to the extent permitted by law), the Collateral or any part thereof
offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any claim
then
due and payable to such Lender from Pledgors as a credit against the purchase
price, and the Lender (for such Lender) may upon compliance with the terms
of
sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property without further accountability
to Pledgors therefor.
9
6.2 Compliance
with Restrictions.
Each
Pledgor agrees that in any sale of any of the Collateral whenever an Event
of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Lender is hereby authorized
to comply with any limitation or restriction (including without limitation
the
Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws) in connection
with
such sale as it may be advised by counsel is necessary in order to avoid any
violation of applicable law (including compliance with such procedures as may
restrict the number of prospective bidders and purchasers, require that such
prospective bidders and purchasers have certain qualifications, and restrict
such prospective bidders and purchasers to persons who will represent and agree
that they are purchasing for their own account for investment and not with
a
view to the distribution or resale of such Collateral), or in order to obtain
any required approval of the sale or of the purchaser by any Governmental
Authority or official, and each Pledgor further agrees that such compliance
shall not result in such sale being considered or deemed not to have been made
in a commercially reasonable manner, nor shall the Lender be liable nor
accountable to any Pledgor for any discount allowed by reason of the fact that
such Collateral is sold in compliance with any such limitation or
restriction.
6.3 Application
of Proceeds.
All
cash proceeds received by the Lender in respect of any sale of, collection
from,
or other realization upon, all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied
in
whole or in part by the Lender, first, to cover the reasonable costs and
expenses of Lender in enforcing the this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
and, second, for the benefit of the Lender against all or any part of the
Secured Obligations. Any surplus of such cash or cash proceeds held by the
Lender and remaining after the Termination Date, shall be paid over to the
applicable Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such
surplus.
6.4 Indemnity
and Expenses.
Pledgors jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Lender
and its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents and
attorneys-in-fact (each, an “Indemnified
Party”)
for,
from and against, and shall pay on demand, any and all liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs
and expenses and disbursements (including reasonable legal fees and expenses)
of
any kind or nature whatsoever which may be at any time imposed on, incurred
by
or asserted against such Indemnified Party in any way relating to or arising
out
of or in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including
enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents), provided
that
such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnified Party, be available to the
extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims,
demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements are
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable
judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
such Indemnified Party. Pledgors will, upon demand, pay to the Lender the amount
of any and all reasonable expenses, including its reasonable legal fees and
expenses and the reasonable fees and disbursements of any experts and agents,
which the Lender may incur, subject to the foregoing limitations, in connection
with the following:
(a) the
administration of this Agreement;
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(b) the
custody, preservation, use or operation of, or the sale of, collection from,
or
other realization upon, any of the Collateral;
(c) the
exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of the Lender hereunder;
or
(d) the
failure by Pledgors to perform or observe any of the provisions
hereof.
6.5 Waivers.
Pledgors hereby waive any right, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
to
receive prior notice of or a judicial or other hearing with respect to any
action or prejudgment remedy or proceeding by the Lender to take possession,
exercise control over or dispose of any item of Collateral where such action
is
permitted under the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or by
applicable laws or the time, place or terms of sale in connection with the
exercise of the Lender’s rights hereunder. Pledgors waive, to the extent
permitted by applicable laws, any bonds, security or sureties required by the
Lender with respect to any of the Collateral. Pledgors also waive any damages
(direct, consequential or otherwise) occasioned by the enforcement of the
Lender’s rights under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, the
taking of possession of any Collateral, all to the extent that such waiver
is
permitted by applicable laws; provided,
however,
that
the waiver contemplated hereby shall not apply to damages caused by the Lender’s
gross negligence or willful misconduct. These waivers and all other waivers
provided for in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been negotiated
by the parties and each Pledgor acknowledges that it has been represented by
counsel of its own choice and has consulted such counsel with respect to its
rights hereunder.
ARTICLE
VII
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
7.1 Loan
Document.
This
Agreement is a Loan Document executed pursuant to the Note and shall (unless
otherwise expressly indicated herein) be construed, administered and applied
in
accordance with the terms and provisions thereof.
7.2 Amendments,
etc.; Successors and Assigns.
(a) No
amendment to or waiver of any provision of this Agreement nor consent to any
departure by Pledgors herefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the
same
shall be in writing and signed by the Lender and, with respect to any such
amendment, by Pledgors, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective
only
in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which
given.
(b) This
Agreement shall be binding upon each Pledgor and its permitted successors,
transferees and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Lender and its
respective successors, transferees and assigns; provided,
however,
that no
Pledgor may assign its obligations hereunder without the prior written consent
of the Lender in its sole discretion.
11
7.3 Addresses
for Notices.
All
notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing
and
mailed, delivered or transmitted by facsimile to any Pledgor at the address
set
forth on the signature page and to the Lender at the address set forth in the
Note.
7.4 Section
Captions.
Section
captions used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and
shall
not affect the construction of this Agreement.
7.5 Severability.
If any
provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable,
(a)
the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall
endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or
unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which
comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable
provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall
not
invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
7.6 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
7.7 Governing
Law, etc.
(a) THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE VALIDITY OR PERFECTION OF
THE
SECURITY INTEREST HEREUNDER, OR REMEDIES HEREUNDER, IN RESPECT OF ANY PARTICULAR
COLLATERAL ARE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE
OF
NEW YORK; PROVIDED,
THAT THE LENDER SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL
LAW.
(b) ANY
LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN
EITHER (1) THE XXXXX XXXXXX XX XXX XXXXX XX XXXXX XXXXXXXX SITTING IN CHARLOTTE
OR IN THE DISTRICT COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES SITTING IN CHARLOTTE OR (2)
THE
STATE COURTS OF NEW YORK OR SECOND CIRCUIT COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES, IN
EITHER CASE, SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN;
PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,
THAT ANY SUIT SEEKING ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY
SHALL
BE BROUGHT, AT THE LENDER’S OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH
COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE FOUND. BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS
AGREEMENT, PLEDGOR CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO
THE
NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. EACH PLEDGOR IRREVOCABLY WAIVES
ANY
OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE
GROUNDS OF FORUM
NON CONVENIENS,
WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED
THERETO. PLEDGOR HEREBY CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT,
ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED
MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO PLEDGOR’S ADDRESS REFERRED
TO IN SECTION
7.3.
EACH PLEDGOR AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE (i) SHALL BE DEEMED IN EVERY RESPECT
EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON IT IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING
AND
(ii) SHALL, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BE TAKEN AND HELD TO BE
VALID PERSONAL SERVICE UPON AND PERSONAL DELIVERY TO IT. NOTHING IN THIS
SECTION
7.7
SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE LENDER TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED
BY
LAW OR LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PLEDGOR IN
THE
COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION OR JURISDICTIONS.
12
7.8 Waiver
of Jury Trial.
EACH PLEDGOR HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM,
DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY
WAY
CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF PLEDGOR AND LENDER
OR
ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED
THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER
FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND PLEDGOR HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS
THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY
COURT
TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT LENDER MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A
COPY
OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE
SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
7.9 Entire
Agreement.
THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG
THE
PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS,
OR
SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES OR BY PRIOR OR CONTEMPORANEOUS WRITTEN
AGREEMENTS. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE
PARTIES.
[Signature
Page Follows]
13
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
each
Pledgor has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its
respective officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above
written.
[PLEDGOR], | ||
as
a Pledgor
|
||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Notice Address: | ||
[PLEDGOR], | ||
as
a Pledgor
|
||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Notice Address: | ||
14
ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED: | ||||
ROYNAT BUSINESS CAPITAL INC., | ||||
as
Lender
|
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
15