EX-10.4 10 a2154536zex-10_4.htm EXHIBIT 10.4

Exhibit 10.4

 

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT dated as of May 13, 2004, among PP HOLDING CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), PP ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”) and the Subsidiaries of the Borrower identified herein.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower will acquire all the capital stock of Polypore, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2004 (the “Acquisition Agreement”), between the Company, the sellers named therein and the Borrower;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the Borrower will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation in such merger (the “Merger”);

 

WHEREAS, upon the effectiveness of the Merger, the Company will succeed to all rights and obligations of the Borrower by operation of law and all references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the term “Borrower” shall thereupon be deemed to be references to the Company;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2004 (the “Credit Agreement”), among Holdings, the Borrower, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”), General Electric Capital Corporation, Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. and UBS Securities LLC, as co-documentation agents, Bear Stearns Corporate Lending Inc., as syndication agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), the Lenders have severally agreed to make extensions of credit to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower is a member of an affiliated group of companies that includes each other Grantor;

 

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement will be used in part to enable the Borrower to make valuable transfers to one or more of the other Grantors in connection with the operation of their respective businesses;

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower and the other Grantors are engaged in related businesses, and each Grantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of the extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement that the Grantors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower thereunder, each Grantor hereby agrees as follows:

 



 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions

 

SECTION 1.01.  Credit Agreement.  (a)  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.  All terms defined in the New York UCC (as such term is defined herein) and not defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified therein.  All references to the Uniform Commercial Code shall mean the New York UCC.

 

(b) The rules of construction specified in Section 1.2 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement.

 

SECTION 1.02.  Other Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Account Debtor” means any person who is or who may become obligated to any Grantor under, with respect to or on account of an Account.

 

Accounts Receivable” shall mean all Accounts and all right, title and interest in any returned goods, together will all rights, titles, securities and guarantees with respect thereto, including any rights to stoppage in transit, replevin, reclamation and resales, and all related security interests, liens and pledges, whether voluntary or involuntary, in each case whether now existing or owned or hereafter arising or acquired.

 

Acquisition Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals.

 

Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

Article 9 Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01.

 

Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Chattel Paper” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Claiming Guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02.

 

Collateral” means the Article 9 Collateral and the Pledged Collateral.

 

Collateral Account” means any collateral account established by the Administrative Agent as provided in Section 5.05 or 5.07.

 

Commercial Tort Claim” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

2



 

Commodity Intermediary” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Company” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals.

 

Contributing Guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02.

 

Copyright License” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right to any third party under any copyright now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that such Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting any right to any Grantor under any copyright now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of such Grantor under any such agreement.

 

Copyrights” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor:  (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States or any other country, whether as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise, and (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other country), including those listed on Schedule III.

 

Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

Daramic” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(a).

 

Daramic Brazil” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02(a).

 

Deposit Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Electronic Chattel Paper” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Entitlement Holder” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Entitlement Order” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Equipment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity interests in any person, or any obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or giving any person a right, option or warrant to acquire such equity interests or such convertible or exchangeable obligations.

 

Federal Securities Laws” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04.

 

3



 

Farm Products” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Financial Asset” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8-102 of the New York UCC.

 

General Intangibles” means all choses in action and causes of action and all other intangible personal property of any Grantor of every kind and nature (other than Accounts) now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including all rights and interests in partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and other unincorporated entities, corporate or other business records, indemnification claims, contract rights (including rights under leases, whether entered into as lessor or lessee, Hedging Agreements and other agreements), Intellectual Property, goodwill, registrations, franchises, tax refund claims and any letter of credit, guarantee, claim, security interest or other security held by or granted to any Grantor to secure payment by an Account Debtor of any of the Accounts.

 

Grantors” means Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

Guarantors” means Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

Holdings” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Instrument” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual and similar property of any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including inventions, designs, Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, Trademarks, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know-how, show-how or other data or information, software and databases and all embodiments or fixations thereof and related documentation, registrations and franchises, and all additions, improvements and accessions to, and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the foregoing.

 

Inventory” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Investment Property” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Issuers” means the collective reference to each issuer of any Investment Property.

 

Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

Letter-of-Credit Right” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

4



 

License” means any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License or other license or sublicense agreement to which any Grantor is a party, including those listed on Schedule III.

 

Loan Document Obligations” means (a) the due and punctual payment of (i) the principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be made by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral, and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Borrower to any of the Secured Parties under the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (b) the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Borrower under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, and (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the obligations of each other Loan Party under or pursuant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents.

 

Merger” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals.

 

New York UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

 

Obligations” means (a) the Loan Document Obligations and (b) the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of each Loan Party under each Hedging Agreement that (i) is in effect on the Closing Date with a counterparty that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Closing Date or (ii) is entered into after the Closing Date with any counterparty that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Hedging Agreement is entered into unless such Hedging Agreement provides the obligations thereunder are not “Obligations” as defined herein.

 

Patent License” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third party any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a patent, now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, is in existence, or granting to any Grantor any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a patent, now or hereafter owned by any third party, is in existence, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

 

Patents” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor:  (a) all letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, including registrations, recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (or any successor or any similar offices in any other country), including those listed on Schedule III, and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, renewals or extensions thereof, and the inventions disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, use and/or sell the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.

 

5



 

Perfection Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B, completed and supplemented with the schedules and attachments contemplated thereby, and duly executed by a Financial Officer.

 

Pledged Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

 

Pledged Debt Securities” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

 

Pledged Securities” means any promissory notes, stock certificates or other securities now or hereafter included in the Pledged Collateral, including all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing any Pledged Collateral.

 

Pledged Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

 

Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Receivable” means any right to payment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered, whether or not such right is evidenced by an Instrument or Chattel Paper and whether or not it has been earned by performance (including, without limitation, any Account).

 

Secured Parties” means (a) the Lenders, (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) any Issuing Bank, (d) each counterparty to any Hedging Agreement with a Loan Party that either (i) is in effect on the Closing Date if such counterparty is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Closing Date or (ii) is entered into after the Closing Date if such counterparty is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Hedging Agreement is entered into, (e) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (f) the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

 

Securities Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8-501 of the New York UCC.

 

Securities Intermediary” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Security” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8-102 of the New York UCC.

 

Security Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors” means (a) the Subsidiaries identified on Schedule I and (b) each other Subsidiary that becomes a party to this Agreement as a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Closing Date.

 

Trademark License” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third party any right to use any trademark now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting to any Grantor any right to use any trademark now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

 

6



 

Trademarks” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor:  (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like nature, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including registrations and registration applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (or any successor office) or any similar offices in any State of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all extensions or renewals thereof, including those listed on Schedule III, (b) all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby and (c) all other assets, rights and interests that uniquely reflect or embody such goodwill.

 

Vehicles” means all cars, trucks, trailers, construction and earth moving equipment and other vehicles covered by a certificate of title law of any state.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Guarantee

 

SECTION 2.01.  Guarantee.  Each Guarantor unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations.  Each of the Guarantors further agrees that the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation.  Each of the Guarantors waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the Borrower or any other Loan Party of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment.

 

SECTION 2.02.  Guarantee of Payment.  Each of the Guarantors further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to any security held for the payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any Deposit Account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party in favor of the Borrower or any other person.

 

SECTION 2.03.  No Limitations, Etc.  (a)  Except for termination of a Guarantor’s obligations hereunder as expressly provided in Section 7.15, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy under the provisions of any Loan Document or otherwise; (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, any Loan Document or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Guarantor under this Agreement; (iii) the release of any security held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the Obligations or any of them; (iv) any default, failure or delay, wilful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations; or (v) any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or otherwise operate as a discharge of any

 

7



 

Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Obligations).  Each Guarantor expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent to take and hold security for the payment and performance of the Obligations, to exchange, waive or release any or all such security (with or without consideration), to enforce or apply such security and direct the order and manner of any sale thereof in its sole discretion or to release or substitute any one or more other guarantors or obligors upon or in respect of the Obligations, all without affecting the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder.

