PLEDGE AGREEMENT
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THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this "Pledge Agreement"), dated as of February
__, 1997 is made by PEN-TAB HOLDINGS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS PEN-TAB
INDUSTRIES, INC.), a Virginia corporation (the Pledgor"), in favor of BANK OF
AMERICA ILLINOIS (the "Bank").
W I T N E S S E T H:
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WHEREAS, PEN-TAB INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Borrower"), has entered into that certain Second Amended and Restated Loan and
Security Agreement, dated as of even date herewith (said Second Amended and
Restated Loan and Security Agreement, as amended, supplemented, modified,
restated, refinanced, refunded or renewed from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein are used herein as
defined in the Credit Agreement) with the Bank, pursuant to which the Bank has
agreed to make Revolving Loans and issue Letters of Credit on behalf of
Borrower, subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Borrower is party to that certain Reimbursement Agreement
dated as of even date herewith between the Borrower and the Bank (said
Reimbursement Agreement, as amended, supplemented, modified, restated,
refinanced, refunded or renewed from time to time, the "Reimbursement
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Bank has issued an irrevocable letter of
credit for the account of Borrower, subject to the terms and conditions of the
Reimbursement Agreement;
WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to the making of the Revolving Loans
and the issuance of the Letters of Credit by the Bank under the Credit Agreement
and the continuance of the irrevocable letter of credit under the Reimbursement
Agreement, the Pledgor is required to execute and deliver this Pledge Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Pledgor will derive significant direct and indirect
benefits from the making of the Revolving Loans and the issuance and
continuation of the Letters of Credit by the Bank; and
WHEREAS, the Pledgor has duly authorized the execution, delivery and
performance of this Pledge Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and in order to induce the Bank to
make Revolving Loans to the
Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the Bank to issue and/or continue
Letters of Credit pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the Reimbursement
Agreement, the Pledgor agrees, for the benefit of the Bank, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Certain Terms. The following terms when used in this
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Pledge Agreement, including its preamble and recitals, shall have the following
meanings (such definitions to be equally applicable to the singular and plural
forms thereof):
"Bank" is defined in the Preamble.
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"Borrower" is defined in the first Recital.
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"Collateral" is defined in Section 2.1.
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"Credit Agreement" is defined in the first Recital.
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"Credit Documents" is defined in Section 2.2.
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"Distributions" means all stock dividends, liquidating dividends,
shares of stock resulting from (or in connection with the exercise of) stock
splits, reclassifications, warrants, options, non-cash dividends, and other
distributions (whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing) on or with
respect to any Pledged Securities or other shares of capital stock constituting
Collateral, but shall not include Dividends.
"Dividends" means cash dividends and cash distributions with respect
to any Pledged Securities made out of capital surplus.
"Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" under the Credit
Agreement or the Reimbursement Agreement.
"Pledge Agreement" is defined in the Preamble.
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"Pledged Securities" means all shares of capital stock, or other
equity interest of the Borrower, and all of the certificates and instruments
representing such shares of capital stock or other equity interest.
"Pledgor" is defined in the Preamble.
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"Secured Obligations" is defined in Section 2.2.
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"U.C.C." means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State
of Illinois, as the same may be amended from time to time.
SECTION 1.2 Credit Agreement Definitions. Unless otherwise defined
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herein or the context otherwise requires, terms used in this Pledge Agreement,
including its preamble and recitals, have the meanings provided in the Credit
Agreement.
SECTION 1.3 U.C.C. Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein or
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the context otherwise requires, terms for which meanings are provided in the
U.C.C. are used in this Pledge Agreement, including its preamble and recitals,
with such meanings.
