PLEDGE AGREEMENT among CURO GROUP HOLDINGS CORP., CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF CURO GROUP HOLDINGS CORP. and U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as COLLATERAL AGENT Dated as of May 15, 2023

Exhibit 10.6

Execution Version

PLEDGE AGREEMENT

among

CURO GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.,

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF CURO GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.

and

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as COLLATERAL AGENT

Dated as of May 15, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

1.	SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS		1
2.	DEFINITIONS		2
3.	PLEDGE OF SECURITIES, ETC.		4
	3.1	Pledge	4
	3.2	Procedures	7
	3.3	Subsequently Acquired Collateral	9
	3.4	Transfer Taxes	10
	3.5	Certain Representations and Warranties Regarding the Collateral	10
4.	APPOINTMENT OF SUB-AGENTS; ENDORSEMENTS, ETC.		10
5.	VOTING, ETC., WHILE NO EVENT OF DEFAULT		10
6.	DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS		11
7.	REMEDIES IN CASE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT		11
8.	REMEDIES, CUMULATIVE, ETC.		13
9.	APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS		13
10.	PURCHASERS OF COLLATERAL		13
11.	INDEMNITY		14
12.	COLLATERAL AGENT NOT A PARTNER OR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MEMBER		14
13.	FURTHER ASSURANCES; POWER-OF-ATTORNEY		15
14.	THE COLLATERAL AGENT		15
15.	TRANSFER BY THE PLEDGORS		16
16.	REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE PLEDGORS		16
17.	LEGAL NAMES; TYPE OF ORGANIZATION (AND WHETHER A REGISTERED ORGANIZATION); JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION; LOCATION; FEDERAL EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER; CHANGES THERETO; ETC.		18
18.	PLEDGORS’ OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE, ETC.		19
19.	SALE OF COLLATERAL WITHOUT REGISTRATION		20
20.	TERMINATION; RELEASE		20
21.	NOTICES, ETC.		21
22.	WAIVER; AMENDMENT		21
23.	SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS		22
24.	HEADINGS DESCRIPTIVE		22
25.	GOVERNING LAW		22
26.	XXXXXXX’S DUTIES		22
27.	COUNTERPARTS		22

28.	SEVERABILITY	22
29.	RECOURSE	22
30.	ADDITIONAL PLEDGORS	23
31.	LIMITED OBLIGATIONS	23
32.	RELEASE OF PLEDGORS	23
33.	RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS SUBJECT TO INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT	23
34.	ANNUAL UPDATE	23

-i-

ANNEX A	-	SCHEDULE OF SUBSIDIARIES

ANNEX B	-	SCHEDULE OF STOCK

ANNEX C	-	SCHEDULE OF NOTES

ANNEX D	-	SCHEDULE OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS

ANNEX E	-	SCHEDULE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

ANNEX F

FORM OF AGREEMENT REGARDING UNCERTIFICATED SECURITIES, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS AND PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

ANNEX G

FORM OF PLEDGE AGREEMENT JOINDER

-ii-

PLEDGE AGREEMENT

This PLEDGE AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), dated as of May 15, 2023, is among each of the undersigned pledgors (each, a “Pledgor” and, together with any other entity that becomes a pledgor hereunder pursuant to Section 30 hereof, the “Pledgors”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties. Except as otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein and defined in the Indenture (as defined below) shall be used herein as therein defined.

WHEREAS, CURO Group Holdings Corp. (the “Company”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, the Collateral Agent and Trustee have entered into an Indenture, dated as of May 15, 2023 (as amended, modified, restated and/or supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”) for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 7.500% Senior 1.5 Lien Secured Notes due 2028 (the “New Notes”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Indenture, each Pledgor has jointly and severally guaranteed to the Notes Secured Parties the payment when due of all Indenture Obligations as described (and defined) therein;

WHEREAS, in order to induce (i) the Holders to hold the New Notes and (ii) the Collateral Agent to act as trustee and as collateral agent, the Pledgors have agreed to grant to the Collateral Agent a continuing security interest in and to the Collateral in order to secure the prompt and complete payment, observance and performance of, among other things, their respective Secured Obligations (as defined in the Security Agreement);

WHEREAS, the (i) First Priority Intercreditor Agreement governs the relative rights and priorities of the Notes Secured Parties, the Second Lien Creditors (as defined therein) and the First Lien Creditors (as defined therein) and (ii) Junior Intercreditor Agreement governs the relative rights and priorities of the Notes Secured Parties and the Second Lien Creditors (as defined therein) (clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as the “Intercreditor Agreement”), in each case, in respect of all of the Collateral; and

WHEREAS, the Pledgors will obtain benefits from the issuance of the New Notes under the Indenture and, accordingly, the Pledgors desire to create a security interest in favor of and pledge of the pledged Collateral to the Collateral Agent for its benefit and for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties under the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other benefits accruing to each Pledgor, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each Pledgor hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties and hereby covenants and agrees with the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties as follows:

SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS.

(a)

This Agreement is made by each Pledgor for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties to secure the Secured Obligations, it being acknowledged and agreed that the “Secured Obligations” shall include New Notes described above, whether outstanding on the date of this Agreement or extended from time to time after the date of this Agreement.

(b)

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the lien and security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement at any time the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control at any time the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of the Indenture and this Agreement relating to the duties of the Collateral Agent the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and control.

DEFINITIONS. (a) Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein and defined in the Indenture shall be used herein as therein defined. Reference to singular terms shall include the plural and vice versa.

(b)

The following capitalized terms used herein shall have the definitions specified below:

“Adverse Claim” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 8-102(a)(1) of the UCC.

“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

“Certificated Security” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 8-102(a)(4) of the UCC.

“Clearing Corporation” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 8-102(a)(5) of the UCC.

“Collateral” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 hereof.

“Collateral Accounts” shall mean any and all accounts established and maintained by the Collateral Agent in the name of any Pledgor to which Collateral may be credited.

“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

“Domestic Corporation” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Stock”.

“Event of Default” shall mean an “Event of Default” or similar term as such term is defined in the Indenture, so long as any such agreement is in effect.

“Exempted Foreign Entity” shall mean any CFC (other than a Canadian Subsidiary).

“Financial Asset” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 8-102(a)(9) of the UCC.

“First Lien Agent” shall have the meaning provided in the First Priority Intercreditor Agreement.

“First Lien Creditors” shall have the meaning provided in the First Priority Intercreditor Agreement.

“First Lien Obligations” shall have the meaning provided in the First Priority Intercreditor Agreement.

“Foreign Corporation” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Stock”.

“Indenture” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

“Instrument” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 9-102(a)(47) of the UCC.

“Investment Property” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 9-102(a)(49) of the UCC.

“Limited Liability Company Assets” shall mean all assets, whether tangible or intangible and whether real, personal or mixed (including, without limitation, all limited liability company capital and interest in other limited liability companies), at any time owned by any Pledgor or represented by any Limited Liability Company Interest.