 

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Borrower or any other Loan Party or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Obligations.  The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Borrower or any other Loan Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Borrower or any other Loan Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Obligations have been fully and indefeasibly paid in full in cash.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Loan Party, as the case may be, or any security.

 

SECTION 2.04.  Reinstatement.  Each of the Guarantors agrees that its guarantee hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or otherwise.

 

SECTION 2.05.  Agreement To Pay; Subrogation.  In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the applicable Secured Parties in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligation.  Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Administrative Agent as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subject to Article VI.

 

SECTION 2.06.  Information.  Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s and each other Loan Party’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that none of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties will have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.

 

8



 

ARTICLE III

 

Pledge of Securities

 

SECTION 3.01.  Pledge.  As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby pledges to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under (a) Equity Interests owned by it and listed on Schedule II and any other Equity Interests obtained in the future by such Grantor and the certificates representing all such Equity Interests (the “Pledged Stock”); provided, however, that the Pledged Stock shall not include more than 66% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary; (b)(i) the debt securities listed opposite the name of such Grantor on Schedule II, (ii) any debt securities in the future issued to such Grantor and (iii) the promissory notes and any other instruments evidencing such debt securities (the “Pledged Debt Securities”); (c) all other property that may be delivered to and held by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.01; (d) subject to Section 3.06, all payments of principal or interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other Proceeds received in respect of, the securities referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above; (e) subject to Section 3.06, all rights and privileges of such Grantor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above; and (f) all Proceeds of any of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above being collectively referred to as the “Pledged Collateral”).

 

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Pledged Collateral, together with all right, title, interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto, unto the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, forever; subject, however, to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

SECTION 3.02.  Delivery of the Pledged Collateral.  (a)  Each Grantor agrees promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent any and all Pledged Securities; provided, that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Daramic, Inc. (“Daramic”) shall be under no obligation to pledge 66% of its shares of Daramic Separadores de Baterias Ltd. (“Daramic Brazil”) during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the two-month anniversary of the Closing Date; provided, further, that if the Proposed Reorganization does not occur on or prior to such two-month anniversary, Daramic shall be required to promptly (and, in any event within five (5) Business Days after such two-month anniversary) deliver 66% of its shares in Daramic Brazil to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b) Each Grantor will cause any Indebtedness for borrowed money owed to such Grantor by any person in an amount that exceeds $200,000 that is evidenced by a duly executed promissory note to be pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent, duly endorsed in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  Without limiting the foregoing, all promissory notes in favor of any Grantor shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent promptly after request of the Administrative Agent.

 

(c) Upon delivery to the Administrative Agent, (i) any Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by stock powers duly executed in blank or other instruments of transfer satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and by such other instruments and documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (ii) all other property comprising part of the

 

9



 

Pledged Collateral shall be accompanied by proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable Grantor and such other instruments or documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.  Each delivery of Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the securities, which schedule shall be attached hereto as Schedule II and made a part hereof; provided that failure to attach any such schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of such pledge of such Pledged Securities.  Each schedule so delivered shall supplement any prior schedules so delivered.

 

SECTION 3.03.  Representations, Warranties and Covenants.  The Grantors jointly and severally represent, warrant and covenant to and with the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, that:

 

(a) Schedule II correctly sets forth the percentage of the issued and outstanding shares of each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer thereof represented by such Pledged Stock and includes all Equity Interests, debt securities and promissory notes required to be pledged hereunder;

 

(b) except for the security interests granted hereunder, each of the Grantors (i) is and, subject to any transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement, will continue to be the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Securities indicated on Schedule II as owned by such Grantor, (ii) holds the same free and clear of all Liens, (iii) will make no assignment, pledge, hypothecation or transfer of, or create or permit to exist any security interest in or other Lien on, the Pledged Collateral, other than Liens created by this Agreement or as permitted by the Credit Agreement and transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement, and (iv) subject to Section 3.06, will cause any and all Pledged Collateral, whether for value paid by the Grantor or otherwise, to be forthwith deposited with the Administrative Agent and pledged or assigned hereunder;

 

(c) except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Loan Documents or securities laws generally, the Pledged Collateral (other than Pledged Collateral representing less than all of the Equity Interests of a person) is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Pledged Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, impair, delay or otherwise affect the pledge of such Pledged Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Administrative Agent of rights and remedies hereunder;

 

(d) each of the Grantors (i) has the power and authority to pledge the Pledged Collateral pledged by it hereunder in the manner hereby done or contemplated and (ii) will defend its title or interest thereto or therein against any and all Liens (other than Liens created by this Agreement or as permitted by the Credit Agreement), however arising, of all persons whomsoever;

 

(e) no consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other person was or is necessary to the validity of the pledge of the Pledged Collateral effected hereby (other than such as have been obtained and are in full force and effect and except with respect to Pledged Collateral in the form of Equity Interests in joint ventures);

 

10



 

(f) by virtue of the execution and delivery by the Grantors of this Agreement, when any Pledged Securities are delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent will obtain a legal, valid and perfected first priority lien upon and security interest in such Pledged Securities as security for the payment and performance of the Obligations; and

 

(g) the pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the rights of the Administrative Agent in the Pledged Collateral as set forth herein.

 

SECTION 3.04.  Certification of Limited Liability Company Interests and Limited Partnership Interests.  Each interest in any limited liability company or limited partnership controlled by any Grantor and pledged hereunder shall be represented by a certificate, shall be a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the New York UCC and shall be governed by Article 8 of the New York UCC;

 

SECTION 3.05.  Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations.  The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities in its own name as pledgee, the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Administrative Agent.  Each Grantor will promptly give to the Administrative Agent copies of any notices or other communications received by it with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of such Grantor.  The Administrative Agent shall at all times have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement.

 

SECTION 3.06.  Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, etc.  (a)  Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent shall have given the Grantors at least two Business Days’ notice of its intent to exercise its rights under this Agreement (which notice shall be deemed to have been given immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Holdings or the Borrower under paragraph (g) or (h) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement):

 

(i)                                     Each Grantor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Securities or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that such rights and powers shall not be exercised in any manner that could materially and adversely affect the rights inuring to a holder of any Pledged Securities or the rights and remedies of any of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties under this Agreement or the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.
 
(ii)                                  The Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to each Grantor, or cause to be executed and delivered to each Grantor, all such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as a Grantor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Grantor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to subparagraph (i) above.
 
(iii)                               Each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such

 

11



 

dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable laws; provided, however, that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Stock or Pledged Debt Securities, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and, if received by any Grantor, shall not be commingled by such Grantor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).  This paragraph (iii) shall not apply to dividends between or among the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors only of property subject to a perfected security interest under this Agreement; provided that the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent in writing, specifically referring to this Section 3.06 at the time of such dividend and takes any actions the Administrative Agent reasonably specifies to ensure the continuance of its perfected security interest in such property under this Agreement.
 

(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, after the Administrative Agent shall have notified (or shall be deemed to have notified) the Grantors of the suspension of their rights under paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06, then all rights of any Grantor to dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06 shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions.  All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by any Grantor contrary to the provisions of this Section 3.06 shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Grantor and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent upon demand in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).  Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph (b) shall be retained by the Administrative Agent in an account to be established by the Administrative Agent upon receipt of such money or other property and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02.  After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the applicable Grantor or Grantors have delivered to the Administrative Agent certificates to that effect, the Administrative Agent shall, promptly after all such Events of Default have been cured or waived, repay to each Grantor (without interest) all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor would otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06 and that remain in such account.