ARTICLE II
PLEDGE
SECTION 2.1 Grant of Security Interest. The Pledgor hereby pledges,
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hypothecates, assigns, charges, mortgages, delivers, and transfers to the Bank,
and hereby grants to the Bank, a continuing security interest in, all of the
following property (the "Collateral"):
(a) all Pledged Securities identified in Attachment 1 hereto;
(b) all other Pledged Securities issued from time to time;
(c) all Dividends, Distributions, interest, and other payments and
rights with respect to any Pledged Securities to which the Pledgor is
entitled or entitled to receive a security interest; and
(d) all proceeds of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 2.2 Security for Obligations. This Pledge Agreement secures
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the payment in full of all obligations of every nature of the Borrower and the
Parent now or hereafter existing under the Credit Agreement, the Revolving Note,
the Reimbursement Agreement, the Guaranty and the other Loan Documents and LC
Documents (as such term is defined in the Reimbursement Agreement) (such
documents collectively, the "Credit Documents") whether for principal, interest,
costs, fees, expenses, or otherwise (all such obligations of the Borrower being
the "Secured Obligations").
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SECTION 2.3 Delivery of Pledged Securities; Registration of Pledge,
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Transfer, etc. All certificates or instruments representing or evidencing any
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Collateral, including all Pledged Securities, shall be delivered to and held by
or on behalf of the Bank 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. Prior to the delivery thereof to the
Bank, such certificates or instruments shall be held by the Pledgor separate and
apart from its other property and in express trust for the Bank. To the extent
the Pledgor has such rights, the Bank shall have the right, at any time, to
transfer to, or to register in the name of the Bank or any of its nominees, any
or all of such Pledged Securities, subject only to the revocable rights of the
Pledgor specified in clause (c) of Section 4.4. In addition, to the extent the
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Pledgor has such rights, the Bank shall have the right at any time after a
Default shall have occurred and be continuing to exchange certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing any Pledged Securities for certificates
or instruments of smaller or larger denominations.
SECTION 2.4 Dividends. In the event that any Dividend to which the
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Bank is entitled or entitled to receive a security interest is to be paid on any
Pledged Securities at a time when no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, and the proceeds of such Dividend have not previously been required
to be applied to any of the Secured Obligations, such proceeds may be paid
directly to the Pledgor.
SECTION 2.5 Continuing Security Interest. This Pledge Agreement
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shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall
(a) remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all
Secured Obligations and the termination of all contractual obligations of
the Bank under any Credit Document to extend credit of any nature to
Borrower,
(b) be binding upon the Pledgor and its successors, transferees and
assigns, and
(c) inure to the benefit of the Bank and its successors, transferees,
and assigns.
Without limiting the foregoing clause (c), pursuant to the terms of the Credit
Documents, the Bank may assign, or otherwise transfer (in whole or in part) the
Secured Obligations to any other Person or entity, and such other Person or
entity shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof
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granted to the Bank under any Credit Document (including this Pledge Agreement)
or otherwise. Upon the payment in full of the Secured Obligations and the
termination of all contractual obligations of the Bank under any Credit Document
to extend credit of any nature to Borrower, the security interest granted herein
shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the Pledgor.
Upon any such termination, the Bank will, at the Pledgor's sole expense, deliver
to the Pledgor, without any representations or warranties of any kind
whatsoever, all certificates and instruments representing or evidencing all
Pledged Securities of the Pledgor, together with all other Collateral held by
the Bank hereunder, and execute and deliver to the Pledgor, at the Pledgor's
sole expense, such documents as the Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence
such termination.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Pledgor represents and warrants unto the Bank, as at the date of
each pledge and delivery hereunder (including each pledge of Pledged Securities)
by the Pledgor to the Bank of any Collateral, as follows:
SECTION 3.1 Ownership, No Liens, etc. The Pledgor is the legal and
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beneficial owner of, and has good and marketable title to (and has full right
and authority to pledge and assign) all the Collateral pledged by it under this
Pledge Agreement, free and clear of all liens, security interests, options, or
other charges or encumbrances.
SECTION 3.2 As to Pledged Securities. In the case of any Pledged
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Securities constituting such Collateral, all of such Pledged Securities are duly
authorized and validly issued. The Pledged Securities represent 100% of the
issued and outstanding stock of the Borrower.
