<DOCUMENT> <TYPE>EX-10.9 <SEQUENCE>11 <FILENAME>j9642601exv10w9.txt <DESCRIPTION>GENERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT <TEXT> <PAGE> EXHIBIT 10.9 GENERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT DEBTOR: IRON AGE CANADA LTD. 560 Bryne Drive, Unit 3 Barrie, Ontario L6W 3H7 SECURED PARTY: FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Agent One Boston Place Suite 1800 Boston, Massachusetts, 02108 <PAGE> GENERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT PARTIES DEBTOR Name: IRON AGE CANADA LTD. (the "DEBTOR") Address: 560 Bryne Drive, Barrie, Ontario, L4N 9P6 Fax No.: 705.730.0845 SECURED PARTY Name: FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION as Agent on behalf of the Lender Group pursuant to the Loan Agreement (the "SECURED PARTY") Address: One Boston Place, Suite 1800, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108 Fax No.: 617.722.9493 EFFECTIVE DATE September 23, 2002 (the "EFFECTIVE DATE") WHEREAS: A. All capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meaning ascribed to such terms in a loan and security agreement as amended, restated, renewed, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the "LOAN AGREEMENT") dated September 23, 2002 by and between the Secured Party, the lenders signatory thereto, as Lenders, Iron Age Holdings Corporation (the "PARENT"), Iron Age Corporation ("IRON AGE") and Falcon Shoe Mfg. Co. ("FALCON" and together with Iron Age, each a Borrower and collectively, the "BORROWERS"). B. The Debtor has agreed to guarantee the obligations of the Borrowers pursuant to a Guarantee dated the date hereof (the "GUARANTEE"). C. To secure the payment and performance of the Obligations, the Debtor has agreed to grant to the Secured Party a security interest in respect of the Collateral in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. NOW THEREFORE for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are acknowledged by the Debtor, the Debtor agrees with the Secured Party and is in favour of the following: <PAGE> -2- 1. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST For valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which each of the parties hereto hereby acknowledges) the Debtor hereby grants to the Secured Party, for the benefit of the Lender Group, a security interest (to which the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario) (the "SECURITY INTEREST") and the regulations thereto, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "PPSA") applies) in and grants, mortgages and charges as and by way of a fixed and specific mortgage and charge to and in favour of the Secured Party, for the benefit of the Lender Group, all of the Debtor's rights, title and interests in and to all of the present and future property of the Debtor including each and every property described or referred to below (collectively, the "COLLATERAL"), all pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The Security Interest granted hereby does not and shall not extend to, and Collateral shall not include, the last day of the term of any lease or sublease, oral or written, or any agreement therefor, now held or hereafter acquired by the Debtor, but upon the sale of the leasehold interest or any part thereof the Debtor shall stand possessed of such last day in trust to assign the same as the Secured Party shall direct. The Security Interest hereby granted does not and shall not extend to, and Collateral shall not include, any agreement, right, franchise, licence or permit (the "CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS") to which the Debtor is a party or of which the Debtor has the benefit, to the extent that the creation of the Security Interest herein would constitute a breach of the terms of or permit any person to terminate the Contractual Rights, but the Debtor shall hold its interest therein in trust for the Secured Party and shall upon the request of the Secured Party assign such Contractual Rights to the Secured Party forthwith upon obtaining the consent of the other party thereto. The Debtor agrees that it shall, upon the request of the Secured Party, use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any consent required to permit any Contractual Rights to be subjected to the Security Interest or to be so assigned. 2. DESCRIPTION OF COLLATERAL The Collateral includes all of the following personal property and fixtures, and all of the leasehold interests and other property described in paragraph 2(j) below, (a) all goods now or hereafter comprising part of the inventory of the Debtor and all interests, rights and benefits, both present and future of the Debtor in or to inventory including, without limitation, goods now or hereafter held for sale or lease or furnished or to be furnished under a contract of service or that are raw materials, work in process or materials used or consumed in a business or profession or finished goods; (b) all equipment now or hereafter owned by the Debtor and all interests, rights and benefits, both present and future, of the Debtor in or to equipment including, without limitation, office, warehouse and other furniture, fixtures, machinery, tools, rolling stock, vehicles, accessories, spare parts, supplies and other tangible personal property; <PAGE> -3- (c) all fixtures now or hereafter owned by the Debtor and all interests, rights and benefits, both present and future, of the Debtor in or to fixtures; (d) all chattel paper now or hereafter owned or held by the Debtor and all interests, rights and benefits, both present and future, of the Debtor in, under or to chattel paper; (e) each and every document of title now or hereafter owned by the Debtor or of which the Debtor is or becomes a holder, whether negotiable or non-negotiable, including, without limitation, each