 

(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, after the Administrative Agent shall have notified (or shall be deemed to have notified) the Grantors of the suspension of their rights under paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 3.06, then all rights of any Grantor to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 3.06, and the obligations of the Administrative Agent under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 3.06, shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become

 

12



 

vested in the Administrative Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors to exercise such rights.

 

(d) Any notice given by the Administrative Agent to the Grantors exercising its rights under paragraph (a) of this Section 3.06 (i) may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing, (ii) may be given to one or more of the Grantors at the same or different times and (iii) may suspend the rights of the Grantors under paragraph (a)(i) or paragraph (a)(iii) in part without suspending all such rights (as specified by the Administrative Agent in its sole and absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the Administrative Agent’s rights to give additional notices from time to time suspending other rights so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Security Interests in Personal Property

 

SECTION 4.01.  Security Interest.  (a)  As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest (the “Security Interest”), in all right, title or interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “Article 9 Collateral”):

 

(i)                                     all Accounts;
 
(ii)                                  all Chattel Paper;
 
(iii)                               all cash and Deposit Accounts;
 
(iv)                              all Documents;
 
(v)                                 all Equipment;
 
(vi)                              all General Intangibles;
 
(vii)                           all Instruments;
 
(viii)                        all Inventory;
 
(ix)                                all Investment Property;
 
(x)                                   all Letter-of-Credit Rights;
 
(xi)                                all books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral; and

 

13



 

(xii)                             to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any person with respect to any of the foregoing.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Article 9 Collateral shall not include any of the following assets now owned or hereafter acquired which would otherwise be included in the Article 9 Collateral: (a) assets sold to a person which is not a Grantor in compliance with the Credit Agreement, (b) assets owned by a Guarantor after the release of the guarantee of such Guarantor pursuant to Section 7.15, (c) assets subject to a Lien permitted by Sections 6.02(a), (c), (i) and (u) of the Credit Agreement, (d) assets which contain a valid and enforceable prohibition on the creation of a security interest therein so long as such prohibition remains in effect and is valid notwithstanding Sections 9-406 and 9-408 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code, (e)  Vehicles, (f) real estate leasehold interests, (g) Investment Property solely to the extent excluded by the proviso in Section 3.01 and (h) any other asset, if any, specifically identified from time to time by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing in connection with the determination by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the last sentence of Section 5.9 of the Credit Agreement.
 

(b) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements (including fixture filings) and amendments thereto that contain the information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including (i) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to such Grantor and (ii) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of the real property to which such Article 9 Collateral relates.  Each Grantor agrees to provide such information to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request.  Each Grantor authorizes the Administrative Agent to use the collateral description “all personal property” in any such financing statements.  Each Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Administrative Agent to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

 

The Administrative Agent is further authorized to file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other country) or to file such documents as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the Security Interest granted by each Grantor, without the signature of any Grantor, and naming any Grantor or the Grantors as debtors and the Administrative Agent as secured party.

 

(c) The Security Interest is granted as security only and shall not subject the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Article 9 Collateral.

 

SECTION 4.02.  Representations and Warranties.  The Grantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties that:

 

(a) Each Grantor has good and valid rights in and title to the Article 9 Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a Security Interest hereunder and has full power and authority to grant to the Administrative Agent the Security Interest in such Article 9 Collateral pursuant hereto and to execute, deliver and perform

 

14



 

its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other person other than any consent or approval that has been obtained.

 

(b) The Perfection Certificate has been duly prepared, completed and executed and the information set forth therein (including (x) the exact legal name of each Grantor and (y) the jurisdiction of organization of each Grantor) is correct and complete as of the Closing Date.  Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (including fixture filings, as applicable) or other appropriate filings, recordings or registrations containing a description of the Article 9 Collateral have been prepared by the Administrative Agent based upon the information provided to the Administrative Agent in the Perfection Certificate for filing in each governmental, municipal or other office specified in Schedule 2 to the Perfection Certificate (or specified by notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent after the Closing Date in the case of filings, recordings or registrations required by Sections 5.6 or 5.9 of the Credit Agreement, which are all the filings, recordings and registrations (other than filings required to be made in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office in order to perfect the Security Interest in Article 9 Collateral consisting of United States Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights) that are necessary as of the Closing Date to publish notice of and protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral in which the Security Interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary in any such jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable law with respect to the filing of continuation statements.  Each Grantor represents and warrants that a fully executed agreement in the form hereof and containing a description of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property with respect to United States Patents and United States registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States registration applications are pending) and United States registered Copyrights have been delivered to the Administrative Agent for recording by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §261, 15 U.S.C. §1060 or 17 U.S.C. §205 and the regulations thereunder, as applicable, and otherwise as may be required pursuant to the laws of any other necessary jurisdiction, to protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary (other than such actions as are necessary to perfect the Security Interest with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (or registration or application for registration thereof) acquired or developed after the date hereof).

 

(c) The Security Interest constitutes (i) a legal and valid security interest in all the Article 9 Collateral securing the payment and performance of the Obligations, (ii) subject to the filings described in Section 4.02(b), a perfected security interest in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant to the Uniform

 

15



 

Commercial Code or other applicable law in such jurisdictions and (iii) a security interest that shall be perfected in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected upon the receipt and recording of this Agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable.  The Security Interest is and shall be prior to any other Lien on any of the Article 9 Collateral, other than Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(d) The Article 9 Collateral is owned by the Grantors free and clear of any Lien, except for Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Credit Agreement.  None of the Grantors has filed or consented to the filing of (i) any financing statement or analogous document under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable laws covering any Article 9 Collateral, (ii) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office or (iii) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except, in each case, for Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Credit Agreement.  None of the Grantors hold any Commercial Tort Claim except as indicated on the Perfection Certificate.

 

(e)

 

(f)

 

SECTION 4.03.  Covenants.  (a)  Each Grantor agrees to maintain, at its own cost and expense, such complete and accurate records with respect to the Article 9 Collateral as is prudent in the conduct of its business, but in any event to include complete accounting records indicating all payments and proceeds received with respect to any part of the Article 9 Collateral, and, at such time or times as the Administrative Agent may request, to prepare and deliver as soon as reasonably practicable to the Administrative Agent a duly certified schedule or schedules in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent showing the identity, amount and location of any and all Article 9 Collateral.

 

(b) Each Grantor shall, at its own expense, take any and all actions necessary to defend title to the Article 9 Collateral against all persons and to defend the Security Interest of the Administrative Agent in the Article 9 Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(c) Each Grantor agrees, at its own expense, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and documents and take all such actions as the Administrative Agent may from time to time request to better assure, preserve, protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and remedies created hereby, including the payment of any fees and Taxes required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the granting of the Security Interest and the filing of any financing statements (including fixture filings) or other documents in connection herewith or therewith.  If any amount payable to any Grantor under or in connection with any of the Article 9 Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any promissory note or other instrument in excess of $200,000, such note or instrument shall be promptly pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent, duly endorsed in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

16



 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent, with prompt notice thereof to the Grantors, to supplement this Agreement by supplementing Schedule III or adding additional schedules hereto to specifically identify any asset or item that may, in the Administrative Agent’s judgment, constitute Copyrights, Licenses, Patents or Trademarks; provided that any Grantor shall have the right, exercisable within 10 days after it has been notified by the Administrative Agent of the specific identification of such Collateral, to advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any material inaccuracy of the representations and warranties made by such Grantor hereunder with respect to such Collateral.  Each Grantor agrees that it will use its best efforts to take such action as shall be necessary in order that all representations and warranties hereunder shall be true and correct in all material respects with respect to such Collateral within 30 days after the date it has been notified by the Administrative Agent of the specific identification of such Collateral.