SECTION 3.3 Authorization, Approval, etc. Except as may have been
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obtained, no authorization, approval, or other action by, and no notice to or
filing with, any governmental authority, regulatory body or any other Person is
required either
(a) for the pledge by Pledgor of any Collateral pursuant to this
Pledge Agreement or for the execution, delivery, and performance of this
Pledge Agreement by the Pledgor, or
(b) for the exercise by the Bank of the voting or other rights
provided for in this Pledge Agreement, or,
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except with respect to any Pledged Securities, as may be required in
connection with a disposition of such Pledged Securities by laws affecting
the offering and sale of securities generally, the remedies in respect of
the Collateral pursuant to this Pledge Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.1 Protect Collateral; Further Assurances, etc. The Pledgor
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will not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, or encumber in any other manner the
Collateral (except in favor of the Bank hereunder). The Pledgor will warrant
and take reasonable action to defend the right and title herein granted unto the
Bank in and to the Collateral (and all right, title, and interest represented by
the Collateral) against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever. The
Pledgor agrees that at any time, and from time to time, at the expense of the
Pledgor, the Pledgor will promptly execute and deliver all further instruments,
and take all further action, that may be necessary or desirable, or that the
Bank may reasonably request, in order to perfect and protect any security
interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable the Bank to
exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any
Collateral.
SECTION 4.2 Stock Powers, etc. The Pledgor agrees that all Pledged
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Securities (and all other shares of capital stock constituting Collateral)
delivered by the Pledgor pursuant to this Pledge Agreement will be accompanied
by duly executed undated blank stock powers, or other equivalent instruments of
transfer acceptable to the Bank. The Pledgor will, from time to time upon the
request of the Bank, promptly deliver to the Bank such stock powers,
instruments, and similar documents, satisfactory in form and substance to the
Bank, with respect to the Collateral as the Bank may reasonably request and
will, from time to time upon the request of the Bank after the occurrence of any
Event of Default and during the continuance thereof to the extent of any right
to do such, promptly transfer any Pledged Securities into the name of any
nominee designated by the Bank.
SECTION 4.3 Continuous Pledge. Subject to Section 2.4, the Pledgor
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will, at all times, keep pledged to the Bank pursuant hereto all Pledged
Securities and all other shares of capital stock constituting Collateral, all
Dividends and Distributions with respect thereto to which the Pledgor is
entitled, or entitled to receive a security interest in and all other Collateral
and other securities, instruments, proceeds, and
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rights from time to time received by or distributable to the Pledgor in respect
of any Collateral.
SECTION 4.4 Voting Rights; Dividends, etc. The Pledgor agrees to
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deliver (properly endorsed where required hereby or requested by the Bank) to
the Bank:
(a) after an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
promptly upon receipt thereof by the Pledgor and without any request
therefor by the Bank, all Dividends and Distributions (to which the Pledgor
is entitled or entitled to receive a security interest therein) and all
interest, all other cash payments, and all proceeds of the Collateral; and
(b) after an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
promptly upon request of the Bank, such proxies and other documents as may
be necessary to allow the Bank to exercise any voting power to which the
Pledgor is entitled with respect to any share of capital stock (including
Pledged Securities) constituting Collateral;
provided, however, that unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
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continuing, the Pledgor shall be entitled:
(c) to exercise, in its reasonable judgment, but in a manner which
would not have a material adverse effect on the value of the Pledged
Securities, and in a manner not inconsistent with the terms of the Credit
Documents (including this Pledge Agreement) the voting power and all other
incidental rights of ownership with respect to any Pledged Securities or
other shares of capital stock constituting Collateral (subject to the
Pledgor's obligation to deliver to the Bank such Pledged Securities and
other shares in pledge hereunder); and
(d) to the receipt of all Dividends in accordance with Section 2.4.