and every warehouse receipt and bill of lading, and all interests, rights and benefits, both present and future, of the Debtor in, under or to each and every document of title; (f) each and every instrument now or hereafter owned by the Debtor or of which the Debtor is or becomes a holder, and all interests, rights and benefits, both present and future, of the Debtor in, under or to each and every instrument; (g) each and every security now or hereafter owned by the Debtor or of which the Debtor is or becomes a holder including, without limitation, all shares, stocks, warrants, bonds, debentures, debenture stock or the like issued by a corporation or other person, or a partnership, association or government, and all interests, rights and benefits, both present and future, of the Debtor in, under or to each and every security; (h) all money of the Debtor and all money hereafter acquired by the Debtor and each and every account, debt, claim and demand of every nature and kind which is now due, owing or accruing due or which may hereafter become due, owing or accruing due to the Debtor, or which the Debtor now has or may hereafter have and all interests, rights and benefits, both present and future of the Debtor in or to each and every account, debt, claim and demand including, without limitation, claims against the Crown and claims under insurance policies; (i) all patents, industrial designs, trademarks, trade secrets and know-how including without limitation, environmental technology and biotechnology, confidential information, trade-names, goodwill, copyrights, personalty rights, integrated circuit topographies, software and all other forms of intellectual and industrial property, and any registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing (collectively, "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY"); (j) each and every lease, agreement to lease and leasehold interest of the Debtor and all interests, rights and benefits, both present and future, of the Debtor, in, under or to the same, except the last day of any term of years reserved by any such lease or agreement therefor of which reversion of one day the Debtor shall stand possessed upon trust to assign and dispose of the same as the Secured Party shall direct; <PAGE> -4- (k) each and every intangible now or hereafter owned by the Debtor or of which the Debtor is or becomes a holder, and all interests, rights and benefits, both present and future, of the Debtor in, under or to each and every intangible; (l) with respect to the property described in each of subparagraphs 2(a) to 2(k) inclusive, all substitutions and replacements thereof, improvements, increases, additions and accessions thereto and all interests, rights and benefits, both present and future, of the Debtor in, under or to the same; (m) with respect to the property described in each of subparagraphs 2(a) to 2(i) inclusive, identifiable or traceable personal property in any form derived directly or indirectly from any dealing with such property or the proceeds therefrom and includes any payment representing indemnity or compensation for loss of or damage to such property or proceeds therefrom; and (n) with respect to the property described in each of subparagraphs 2(a) to 2(m) inclusive, all books, accounts, invoices, letters, deeds, contracts, security, securities, instruments, bills, notes, writings, papers, documents and records in any form evidencing or relating thereto, and all other rights and benefits to which the Debtor is now or may hereafter become entitled in respect thereof. In this Agreement, the words "goods", "inventory", "equipment", "chattel paper", "consumer goods", "document of title", "instrument", "security", "money", "account", "motor vehicle", "proceeds", "intangible" and "accessions" shall have the same meanings as their defined meanings in the PPSA. In this Agreement, each reference to "Collateral" shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include and be read as "Collateral or any part thereof". All of the Collateral, insofar as the same is not intangible property, is now and will hereafter be kept at the address set out above and at the locations listed on Schedule A attached hereto. 3. SECURED OBLIGATIONS The security interests, mortgages and charges granted hereby secure all indebtedness, liabilities and other obligations (whether present or future, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, matured or not, wheresoever and howsoever incurred) of the Debtor to the Secured Party, existing from time to time and arising pursuant to the Guarantee (collectively, the "OBLIGATIONS"), all including, without limitation, all interest, commissions, reasonable legal and other costs, reasonable charges and expenses payable in connection with any and all of the foregoing and, in addition thereto, the Expenses (provided for and defined below). 4. ATTACHMENT Each of the Debtor and the Secured Party acknowledges and confirms that the security interests, mortgages and charges granted hereby shall attach: <PAGE> -5- (a) forthwith upon the Effective Date with respect to each and every property included in the Collateral and in which the Debtor then has rights; and (b) forthwith upon the Debtor first acquiring rights in each and every property included in the Collateral and in which the Debtor first acquires such rights subsequent to the Effective Date. For greater certainty, without in any way limiting the above, each of the Debtor and the Secured Party acknowledges and confirms that they have not agreed to postpone the time for attachment of the said security interests, mortgages and charges. 