“Limited Liability Company Interests” shall mean the entire limited liability company membership interest at any time owned by any Pledgor in any limited liability company.

“Location” of any Pledgor has the meaning given such term in Section 9-307 of the UCC.

“Non-Voting Equity Interests” shall mean all Equity Interests of any Person that are not Voting Equity Interests.

“Notes” shall mean (x) all intercompany notes at any time issued to each Pledgor and (y) all other promissory notes from time to time issued to, or held by, each Pledgor.

“Partnership Assets” shall mean all assets, whether tangible or intangible and whether real, personal or mixed (including, without limitation, all partnership capital and interest in other partnerships), at any time owned by any Pledgor or represented by any Partnership Interest.

“Partnership Interest” shall mean the entire general partnership interest or limited partnership interest at any time owned by any Pledgor in any general partnership or limited partnership.

“Pledged Notes” shall mean all Notes at any time pledged or required to be pledged hereunder.

“Pledgor” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

“Proceeds” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 9-102(a)(64) of the UCC.

“Registered Organization” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the UCC.

“Secured Obligations” shall have the meaning provided in the Security Agreement.

“Securities Intermediary” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 8-102(14) of the UCC.

“Security” and “Securities” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 8-102(a)(15) of the UCC and shall in any event also include all Stock and all Notes.

“Security Entitlement” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 8-102(a)(17) of the UCC.

“Stock” shall mean (x) with respect to corporations incorporated under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia (each, a “Domestic Corporation”), all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of any Domestic Corporation at any time owned by any Pledgor and (y) with respect to corporations not Domestic Corporations (each, a “Foreign Corporation”), all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of any Foreign Corporation at any time owned by any Pledgor.

“Termination Date” shall mean the date of the repayment of the Loans in full and the termination of all Commitments (other than Additional Secured Obligations and contingent indemnification or expense reimbursement obligations not then due).

“UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York from time to time; provided that all references herein to specific Sections or subsections of the UCC are references to such Sections or subsections, as the case may be, of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof.

“Uncertificated Security” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 8-102(a)(18) of the UCC.

“Voting Equity Interests” of any Person shall mean all classes of Equity Interests of such Person entitled to vote.

PLEDGE OF SECURITIES, ETC.

3.1 Pledge. To secure the Secured Obligations now or hereafter owed or to be performed by such Pledgor, each Pledgor does hereby grant, pledge and assign to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties, and does hereby create a continuing security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties in and a continuing lien on, all of its right, title and interest in and to the following, whether now existing or hereafter from time to time acquired, wherever located (collectively, the “Collateral”):

(a)

each of the Collateral Accounts (to the extent a security interest therein is not created pursuant to the Security Agreement), including any and all assets of whatever type or kind deposited by such Pledgor in any such Collateral Account, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, existing or arising, including, without limitation, all Financial Assets, Investment Property, monies, checks, drafts, Instruments, Securities or interests therein of any type or nature deposited or required by the Indenture Documents to be deposited in such Collateral Account, and all investments and all certificates and other Instruments (including depository receipts, if any) from time to time representing or evidencing the same, and all dividends, interest, distributions, cash and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the foregoing;

(b)

all Securities owned or held by such Pledgor from time to time and all options and warrants owned by such Pledgor from time to time to purchase Securities;

(c)

to the extent not otherwise included, all rights of any nature whatsoever in respect of the Securities owned or held by such Pledgor from time to time, including, without limitation, all voting rights and economic rights in the Pledgor of the Securities;

(d)

all Limited Liability Company Interests owned by such Pledgor from time to time and all of its right, title and interest in each limited liability company to which each such Limited Liability Company Interest relates, whether now existing or hereafter acquired, including, without limitation, to the fullest extent permitted under the terms and provisions of the documents and agreements governing such Limited Liability Company Interests and applicable law:

(A) all its capital therein and its interest in all profits, income, surpluses, losses, Limited Liability Company Assets and other distributions to which such Pledgor shall at any time be entitled in respect of such Limited Liability Company Interests;

(B) all other payments due or to become due to such Pledgor in respect of Limited Liability Company Interests, whether under any limited liability company agreement or otherwise, whether as contractual obligations, damages, insurance proceeds or otherwise;

(C) all of its claims, rights, powers, privileges, authority, options, security interests, liens and remedies, if any, under any limited liability company agreement or operating agreement, or at law or otherwise in respect of such Limited Liability Company Interests;

(D) all present and future claims, if any, of such Pledgor against any such limited liability company for monies loaned or advanced, for services rendered or otherwise;

(E) all of such Pledgor’s rights under any limited liability company agreement or operating agreement or at law to exercise and enforce every right, power, remedy, authority, option and privilege of such Pledgor relating to such Limited Liability Company Interests, including any power to terminate, cancel or modify any such limited liability company agreement or operating agreement, to execute any instruments and to take any and all other action on behalf of and in the name of any of such Pledgor in respect of such Limited Liability Company Interests and any such limited liability company, to make determinations, to exercise any election (including, but not limited to, election of remedies) or option or to give or receive any notice, consent, amendment, waiver or approval, together with full power and authority to demand, receive, enforce, collect or receipt for any of the foregoing or for any Limited Liability Company Asset, to enforce or execute any checks, or other instruments or orders, to file any claims and to take any action in connection with any of the foregoing; and

(F) all other property hereafter delivered in substitution for or in addition to any of the foregoing, all certificates and instruments representing or evidencing such other property and all cash, securities, interest, dividends, rights and other property at any time and from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all thereof;

(e)

all Partnership Interests owned by such Pledgor from time to time and all of its right, title and interest in each partnership to which each such Partnership Interest relates, whether now existing or hereafter acquired, including, without limitation, to the fullest extent permitted under the terms and provisions of the documents and agreements governing such Partnership Interests and applicable law:

(A) all its capital therein and its interest in all profits, income, surpluses, losses, Partnership Assets and other distributions to which such Pledgor shall at any time be entitled in respect of such Partnership Interests;

(B) all other payments due or to become due to such Pledgor in respect of Partnership Interests, whether under any partnership agreement or otherwise, whether as contractual obligations, damages, insurance proceeds or otherwise;

(C) all of its claims, rights, powers, privileges, authority, options, security interests, liens and remedies, if any, under any partnership agreement or operating agreement, or at law or otherwise in respect of such Partnership Interests;

(D) all present and future claims, if any, of such Pledgor against any such partnership for monies loaned or advanced, for services rendered or otherwise;

