EXHIBIT 10.14
BORROWER PLEDGE AGREEMENT
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BOGEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
shares of
NEW ENGLAND AUDIO RESOURCE CORP.
AGREEMENT, made this 21st day of April, 1998, by and between:
BOGEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation having an office at
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (hereinafter referred to as the
"Pledgor"); and
KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association having an
office at ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (hereinafter referred to
in its individual capacity as "Key"), as agent for the Banks.
W I T N E S S E T H :
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WHEREAS:
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC., and Pledgor, each a
Delaware corporation (collectively "the Borrowers") have entered into a certain
Credit Agreement of even date herewith (hereinafter, together with all exhibits
thereto, as it may from time to time be amended, modified or supplemented,
referred to as the "Credit Agreement") by and between the Borrowers, various
financial institutions and Key as agent pursuant to which the Banks have agreed
to lend to the Borrowers the aggregate principal sum of up to Twenty Seven
Million and no/100 ($27,000,000.00) Dollars, upon and subject to the terms and
conditions of the Credit Agreement;
B. In order to induce the Banks to execute and deliver the Credit
Agreement, the Pledgor has agreed to pledge all of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of New England Audio Resource Corp. owned by it as
security for the performance of all of the Borrowers' indebtedness, liabilities
and obligations to the Banks, including, without limitation, those arising under
the Credit Agreement and any and all promissory notes from time to time issued
pursuant to the Credit Agreement (collectively, the "Note"), and as collateral
security for the performance of all of the indebtedness, liabilities and
obligations of the Pledgor under the Guaranty;
C. It is a condition precedent to the obligations of the Banks under the
Credit Agreement that the Pledgor shall execute and deliver this Pledge
Agreement; and
D. All capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Credit
Agreement shall have the respective meanings provided therefor in the Credit
Agreement, unless otherwise defined herein or unless the context otherwise
requires;
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the Pledgor hereby
agrees with the Banks as follows:
1. The term "Pledged Stock" as used herein shall mean and include all of
the issued and outstanding shares, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by
the Pledgor, of the capital stock of New England Audio Resource Corp.,
including, without limitation, all of the issued and outstanding stock of New
England Audio Resource Corp. listed on Schedule A annexed hereto, and, also, any
shares, stock certificates, options or rights issued by New England Audio
Resource Corp. as an addition to, in substitution of, or in exchange for any
such shares, and any and all proceeds thereof, now or hereafter owned or
acquired by the Pledgor.
2. (a) As security for the due payment and performance of all
indebtedness and other liabilities and obligations of the Borrowers to the
Banks, whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether or not currently
contemplated, including, without limitation, all indebtedness, liabilities and
obligations under, arising out of, or in any way connected with the Guaranty,
the Credit Agreement and the Note and all agreements, instruments and documents
executed, issued and delivered pursuant thereto, including, without limitation,
this Pledge Agreement and to secure any other obligations of the Borrowers to
the Banks (all of the foregoing indebtedness, liabilities and obligations are
hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Obligations"), the Pledgor hereby
pledges, assigns, hypothecates, delivers and sets over to the Agent on behalf of
the Banks, all the Pledged Stock, and hereby grants to the Banks a first
security interest in all the Pledged Stock and in any and all proceeds thereof
and substitutions therefor.
(b) If the Pledgor shall become entitled to receive or shall receive
any stock certificate (including, without limitation, any certificate
representing a stock dividend or a distribution in connection with any
reclassification, increase or reduction of capital), option or rights, whether
as an addition to, in substitution of, or in exchange for any shares of the
Pledged Stock, or otherwise, the Pledgor shall accept any such instruments as
the Banks' agent, shall hold them in trust for the Banks, and shall deliver them
forthwith to the Agent in the exact form received, with the Pledgor's
endorsement when necessary and/or appropriate stock powers duly executed in
blank, to be held by the Agent, subject to the terms hereof, as further security
for the Obligations.
