GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT made by each of the Grantors (as defined herein) in favor of NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Administrative Agent Dated as of April 23, 2018

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

 

made by

each of the Grantors (as defined herein)

in favor of

 

NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent

 

Dated as of April 23, 2018

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

SCHEDULES:

1.          Notice Addresses of Guarantors

2.          Description of Pledged Securities

3.          Filings and Other Actions Required to Perfect Security Interests

4.          Legal Name, Location of Jurisdiction of Organization, Organizational Identification Number, Taxpayor Identification Number and Chief Executive Office

5.          Prior Names, Prior Chief Executive Office, Location of Tangible Assets

ANNEX:

1.          Form of Assumption Agreement

 

 

 

This GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT, dated as of April 23, 2018, is made by SUNDANCE ENERGY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, a limited company organized and existing under the laws of South Australia (“Parent”), SUNDANCE ENERGY, INC., a Colorado corporation (the “Borrower”), and each of the other signatories hereto other than the Administrative Agent (the Borrower and each of the other signatories hereto other than the Administrative Agent, together with any other Subsidiary of the Parent that becomes a party hereto from time to time after the date hereof, the “Grantors”), in favor of NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH, as administrative agent (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), for the banks and other financial institutions (the “Lenders”) from time to time parties to the Credit Agreement of even date herewith (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Parent, the Borrower, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, and any other Agents party thereto.

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 loans to and extensions of credit on behalf of the Borrower thereunder, each Grantor hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01       Definitions.

(a)         As used in this Agreement, each term defined above shall have the meaning indicated above.  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement, and the following terms as well as all uncapitalized terms which are defined in the New York UCC on the date hereof are used herein as so defined:  Accounts, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claims, Commodity Accounts, Deposit Accounts, Documents, Electronic Chattel Paper, Equipment, Fixtures, General Intangibles, Goods, Instruments, Inventory, Investment Property, Letter-of-Credit Rights, Payment Intangibles, Proceeds, Securities Accounts, Supporting Obligations, and Tangible Chattel Paper.

(b)         The following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Account Debtor” shall mean a Person (other than any Grantor) obligated on an Account, Chattel Paper, or General Intangible.

“Agreement” shall mean this Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 3.01.

“Excluded Equity” shall mean any voting stock of any Foreign Subsidiary in excess of 66-2/3% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such Foreign Subsidiary that are entitled to vote.

 

“Excluded Property” shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 3.01.

“Guarantors” shall mean, collectively, each Grantor other than the Borrower.

“Issuers” shall mean, collectively, each issuer of a Pledged Security.

 

“New York UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code, as it may be amended, from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

 “Pledged Securities” shall mean: (i) the equity interests described or referred to in Schedule 2; and (ii) (a) the certificates or instruments, if any, representing such equity interests, (b) subject to Section 7.01, all dividends (cash, stock or otherwise), cash, instruments, rights to subscribe, purchase or sell and all other rights and property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such equity interests, (c) all replacements, additions to and substitutions for any of the property referred to in this definition, including, without limitation, claims against third parties, (d) the Proceeds on any of the property referred to in this definition and (e) all books and records relating to any of the property referred to in this definition.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Pledged Securities” shall not include any Excluded Equity.

“Post-Default Rate” shall mean the per annum rate of interest provided for in Section 3.02(d) of the Credit Agreement, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

“Qualified Keepwell Provider” shall mean, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Grantor that, at the time the relevant guarantee (or grant of the relevant security interest, as applicable) becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation, has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or otherwise constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” with respect to such Swap Obligation at such time by entering into a keepwell pursuant to Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

“Secured Agreement” shall mean any agreement giving rise to a Secured Obligation.

Section 1.02      Other Definitional Provisions; References.  The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.  The gender of all words shall include the masculine, feminine, and neuter, as appropriate.  The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other words of similar import when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole, and not to any particular article, section or subsection.  Any reference herein to a Section shall be deemed to refer to the applicable Section of this Agreement unless otherwise stated herein.  Any reference herein to an exhibit, schedule or annex shall be deemed to refer to the applicable exhibit, schedule or annex attached hereto unless otherwise stated herein.  Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Grantor, shall refer to such Grantor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

ARTICLE II

GUARANTEE

Section 2.01       Guarantee.

(a)         Each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably, guarantees to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties and each of their respective successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and complete payment and performance by the Borrower and the Guarantors when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Secured Obligations.  This is a guarantee of payment and not collection and the liability of each Guarantor is primary and not secondary.