5. DEBTOR'S WARRANTIES The Debtor hereby represents and warrants to and covenants with the Secured Party as follows and acknowledges that the Secured Party is, in part, relying upon such representations, warranties and covenants in accepting the security interests, mortgages and charges granted upon the terms of this Agreement: (a) TITLE TO COLLATERAL: The Debtor is the sole, absolute and beneficial owner of the Collateral with a good and marketable title thereto and none of the Collateral is held in the name of any person other than the Debtor, whether as agent, trustee or other nominee for the Debtor, and all registrations and filings which may be required to preserve the Debtor's title, rights or other interests in the Collateral vis-a-vis others have been made. (b) NO ENCUMBRANCES: The Collateral is and shall at all times be kept free and clear of any and all, mortgages, hypothecs, pledges, claims, adverse claims, demands, liens, charges, security interests, encumbrances, agreements, rights and equities of any kind whatsoever other than Permitted Liens (as such term is defined in the Loan Agreement). (c) DUE AUTHORIZATION: The Debtor has the corporate power and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to do all acts and things as are required or contemplated hereunder to be done, observed and performed by it. (d) RIGHT TO GRANT: The Debtor has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Debtor shall at all relevant times have the full right, power and authority to perform its obligations hereunder and to grant the security interests, mortgages and charges as herein provided and, when executed and delivered, this Agreement will constitute a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Debtor, enforceable in accordance with the terms herein, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights severally.. (e) NO DEFAULT: The entering into of this Agreement and the performance by the Debtor of its obligations hereunder does not and will not contravene, breach or <PAGE> -6- result in any default under any Material Contract to which the Debtor is a party or by which the Debtor or any of its properties or assets may be bound and will not result in or permit the acceleration of the maturity of any indebtedness, liability or obligation of the Debtor under any such Material Contract. (f) MOTOR VEHICLES: A description of all motor vehicles and other "serial number" goods (i.e. trailers, mobile homes, aircraft, aircraft engines and vessels) (including vehicle identification numbers) presently owned by the Debtor is set out in Schedule B to this Agreement. (g) NO CONSUMER GOODS: The Debtor does not own any consumer goods which are material in value or which are material to the business, operations, property, condition or prospects (financial or otherwise) of the Debtor. (h) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: All registered Intellectual Property owned by the Debtor, and all rights of the Debtor to the use of any registered Intellectual Property, are described in Schedule C to this Agreement. To the best of the Debtor's knowledge, each such Intellectual Property is valid, subsisting, unexpired, enforceable and has not been abandoned. Except as set out in such Schedule, none of such Intellectual Property has been licensed or franchised by the Debtor to any Person. 6. DEBTOR'S COVENANTS The Debtor covenants and agrees with the Secured Party that: (a) The Debtor shall pay, perform, satisfy, fulfil and discharge the Obligations when due. (b) If requested by the Secured Party, Debtor shall deliver forthwith to the Secured Party such further details respecting the Collateral. Such further details and legal description so delivered shall be deemed to be contained in and form part of this Agreement. (c) The Debtor shall not permit the Collateral to be affixed to real or personal property so as to become a fixture or accession without the prior written consent of the Secured Party. (d) Other than Permitted Dispositions (as defined in the Loan Agreement), the Debtor shall not convey, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets of the Debtor. 7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT Forthwith upon the occurrence of an "EVENT OF DEFAULT" (as defined in the Loan Agreement), the Obligations will, without the Secured Party being required to give notice or demand, become due and payable in full and, to the extent applicable, be required to be fully performed. <PAGE> -7- 8. RIGHTS AND REMEDIES Forthwith upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the security interests, mortgages and charges granted herein shall be enforceable and the Debtor and the Secured Party shall have, in addition to any other rights and remedies provided by law, the rights and remedies of a debtor and a secured party respectively under the PPSA and those provided by this Agreement. In addition, and subject to section 6(b) hereof, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Secured Party may take possession of the Collateral and enforce any rights of the Debtor in respect of the Collateral by any method available in or permitted by law and may require the Debtor to assemble the Collateral and deliver or make the Collateral available to the Secured Party at any place as may be designated by the Secured Party. 