(E) all of such Pledgor’s rights under any partnership agreement or operating agreement or at law to exercise and enforce every right, power, remedy, authority, option and privilege of such Pledgor relating to such Partnership Interests, including any power to terminate, cancel or modify any partnership agreement or operating agreement, to execute any instruments and to take any and all other action on behalf of and in the name of such Pledgor in respect of such Partnership Interests and any such partnership, to make determinations, to exercise any election (including, but not limited to, election of remedies) or option or to give or receive any notice, consent, amendment, waiver or approval, together with full power and authority to demand, receive, enforce, collect or receipt for any of the foregoing or for any Partnership Asset, to enforce or execute any checks, or other instruments or orders, to file any claims and to take any action in connection with any of the foregoing; and

(f)

all Financial Assets and Investment Property owned by such Pledgor from time to time;

(g)

all Security Entitlements owned by such Pledgor from time to time in any and all of the foregoing; and

(h)

all Proceeds of any and all of the foregoing;

provided that (x) no Pledgor shall be required at any time to pledge hereunder more than 65.0% of all of the outstanding voting Capital Stock of any direct Exempted Foreign Entity and (y) each Pledgor shall be required to pledge hereunder 100% of the Non-Voting Equity Interests of each direct Exempted Foreign Entity at any time and from time to time acquired by such Pledgor, which Non-Voting Equity Interests shall not be subject to the limitations described in preceding clause (x).

Notwithstanding any of the other provisions set forth in this Section 3.1 to the contrary, the term Collateral shall not include, and this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any Excluded Assets; provided that immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any restriction or condition covering, or resulting in, any asset or other property of a Pledgor constituting Excluded Assets, the Collateral shall (in the absence of any other applicable limitation) include, and such Pledgor shall be deemed to have granted a security interest in, such Xxxxxxx’s right, title and interest in and to such asset or other property and such asset or other property shall no longer constitute Excluded Assets.

3.2 Procedures. (a) To the extent that any Pledgor at any time or from time to time owns, acquires or obtains any right, title or interest in any Collateral, such Collateral shall automatically (and without the taking of any action by such Pledgor) be pledged pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement, subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, and, in addition thereto, such Pledgor shall (to the extent provided below) take the following actions as set forth below (as promptly as practicable and, in any event, within 10 Business Days after it obtains such Collateral) for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Notes Secured Parties:

(i) with respect to a Certificated Security (other than a Certificated Security credited on the books of a Clearing Corporation or Securities Intermediary), such Pledgor shall physically deliver such Certificated Security to the Collateral Agent, endorsed in blank;

(ii) with respect to an Uncertificated Security (other than an Uncertificated Security credited on the books of a Clearing Corporation or Securities Intermediary), such Pledgor shall cause the issuer of such Uncertificated Security to either (A) issue to such Pledgor a Certificated Security in lieu of such Uncertificated Security and follow the procedure set forth in Section 3.2(a)(i) hereof or (B) duly authorize, execute, and deliver to the Collateral Agent, an agreement for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Notes Secured Parties substantially in the form of Annex F hereto pursuant to which such issuer agrees to comply with any and all instructions originated by the Collateral Agent without further consent by the registered owner and not to comply with instructions regarding such Uncertificated Security (and any Partnership Interests and Limited Liability Company Interests issued by such issuer) originated by any other Person other than a court of competent jurisdiction (it being understood that the Collateral Agent only will give such instructions to any issuer upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default);

(iii) with respect to a Certificated Security, Uncertificated Security, Partnership Interest or Limited Liability Company Interest credited on the books of a Clearing Corporation or Securities Intermediary (including a Federal Reserve Bank, Participants Trust Company or The Depository Trust Company), such Pledgor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent thereof and shall promptly take (x) all actions required (i) to comply with the applicable rules of such Clearing Corporation or Securities Intermediary and (ii) to perfect the security interest of the Collateral Agent under applicable law (including, in any event, under Sections 9-314(a), (b) and (c), 9-106 and 8-106(d) of the UCC) and (y) such other actions as shall be necessary or desirable to effect the foregoing;

(iv) with respect to a Partnership Interest or a Limited Liability Company Interest (other than a Partnership Interest or Limited Liability Company Interest credited on the books of a Clearing Corporation or Securities Intermediary), (1) if such Partnership Interest or Limited Liability Company Interest is represented by a certificate and is a Security for purposes of the UCC, such Pledgor shall follow the procedure set forth in Section 3.2(a)(i) hereof, and (2) if such Partnership Interest or Limited Liability Company Interest is not represented by a certificate or is not a Security for purposes of the UCC, such Pledgor shall follow the procedure set forth in Section 3.2(a)(ii) hereof;

(v) with respect to any Note (other than Notes with an individual principal amount of $250,000 or less at any time outstanding), physical delivery of such Note to the Collateral Agent, endorsed in blank; and

(vi) with respect to cash proceeds from any of the Collateral described in Section 3.1 hereof, (i) establishment by the Collateral Agent of a cash account (unless such an account is already in existence) in the name of such Pledgor over which the Collateral Agent shall have “control” within the meaning of the UCC and at any time any Event of Default is in existence no withdrawals or transfers may be made therefrom by any Person except with the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent and (ii) deposit of such cash in such cash account.

(b)

In addition to the actions required to be taken pursuant to Section 3.2(a) hereof, each Pledgor shall take the following additional actions with respect to the Collateral:

(i) with respect to all Collateral of such Pledgor whereby or with respect to which the Collateral Agent may obtain “control” thereof within the meaning of Section 8- 106 of the UCC (or under any provision of the UCC as same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or under the laws of any relevant State other than the State of New York), such Pledgor shall take all actions as may be reasonably necessary or as reasonably requested from time to time by the Collateral Agent so that “control” of such Collateral is obtained and at all times held by the Collateral Agent; and

(ii) each Pledgor shall from time to time cause appropriate financing statements (on appropriate forms) under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the various relevant States, covering all Collateral hereunder, to be filed in the relevant filing offices so that at all times the Collateral Agent’s security interest in all Investment Property and other Collateral which can be perfected by the filing of such financing statements (in each case to the maximum extent perfection by filing may be obtained under the laws of the relevant States, including, without limitation, Section 9-312(a) of the UCC) is so perfected.

3.3 Subsequently Acquired Collateral. If any Pledgor shall acquire (by purchase, stock dividend, distribution or otherwise) any additional Collateral at any time or from time to time after the date hereof, (i) such Collateral shall automatically (and without any further action being required to be taken) be subject to the pledge and security interests created pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof and, furthermore, such Pledgor will thereafter take (or cause to be taken) all action (as promptly as practicable and, in any event, within 10 Business Days after it obtains such Collateral) with respect to such Collateral in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.2 hereof, and will promptly thereafter deliver to the Collateral Agent (i) a certificate executed by an Authorized Officer of such Pledgor describing such Collateral and certifying that the same has been duly pledged in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties hereunder and (ii) supplements to Annexes A through G hereto as are necessary to cause such Annexes to be complete and accurate at such time. Without limiting the foregoing, each Pledgor shall be required to pledge hereunder the Equity Interests of any Exempted Foreign Entity at any time and from time to time after the date hereof acquired by such Pledgor, provided that (x) no Pledgor shall be required at any time to pledge hereunder more than 65.0% of all of the outstanding voting Capital Stock of any direct Exempted Foreign Entity and (y) each Pledgor shall be required to pledge hereunder 100% of the Non-Voting Equity Interests of each direct Exempted Foreign Entity at any time and from time to time acquired by such Pledgor.