(b)         Anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall in no event

 

exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by such Guarantor under applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency of debtors.

(c)         Each Guarantor agrees that the Secured Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the amount of the liability of such Guarantor hereunder without impairing the guarantee contained in this Article II or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party hereunder.

(d)         Each Guarantor agrees that if the maturity of any of the Secured Obligations is accelerated by bankruptcy or otherwise, such maturity shall also be deemed accelerated for the purpose of this guarantee without demand or notice to such Guarantor.  The guarantee contained in this Article II shall remain in full force and effect until the Payment in Full.

(e)         No payment made by the Borrower, any of the Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party from the Borrower, any of the Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application at any time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Secured Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of any Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment (other than any payment made by such Guarantor in respect of the Secured Obligations or any payment received or collected from such Guarantor in respect of the Secured Obligations), remain liable for the Secured Obligations up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder until the Payment in Full.

Section 2.02      Payments.  Each Guarantor hereby agrees and guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid to the Administrative Agent without set-off or counterclaim in Dollars that constitute immediately available funds at the principal office of the Administrative Agent specified pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

ARTICLE III

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

Section 3.01       Grant of Security Interest.  Each Grantor hereby pledges, assigns and transfers to the Administrative Agent, and grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of the following property 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 and whether now existing or hereafter coming into existence (collectively, the “Collateral”), as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Secured Obligations:

(1)         all Accounts;

(2)         cash

(3)         all Chattel Paper (whether Tangible Chattel Paper or Electronic Chattel Paper);

(4)         all Commercial Tort Claims;

(5)         all Deposit Accounts, all Commodity Accounts and all Securities Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts and Section 1031 tax-deferred exchange accounts (or other similar restricted accounts));

 

(6)         all Documents;

(7)         all Fixtures;

(8)         all General Intangibles (including, without limitation, rights in and under any Swap Agreements);

(9)         all Goods (including, without limitation, all Inventory and all Equipment, but excluding all Fixtures);

(10)       all Instruments;

(11)       all Intellectual Property;

(12)       all Inventory;

(13)       all Investment Property;

(14)       all Letter-of-Credit Rights (whether or not the letter of credit is evidenced by a writing;

(15)       all Money;

(16)       all Pledged Securities;

(17)       all Supporting Obligations;

(18)       all books and records pertaining to the Collateral;

(19)       to the extent not otherwise included, any other property insofar as it consists of personal property of any kind or character defined in and subject to the New York UCC; and

(20)       to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security, income, royalties and other payments now or hereafter due and payable with respect to, and guarantees and supporting obligations relating to, any and all of the Collateral and, to the extent not otherwise included, all payments of insurance (whether or not the Administrative Agent is the loss payee thereof), or any indemnity, warranty or guaranty, payable by reason of loss or damage to or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing Collateral, all other claims, including all cash, guarantees and other Supporting Obligations given with respect to any of the foregoing;

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Collateral include, and no Grantor shall be deemed to have granted a security interest in, any of such Grantor’s rights or interests in or under (collectively, the “Excluded Property”) (a) any property to the extent that the grant of a security interest thereon shall constitute or result in a breach of, a default under, an invalidation of, a termination of, or the unenforceability of any right of such Grantor under, any agreement related to such property or requires the consent of, or creates a right of termination in favor of, any Person other than Grantor or any of its Affiliates, provided,  however, that the Collateral shall include (and such security interest shall attach) immediately at such time as the contractual or legal provisions referred to above shall no longer be applicable, (b) any Excluded Equity or (c) any motor vehicles, aircraft, rolling stock or other assets subject to certificate-of-title statutes; provided further that the exclusions referred to in clause (a) above shall not apply to the extent that such laws, rules, regulations, agreements, terms or provisions referred to therein would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the New York UCC or the Uniform

 

Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law (including any debtor relief law or principle of equity) and shall not include any proceeds (as defined in the New York UCC or the Uniform Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction) of such permit, lease, license, contract or other agreement or property, unless any assets constituting such proceeds are themselves subject to the exclusions set forth above.

Section 3.02     Transfer of Pledged Securities.  As of the Effective Date, all certificates and instruments representing or evidencing the Pledged Securities shall be delivered to and held pursuant hereto by the Administrative Agent or a Person designated by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an instrument or certificate in registered form, shall be duly indorsed to the Administrative Agent or in blank by an effective indorsement (whether on the certificate or instrument or on a separate writing), and accompanied by any required transfer tax stamps to effect the pledge of the Pledged Securities to the Administrative Agent.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, all Pledged Securities evidenced by a certificate or instrument must be delivered or transferred in such manner, and each Grantor shall take all such further action as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, as to permit the Administrative Agent to maintain a first priority perfected security interest in the Pledged Securities.