9. EXPENSES The reasonable costs and expenses of the Secured Party in the preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement, the registration of this Agreement or of notices, financing statements or other filings in respect thereof, the reasonable costs and expenses of the Secured Party in connection with the preparation or review of waivers, consents, amendments, subordination agreements or other matters pertaining to the subject matter of this Agreement, the reasonable costs and expenses expressly provided for in the PPSA and, in addition thereto, the reasonable costs of any insurance, taxes, solicitor's fees, costs and other legal expenses (on a scale as between a solicitor and his own client) and all other reasonable costs, charges and expenses of or incurred by or on behalf of the Secured Party in respect of any of the foregoing and in respect of the enforcement of the Obligations, including taking possession, custody, holding, preserving, protecting, repairing, using or operating, collecting, realizing, processing, preparing for disposition and disposing of the Collateral including all receiver's fees and expenses (collectively, the "EXPENSES") shall be payable by the Debtor to the Secured Party forthwith upon demand, shall be deemed advanced to the Debtor by the Secured Party, shall bear interest at the rate of interest calculated in accordance with section 5 of the Guarantee from the date 30 days after each of the Expenses, respectively, was incurred until fully paid by the Debtor and shall be secured by this Agreement. For greater certainty, but without limiting the foregoing, the Secured Party may discharge any claim, lien, mortgage charge, security interest, encumbrance or any rights of others that may exist or be threatened against the Collateral, other than Permitted Liens, and in every such case the amounts so paid together with reasonable costs, charges and expenses incurred in connection therewith will be added to the Obligation secured. The Debtor authorizes the Secured Party to designate, in its sole discretion, any number of years as the registration period in any financing statement or financing change statement filed with respect to this Agreement or any other agreement delivered by the Debtor to the Secured Party ("DESIGNATED PERIOD"). The Debtor acknowledges and confirms that: (a) all reasonable registration costs in connection with the filing of the aforesaid financing statements or financing change statements are and shall be reasonable and shall form part of the Expenses; <PAGE> -8- (b) the designation of the number of years comprising the Designated Period shall not constitute an acknowledgement by or commitment or other obligation of the Secured Party to provide financial assistance (whether by loan, agreement or otherwise) to the Debtor at any time or from time to time during the Designated Period; and (c) the Secured Party shall be entitled to exercise all of its rights and remedies provided for in this Agreement forthwith upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default notwithstanding that such Event of Default may occur prior to the expiration of the Designated Period. 10. NOTICE OF DISPOSITION Unless not required to do so by applicable law, the Secured Party shall give to the Debtor at least 15 days' written notice of the Secured Party's intention to dispose of the Collateral. Such notice may be sent by registered mail to the last known post office address of the Debtor. 11. RECEIVER - APPOINTMENT Following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default the Secured Party may take proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a receiver or a receiver and manager (the "RECEIVER") of the Collateral or of any part thereof or may by instrument in writing appoint any person to be a receiver of the Collateral or of any part thereof and may remove any receiver so appointed by the Secured Party and appoint another in his stead. 12. RECEIVER - POWERS Any receiver appointed hereunder by instrument in writing shall have power (a) to take possession of the Collateral or any part thereof and, without liability or obligation to the Debtor, to maintain, preserve and protect the same; (b) to carry on or concur in carrying on all or any part of the business or businesses of the Debtor; (c) to borrow money on the security of the Collateral in priority to the security interest, assignment and mortgage and charge granted by this Agreement, which such receiver, in its reasonable discretion, determines is required in connection with either or both of the powers provided for in paragraph (a) and (b); and (d) to dispose of the Collateral in whole or in part, and any such disposition may be by public sale (whether by auction, tender or otherwise), private sale, lease or otherwise, and at such time and place and on such terms and for such price and manner of payment thereof, all as such receiver may, in its reasonable discretion, determine; provided that any such receiver shall be and is deemed to be the agent of the Secured Party who shall not in any way be responsible for any misconduct, negligence or nonfeasance of any such receiver reasonably selected by the Secured Party. 13. PROCEEDS OF DISPOSITION/DEFICIENCY Any proceeds of any disposition of any of the Collateral shall be applied by the Secured Party firstly on account of the Expenses, and any balance of such proceeds shall be applied by the <PAGE> -9- Secured Party on account of the Obligations (other than the Expenses) in such order of application as the Secured Party may from time to time effect and the same shall not be subject to dispute by the Debtor. If such proceeds fail to satisfy the Obligations, the Debtor shall be liable for the full amount of the deficiency resulting to the Secured Party and the Lender Group. 14. AMALGAMATION If the Debtor is a corporation, the Debtor acknowledges that if it amalgamates with any other corporation or corporations, then (i) the Collateral and the security interests created by this Agreement will extend to and include all the property and assets of the amalgamated corporation and to any property or assets of the amalgamated corporation thereafter owned or acquired, (ii) the term "Debtor", where used in this Agreement, will extend to and include the amalgamated corporation, and (iii) the term "Obligations", where used in this Agreement, will extend to and include the Obligations of the amalgamated corporation. 