(c) Any or all shares of the Pledged Stock held by the Agent
hereunder may, at the option of the Agent or its nominee, be registered in the
name of the Agent or its nominee, and the Agent or its nominee may thereafter,
without notice, and after the occurrence and during the continuation of any
Event of Default, exercise all voting and corporate rights at any meeting of any
corporation issuing any of the shares included in the Pledged Stock and exercise
any and all rights of conversion, exchange, subscription or any other rights,
privileges or options pertaining to any shares of the Pledged Stock as if it
were the absolute owner thereof, including, without limitation, the right to
receive dividends payable thereon, and the right to exchange, at its discretion,
any and all of the Pledged Stock upon the merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization or other readjustment of any corporation issuing any of such
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shares or upon the exercise by any such issuer of any right, privilege or option
pertaining to any shares of the Pledged Stock, and in connection therewith, to
deposit and deliver any and all of the Pledged Stock with any committee,
depositary, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms
and conditions as it may determine, all without liability except to account for
property actually received by it, but the Agent shall have no duty to exercise
any of the aforesaid rights, privileges or options and shall not be responsible
for any failure to do so or delay in so doing.
(d) In the event of the occurrence and during the continuation of any
Event of Default, the Banks shall have the right to require that all cash
dividends payable with respect to any part of the Pledged Stock be paid to the
Agent to be held by the Agent as additional security hereunder until applied to
the Obligations.
(e) In the event of the occurrence and during the continuation of any
Event of Default, the Agent without demand of performance or other demand,
advertisement or notice of any kind (except the notice specified below of time
and place of public or private sale) to or upon the Pledgor or any other Person
(all and each of which demands, advertisements and/or notices are, to the extent
permitted by law, hereby expressly waived), may forthwith collect, receive,
appropriate and realize upon the Pledged Stock, or any part thereof, and/or may
forthwith sell, assign, give an option or options to purchase, contract to sell
or otherwise dispose of and deliver the Pledged Stock, or any part thereof, in
one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange,
broker's board or at any of the Agent's offices or elsewhere at such prices and
on such terms (including, without limitation, a requirement that any purchaser
of all or any part of the Pledged Stock shall be required to purchase the shares
constituting the Pledged Stock for investment and without any intention to make
a distribution thereof) as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future
delivery without assumption of any credit risk, with the right to the Agent or
any purchaser upon any such sale or sales, whether public or private, to
purchase the whole or any part of the Pledged Stock so sold, free of any right
or equity of redemption in the Pledgor, which right or equity is hereby
expressly waived and released.
(f) The proceeds of any collection, recovery, receipt, appropriation,
realization or sale as aforesaid, shall be applied as follows:
(i) First, to the costs and expenses of every kind incurred in
connection therewith or incidental to the care, safekeeping or otherwise of any
and all of the Pledged Stock or in any way relating to the rights of the Banks
hereunder, including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses;
(ii) Second, to the satisfaction of the Obligations;
(iii) Third, to the payment of any other amounts required by
applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 9-504(l)(c) of the
Uniform Commercial Code); and
(iv) Fourth, to the Pledgor to the extent of the surplus
proceeds, if any.
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(g) The Agent need not give more than five (5) days' notice of the
time and place of any public sale or of the time after which a private sale may
take place and such notice shall be deemed to be reasonable notification of such
matters.
(h) In the event that the proceeds of any collection, recovery,
receipt, appropriation, realization, or sale as aforesaid are insufficient to
pay all amounts to which the Banks are legally entitled, the Pledgor will be
liable for the deficiency, together with interest thereon, at the Post-Default
Rate, and the reasonable fees of any attorneys employed by the Agent to collect
such deficiency, pursuant to the Credit Agreement.
(i) The Agent shall deliver to the Pledgor the Pledged Stock,
including any certificates for new shares issued in respect of Pledged Stock,
upon satisfaction in full of the Obligations.
3. The Pledgor represents and warrants that:
(a) The Pledged Stock is owned directly and beneficially and of
record by the Pledgor in the amount set forth on Schedule A annexed hereto;
(b) The shares of the Pledged Stock constitute 100% of all of the
issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of New England Audio Resource
Corp.;
(c) All of the shares of the Pledged Stock have been duly and validly
issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Pledgor free and
clear of any pledge, mortgage, hypothecation, Lien, charge, encumbrance or any
security interest in such shares or the proceeds thereof except for the security
interest granted to the Banks hereunder; and
(d) Upon delivery of the Pledged Stock to the Agent or its designee,
this Pledge Agreement creates and grants a valid first Lien on and perfected
security interest in the shares of the Pledged Stock and the proceeds thereof,
subject to no prior security interest, Lien, charge or encumbrance or to any
agreement purporting to grant to any third party a security interest in the
property or assets of the Pledgor which would include the Pledged Stock.