Section 3.03       Grantors Remain Liable under Accounts, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Grantor shall remain liable under each of the Accounts, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles 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 to each such Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Administrative Agent or any such other Secured Party of any payment relating to such Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible, pursuant hereto, nor shall the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible (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 under any Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible (or any agreement giving rise thereto), 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 3.04      Pledged Securities.  The granting of the foregoing security interest does not make the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party a successor to Grantor as a partner or member in any Issuer that is a partnership, limited partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, and neither the Administrative Agent, any Secured Party, nor any of their respective successors or assigns hereunder shall be deemed to have become a partner or member in any Issuer, as applicable, by accepting this Agreement or exercising any right granted herein unless and until such time, if any, when any such Person expressly becomes a partner or member in any Issuer, as applicable, and complies with any applicable transfer provisions set forth in the charter or organizational documents relating to an applicable Pledged Security after a foreclosure thereon.

ARTICLE IV

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, WAIVERS AND CONSENTS

Section 4.01       Acknowledgments, Waivers and Consents.

(a)         Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that the obligations undertaken by it under this Agreement involve the guarantee of, and the provision of collateral security for, the Secured

 

Obligations, which obligations consist, in part, of the obligations of Persons other than such Grantor and that such Grantor’s guarantee and provision of collateral security for the Secured Obligations are absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances, except as expressly provided herein or in any other Loan Document.  In full recognition and furtherance of the foregoing, each Grantor understands and agrees, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and except as may otherwise be expressly provided in the Loan Documents, that each Grantor shall remain obligated hereunder (including, without limitation, with respect to the guarantee made by such Grantor hereby and the collateral security provided by such Grantor herein) and the enforceability and effectiveness of this Agreement and the liability of such Grantor, and the rights, remedies, powers and privileges of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected, limited, reduced, discharged or terminated in any way:

(i)          notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against any Grantor and without notice to or further assent by any Grantor, (A) any demand for payment of any of the Secured Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party may be rescinded by the Administrative Agent or such other Secured Party and any of the Secured Obligations continued; (B) the Secured Obligations, the liability of any other Person upon or for any part thereof or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by, or any indulgence or forbearance in respect thereof granted by, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party; (C) the Secured Agreements and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the Administrative Agent (or the Required Lenders, the Majority Lenders or all Lenders, as the case may be) may deem advisable from time to time; (D) any Grantor or any other Person may from time to time accept or enter into new or additional agreements, security documents, guarantees or other instruments in addition to, in exchange for or relative to, any Secured Agreement, all or any part of the Secured Obligations or any Collateral now or in the future serving as security for the Secured Obligations; (E) any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Secured Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released; and (F) any other event shall occur which constitutes a defense or release of sureties generally; and

(ii)         without regard to, and each Grantor hereby expressly waives to the fullest extent permitted by law any defense now or in the future arising by reason of, (A) the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Secured Agreement, any of the Secured Obligations or any other collateral security therefor or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, (B) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) which may at any time be available to or be asserted by any Grantor or any other Person against the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, (C) the insolvency, bankruptcy arrangement, reorganization, adjustment, composition, liquidation, disability, dissolution or lack of power of any Grantor or any other Person at any time liable for the payment of all or part of the Secured Obligations or the failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to file or enforce a claim in bankruptcy or other proceeding with respect to any Person; or any sale, lease or transfer of any or all of the assets of the any Grantor, or any changes in the shareholders of any Grantor; (D) the fact that any Collateral or Lien contemplated or intended to be given, created or granted as security for the repayment of the Secured Obligations shall not be properly perfected or created, or shall prove to be unenforceable or subordinate to any other Lien, it being recognized and agreed by each of the Grantors that it is not entering into this Agreement in reliance on, or in contemplation of the benefits of, the validity, enforceability, collectability or value of any of the Collateral for the Secured Obligations; (E) any failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to marshal assets in favor of any Grantor or any other Person, to exhaust any collateral for all or any part of the Secured Obligations, to pursue or exhaust any right, remedy, power or privilege it may have against any Grantor or any other Person or to

 

take any action whatsoever to mitigate or reduce any Grantor’s liability under this Agreement or any other Secured Agreement; (F) any law which provides that the obligation of a surety or guarantor must neither be larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal or which reduces a surety’s or guarantor’s obligation in proportion to the principal obligation; (G) the possibility that the Secured Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the aggregate liability of such Grantor under this Agreement; or (H) any other circumstance or act whatsoever, including any act or omission of the type described in Section 4.01(a)(i) (with or without notice to or knowledge of any Grantor), which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge or defense of the Borrower for the Secured Obligations, or of such Grantor under the guarantee contained in Article II or with respect to the collateral security provided by such Grantor herein, or which might be available to a surety or guarantor, in bankruptcy or in any other instance.