 

(d) The Administrative Agent and such persons as the Administrative Agent may designate shall have the right, at the Grantors’ own cost and expense, to inspect the Article 9 Collateral, all records related thereto (and to make extracts and copies from such records) and the premises upon which any of the Article 9 Collateral is located, to discuss the Grantors’ affairs with the officers of the Grantors and their independent accountants and to verify under reasonable procedures, in accordance with Section 5.7 of the Credit Agreement, the validity, amount, quality, quantity, value, condition and status of, or any other matter relating to, the Article 9 Collateral, including, in the case of Accounts or Article 9 Collateral in the possession of any third person, by contacting Account Debtors (only during the existence of a Default) or the third person possessing such Article 9 Collateral for the purpose of making such a verification.  The Administrative Agent shall have the absolute right to share any information it gains from such inspection or verification with any Secured Party.

 

(e) At its option, the Administrative Agent may discharge past due Taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied or placed on the Article 9 Collateral and not expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Credit Agreement, and may pay for the maintenance and preservation of the Article 9 Collateral to the extent any Grantor fails to do so as required by the Credit Agreement or this Agreement, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent on demand for any payment made or any expense incurred by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the foregoing authorization; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted as excusing any Grantor from the performance of, or imposing any obligation on the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party to cure or perform, any covenants or other promises of any Grantor with respect to Taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances and maintenance as set forth herein or in the other Loan Documents.

 

(f) If at any time any Grantor shall take a security interest in any property of an Account Debtor or any other person to secure payment and performance of an Account in excess of $200,000, such Grantor shall promptly assign such security interest to the Administrative Agent.  Such assignment need not be filed of public record unless necessary to continue the perfected status of the security interest against creditors of and transferees from the Account Debtor or other person granting the security interest.

 

(g) As between each Grantor, the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, each Grantor shall remain liable to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it under each contract, agreement or instrument relating to the Article 9 Collateral, all in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, and each Grantor

 

17



 

jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties from and against any and all liability for such performance.

 

(h) None of the Grantors shall make or permit to be made an assignment, pledge or hypothecation of the Article 9 Collateral or shall grant any other Lien in respect of the Article 9 Collateral, except as expressly permitted by Section 6.2 of the Credit Agreement.  None of the Grantors shall make or permit to be made any transfer of the Article 9 Collateral, except as expressly permitted by Sections 6.3 and 6.5 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(i) None of the Grantors will, without the Administrative Agent’s prior written consent, grant any extension of the time of payment of any Accounts included in the Article 9 Collateral, compromise, compound or settle the same for less than the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any person liable for the payment thereof or allow any credit or discount whatsoever thereon, other than extensions, credits, discounts, compromises, compoundings or settlements granted or made in good faith in the prudent conduct of the business of such Grantor.

 

(j) The Grantors, at their own expense, shall maintain or cause to be maintained insurance covering physical loss or damage to the Inventory and Equipment in accordance with the requirements set forth in Section 5.2 of the Credit Agreement.  Each Grantor irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the Administrative Agent) as such Grantor’s true and lawful agent (and attorney-in-fact) for the purpose, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, of making, settling and adjusting claims in respect of Article 9 Collateral under policies of insurance, endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of such policies of insurance and for making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto.  In the event that any Grantor at any time or times shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies of insurance required hereby or under the Credit Agreement or to pay any premium in whole or part relating thereto, the Administrative Agent may, without waiving or releasing any obligation or liability of the Grantors hereunder or any Event of Default, in its sole discretion, obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premium and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Administrative Agent deems advisable.  All sums disbursed by the Administrative Agent in connection with this paragraph, including attorneys’ fees, court costs, expenses and other charges relating thereto, shall be payable, upon demand, by the Grantors to the Administrative Agent and shall be additional Obligations secured hereby.

 

(k) Each Grantor shall maintain, in form and manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, records of its Chattel Paper and its books, records and documents evidencing or pertaining thereto.

 

(l) Each Grantor agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly in writing upon learning that any of the Article 9 Collateral constitutes, or is the Proceeds of, Farm Products.

 

(m) Each Grantor agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly in writing upon learning that any of obligor on any Receivable is a Governmental Authority.

 

SECTION 4.04.  Other Actions.  In order to further insure the attachment, perfection and priority of, and the ability of the Administrative Agent to enforce, the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Article 9 Collateral, each Grantor agrees, in each case at such Grantor’s own expense, to take the following actions with respect to the following Article 9 Collateral:

 

18



 

(a) Instruments.  If any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire any Instruments in excess of $200,000, such Grantor shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Administrative Agent, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify.

 

(b) Deposit Accounts.  For each Deposit Account that any Grantor at any time opens or maintains, such Grantor shall, on or prior to July 31, 2004 (or such later date not beyond September 30, 2004 as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) either (i) cause the depositary bank to agree to comply at any time with instructions from the Administrative Agent to such depositary bank directing the disposition of funds from time to time credited to such Deposit Account, without further consent of such Grantor or any other person, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, or (ii) arrange for the Administrative Agent to become the customer of the depositary bank with respect to the Deposit Account, with the Grantor being permitted, only with the consent of the Administrative Agent, to exercise rights to withdraw funds from such Deposit Account.  The Administrative Agent agrees with each Grantor that the Administrative Agent shall not give any such instructions or withhold any withdrawal rights from any Grantor, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or, after giving effect to any withdrawal, would occur.  The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to (A) any Deposit Account for which any Grantor, the depositary bank and the Administrative Agent have entered into a cash collateral agreement specially negotiated among such Grantor, the depositary bank and the Administrative Agent for the specific purpose set forth therein, (B) Deposit Accounts for which the Administrative Agent is the depositary, (C) Deposit Accounts of which all or a substantial portion of the funds on deposit are used for funding (i) payroll, (ii) 401(k) and other retirement plans and employee benefits, including rabbi trusts for deferred compensation, (iii) health care benefits (e.g., imprest accounts) and (iv) escrow arrangements (e.g., environmental indemnity accounts) and (D) other Deposit Accounts with an aggregate balance of all funds in all such other Deposit Accounts for all Grantors not in excess of $3,000,000 at any time.

 

(c) Investment Property.  Except to the extent otherwise provided in Article III, if any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire any certificated securities, such Grantor shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Administrative Agent, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify.  If any securities now or hereafter acquired by any Grantor are uncertificated and are issued to such Grantor or its nominee directly by the issuer thereof, such Grantor shall immediately notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, at the Administrative Agent’s request and option, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, either (a) cause the issuer to agree to comply with instructions from the Administrative Agent as to such securities, without further consent of any Grantor or such nominee, or (b) arrange for the Administrative Agent to become the registered owner of the securities.  If any securities, whether certificated or uncertificated, or other Investment Property now or hereafter acquired by any Grantor are held by such Grantor or its nominee through a Securities Intermediary or Commodity Intermediary, such Grantor shall immediately notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, at the Administrative Agent’s request and option, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, either (a) cause such Securities Intermediary or Commodity Intermediary, as the case may be, to agree to comply with Entitlement Orders or other instructions from the

 

19



 

Administrative Agent to such Securities Intermediary as to such securities or other Investment Property, or (as the case may be) to apply any value distributed on account of any commodity contract as directed by the Administrative Agent to such Commodity Intermediary, in each case without further consent of any Grantor or such nominee, or (b) in the case of Financial Assets (as governed by Article 8 of the New York UCC) or other Investment Property held through a Securities Intermediary, arrange for the Administrative Agent to become the Entitlement Holder with respect to such Investment Property, with the Grantor being permitted, only with the consent of the Administrative Agent, to exercise rights to withdraw or otherwise deal with such Investment Property.  The Administrative Agent agrees with each of the Grantors that the Administrative Agent shall not give any such Entitlement Orders or instructions or directions to any such issuer, Securities Intermediary or Commodity Intermediary, and shall not withhold its consent to the exercise of any withdrawal or dealing rights by any Grantor, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or, after giving effect to any such investment and withdrawal rights would occur.  The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any Financial Assets credited to a Securities Account for which the Administrative Agent is the Securities Intermediary.