4. (a) The Pledgor hereby covenants that so long as the Obligations
shall be outstanding and unpaid, in whole or in part, the Pledgor will not:
(i) sell, convey or otherwise dispose of any shares of the
Pledged Stock or any interest therein, nor will the Pledgor create, incur or
permit to exist any pledge, mortgage, Lien, charge, encumbrance or any security
interest whatsoever with respect to any of the Pledged Stock or the proceeds
thereof other than that created hereby; or
(ii) consent to or approve the issuance of any additional shares
of any class of the issuer of the Pledged Stock.
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(b) The Pledgor warrants and will defend the Banks' right, title,
special property and security interest in and to the Pledged Stock against the
claims of any Person, firm, corporation or other entity.
5. (a) If the Agent shall determine to exercise its right to sell all
or any part of the Pledged Stock, and if in the opinion of counsel for the Agent
it is necessary to have the Pledged Stock, or that portion thereof to be sold,
registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of l933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), the Pledgor will use its best efforts to cause each issuer of
shares included in the Pledged Stock contemplated to be sold to execute and
deliver, and cause the directors and officers of each such issuer to execute and
deliver, all at the Pledgor's expense, all such instruments and documents, and
to do or cause to be done all such other acts and things as may be necessary to
register the Pledged Stock, or that portion thereof to be sold, under the
provisions of the Securities Act and to cause the registration statement
relating thereto to become effective and to remain effective for a period of one
year from the date of the first public offering of the Pledged Stock, or that
portion thereof so to be sold, and to make all amendments thereto and/or to the
related prospectus which, in the opinion of the Agent or its counsel, are
necessary or advisable, all in conformity with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission applicable thereto; to cause each such issuer to comply with the
provisions of the "Blue Sky" law of any jurisdiction which the Agent shall
designate; and to cause each such issuer to make available to its security
holders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement (which need not be
audited) covering a period of twelve months, but not more than eighteen months,
beginning with the first month after the effective date of any such registration
statement, which earnings statement will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a)
of the Securities Act.
(b) The Pledgor acknowledges that a breach of any of the covenants
contained in subparagraph 5(a) above will cause irreparable injury to the Banks,
that the Banks shall have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach
and, as a consequence, the covenants of the Pledgor contained in subparagraph
5(a) above shall be specifically enforceable against the Pledgor, and the
Pledgor hereby waives, and shall not assert, any defenses against an action for
specific performance of such covenants, except for a defense that no Event of
Default has occurred.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Pledgor recognizes that the
Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of all or a part of the Pledged
Stock, and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales to a
restricted group of purchasers who will be obligated to agree, among other
things, to acquire such securities for their own account, for investment and not
with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. The Pledgor acknowledges that
any such private sales may be at places and on terms less favorable to the
seller than if sold at public sales and agrees that such private sales shall be
deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner, and that the Agent
has no obligation to delay sale of any such securities for the period of time
necessary to permit the issuer of such securities to register such securities
for public sale under the Securities Act.
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6. The Pledgor shall at any time and from time to time upon the written
request of the Banks, execute and deliver such further documents and do such
further acts and things as the Banks may reasonably request in order to effect
the purposes of this Pledge Agreement, including, without limitation, delivering
to the Agent on the date hereof or at any time hereafter irrevocable proxies in
respect of the Pledged Stock in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto.
7. (a) Beyond the exercise of reasonable care to assure the safe custody
of the Pledged Stock while held hereunder, the Agent shall have no duty or
liability to preserve rights pertaining thereto, and shall be relieved of all
responsibility for the Pledged Stock upon surrendering it to the Pledgor or in
accordance with the Pledgor's instructions.
(b) No course of dealing between the Pledgor and the Banks, nor any
failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the Banks, any
right, power or privilege hereunder or under the Guaranty, the Credit Agreement
or the Note shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or
privilege.
(c) The rights and remedies herein provided, and provided in the
Guaranty, the Credit Agreement and the Note and in all other agreements,
instruments and documents delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement, are
cumulative and are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies
provided by law including, without limitation, the rights and remedies of a
secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code.