(b)         Each Grantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by law:  (i) except as expressly provided otherwise in any Loan Document, all notices to such Grantor, or to any other Person, including but not limited to, notices of the acceptance of this Agreement, the guarantee contained in Article II or the provision of collateral security provided herein, or the creation, renewal, extension, modification, accrual of any Secured Obligations, or notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the guarantee contained in Article II or upon the collateral security provided herein, or of default in the payment or performance of any of the Secured Obligations owed to the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party and enforcement of any right or remedy with respect thereto; or notice of any other matters relating thereto; the Secured Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon the guarantee contained in Article II and the collateral security provided herein and no notice of creation of the Secured Obligations or any extension of credit already or hereafter contracted by or extended to the Borrower need be given to any Grantor; and all dealings between the Borrower and any of the Grantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon the guarantee contained in Article II and on the collateral security provided in this Agreement; (ii) diligence and demand of payment, presentment, protest, dishonor and notice of dishonor; (iii) any statute of limitations affecting any Grantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof; (iv) all rights of revocation with respect to the Secured Obligations, the guarantee contained in Article II and the provision of collateral security herein; and (v) all principles or provisions of law which conflict with the terms of this Agreement and which can, as a matter of law, be waived.

(c)         When making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against any Grantor, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party may, but shall be under no obligation to, join or make a similar demand on or otherwise pursue or exhaust such rights and remedies as it may have against the Borrower, any other Grantor or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Secured Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to make any such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrower, any other Grantor or any other Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of the Borrower, any Grantor or any other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve any Grantor of any obligation or liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party against any Grantor.  For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.  Other than as set forth herein or in any applicable Secured Agreement, neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Secured Obligations or for the guarantee contained in Article II or any property subject thereto.

 

Section 4.02      No Subrogation, Contribution or Reimbursement.  Notwithstanding any payment made by any Grantor hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of any Grantor by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, no Grantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party against the Borrower or any other Grantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Secured Obligations, nor shall any Grantor seek or be entitled to seek any indemnity, exoneration, participation, contribution or reimbursement from the Borrower or any other Grantor in respect of payments made by such Grantor hereunder, and each Grantor hereby expressly waives, releases, and agrees not to exercise any all such rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnity and contribution.  Each Grantor further agrees that to the extent that such waiver and release set forth herein is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable for any reason, any rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnity and contribution such Grantor may have against the Borrower, any other Grantor or against any collateral or security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party shall be junior and subordinate to any rights the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties may have against the Borrower and such Grantor and to all right, title and interest the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties may have in any collateral or security or guarantee or right of offset.  The Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, may use, sell or dispose of any item of Collateral or security as it sees fit without regard to any subrogation rights any Grantor may have, and upon any disposition or sale, any rights of subrogation any Grantor may have shall terminate.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

To induce the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower thereunder and to induce the Lenders and Affiliates of the Lenders to enter into other Secured Agreements, each Grantor hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party that:

Section 5.01      Representations in Credit Agreement.  In the case of each Guarantor, the representations and warranties set forth in Article VII of the Credit Agreement as they relate to such Guarantor or to the Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party are true and correct in all material respects, provided that each reference in each such representation and warranty to the Borrower’s knowledge shall, for the purposes of this Section 5.01, be deemed to be a reference to such Guarantor’s knowledge.

Section 5.02      Benefit to the Guarantor.  The Borrower is a member of an affiliated group of companies that includes each Guarantor, and the Borrower and the Guarantors are engaged in related businesses.  Each Guarantor is a Subsidiary of Parent and, after taking into account all rights of contribution of each Grantor against other Grantors, if any, under this Agreement, at law, in equity or otherwise, its guaranty and surety obligations pursuant to this Agreement reasonably may be expected to benefit, directly or indirectly, it; and it has determined that this Agreement is necessary and convenient to the conduct, promotion and attainment of the business of such Guarantor and the Borrower.

Section 5.03       [Reserved].