3.4 Transfer Taxes. Each pledge of Collateral under Section 3.1 or Section 3.3 hereof shall be accompanied by any transfer tax stamps required, or such other documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent as will establish that any applicable tax has been paid, in connection with the pledge of such Collateral.

3.5 Certain Representations and Warranties Regarding the Collateral. Each Pledgor represents and warrants that on the date hereof: (i) each Subsidiary of such Pledgor, and the direct ownership thereof, is listed in Annex A hereto; (ii) the Stock (and any warrants or options to purchase Stock) constituting Collateral held by such Pledgor consists of the number and type of shares of the stock (or warrants or options to purchase any stock) of the corporations as described in Annex B hereto; (iii) such Stock referenced in clause (ii) of this paragraph constitutes that percentage of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the issuing corporation as is set forth in Annex B hereto; (iv) the Notes with a principal amount greater than $250,000 held by such Pledgor consist of the promissory notes described in Annex C hereto where such Pledgor is listed as the lender; (v) the Limited Liability Company Interests constituting Collateral held by such Pledgor consist of the number and type of interests of the Persons described in Annex D hereto; (vi) each such Limited Liability Company Interest referenced in clause (v) of this paragraph constitutes that percentage of the issued and outstanding equity interest of the issuing Person as set forth in Annex D hereto; (vii) the Partnership Interests constituting Collateral held by such Pledgor consist of the number and type of interests of the Persons described in Annex E hereto; (viii) each such Partnership Interest referenced in clause (vii) of this paragraph constitutes that percentage or portion of the entire Partnership Interest of the partnership as set forth in Annex E hereto; (ix) the exact address of the chief executive officer of each such Pledgor is listed on Annex A to the Security Agreement; (x) the Pledgor has complied with the respective procedure set forth in Section 3.2(a) hereof with respect to each item of Collateral described in Annexes C through F hereto; and (xi) on the date hereof, such Pledgor owns no other Securities, Stock, Notes, Limited Liability Company Interests or Partnership Interests, in each case constituting Collateral, other than those listed in Annexes C through F hereof.

APPOINTMENT OF SUB-AGENTS; ENDORSEMENTS, ETC. The Collateral Agent shall have the right to appoint one or more sub-agents for the purpose of retaining physical possession of the Collateral, which may be held in the name of the relevant Pledgor, endorsed or assigned in blank.

VOTING, ETC., WHILE NO EVENT OF DEFAULT. Unless and until there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, each Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the Collateral owned by it, and to give consents, waivers or ratifications in respect thereof; provided that, in each case, no vote shall be cast or any consent, waiver or ratification given or any action taken or omitted to be taken which would violate, result in a breach of any covenant contained in, or be inconsistent with any of the terms of any Indenture Document, or which could reasonably be expected to have the effect of materially impairing the value of the Collateral or any part thereof or in a manner adverse to the position or interests of the Collateral Agent or any other Notes Secured Party in the Collateral, unless expressly permitted by the terms of the Indenture Documents. All such rights of each Pledgor to vote and to give consents, waivers and ratifications shall cease in case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and Section 7 hereof shall become applicable.

DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS. Unless and until there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, all cash dividends, cash distributions, cash Proceeds and other cash amounts payable in respect of the Collateral shall be paid to the respective Pledgor. The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to receive directly, and to retain as part of the Collateral in each case to the extent required to be pledged and delivered hereunder:

(a)

all other or additional stock, notes, certificates, limited liability company interests, partnership interests, instruments or other securities or property paid or distributed by way of dividend or otherwise in respect of the Collateral;

(b)

all other or additional stock, notes, certificates, limited liability company interests, partnership interests, instruments or other securities or property (including, but not limited to, cash (although such cash may be paid directly to the respective Pledgor so long as no Event of Default then exists)) paid or distributed in respect of the Collateral by way of stock-split, spin-off, split-up, reclassification, combination of shares or similar rearrangement; and

(c)

all other or additional stock, notes, certificates, limited liability company interests, partnership interests, instruments or other securities or property (including, but not limited to, cash (although such cash may be paid directly to the respective Pledgor so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing)) which may be paid in respect of the Collateral by reason of any consolidation, merger, exchange of stock, conveyance of assets, liquidation or similar corporate or other reorganization.

Nothing contained in this Section 6 shall limit or restrict in any way the Collateral Agent’s right to receive the proceeds of the Collateral in any form in accordance with Section 3 of this Agreement. All dividends, distributions or other payments which are received by any Pledgor contrary to the provisions of this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Pledgor and shall be forthwith paid over to the Collateral Agent as Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).

REMEDIES IN CASE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT. If there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, then and in every such case, subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to exercise all of the rights, powers and remedies (whether vested in it by this Agreement, any other Indenture Document or by law) for the protection and enforcement of its rights in respect of the Collateral, and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction and also shall be entitled, without limitation, to exercise the following rights, which each Pledgor hereby agrees to be commercially reasonable:

(a)

to receive all amounts payable in respect of the Collateral otherwise payable under Section 6 hereof to the respective Pledgor;

(b)

to transfer all or any part of the Collateral into the Collateral Agent’s name or the name of its nominee or nominees;

(c)

to accelerate any Pledged Note which may be accelerated in accordance with its terms, and take any other lawful action to collect upon any Pledged Note (including, without limitation, to make any demand for payment thereon);

(d)

to vote (and exercise all rights and powers in respect of voting) all or any part of the Collateral (whether or not transferred into the name of the Collateral Agent) and give all consents, waivers and ratifications in respect of the Collateral and otherwise act with respect thereto as though it were the outright owner thereof (each Pledgor hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing the Collateral Agent the proxy and attorney-in- fact of such Pledgor, with full power of substitution to do so);

(e)

at any time and from time to time to sell, assign and deliver, or grant options to purchase, all or any part of the Collateral, or any interest therein, at any public or private sale, without demand of performance, advertisement or, notice of intention to sell or of the time or place of sale or adjournment thereof or to redeem or otherwise purchase or dispose (all of which are hereby waived by each Pledgor to the extent permitted by applicable law), for cash, on credit or for other property, for immediate or future delivery without any assumption of credit risk, and for such price or prices and on such terms as the Collateral Agent in compliance with any mandatory requirements of applicable law may determine, provided at least 10 days’ written notice of the time and place of any such sale shall be given to the respective Pledgor. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any such sale of Collateral regardless of whether any such notice of sale has theretofore been given. Each Pledgor hereby waives and releases to the fullest extent permitted by law any right or equity of redemption with respect to the Collateral, whether before or after sale hereunder, and all rights, if any, of marshalling the Collateral and any other security or the Secured Obligations or otherwise. At any such sale, unless prohibited by applicable law, the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Notes Secured Parties may bid for and purchase all or any part of the Collateral so sold free from any such right or equity of redemption. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Notes Secured Party shall be liable for failure to collect or realize upon any or all of the Collateral or for any delay in so doing nor shall any of them be under any obligation to take any action whatsoever with regard thereto; and

(f)

to set off any and all Collateral against any and all Secured Obligations, and to withdraw any and all cash or other Collateral from any and all Collateral Accounts and to apply such cash and other Collateral to the payment of any and all Secured Obligations.