 

(d) Electronic Chattel Paper and Transferable Records.  If any Grantor at any time holds or acquires an interest in any Electronic Chattel Paper or any “transferable record,” as that term is defined in Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, or in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction, such Grantor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, at the request of the Administrative Agent, shall take such action as the Administrative Agent may request to vest in the Administrative Agent control under New York UCC Section 9-105 of such Electronic Chattel Paper or control under Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or, as the case may be, Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, as so in effect in such jurisdiction, of such transferable record.  The Administrative Agent agrees with such Grantor that the Administrative Agent will arrange, pursuant to procedures satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and so long as such procedures will not result in the Administrative Agent’s loss of control, for the Grantor to make alterations to the Electronic Chattel Paper or transferable record permitted under UCC Section 9-105 or, as the case may be, Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act for a party in control to allow without loss of control, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur after taking into account any action by such Grantor with respect to such Electronic Chattel Paper or transferable record.

 

(e) Letter-of-Credit Rights.  If any Grantor is at any time a beneficiary under a letter of credit now or hereafter issued in favor of such Grantor, such Grantor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, at the request and option of the Administrative Agent, such Grantor shall, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, either (i) arrange for the issuer and any confirmer of such letter of credit to consent to an assignment to the Administrative Agent of the proceeds of any drawing under the letter of credit or (ii) arrange for the Administrative Agent to become the transferee beneficiary of the letter of credit, with the Administrative Agent agreeing, in each case, that the proceeds of any drawing under the letter of credit are to be paid to the applicable Grantor unless an Event of Default has occurred or is continuing.

 

20



 

(f) Commercial Tort Claims.  If any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire a Commercial Tort Claim, the Grantor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof in a writing signed by such Grantor including a summary description of such claim and grant to the Administrative Agent in such writing a security interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 4.05.  Covenants regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral.  (a)  Each Grantor agrees that it will not, and will not permit any of its licensees to, do any act, or omit do to any act, whereby any Patent that is material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, may become invalidated or dedicated to the public, and agrees that it shall continue to mark any products covered by a Patent with the relevant patent number as necessary and sufficient to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable patent laws.

 

(b) Each Grantor (either itself or through its licensees or its sublicensees) will, for each Trademark material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (i) maintain such Trademark in full force free from any claim of abandonment or invalidity for non-use, (ii) maintain the quality of products and services offered under such Trademark, (iii) display such Trademark with notice of Federal or foreign registration to the extent necessary and sufficient to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable law and (iv) not knowingly use or knowingly permit the use of such Trademark in violation of any third party rights.

 

(c) Each Grantor (either itself or through its licensees or sublicensees) will, for each work covered by a Copyright that is material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, continue to publish, reproduce, display, adopt and distribute the work with appropriate copyright notice as necessary and sufficient to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable copyright laws.

 

(d) Each Grantor shall notify the Administrative Agent immediately if it knows or has reason to know that any Patent, Trademark or Copyright that is material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, may become abandoned, lost or dedicated to the public, or of any adverse determination or development (including the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or any court or similar office of any country) regarding such Grantor’s ownership of any such Patent, Trademark or Copyright, its right to register the same, or its right to keep and maintain the same.

 

(e) In no event shall any Grantor, either itself or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, file an application for any Patent, Trademark or Copyright (or for the registration of any Trademark or Copyright) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or any office or agency in any political subdivision of the United States or in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, with respect to any of the same which is material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, unless it promptly informs the Administrative Agent, and, upon request of the Administrative Agent, executes and delivers any and all agreements, instruments, documents and papers as the Administrative Agent may request to evidence the Administrative Agent’s security interest in such Patent, Trademark or Copyright, and each Grantor hereby appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact to execute and file such writings for the foregoing purposes, all acts of such attorney being hereby ratified and confirmed; such power, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable.

 

21



 

(f) Each Grantor will take all necessary steps that it deems appropriate under the circumstances and are consistent with the practice in any proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or any office or agency in any political subdivision of the United States or in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue each application relating to any Patent, Trademark and/or Copyright (and to obtain the relevant grant or registration) that is material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and to maintain each issued Patent and each registration of the Trademarks and Copyrights that is material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, including timely filings of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of incontestability and payment of maintenance fees, and, if consistent with good business judgment, to initiate opposition, interference and cancelation proceedings against third parties.

 

(g) In the event that any Grantor knows or has reason to believe that any Article 9 Collateral consisting of a Patent, Trademark or Copyright that is material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, has been or is about to be infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Grantor promptly shall notify the Administrative Agent and shall, if consistent with good business judgment, promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution, and take such other actions as are appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Article 9 Collateral.  Such Grantor may discontinue or settle any such suit or other action if the Grantor deems such discontinuance or settlement to be appropriate in its reasonable business judgment.

 

(h) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall, at the request of the Administrative Agent, use its best efforts to obtain all requisite consents or approvals by the licensor of each Copyright License, Patent License or Trademark License to effect the assignment of all such Grantor’s right, title and interest thereunder to the Administrative Agent or its designee.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Remedies

 

SECTION 5.01.  Remedies upon Default.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor agrees to deliver each item of Collateral to the Administrative Agent on demand, and it is agreed that the Administrative Agent shall have the right to take any of or all the following actions at the same or different times:  (a) with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property, on demand, to cause the Security Interest to become an assignment, transfer and conveyance of any of or all such Article 9 Collateral by the applicable Grantors to the Administrative Agent, or to license or sublicense, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis, any such Article 9 Collateral throughout the world on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the Administrative Agent shall determine (other than in violation of any then-existing licensing arrangements to the extent that waivers cannot be obtained), and (b) with or without legal process and with or without prior notice or demand for performance, to take possession of the Article 9 Collateral and without liability for trespass to enter any premises where the Article 9 Collateral may be located for the purpose of taking possession of or removing the Article 9 Collateral and, generally, to exercise any and all rights afforded to a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that the Administrative Agent shall have the right, subject to the mandatory requirements of applicable

 

22



 

law, to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral at a public or private sale or at any broker’s board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate.  The Administrative Agent shall be authorized at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers to persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale the Administrative Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold.  Each such purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely, free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and the Grantors hereby waive (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay and appraisal which such Grantor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.

 

The Administrative Agent shall give the applicable Grantors 10 days’ written notice (which each Grantor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Administrative Agent’s intention to make any sale of Collateral.  Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange.  Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Administrative Agent may fix and state in the notice (if any) of such sale.  At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Administrative Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine.  The Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral shall have been given.  The Administrative Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned.  In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Administrative Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Administrative Agent shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon like notice.  At any public (or, to the extent permitted by law, private) sale made pursuant to this Section, any Secured Party may bid for or purchase, free (to the extent permitted by law) from any right of redemption, stay, valuation or appraisal on the part of any Grantor (all said rights being also hereby waived and released to the extent permitted by law), the Collateral or any part thereof offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any claim then due and payable to such Secured Party from any Grantor as a credit against the purchase price, and such Secured Party may, upon compliance with the terms of sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property without further accountability to any Grantor therefor.  For purposes hereof, a written agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof; the Administrative Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement and no Grantor shall be entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Administrative Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of Default shall have been remedied and the Obligations paid in full.  As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Administrative Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver.  Any sale

 

23



 

pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.01 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

 

SECTION 5.02.  Application of Proceeds.  The Administrative Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization upon any Collateral, including any Collateral consisting of cash, as follows:

 

FIRST, to the payment of all costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as such hereunder or under any other Loan Document) in connection with such collection, sale, foreclosure or realization or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any of the Obligations, including all court costs and the fees and expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document on behalf of any Grantor and any other costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document;

 

SECOND, to the payment in full of the Obligations (the amounts so applied to be distributed among the Secured Parties pro rata in accordance with the amounts of the Obligations owed to them on the date of any such distribution); and

 

THIRD, to the Grantors, their successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

 

The Administrative Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such proceeds, moneys or balances in accordance with this Agreement.  Upon any sale of Collateral by the Administrative Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Administrative Agent or of the officer making the 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 Administrative Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

 

SECTION 5.03.  Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property.  For the purpose of enabling the Administrative Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Article at such time as the Administrative Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent an irrevocable, nonexclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to the Grantors) to use, license or sublicense any of the Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and including in such license access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof.  The use of such license by the Administrative Agent shall be exercised, at the option of the Administrative Agent, only upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default; provided, however, that any license, sublicense or other transaction entered into by the Administrative Agent in accordance herewith shall be binding upon the Grantors notwithstanding any subsequent cure of an Event of Default.