15. GENERAL PROVISIONS (a) DISCHARGE: The Debtor shall not be discharged from the Obligations by any extension of time, additional advances, renewals, amendments or extensions to this Agreement, any waiver by or failure of the Secured Party to enforce any provision of this Agreement or any other agreement, the taking of further security, releasing security, extinguishment of the security interests, mortgages and charges as to all or any part of the Collateral, or any other act except an express written release or discharge by the Secured Party of the security interests, mortgages and charges granted hereby upon the full payment and performance of the Obligations, at which time the Secured Party shall, at the Debtor's expense, deliver to the Debtor all necessary discharges and releases of the security interests, mortgages and charges granted hereby. (b) OTHER SECURITY: The security constituted by this Agreement is in addition to and not in substitution for any other security, guarantee or right from time to time held by the Secured Party; (i) The Secured Party may realize upon or enforce all or part of any security, guarantee or right from time to time held by it in any order it desires and any realization by any means upon any security, guarantee or right shall not bar realization upon any other security, guarantee or right; and (ii) The taking of any action or proceeding or refraining from so doing or any other dealings with or in respect of any other security, guarantee or right from time to time held by the Secured Party shall not release or affect the security provided for in this Agreement and the taking of the security hereby granted or any proceedings hereunder for the realization of the security hereby granted shall not release or affect any other security, guarantee or right from time to time held by the Secured Party. <PAGE> -10- (c) WAIVER, ETC.: No failure or delay on the part of the Secured Party to exercise any right provided for in or contemplated by this Agreement and no waiver as to an Event of Default hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof unless made in writing and signed by the Secured Party and, in that event, such waiver shall operate only as a waiver of the right or Event of Default expressly referred to therein. Nothing in this Agreement and nothing referred to in the Obligations shall preclude any other remedy by action or otherwise for the enforcement of this Agreement or the payment and performance in full of the Obligations. (d) SECURED PARTY ASSIGNMENT: All rights and obligations of the Secured Party hereunder shall be assignable in whole or in part in accordance with the Loan Agreement. (e) ENTIRE AGREEMENT: This Agreement sets forth the entire intent and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and replaces all prior agreements and commitments, whether written or oral, made between the parties and all earlier discussions and negotiations between them. The parties are not relying upon and there are no collateral or other representations, warranties, agreements or covenants made by any of the parties hereto which are not contained herein. (f) FURTHER ASSURANCES: Each of the parties hereto shall and will, from time to time and at all times hereafter upon every reasonable written request so to do, make, do, execute and deliver, or cause to be made, done, executed and delivered, all such further papers, acts, deeds, assurances and things as may be necessary or desirable in the opinion of any party or counsel for any party, acting reasonably, for implementing and carrying out more effectually the true intent and meaning of this Agreement including, without limitation, to perfect or better perfect the security interests, mortgages and charges of the Secured Party in the Collateral or any part thereof. (g) SEVERABILITY: In the event that any covenant or provision contained in this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in whole or in part, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining covenants and provisions shall not be affected or impaired thereby and all such remaining covenants and provisions shall continue in full force and effect. All covenants and provisions hereof are declared to be separate and distinct covenants or provisions, as the case may be. (h) HEADINGS: All headings and titles in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of the terms hereof. (i) GENDER, ETC.: In construing this Agreement, all words and personal pronouns relating thereto shall be read and construed as the number and gender of the party or parties referred to in each case require, and the verb agreeing therewith shall be construed as agreeing with the required word and pronoun. Words such as <PAGE> -11- "hereunder", "hereto", "hereof', "herein" and other words commencing with "here" shall, unless the context clearly indicates the contrary, refer to the whole of this Agreement and not to any particular paragraph or part thereof. (j) BINDING EFFECT: All rights of the Secured Party hereunder shall enure to the benefit of its successors and assigns and all obligations of the Debtor hereunder shall bind the Debtor, its successors and assigns. Each reference to the Secured Party in this Agreement shall be deemed to include a reference to the Secured Party, its successors and assigns and each reference to the Debtor in this Agreement shall be deemed to include a reference to the Debtor, its successors and assigns. (k) GOVERNING LAW: This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the laws in force in the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein and shall be treated in all respects as an Ontario contract. Each party irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario with respect to any matter arising hereunder or related hereto. (l) NOTICE: Subject to the specific