REMEDIES, CUMULATIVE, ETC. Each and every right, power and remedy of the Collateral Agent provided for in this Agreement or in any other Indenture Document, or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute shall be cumulative and concurrent and shall be in addition to every other such right, power or remedy. The exercise or beginning of the exercise by the Collateral Agent or any other Notes Secured Party of any one or more of the rights, powers or remedies provided for in this Agreement or any other Indenture Document or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise by the Collateral Agent or any other Notes Secured Party of all such other rights, powers or remedies, and no failure or delay on the part of the Collateral Agent or any other Notes Secured Party to exercise any such right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof. No notice to or demand on any Pledgor in any case shall entitle it to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of any of the rights of the Collateral Agent or any other Notes Secured Party to any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand. The Notes Secured Parties agree that this Agreement may be enforced only by the action of the Collateral Agent and that no other Notes Secured Party shall have any right individually to seek to enforce or to enforce this Agreement or to realize upon the security to be granted hereby, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties upon the terms of this Agreement and the Security Agreement.

APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS.

(a)

Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, all monies and other property and assets collected or received by the Collateral Agent or any other Notes Secured Party upon any sale or other disposition of the Collateral pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, together with all other monies and other property and assets collected or received by the Collateral Agent hereunder or upon any distribution of (or on account of) Collateral (whether or not characterized as such) in connection with any case, proceeding or other action of the type described in Sections 7.01(i) and (j) of the Indenture, shall be applied in the manner provided in Section 7.4 of the Security Agreement.

(b)

It is understood and agreed that each Pledgor shall remain jointly and severally liable with respect to its Secured Obligations to the extent of any deficiency between the amount of the proceeds of the Collateral pledged by it hereunder and the aggregate amount of such Secured Obligations.

10.

PURCHASERS OF COLLATERAL. Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Collateral Agent hereunder (whether by virtue of the power of sale herein granted, pursuant to judicial process or otherwise), the receipt of the Collateral Agent or the officer making such sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold, and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication or non-application thereof.

11.

INDEMNITY. The indemnity obligations of each Pledgor contained in this Section 11 shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the full payment of all the New Notes issued under the Indenture, the resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent and the payment of all other Secured Obligations and notwithstanding the discharge thereof and the occurrence of the Termination Date. Section 13.11 of the Indenture (Compensation and Indemnity) and the other rights, protections and privileges afforded the Collateral Agent under the Indenture and the other Indenture Documents are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein mutatis mutandis.

12.

COLLATERAL AGENT NOT A PARTNER OR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MEMBER. (a) Nothing herein shall be construed to make the Collateral Agent or any other Notes Secured Party liable as a member of any limited liability company or as a partner of any partnership and neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Notes Secured Party by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise (except as referred to in the following sentence) shall have any of the duties, obligations or liabilities of a member of any limited liability company or as a partner in any partnership. The parties hereto expressly agree that, unless the Collateral Agent shall become the absolute owner of Collateral consisting of a Limited Liability Company Interest or a Partnership Interest pursuant hereto, this Agreement shall not be construed as creating a partnership or joint venture among the Collateral Agent, any other Notes Secured Party, any Pledgor and/or any other Person.

(b)

Except as provided in the last sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 12, the Collateral Agent, by accepting this Agreement, did not intend to become a member of any limited liability company or a partner of any partnership or otherwise be deemed to be a co-venturer with respect to any Pledgor, any limited liability company, partnership and/or any other Person either before or after an Event of Default shall have occurred. The Collateral Agent shall have only those powers set forth herein and the Notes Secured Parties shall assume none of the duties, obligations or liabilities of a member of any limited liability company or as a partner of any partnership or any Pledgor except as provided in the last sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 12.

(c)

The Collateral Agent and the other Notes Secured Parties shall not be obligated to perform or discharge any obligation of any Pledgor as a result of the pledge hereby effected.

(d)

The acceptance by the Collateral Agent of this Agreement, with all the rights, powers, privileges and authority so created, shall not at any time or in any event obligate the Collateral Agent or any other Notes Secured Party to appear in or defend any action or proceeding relating to the Collateral to which it is not a party, or to take any action hereunder or thereunder, or to expend any money or incur any expenses or perform or discharge any obligation, duty or liability under the Collateral.

13.

FURTHER ASSURANCES; POWER-OF-ATTORNEY. (a) Each Pledgor agrees that it will join with the Collateral Agent in executing and, at such Xxxxxxx’s own expense, file and refile under the UCC or other applicable law such financing statements, continuation statements and other documents, in such offices as shall be reasonably necessary or as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and wherever required or permitted by law in order to perfect and preserve the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Collateral hereunder and hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to file financing statements and amendments thereto relative to all or any part of the Collateral (including, without limitation, financing statements which list the Collateral specifically and/or “all assets” as collateral without the signature of such Pledgor where permitted by law, and agrees to do such further acts and things and to execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent such additional conveyances, assignments, agreements and instruments as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to carry into effect the purposes of this Agreement or to further assure and confirm unto the Collateral Agent its rights, powers and remedies hereunder or thereunder.

(b)

Each Pledgor hereby constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent its true and lawful attorney-in-fact, irrevocably (until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms or the release of such Pledgor from its obligations under this Agreement), with full authority in the place and stead of such Pledgor and in the name of such Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time solely after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to act, require, demand, receive, compound, recover, compromise and give acquittance for any and all monies and claims for monies due or to become due to such Pledgor under or arising out of the Collateral, to endorse any checks or other instruments or orders in connection therewith and to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings and to execute any instrument which the Collateral Agent may request to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, which appointment as attorney is coupled with an interest. The Collateral Agent and the other Notes Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts actually received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to them herein, and neither they nor their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to any Assignor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment.

14.