 

SECTION 5.04.  Securities Act, etc.  In view of the position of the Grantors in relation to the Pledged Collateral, or because of other current or future circumstances, a question may arise under the Securities Act of 1933, as now or hereafter in effect, or any similar statute hereafter enacted analogous in purpose

 

24



 

or effect (such Act and any such similar statute as from time to time in effect being called the “Federal Securities Laws”) with respect to any disposition of the Pledged Collateral permitted hereunder.  Each Grantor understands that compliance with the Federal Securities Laws might very strictly limit the course of conduct of the Administrative Agent if the Administrative Agent were to attempt to dispose of all or any part of the Pledged Collateral, and might also limit the extent to which or the manner in which any subsequent transferee of any Pledged Collateral could dispose of the same.  Similarly, there may be other legal restrictions or limitations affecting the Administrative Agent in any attempt to dispose of all or part of the Pledged Collateral under applicable “blue sky” or other state securities laws or similar laws analogous in purpose or effect.  Each Grantor recognizes that in light of such restrictions and limitations the Administrative Agent may, with respect to any sale of the Pledged Collateral, limit the purchasers to those who will agree, among other things, to acquire such Pledged Collateral for their own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof.  Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that in light of such restrictions and limitations, the Administrative Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion (a) may proceed to make such a sale whether or not a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged Collateral or part thereof shall have been filed under the Federal Securities Laws and (b) may approach and negotiate with such number of purchasers as the Administrative Agent determines to be reasonable to effect such sale.  Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that any such sale might result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale without such restrictions.  In the event of any such sale, the Administrative Agent shall incur no responsibility or liability for selling all or any part of the Pledged Collateral at a price that the Administrative Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, may in good faith deem reasonable under the circumstances, notwithstanding the possibility that a substantially higher price might have been realized if the sale were deferred until after registration as aforesaid or if more than a single purchaser were approached.  The provisions of this Section 5.04 will apply notwithstanding the existence of a public or private market upon which the quotations or sales prices may exceed substantially the price at which the Administrative Agent sells.

 

SECTION 5.05. Certain Matters Relating to Receivables.  (a)  At any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to make test verifications of the Receivables in any manner and through any medium that it reasonably considers advisable, and each Grantor shall furnish all such assistance and information as the Administrative Agent may require in connection with such test verifications.  At any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon the Administrative Agent’s request and at the expense of the relevant Grantor, such Grantor shall cause independent public accountants or others satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to furnish to the Administrative Agent reports showing reconciliations, aging and test verifications of, and trial balances for, the Receivables.

 

(b)                                 The Administrative Agent hereby authorizes each Grantor to collect such Grantor’s Receivables, and the Administrative Agent may curtail or terminate said authority at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default.  If required by the Administrative Agent at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any payments of Receivables, when collected by any Grantor, (i) shall be forthwith (and, in any event, within two Business Days) deposited by such Grantor in the exact form received, duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent if required, in a Collateral Account maintained under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, subject to withdrawal by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Secured Parties only as provided in Section 5.02, and (ii) until so turned over, shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, segregated from other funds of such Grantor.  Each such

 

25



 

deposit of Proceeds of Receivables shall be accompanied by a report identifying in reasonable detail the nature and source of the payments included in the deposit.

 

SECTION 5.06.  Communications with Obligors; Grantors Remain Liable. (a)  The Administrative Agent in its own name or in the name of others may at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default communicate with obligors under the Receivables to verify with them to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any Receivables.

 

(b)                                 Upon the request of the Administrative Agent at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall notify obligors on the Receivables that the Receivables have been assigned to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties and that payments in respect thereof shall be made directly to the Administrative Agent.

 

(c)                                  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Grantor shall remain liable under each of the Receivables to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise thereto.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation or liability under any Receivable (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of any payment relating thereto, nor shall the Administrative Agent or any Lender be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Receivable (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party thereunder, to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

 

SECTION 5.07.  Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent.  In addition to the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties specified in Section 5.05 with respect to payments of Receivables, if an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, all Proceeds received by any Grantor consisting of cash, checks and other near-cash items shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Grantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Grantor, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Grantor (duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent, if required).  All Proceeds received by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be held by the Administrative Agent in a Collateral Account maintained under its sole dominion and control.  All Proceeds while held by the Administrative Agent in a Collateral Account (or by such Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties) shall continue to be held as collateral security for all the Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as provided in Section 5.02.

 

SECTION 5.08.  Deficiency.  Each Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay its Obligations and the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to collect such deficiency.

 

26



 

ARTICLE VI

 

Indemnity, Subrogation and Subordination

 

SECTION 6.01.  Indemnity and Subrogation.  In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Guarantors may have under applicable law (but subject to Section 6.03), the Borrower agrees that (a) in the event a payment shall be made by any Guarantor under this Agreement, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and such Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment and (b) in the event any assets of any Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to this Agreement or any other Security Document to satisfy in whole or in part a claim of any Secured Party, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor in an amount equal to the greater of the book value or the fair market value of the assets so sold.

 

SECTION 6.02.  Contribution and Subrogation.  Each Guarantor (a “Contributing Guarantor”) agrees (subject to Section 6.03) that, in the event a payment shall be made by any other Guarantor hereunder in respect of any Obligation or assets of any other Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to any Security Document to satisfy any Obligation owed to any Secured Party and such other Guarantor (the “Claiming Guarantor”) shall not have been fully indemnified by the Borrower as provided in Section 6.01, the Contributing Guarantor shall indemnify the Claiming Guarantor in an amount equal to the amount of such payment or the greater of the book value or the fair market value of such assets, as the case may be, in each case multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of the Contributing Guarantor on the date hereof and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Guarantors on the date hereof (or, in the case of any Guarantor becoming a party hereto pursuant to Section 7.16, the date of the Supplement hereto executed and delivered by such Guarantor).  Any Contributing Guarantor making any payment to a Claiming Guarantor pursuant to this Section 6.02 shall be subrogated to the rights of such Claiming Guarantor under Section 6.01 to the extent of such payment.

 

SECTION 6.03.  Subordination.  (a)  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all rights of the Guarantors under Sections 6.01 and 6.02 and all other rights of indemnity, contribution or subrogation under applicable law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations.  No failure on the part of the Borrower or any Guarantor to make the payments required by Sections 6.01 and 6.02 (or any other payments required under applicable law or otherwise) shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor with respect to its obligations hereunder, and each Guarantor shall remain liable for the full amount of the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder.

 

(b) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that all Indebtedness and other monetary obligations owed by it to the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 7.01.  Notices.  All communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as provided in Section 9.1 of the Credit Agreement.  All communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be given to it in care of the Borrower as provided in Section 9.1 of the Credit Agreement.

 

27



 

SECTION 7.02.  Security Interest Absolute.  All rights of the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Security Interest, the grant of a security interest in the Pledged Collateral and all obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Obligations, or (d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor in respect of the Obligations or this Agreement.

 

SECTION 7.03.  Survival of Agreement.  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended under the Credit Agreement, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under any Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or the Aggregate L/C Exposure does not equal zero and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated.