(d) The provisions of this Pledge Agreement are severable, and if any
clause or provision shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part
in any jurisdiction, then such invalidity or unenforceability shall affect only
such clause or provision, or part thereof, in such jurisdiction and shall not in
any manner affect such clause or provision in any other jurisdiction, or any
other clause or provision in this Pledge Agreement in any jurisdiction.
8. All notices and other communications pursuant to this Pledge
Agreement shall be in writing, either by letter (delivered by hand or commercial
messenger service or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested) or telegram or telecopy, addressed as follows:
(a) If to the Pledgor:
BOGEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ________________
Telecopier No.: ___________
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with a copy to:
Fox & Fox
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(b) If to the Agent:
KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Any notice or other communication hereunder shall be deemed to have been given
on the day on which it is telecopied to such party at its telecopier number
specified above or delivered by hand or such commercial messenger service to
such party at its address specified above, or, if sent by mail, on the third
Business Day after the day deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or in the
case of telegraphic notice, when delivered to the telegraph company, addressed
as aforesaid. Any party hereto may change the Person, address or telecopier
number to whom or which notices are to be given hereunder, by notice duly given
hereunder; provided, however, that any such notice shall be deemed to have been
given hereunder only when actually received by the party to which it is
addressed.
9. This Pledge Agreement shall be binding upon the Pledgor and its
successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Banks and their
successors and assigns.
10. This Pledge Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and
interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Pledge Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered the day and year first above written.
BOGEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
STATE OF NEW JERSEY )
)ss.:
COUNTY OF )
On this day of April, 1998, before me the subscriber personally appeared
__________, who being by me duly sworn, did depose and say; that he resides at
______________, that he is ________________ of Bogen Corporation, the
corporation described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; and that
he signed his name thereto by order of the Board of Directors of said
corporation.
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NOTARY PUBLIC
STATE OF NEW JERSEY )
)ss.:
COUNTY OF )
On this day of April, 1998, before me the subscriber personally appeared
__________, who being by me duly sworn, did depose and say; that he resides at
______________, that he is ________________ of KeyBank National Association, the
corporation described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; and that
he signed his name thereto by order of the Board of Directors of said
corporation.
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NOTARY PUBLIC
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EXHIBIT A
TO
PLEDGE AGREEMENT
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IRREVOCABLE PROXY
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KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned does hereby
make, constitute and appoint KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the "Agent") and each
of the Agent's officers and employees, its true and lawful attorneys, for it and
in its name, place and stead, to act as its proxy in respect of all of the
shares of capital stock of NEW ENGLAND AUDIO RESOURCE CORP., a Delaware
corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation"), which it now or
hereafter may own or hold, including, without limitation, the right, on its
behalf, to demand the call by any proper officer of the Corporation pursuant to
the provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws and as permitted
by law of a meeting of its shareholders and at any such meeting of shareholders,
annual, general or special, to vote for the transaction of any and all business
that may come before such meeting, or at any adjournment thereof, including,
without limitation, the right to vote for the sale of all or any part of the
assets of the Corporation and/or the liquidation and dissolution of the
Corporation; giving and granting to its said attorneys full power and authority
to do and perform each and every act and thing whether necessary or desirable to
be done in and about the premises, as fully as it might or could do if
personally present with full power of substitution, appointment and revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that its said attorneys shall do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.
This Proxy is given to the Agent and to its officers and
employees in consideration of the loans to be made by the Banks to the
Corporation and in order to carry out the covenant of the undersigned contained
in a certain Pledge Agreement of even date herewith between it, the Banks and
the Agent and this Proxy shall not be revocable or revoked by the undersigned,
shall be binding upon the undersigned and its successors and assigns until the
payment in full of all of the Obligations (as defined in the aforesaid Pledge
Agreement) and may be exercised only after an Event of Default under the Credit
Agreement (as such terms are defined in the aforesaid Pledge Agreement).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Irrevocable
Proxy this ___ day of April, 1998.
BOGEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE A
TO PLEDGE AGREEMENT
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PLEDGED STOCK OF
NEW ENGLAND AUDIO RESOURCE CORP.
Number of Number of Shares Number of
Shares Issued and Shares Owned Certificate
Authorized Outstanding by Pledgor Number
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