THE COLLATERAL AGENT. The Collateral Agent will hold in accordance with this Agreement all items of the Collateral at any time received under this Agreement. It is expressly understood, acknowledged and agreed by each Notes Secured Party that by accepting the benefits of this Agreement each such Notes Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that the obligations of the Collateral Agent as holder of the Collateral and interests therein and with respect to the disposition thereof, and otherwise under this Agreement, are only those expressly set forth in this Agreement, the other Collateral Documents and the Indenture Documents. The Collateral Agent shall act hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the other Collateral Documents and the Indenture Documents. The provisions of Article 13 of the Indenture shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent, and shall be binding upon all Pledgors and all Notes Secured Parties, in connection with this Agreement and the other Indenture Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) the duties of the Collateral Manager shall be ministerial and administrative in nature and the Collateral Agent shall not be subject to any trust, fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and no implied covenants, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Indenture Documents and the Collateral Documents or otherwise exist against the Collateral Agent and (ii) the Collateral Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Indenture Documents that the Collateral Agent is required in writing to exercise in accordance with the Indenture Documents. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in no event shall the Collateral Agent (i) be liable or responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Agreement (including the preparation, filing or continuation of any Uniform Commercial Code financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), (ii) be liable or responsible for, and the Collateral Agent makes no representation regarding, the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or priority of this Agreement or the security interests or Liens intended to be created hereby or (iii) be liable or responsible for any failure of the Pledgors or any party to the Intercreditor Agreement or the Indenture Documents to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

15.

TRANSFER BY THE PLEDGORS. Except as permitted (i) prior to the date all Secured Obligations have been paid in full and (ii) thereafter, pursuant to the other Indenture Documents, no Pledgor will sell or otherwise dispose of, grant any option with respect to, or mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber any of the Collateral or any interest therein.

16.

REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE PLEDGORS. (a) Each Pledgor represents, warrants and covenants as to itself and each of its Subsidiaries that:

(i) it is the legal, beneficial and record owner of, and has good and marketable title to, all of its Collateral consisting of one or more Securities, Partnership Interests and Limited Liability Company Interests and that it has sufficient interest in all of its Collateral in which a security interest is purported to be created hereunder for such security interest to attach (subject, in each case, to no pledge, lien, mortgage, hypothecation, security interest, charge, option, Adverse Claim or other encumbrance whatsoever, except the liens and security interests created by this Agreement and Permitted Liens);

(ii) it has full power, authority and legal right to pledge all the Collateral pledged by it pursuant to this Agreement;

(iii) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Pledgor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Pledgor enforceable against such Pledgor in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability hereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws generally affecting creditors’ rights and by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law);

(iv) except to the extent already obtained or made, no consent of any other party (including, without limitation, any stockholder, partner, member or creditor of such Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries) and no consent, license, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required to be obtained by such Pledgor in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by such Pledgor, (b) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement against such Pledgor (except as set forth in clause (iii) above), (c) the perfection or enforceability of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in such Pledgor’s Collateral or (d) except for compliance with or as may be required by applicable securities laws, the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights or remedies provided herein;

(v) neither the execution, delivery or performance by such Pledgor of this Agreement or any other Indenture Document to which it is a party, nor compliance by it with the terms and provisions hereof and thereof nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein: (i) will contravene any provision of any applicable Legal Requirement or Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign, applicable to such Pledgor; (ii) will conflict or be inconsistent with or result in any breach of any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien (except pursuant to the Collateral Documents and Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of such Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, credit agreement, loan agreement or any other material agreement, contract or other instrument to which such Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is otherwise bound, or by which it or any of its properties or assets is bound or to which it may be subject; or (iii) will violate any provision of the organizational documents of such Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries;

(vi) all of such Pledgor’s Collateral (consisting of Securities, Limited Liability Company Interests and Partnership Interests) has been duly and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is subject to no options to purchase or similar rights;

(vii) each of such Pledgor’s Pledged Notes constitutes, or when executed by the obligor thereof will constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of such obligor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws generally affecting creditors’ rights and by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law);

(viii) the pledge, collateral assignment and delivery to the Collateral Agent of such Pledgor’s Collateral consisting of Certificated Securities and Pledged Notes pursuant to this Agreement creates a valid and perfected first priority security interest in such Certificated Securities and Pledged Notes, and the proceeds thereof, subject to no prior Lien or encumbrance or to any agreement purporting to grant to any third party a Lien or encumbrance on the property or assets of such Pledgor which would include the Securities (other than, subject to the terms of the First Priority Intercreditor Agreement, the Liens securing the First Lien Obligations) and the Collateral Agent is entitled to all the rights, priorities and benefits afforded by the UCC or other relevant law as enacted in any relevant jurisdiction to perfect security interests in respect of such Collateral; and

(ix) “control” (as defined in Section 8-106 of the UCC) has been obtained by the Collateral Agent over all of such Pledgor’s Collateral consisting of Securities (including, without limitation, Notes which are Securities) with respect to which such “control” may be obtained pursuant to Section 8-106 of the UCC, except to the extent that the obligation of the applicable Pledgor to provide the Collateral Agent with “control” of such Collateral has not yet arisen under this Agreement; provided that in the case of the Collateral Agent obtaining “control” over Collateral consisting of a Security Entitlement, such Pledgor shall have taken all steps in its control so that the Collateral Agent obtains “control” over such Security Entitlement.

(b)

Each Pledgor covenants and agrees that it will defend the Collateral Agent’s right, title and security interest in and to such Xxxxxxx’s Collateral and the proceeds thereof against the claims and demands of all persons whomsoever; and each Pledgor covenants and agrees that it will have like title to and right to pledge any other property at any time hereafter pledged to the Collateral Agent by such Pledgor as Collateral hereunder and will likewise defend the right thereto and security interest therein of the Collateral Agent and the other Notes Secured Parties.

(c)

Each Pledgor covenants and agrees that it will take no action which would violate any of the terms of any Indenture Document.

17.

LEGAL NAMES; TYPE OF ORGANIZATION (AND WHETHER A REGISTERED ORGANIZATION); JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION; LOCATION; FEDERAL EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER; CHANGES THERETO; ETC. The exact legal name of each Pledgor, the type of organization of such Pledgor, the Location of such Pledgor and the federal employer identification number of such Pledgor (if any), is listed on Annex C to the Security Agreement. No Pledgor shall change its legal name, its type of organization, its status as a Registered Organization (in the case of a Registered Organization), its jurisdiction of organization, its Location or its federal employer identification number (if any) except that any such changes shall be permitted (so long as not in violation of the applicable requirements of the Indenture Documents and so long as same do not involve (x) a Registered Organization ceasing to constitute same or (y) any Pledgor changing its jurisdiction of organization or Location, as the case may be, from the United States or a State thereof) if (i) it shall have given to the Collateral Agent not less than 5 Business Days’ prior written notice of each change to the information listed on Annex A (as adjusted for any subsequent changes thereto previously made in accordance with this sentence), together with a supplement to Annex A which shall correct all information contained therein for such Pledgor, and (ii) in connection with the respective change or changes, it shall have taken all action reasonably necessary or as reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to maintain the security interests of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral intended to be granted hereby at all times fully perfected and in full force and effect.

18.