 

SECTION 7.04.  Binding Effect; Several Agreement.  This Agreement shall become effective as to any Loan Party when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Loan Party shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon such Loan Party and the Administrative Agent and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such Loan Party, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Loan Party shall have the right to assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein or in the Collateral (and any such assignment or transfer shall be void) except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Credit Agreement.  This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Loan Party and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Loan Party without the approval of any other Loan Party and without affecting the obligations of any other Loan Party hereunder.

 

SECTION 7.05.  Successors and Assigns.  Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the permitted successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Grantor or the Administrative Agent that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

 

SECTION 7.06.  Administrative Agent’s Fees and Expenses; Indemnification.  (a)  The parties hereto agree that the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to reimbursement of its expenses incurred hereunder as provided in Section 9.5 of the Credit Agreement.

 

28



 

(b) Without limitation of its indemnification obligations under the other Loan Documents, each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and the other Indemnitees against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related out of pocket expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, or to the Collateral, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided, however, that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

 

(c) Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents.  The provisions of this Section 7.06 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party.  All amounts due under this Section 7.06 shall be payable on written demand therefor and shall bear interest at the rate specified in Section 2.6 of the Credit Agreement.

 

SECTION 7.07.  Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact.  Each Grantor hereby appoints the Administrative Agent as the attorney-in-fact of such Grantor for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall have the right, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, with full power of substitution either in the Administrative Agent’s name or in the name of such Grantor (a) to receive, endorse, assign and/or deliver any and all notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders or other evidences of payment relating to the Collateral or any part thereof; (b) to demand, collect, receive payment of, give receipt for and give discharges and releases of all or any of the Collateral; (c) to sign the name of any Grantor on any invoice or bill of lading relating to any of the Collateral; (d) to send verifications of Accounts Receivable to any Account Debtor; (e) to commence and prosecute any and all suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect or otherwise realize on all or any of the Collateral or to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral; (f) to settle, compromise, compound, adjust or defend any actions, suits or proceedings relating to all or any of the Collateral; (g) to notify, or to require any Grantor to notify, Account Debtors to make payment directly to the Administrative Agent; and (h) to use, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with all or any of the Collateral, and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, as fully and completely as though the Administrative Agent were the absolute owner of the Collateral for all purposes; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the Administrative Agent to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the Administrative Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property covered thereby.  The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts

 

29



 

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 Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

SECTION 7.08.  Applicable Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

SECTION 7.09.  Waivers; Amendment.  (a)  No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have.  No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.  No notice or demand on any Loan Party in any case shall entitle any Loan Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 9.8 of the Credit Agreement.

 

SECTION 7.10.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.10.

 

SECTION 7.11.  Severability.  In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction).  The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

30



 

SECTION 7.12.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 7.04.  Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 7.13.  Headings.  Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

SECTION 7.14.  Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.  (a)  Each of the Loan Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United States of America, sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the Loan Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court.  Each of the Loan Parties agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(b) Each of the Loan Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section.  Each of the Loan Parties hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(c) Each of the Loan Parties hereby irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.01.  Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of the Administrative Agent to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

SECTION 7.15.  Termination or Release.  (a)  This Agreement, the Guarantees, the Security Interest and all other security interests granted hereby shall terminate when all the Loan Document Obligations then due and owing have been indefeasibly paid in full and the Lenders have no further commitment to lend under the Credit Agreement, the aggregate L/C Exposure has been reduced to zero and the Issuing Bank has no further obligations to issue Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement.

 

(b) A Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the Security Interest in the Collateral of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

31



 

(c) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Grantor of any Collateral that is permitted under the Credit Agreement to any person that is not the Borrower or a Guarantor, or, upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest granted hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 9.8 of the Credit Agreement, the security interest in such Collateral shall be automatically released and the Administrative Agent will confirm such release in writing promptly after written request therefor.

 

(d) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Grantor, at such Grantor’s expense, all documents that such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release.  Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 7.15 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.  Without limiting the provisions of Section 7.06, the Borrower shall reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for all costs and out of pocket expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel, incurred by it in connection with any action contemplated by this Section 7.15.

 

                                SECTION 7.16  Additional Grantors.  Pursuant to Section 5.9 of the Credit Agreement, each Domestic Subsidiary of a Loan Party that was not in existence or not a Subsidiary on the date of the Credit Agreement is required to enter in this Agreement as a Subsidiary Guarantor upon becoming such a Subsidiary.  Upon execution and delivery by the Administrative Agent and a Domestic Subsidiary of a supplement in the form of Exhibit A hereto, such Domestic Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Subsidiary Guarantor herein.  The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any other Loan Party hereunder.  The rights and obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Loan Party as a party to this Agreement.

 

                                SECTION 7.17  Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Grantor against any and all of the obligations of such Grantor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured.  The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

 

                                SECTION 7.18  Duty of Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the Collateral in its possession, under Section 9-207 of the New York UCC or otherwise, shall be to deal with it in the same manner as the Administrative Agent deals with similar property for its own account.  Neither the Administrative Agent, any Lender nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any Grantor or any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof.  The powers conferred on the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise any such powers.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be accountable only for amounts that they actually receive as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither they

 

32



 

nor any of their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

SECTION 7.19.  Authority of Administrative Agent.  Each Grantor acknowledges that the rights and responsibilities of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement with respect to any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the exercise or non-exercise by the Administrative Agent of any option, voting right, request, judgment or other right or remedy provided for herein or resulting or arising out of this Agreement shall, as between the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, be governed by the Credit Agreement and by such other agreements with respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but, as between the Administrative Agent and the Grantors, the Administrative Agent shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Lenders with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting, and no Grantor shall be under any obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

 

SECTION 7.20.  Acknowledgments.  Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that:

 

(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party;

 

(b) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Grantor arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between the Grantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and Lenders, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

 

(c) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among the Grantors and the Lenders.

 

33



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

PP HOLDING CORPORATION,

 

 

 

by

/s/ Lynn Amos

 

 

 

Name: Lynn Amos

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer
and Secretary

 

 

 

 

PP ACQUISITION CORPORATION,

 

 

 

 

by

/s/ Lynn Amos

 

 

 

Name: Lynn Amos

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer
and Secretary

 

 

 

DARAMIC, INC.

 

 

 

 

by

/s/ Lynn Amos

 

 

 

Name: Lynn Amos

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer, Executive
Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

DARAMIC INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

 

 

 

by

/s/ Lynn Amos

 

 

 

Name: Lynn Amos

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer, Executive
Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

CELGARD, INC.

 

 

 

 

by

/s/ Lynn Amos

 

 

 

Name: Lynn Amos

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer, Executive
Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

DARAMIC ASIA, INC.

 

 

 

 

by

/s/ Lynn Amos

 

 

 

Name: Lynn Amos

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer, Executive
Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

POLYPORE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

by

/s/ Lynn Amos

 

 

 

Name: Lynn Amos

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer, Executive
Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary

 



 

 

The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that, upon the effectiveness of the Merger, it will succeed by operation of law to all of the rights and obligations of the Borrower set forth herein and that all references herein to the “Borrower” shall thereupon be deemed to be references to the undersigned.

 

 

 

POLYPORE, INC.,

 

by

 /s/ Lynn Amos

 

 

Name: Lynn Amos

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

2



 

Exhibit A to the
Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement

 

SUPPLEMENT NO. [] dated as of [], to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of May 13, 2004 (the “Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”), among PP HOLDING CORPORATION., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), PP ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each subsidiary of the Borrower listed on Schedule I thereto (each such subsidiary individually a “Subsidiary Guarantor” and collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”; the Subsidiary Guarantors, Holdings and the Borrower are referred to collectively herein as the “Grantors”).

 

A.  Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 13, 2004 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Borrower, Holdings, the lenders named therein (the “Lenders”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

 

B.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement or the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement referred to therein, as applicable.