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All Dividends, Distributions, interest, cash payments, and proceeds which may at
any time and from time to time be held by the Pledgor but which the Pledgor is
then obligated to deliver to the Bank, shall, until delivery to the Bank, be
held by the Pledgor separate and apart from its other property in trust for the
Bank. The Bank agrees that unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, the Bank shall, upon the written request of the Pledgor, promptly
deliver such proxies and other documents, if any, as shall be reasonably
requested by the
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Pledgor which are necessary to allow the Pledgor to exercise any voting power to
which the Pledgor is entitled with respect to any share of capital stock
(including Pledged Securities) constituting Collateral; provided, however, that
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no vote shall be cast, or consent, waiver, or ratification given, or action
taken by the Pledgor that would impair any Collateral or be inconsistent with or
violate any provision of the Credit Documents (including this Pledge Agreement).
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
SECTION 5.1 Certain Remedies. If any Event of Default shall have
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occurred and be continuing:
(a) The Bank 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 secured party on default under the
U.C.C. (whether or not the U.C.C. applies to the affected Collateral) and
also may sell the Collateral or any part thereof after reasonable notice to
the Pledgor in one or more parcels at public or private sale or broker's
board, at any of the Bank's offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or
for future delivery, and upon such other terms as the Bank may deem
commercially reasonable. The Pledgor agrees that the Bank shall be
entitled to bid for or purchase any or all of the Collateral at any such
sale. The Pledgor agrees that at least ten days' notice to the Pledgor 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 Bank
shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice
of sale having been given. The Bank 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 Bank may (to the extent the Pledgor could do so or has done
so)
(i) transfer all or any part of the Collateral
into the name of the Bank or its nominee, with or without
disclosing that such Collateral is subject to the lien
and security interest hereunder,
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(ii) notify the parties obligated on any of the
Collateral to make payment to the Bank 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,
(iv) endorse any checks, drafts, or other
writings in the Pledgor's name to allow collection of
the Collateral,
(v) take control of any proceeds of the
Collateral, and
(vi) execute (in the name, place and stead of
the Pledgor) endorsements, assignments, stock powers
and other instruments of conveyance or transfer with
respect to all or any of the Collateral.
SECTION 5.2 Application of Proceeds. Except as expressly provided
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elsewhere in this Agreement, all proceeds received by the Bank in respect of any
sale of, collection from or other realization upon all or any part of the
Collateral may, in the discretion of the Bank, be held by the Bank as Collateral
for, and/or then, or at any other time thereafter applied, in full or in part by
the Bank against the Secured Obligations.
SECTION 5.3 Indemnity and Expenses. The Pledgor hereby indemnifies
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and holds harmless the Bank from and against any and all claims, losses, and
liabilities growing out of or resulting from this Pledge Agreement (including
enforcement of this Pledge Agreement), except claims, losses, or liabilities
resulting from the Bank's gross negligence or willful misconduct. Upon demand,
the Pledgor will pay to the Bank the amount of any and all reasonable expenses,
including the reasonable fees and disbursements of its counsel and of any
experts and agents, which the Bank may incur in connection with:
(a) the administration of this Pledge Agreement;
(b) the custody, preservation, use, or operation of,
or the sale of, collection from, or other realization upon,
any of the Collateral;
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(c) the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights
of the Bank hereunder; or
(d) the failure by the Pledgor to perform or observe
any of the provisions hereof.
SECTION 5.4 Rights Exercisable. Notwithstanding anything else to the
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contrary herein, the Bank's rights hereunder are limited to whatever rights the
Pledgor have with respect to the Collateral.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 6.1 Credit Documents. This Pledge Agreement is a Credit
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Document executed pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the Reimbursement
Agreement and shall (unless otherwise expressly indicated herein) be construed,
administered and applied in accordance with the terms and provisions of the
Credit Agreement and the Reimbursement Agreement, including Article XIII of the
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Credit Agreement and Article IX of the Reimbursement Agreement.