PLEDGORS’ OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE, ETC. The obligations of each Pledgor under this Agreement shall be absolute and unconditional and shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and shall not be released, suspended, discharged, terminated or otherwise affected by, any circumstance or occurrence whatsoever (other than termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 20 hereof), including, without limitation:

(i) any renewal, extension, amendment or modification of, or addition or supplement to or deletion from any Indenture Document (other than this Agreement in accordance with its terms), or any other instrument or agreement referred to therein, or any assignment or transfer of any thereof;

(ii) any waiver, consent, extension, indulgence or other action or inaction under or in respect of any such agreement or instrument including, without limitation, this Agreement (other than a waiver, consent or extension with respect to this Agreement in accordance with its terms);

(iii) any furnishing of any additional security to the Collateral Agent or its assignee or any acceptance thereof or any release of any security by the Collateral Agent or its assignee;

(iv) any limitation on any party’s liability or obligations under any such instrument or agreement or any invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of any such instrument or agreement or any term thereof; or

(v) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, composition, adjustment, dissolution, liquidation or other like proceeding relating to any Pledgor or any Subsidiary of any Pledgor, or any action taken with respect to this Agreement by any trustee or receiver, or by any court, in any such proceeding, whether or not such Pledgor shall have notice or knowledge of any of the foregoing.

19.

SALE OF COLLATERAL WITHOUT REGISTRATION. If at any time when the Collateral Agent shall exercise its right to sell all or any part of the Collateral consisting of Securities, Limited Liability Company Interests or Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 7 hereof, and such Collateral or the part thereof to be sold shall not, for any reason whatsoever, be effectively registered under the Securities Act, as then in effect, the Collateral Agent may sell such Collateral or part thereof by private sale in such manner and under such circumstances as the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem necessary or advisable in order that such sale may legally be effected without such registration. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in any such event the Collateral Agent (i) may proceed to make such private sale notwithstanding that a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Collateral or part thereof shall have been filed under such Securities Act, (ii) may approach and negotiate with a single possible purchaser to effect such sale, and (iii) may restrict such sale to a purchaser who will represent and agree that such purchaser is purchasing for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or sale of such Collateral or part thereof. In the event of any such sale, the Collateral Agent shall incur no responsibility or liability for selling all or any part of the Collateral at a price which the Collateral Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, may in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct deem reasonable under the circumstances, notwithstanding the possibility that a substantially higher price might be realized if the sale were deferred until the registration as aforesaid.

20.

TERMINATION; RELEASE. (a) On the Termination Date, this Agreement and the security interest created hereby shall automatically and irrevocably terminate (provided that all indemnities set forth herein including, without limitation, in Section 11 hereof shall survive any such termination) and the Collateral Agent, at the written request and sole expense of such Pledgor, will execute and deliver to such Pledgor a proper instrument or instruments (including UCC termination statements and control agreement terminations) acknowledging the satisfaction and termination of this Agreement (including, without limitation, UCC termination statements and instruments of satisfaction, discharge and/or reconveyance), and will automatically and irrevocably be released from the security interest created hereby and will promptly assign, transfer and deliver to such Pledgor or its designee on behalf of such Pledgor (without recourse and without any representation or warranty) such of the Collateral as may be in the possession of the Collateral Agent and as has not theretofore been sold or otherwise applied or released pursuant to this Agreement, together with any moneys at the time held by the Collateral Agent or any of its sub-agents hereunder and, with respect to any Collateral consisting of an Uncertificated Security, a Partnership Interest or a Limited Liability Company Interest (other than an Uncertificated Security, Partnership Interest or Limited Liability Company Interest credited on the books of a Clearing Corporation or Securities Intermediary), a termination of the agreement relating thereto executed and delivered by the issuer of such Uncertificated Security pursuant to Section 3.2(a)(ii) or by the respective partnership or limited liability company pursuant to Section 3.2(a)(iv)(2).

(b)

In the event that any part of the Collateral is sold or otherwise disposed of (to a Person other than a Notes Secured Party) at any time prior to the Termination Date, in connection with a sale or disposition permitted by the Indenture or is otherwise released in accordance with the terms of the Indenture Documents and the proceeds of such sale or disposition (or from such release) are applied in accordance with the terms of the Indenture Documents to the extent required to be so applied, the Collateral Agent, at the written request and sole expense of such Pledgor, will duly release from the security interest created hereby (and will execute and deliver such documentation, including termination or partial release statements and the like in connection therewith) and assign, transfer and deliver to such Pledgor (without recourse and without any representation or warranty) such of the Collateral as is then being (or has been) so sold or released and as may be in the possession of the Collateral Agent (or, in the case of Collateral held by any sub-agent designated pursuant to Section 4 hereof, such sub-agent) and has not theretofore been released pursuant to this Agreement. At any time that any Pledgor desires that Collateral be released as provided in the foregoing Section 20(a) or (b), it shall deliver to the Collateral Agent (and the relevant sub-agent, if any, designated pursuant to Section 4 hereof) a certificate signed by an authorized officer of such Pledgor certifying that the release of the respective Collateral is permitted pursuant to the Indenture Documents, including Section 20(a) or (b) hereof.

(c)

The Collateral Agent shall have no liability whatsoever to any other Notes Secured Party as the result of any release of Collateral by it in accordance with (or which the Collateral Agent in the absence of gross negligence and willful misconduct believes to be in accordance with) this Section 20.

21.

NOTICES, ETC. Except as otherwise specified herein, all notices, requests, demands or other communications to or upon the respective parties hereto shall be sent or delivered by e-mail, mail, telegraph, telex, telecopy, cable or courier service and all such notices and communications shall, when e-mailed, mailed, telegraphed, telexed, telecopied, or cabled or sent by courier, be effective when deposited in the mails, delivered to the telegraph company, cable company or overnight courier, as the case may be, or sent by telex or telecopier, except that notices and communications to the Collateral Agent or any Pledgor shall not be effective until received by the Collateral Agent or such Pledgor, as the case may be. All notices and other communications shall be in writing and addressed as follows:

(a)

if to any Pledgor, at its address set forth in the Security Agreement;

(b)

if to the Collateral Agent, at its address set forth in the Security Agreement,

or at such other address or addressed to such other individual as shall have been furnished in writing by any Person described above to the party required to give notice hereunder.

22.

WAIVER; AMENDMENT. Except as provided in Sections 30 and 32 hereof, none of the terms and conditions of this Agreement may be changed, waived, modified or varied in any manner whatsoever except in accordance with the requirements specified in the Security Agreement and the Indenture.

23.

SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and effect, subject to release and/or termination as set forth in Section 20 hereof, (ii) be binding upon each Pledgor, its successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that no Pledgor shall assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder except as may otherwise be permitted by the Indenture Documents, and (iii) inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder, to the benefit of the Collateral Agent, the other Notes Secured Parties and their respective successors, transferees and permitted assigns. All agreements, statements, representations and warranties made by each Pledgor herein or in any certificate or other instrument delivered by such Pledgor or on its behalf under this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Notes Secured Parties and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Indenture Documents regardless of any investigation made by the Notes Secured Parties or on their behalf.