 

C.  The Grantors have entered into the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit.  Section 7.16 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement provides that additional Domestic Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties may become Subsidiary Guarantors and Grantors under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement.  The undersigned Subsidiary (the “New Subsidiary”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and a Grantor under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans and the Issuing Bank to issue additional Letters of Credit and as consideration for Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously issued.

 

Accordingly, the New Subsidiary agrees as follows:

 

SECTION 1.  In accordance with Section 7.16 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the New Subsidiary by its signature below becomes a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor and the New Subsidiary hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement applicable to it as a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder and (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a Grantor and Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof.  In furtherance of the foregoing, the New Subsidiary, as security for the payment and performance in full of the Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), does hereby create and grant to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a security interest in and lien on all of the New Subsidiary’s right, title and interest in and to the Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) of the New Subsidiary.  Each reference to a “Grantor” or a “Subsidiary Guarantor” in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Subsidiary.  The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

 

1



 

SECTION 2.  The New Subsidiary represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

SECTION 3.  This Supplement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Supplement shall become effective when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Supplement that bear the signature of the New Subsidiary.  Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Supplement.

 

SECTION 4.  The New Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants that (a) set forth on Schedule I attached hereto is a true and correct schedule of the location of any and all Collateral of the New Subsidiary and (b) set forth under its signature hereto, is the true and correct legal name of the New Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of formation and the location of its chief executive office.

 

SECTION 5.  Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 6.  THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

SECTION 7.  In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

SECTION 8.  All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 7.01 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Subsidiary shall be given to it at the address set forth under its signature below.

 

SECTION 9.  The New Subsidiary agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Supplement, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary has duly executed this Supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

2



 

 

[NAME OF NEW SUBSIDIARY],

 

 

 

 

 

by

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Address:

 

 

Legal Name:

 

 

Jurisdiction
of Formation:

 

 

Location of Chief
Executive Office:

 

3



 

Schedule I to
Supplement No.       to the
Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement

 

LOCATION OF COLLATERAL

 

Description

 

Location

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JURISDICTION OF FORMATION

 



 

Schedule II to
Supplement No.       
to the Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement

 

Pledged Securities of the New Subsidiary

 

CAPITAL STOCK

 

Issuer

 

Number of
Certificate

 

Registered
Owner

 

Number and
Class of
Equity Interests

 

Percentage
of Equity Interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEBT SECURITIES

 

Issuer

 

Principal
Amount

 

Date of Note

 

Maturity Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 



 

Exhibit B to
Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement

 

FORM OF PERFECTION CERTIFICATE

 

Reference is made to (a) the Credit Agreement dated as of May 13, 2004 (as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among PP Holding Corporation (“Holdings”), PP Acquisition Corporation, (the “Borrower”), the lenders named therein (the “Lenders”) and Credit Suisse First Boston, a bank organized under the laws of Switzerland, acting through its Cayman Islands branch, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and (b) the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of May 13, 2004 among the Borrower, Holdings and the Subsidiaries identified therein (the “Guarantors”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned in the Credit Agreement or the Security Documents referred to therein, as applicable.

 

The undersigned, a Financial Officer and general counsel, respectively, of the Borrower, hereby certify to the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party as follows:

 

1.  Names.  (a)  The exact legal name of each Grantor, as such name appears in its respective certificate of formation, is as follows:

 

(b) Set forth below is each other legal name each Grantor has had in the past five years, together with the date of the relevant change:

 

(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 1 hereto, no Grantor has changed its identity or corporate structure in any way within the past five years.  Changes in identity or corporate structure would include mergers, consolidations and acquisitions, as well as any change in the form, nature or jurisdiction of organization.  If any such change has occurred, include in Schedule 1 the information required by Sections 1 and 2 of this certificate as to each acquiree or constituent party to a merger or consolidation.

 

(d) The following is a list of all other names (including trade names or similar appellations) used by each Grantor or any of its divisions or other business units in connection with the conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties at any time during the past five years:

 

(e) Set forth below is the Organizational Identification Number, if any, issued by the jurisdiction of formation of each Grantor that is a registered organization:

 

2.  Current Locations.  (a)  The chief executive office of each Grantor is located at the address set forth opposite its name below:

 

Grantor

 

Mailing Address

 

County

 

State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b) Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are all locations where such Grantor maintains any books or records relating to any Accounts Receivable (with each location at which chattel paper, if any, is kept being indicated by an “*”):

 

Grantor

 

Mailing Address

 

County

 

State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

(c) The jurisdiction of formation of each Grantor that is a registered organization is set forth opposite its name below:

 

Grantor:

 

Jurisdiction:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(d) Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are all the locations where such Grantor maintains any Equipment or other Collateral not identified above:

 

Grantor

 

Mailing Address

 

County

 

State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(e) Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are all the places of business of such Grantor not identified in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) above:

 

Grantor

 

Mailing Address

 

County

 

State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(f) Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are the names and addresses of all Persons other than such Grantor that have possession of any of the Collateral of such Grantor:

 

Grantor

 

Mailing Address

 

County

 

State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Unusual Transactions.  All Accounts have been originated by the Grantors and all Inventory has been acquired by the Grantors in the ordinary course of business.

 

4.  File Search Reports.  File search reports have been obtained from each Uniform Commercial Code filing office identified with respect to such Grantor in Section 2 hereof, and such search reports reflect no liens against any of the Collateral other than those permitted under the Credit Agreement.

 

5.  UCC Filings.  Financing statements in substantially the form of Schedule 5 hereto have been prepared for filing in the proper Uniform Commercial Code filing office in the jurisdiction in which each Grantor is located and, to the extent any of the collateral is comprised of fixtures, timber to be cut or as extracted collateral from the wellhead or minehead, in the proper local jurisdiction, in each case as set forth with respect to such Grantor in Section 2 hereof.

 

6.  Schedule of Filings.  Attached hereto as Schedule 6 is a schedule setting forth, with respect to the filings described in Section 5 above, each filing and the filing office in which such filing is to be made.

 

7.  Stock Ownership and other Equity Interests.  Attached hereto as Schedule 7 is a true and correct list of all the issued and outstanding stock, partnership interests, limited liability company membership interests or other equity interest of the Borrower and each Subsidiary and the record and beneficial owners of such stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interests. Also set forth on Schedule 7 is each equity investment of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary that represents 50% or less of the equity of the entity in which such investment was made.

 

2



 

8.  Debt Instruments.  Attached hereto as Schedule 8 is a true and correct list of all promissory notes and other evidence of indebtedness held by Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary that are required to be pledged under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, including all applicable intercompany notes between Holdings and each Subsidiary of Holdings and each Subsidiary of Holdings and each other such Subsidiary.

 

9.  Advances.  Attached hereto as Schedule 9 is (a) a true and correct list of all advances made by the Borrower to any Subsidiary of the Borrower or made by any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the Borrower or to any other Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than those identified on Schedule 8), which advances are on the date hereof evidenced by one or more intercompany notes pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the requirements of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and (b) a true and correct list of all unpaid intercompany transfers of goods sold and delivered by or to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

10.  Intellectual Property.  Attached hereto as Schedule 10(A) in proper form for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office is a schedule setting forth all of each Grantor’s Patents, Patent Licenses, Trademarks and Trademark Licenses, including the name of the registered owner, the registration number and the expiration date of each Patent, Patent License, Trademark and Trademark License owned by any Grantor. Attached hereto as Schedule 10(B) in proper form for filing with the United States Copyright Office is a schedule setting forth all of each Grantor’s Copyrights and Copyright Licenses, including the name of the registered owner, the registration number and the expiration date of each Copyright or Copyright License owned by any Grantor.

 

3



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this certificate on this      day of May 2004.

 

 

PP ACQUISITION CORPORATION,

 

 

 

by

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

4