requirements of the PPSA, any demand, notice, request, consent, approval or other communication required or permitted to be made or given by any party hereto to any other party hereto in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and may be made or given by personal delivery to such party or by transmittal by facsimile transmission or similar electronic means of communication which produces a paper record to such party at the fax number noted on page 1 of this Agreement or, if postal services or courier deliveries are then operating, by sending the same via prepaid registered post or via generally recognized commercial courier (as the case may be) to such party at its address noted on page 1 of this Agreement or at such other address which the party to whom such communication is being given may have designated by notice given in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph. Any communication so delivered or transmitted by electronic means of communication shall be deemed to have been given and received on the day of delivery or transmittal, if a business day, or if not a business day, on the business day next following the day of delivery or transmittal, and any communication so mailed shall be deemed to have been given and received on the fourth business day following and exclusive of the date of mailing. In this paragraph, "business day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday in the Province of Ontario. Either party may give notice in writing to the other in the manner provided in this paragraph of any change of fax number or address of the party giving such notice, and from and after the giving of such notice, the fax number or address therein specified shall be deemed to be the fax number or address of such party for purposes of this paragraph. (m) FAILURE TO PERFECT: The Secured Party shall not be liable or accountable for any negligence or failure to perfect its security interests, mortgages and charges granted herein, seize, collect, realize, sell or obtain payment for the Collateral or <PAGE> -12- any part thereof and shall not be bound to institute proceedings for the purpose of seizing, collecting, realizing or obtaining possession or payment of the same for the purpose of preserving the rights of the Debtor or any other person, firm or corporation in respect of same. (n) NO AMENDMENT: This Agreement may not be amended, altered or qualified except by a memorandum in writing signed by all of the parties hereto and any amendment, alteration or qualification hereof shall be null and void and shall not be binding upon any party who has not signed such memorandum. (o) POWER OF ATTORNEY: The Secured Party, or any receiver or agent appointed hereunder is hereby irrevocably constituted as the duly appointed lawful attorney of the Debtor in accordance with the Powers of Attorney Act (Ontario), with full power (including full power of substitution), following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to make, do, execute and deliver all such documents, assignments, acts, matters or things on behalf of the Debtor with the right to use the name of the Debtor whenever and wherever it may be deemed necessary or expedient. The power of attorney hereby granted is a power coupled with an interest and shall survive the dissolution, liquidation, winding-up or other termination of existence of the Debtor. The Debtor agrees to and does hereby ratify all acts done and all documents executed and delivered by the Secured Party following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, pursuant to the power of attorney hereby granted and the Debtor hereby confirms that the Secured Party and all third parties are entitled to rely upon such ratification. (p) TIME OF ESSENCE: Time shall be strictly of the essence of this Agreement and of every part thereof and no extension or variation of this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of this provision. (q) DEBTOR'S RECEIPT: The Debtor hereby acknowledges receipt of a fully signed copy of this Agreement. (r) COUNTERPARTS: This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together will be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be executed either in original or faxed form and the parties adopt any signatures received by a receiving fax machine as original signatures of the parties. (s) The Debtor acknowledges that it has read the Loan Agreement and covenants and agrees that any references contained herein in respect of the Loan Agreement or any provisions thereof or any obligations or covenants deriving therefrom shall be incorporated herein and be binding upon the Debtor, in its capacity as a Loan Party and Guarantor and not as a borrower, mutatis mutandis. <PAGE> -13- (t) The Debtor hereby waives its entitlement to receive a copy of any financing statements registered by the Secured Party or statements confirming registration of a financing statement by the Secured Party with respect to this Agreement. [remainder of page intentionally left blank] <PAGE> IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Debtor and the Secured Party have executed this Agreement and agree to be bound thereby as of the Effective Date set out above. IRON AGE CANADA LTD. ) by its authorized signatories: ) ) Bart R. Huchel__________________ ) Authorized Signatory ) ) William J. Mills_________________ ) Authorized Signatory ) FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION ) as Agent for the Lender Group by its ) authorized signatories: ) ) Erik R. Sawyer__________________ ) Authorized Signatory ) ) ___________________________________ ) Authorized Signatory ) <PAGE> SCHEDULE A LOCATIONS OF COLLATERAL <PAGE> SCHEDULE B SERIAL NUMBERED OF GOODS <PAGE> SCHEDULE C DESCRIPTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY </TEXT> </DOCUMENT>