24.

HEADINGS DESCRIPTIVE. The headings of the several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.

25.

GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. Sections 12.07 and 12.15 of the Indenture are hereby incorporated by this reference, mutatis mutandis.

26.

XXXXXXX’S DUTIES. It is expressly agreed, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, that each Pledgor shall remain liable to perform all of the obligations, if any, assumed by it with respect to the Collateral and the Collateral Agent shall not have any obligations or liabilities with respect to any Collateral by reason of or arising out of this Agreement, except for the safekeeping of Collateral actually in Pledgor’s possession, nor shall the Collateral Agent be required or obligated in any manner to perform or fulfill any of the obligations of any Pledgor under or with respect to any Collateral.

27.

COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart hereof by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart hereof.

28.

SEVERABILITY. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

29.

RECOURSE. This Agreement is made with full recourse to each Pledgor and pursuant to and upon all the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements on the part of such Pledgor contained herein and in the other Indenture Documents and otherwise in writing in connection herewith or therewith.

30.

ADDITIONAL PLEDGORS. It is understood and agreed that any Subsidiary of Company that is required to become a party to this Agreement after the date hereof pursuant to the requirements of the Indenture or any other Indenture Document, shall become a Pledgor hereunder by (x) executing a joinder agreement in the form of Annex G hereto and delivering same to the Collateral Agent, (y) delivering supplements to Annexes A through G, hereto as are necessary to cause such annexes to be complete and accurate with respect to such additional Pledgor on such date and (z) taking all actions as specified in this Agreement as would have been taken by such Pledgor had it been an original party to this Agreement, in each case with all documents required above to be delivered to the Collateral Agent and with all documents and actions required above to be taken.

31.

LIMITED OBLIGATIONS. It is the desire and intent of each Pledgor and the Notes Secured Parties that this Agreement shall be enforced against each Pledgor to the fullest extent permissible under the laws applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in furtherance of the foregoing, it is noted that the obligations of each Pledgor constituting a Guarantor have been limited as provided in the Indenture.

32.

RELEASE OF PLEDGORS. If at any time any Pledgor ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction permitted pursuant to the Indenture Documents ((other than upon the basis of such Person ceasing to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction with the primary intention to release such Subsidiary from its Guarantee in Article 11 of the Indenture)), then, such Pledgor shall be released as a Pledgor pursuant to this Agreement without any further action hereunder, and the Collateral Agent is authorized and directed, at the sole expense of the Company, to execute and deliver such instruments of release as may be reasonably requested in writing by the Company. At any time that the Company desires that a Pledgor be released from this Agreement as provided in this Section 32, the Company shall deliver to the Collateral Agent a certificate signed by an authorized officer of the Company stating that the release of such Pledgor is permitted pursuant to this Section 32. The Collateral Agent shall have no liability whatsoever to any other Notes Secured Party as a result of the release of any Pledgor by it in accordance with, or which it believes in the absence of gross negligence and willful misconduct to be in accordance with, this Section 32.

33.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS SUBJECT TO INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. Without limiting the generality of Section 1(b): (a) the Liens granted hereunder in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Secured Parties in respect of the Collateral and the exercise of any right related thereto thereby shall be subject, in each case, to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and (b) notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any provision hereof that requires (or any representation or warranty hereunder to the extent that it would have the effect of requiring) any Assignor to (i) deliver any Collateral to the Collateral Agent, or (ii) provide that the Collateral Agent have control over such Collateral (or, in the case of any representation or warranty hereunder, shall be deemed to be true) by (A) with respect to subclause (i) hereof, the delivery of such Collateral by such Assignor to the First Lien Agent for the benefit of the First Lien Creditors and the Notes Secured Parties pursuant to Section 4.7 of the First Priority Intercreditor Agreement, and (B) with respect to subclause (ii) hereof, providing that the First Lien Agent be provided with control with respect to such Collateral of such Assignor for the benefit of the secured parties under the First Priority Collateral Documents and the Notes Secured Parties pursuant to Section 4.7 of the First Priority Intercreditor Agreement.

34.

ANNUAL UPDATE. Each Pledgor agrees that it shall, concurrently with the delivery of annual financial statements pursuant to Section 5.03(1) of the Indenture, furnish to the Collateral Agent, to the extent there are any changes to such Annexes, updated Annexes A through G hereto and be deemed to have made each representation or warranty set forth herein referencing such Annexes as of the date of delivery thereof (rather than the date of this Agreement).

* * * *

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Pledgor and the Collateral Agent have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly elected officers duly authorized as of the date first above written.

	CURO GROUP HOLDINGS CORP. as the Issuer and a Pledgor

	By:	/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
	Name:	Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
	Title:	President

	CURO FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

	CURO INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS CORP.

	CURO MANAGEMENT LLC

	SOUTHERNCO, INC.

	FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT, LLC

	FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT OF ALABAMA, LLC

	FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT OF LOUISIANA, LLC

	FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT OF MISSISSIPPI, LLC

	FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT OF SOUTH CAROLINA, LLC

	FIRST HERITAGE CREDIT OF TENNESSEE, LLC
	each as a Pledgor

	By:	/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
	Name:	Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
	Title:	President

[Signature Page to Pledge Agreement]

	CURO VENTURES, LLC

	ATTAIN FINANCE, LLC

	AD ASTRA RECOVERY SERVICES, INC.

	CURO COLLATERAL SUB, LLC

	CURO CREDIT, LLC

	SOUTHERN FINANCE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, INC.

	SOUTHERN FINANCE OF TENNESSEE, INC.

	XXXXXXXXX CREDIT, INC.

	XXXXXXXXX CREDIT OF GEORGIA, INC.

	XXXXXXXXX CREDIT OF ALABAMA, INC.

	XXXXXXXXX CREDIT OF TEXAS, INC.

	HEIGHTS FINANCE HOLDING CO.

	HEIGHTS FINANCE CORPORATION, an Illinois corporation

	HEIGHTS FINANCE CORPORATION, a Tennessee corporation

	QUICK CREDIT CORPORATION
	each as a Pledgor

	By:	/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
	Name:	Xxxx X. Xxxx
	Title:	President

[Signature Page to Pledge Agreement]

	ENNOBLE FINANCE, LLC
	as a Pledgor

	By:	Curo Intermediate Holdings Corp.
	Its:	Sole Member

	By:	/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
	Name:	Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
	Title:	President

[Signature Page to Pledge Agreement]

Accepted and Agreed to:

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
As Collateral Agent

By:	/s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name:	Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title:	Vice President

[Signature Page to Pledge Agreement]

Document Metadata

Table of Contents

PLEDGE AGREEMENT among CURO GROUP HOLDINGS CORP., CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF CURO GROUP HOLDINGS CORP. and U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as COLLATERAL AGENT Dated as of May 15, 2023

Document Metadata