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SECTION 6.2 Amendments, etc. No amendment to or waiver of any
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provision of this Pledge Agreement nor consent to any departure by the Pledgor
herefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and
signed by the Bank, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in
the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it is given.
SECTION 6.3 Obligations Not Affected. The obligations of the Pledgor
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under this Pledge Agreement shall remain in full force and effect without regard
to, and shall not be impaired or affected by:
(a) any amendment or modification or addition or
supplement to any Credit Document any instrument delivered
in connection therewith, or any assignment or transfer
thereof;
(b) any exercise, non-exercise, or waiver by the Bank of
any right, remedy, power, or privilege under or in respect
of, or any release of any guaranty or collateral provided
pursuant to, this Pledge Agreement or any other Credit
Document;
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(c) any waiver, consent, extension, indulgence, or
other action or inaction in respect of this Pledge Agreement
or any other Credit Document or any assignment or transfer
of any thereof; or
(d) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation, or the
like, of the Pledgor or any other Person, whether or not the
Pledgor shall have notice or knowledge of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 6.4 Protection of Collateral. The Bank may from time to
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time, at its option, perform any act which the Pledgor agrees hereunder to
perform and which the Pledgor shall fail to perform after being requested in
writing so to perform (it being understood that no such request need be given
after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default) and the
Bank may from time to time take any other action which the Bank reasonably deems
necessary for the maintenance, preservation or protection of any of the
Collateral or of its security interest therein.
SECTION 6.5 Notices, Etc. All notices and other communications
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provided for under this Pledge Agreement shall be in writing (including
telegraphic, telex or facsimile communication) and mailed or telecommunicated or
delivered at the address of such party set forth at the address set forth on the
signature page of this Pledge Agreement; or, as to each party, at such other
address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other
party complying as to delivery with the terms of this Section 6.5. All such
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notices and communications shall, when mailed or telecommunicated, be effective
upon actual receipt, or one (1) Business Day after transmitted by telex and the
appropriate answerback received, transmitted by facsimile or delivered to the
telegraph company, respectively, addressed as aforesaid.
SECTION 6.6 Section Captions. Section captions used in this Pledge
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Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not affect the
construction of this Pledge Agreement.
SECTION 6.7 Severability. Wherever possible each provision of this
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Pledge Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and
valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Pledge Agreement shall
be prohibited by or invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the
remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Pledge
Agreement.
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Section 6.8 LAW. THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
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ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ITS PRINCIPLES OF CHOICE OF LAW.
SECTION 6.9 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties to this
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Pledge Agreement hereby irrevocably agree that any legal action or proceeding
pertaining to this Pledge Agreement may be brought in the courts of the State of
Illinois or Federal Court sitting in Chicago, Illinois. Each of the parties to
this Pledge Agreement hereby irrevocably agree that service of process in such
action or proceeding may be made either by mailing, by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid, a copy of the summons or complaint, or other legal
process in such action or proceeding to such party at the address specified
pursuant to Section 6.5. Service of process in any such action or proceeding,
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effected as aforesaid, shall be effective upon receipt by party or such agent
and shall be deemed personal service upon such party and shall be legal and
binding upon such party for all purposes, notwithstanding any failure by such
party's agent to forward copies of such process to such party. Each of the
parties to this Pledge Agreement hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, any objection it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue in any
such action or proceeding in any such court as well as any right it may now or
hereafter have to remove any such action or proceeding, once commenced, to
another court on the grounds of forum non conveniens or otherwise.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Pledge
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers
thereunto duly authorized as of the day and year first above written.
PEN-TAB HOLDINGS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN
AS PEN-TAB INDUSTRIES, INC.), a Virginia
corporation
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: L. Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
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ATTACHMENT 1
to
Pledge Agreement
Pledged Securities
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Certificate #1
100 shares of Pen-Tab Industries, Inc. issued to Pen-Tab
Holdings, Inc.
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