Section 5.04       Title; No Other Liens.  Except for the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to this Agreement and Liens permitted by Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement, such Grantor is the legal and beneficial owner of its respective items of the Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens.  No financing statement or other public notice with respect to all or any part of the Collateral is on file or of record in any public office, except such as have been filed in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties,

 

pursuant to this Agreement, the Security Instruments or as are filed to secure Liens permitted by Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement.

Section 5.05      Perfected First Priority Liens.  The security interests granted pursuant to this Agreement (a) upon completion of the filings and other actions specified on Schedule 3 (which, in the case of all filings and other documents referred to on said Schedule, have been delivered to the Administrative Agent in completed and, if required, duly executed form) will constitute valid perfected security interests in all of the Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by the actions specified on Schedule 3, in favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as collateral security for such Grantor’s obligations, enforceable in accordance with the terms hereof against all creditors of such Grantor and any Persons purporting to purchase any Collateral from such Grantor and (b) are prior to all other Liens on the Collateral in existence on the date hereof except for Liens permitted by Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement.

Section 5.06      Legal Name, Organizational Status, Chief Executive Office.  On the date hereof, the correct legal name of such Grantor, such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization, organizational number, taxpayor identification number and the location of such Grantor’s chief executive office or sole place of business are specified on Schedule 4.

Section 5.07       Prior Names and Addresses.  Schedule 5 correctly sets forth (a) all names and trade names that such Grantor has used in the last five years and (b) the chief executive office of such Grantor over the last five years (if different from that which is set forth in Section 5.06 above).

Section 5.08      Pledged Securities.  The shares (or such other interests) of Pledged Securities pledged by such Grantor hereunder constitute all the issued and outstanding shares (or such other interests) of all classes of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Issuer owned by such Grantor (other than any Excluded Equity).  All the shares (or such other interests) of the Pledged Securities have been duly and validly issued and (other than Pledged Securities consisting of limited liability company interests or partnership interest, which cannot be fully paid and are nonassessable) are fully paid and nonassessable; and such Grantor is the record and beneficial owner of, and has good title to, the Pledged Securities pledged by it hereunder, free of any and all Liens except Liens permitted by Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement.

Section 5.09      Goods.  No portion of the Collateral constituting Goods with a value in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate is in the possession of a bailee that has issued a negotiable or non-negotiable document covering such Collateral, except for Collateral being transported in the ordinary course of business and Collateral subject to a joint operating agreement that is in the possession of the operator under the agreement.

Section 5.10      Instruments and Chattel Paper.  Such Grantor has delivered to the Administrative Agent all Collateral constituting Instruments and Chattel Paper in excess of $100,000 existing on such date.  No Collateral constituting Chattel Paper or Instruments contains any statement therein to the effect that such Collateral has been assigned to an identified party other than the Administrative Agent, and the grant of a security interest in such Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent hereunder does not violate the rights of any other Person as a secured party.

Section 5.11      Truth of Information; Accounts.  All information with respect to the Collateral set forth in any schedule, certificate or other writing at any time heretofore or hereafter furnished by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, and all other written information heretofore or hereafter furnished by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party is and will be true and correct in all material respects as of the date furnished.  The place where each Grantor keeps its

 

records concerning the Accounts, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles is at its location of chief executive office listed on Schedule 4.

Section 5.12       Governmental Obligors.  Except as may be otherwise disclosed to Administrative Agent from time to time, none of the Account Debtors on such Grantor’s Accounts, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangibles is a Governmental Authority.

ARTICLE VI

COVENANTS

Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties that, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Payment in Full:

Section 6.01       Covenants in Credit Agreement.  In the case of each Guarantor, such Guarantor shall take, or shall refrain from taking, as the case may be, each action that is necessary to be taken or not taken, as the case may be, so that no Default or Event of Default is caused by the failure to take such action or to refrain from taking such action by such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 6.02       Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation.

(a)         Such Grantor shall maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a perfected security interest having at least the priority described in Section 5.05 (to the extent such perfection is required by this Agreement) and shall take commercially reasonable actions to defend such security interest against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever except for Liens permitted by Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement.

(b)         Subject to the limitations set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, at any time and from time to time, upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, and at the sole expense of such Grantor, such Grantor will promptly and duly give, execute, deliver, indorse, file or record any and all financing statements, continuation statements, amendments, notices (including, without limitation, notifications to financial institutions and any other Person), contracts, agreements, assignments, certificates, stock powers or other instruments, obtain any and all governmental approvals and consents and take or cause to be taken any and all steps or acts that may be necessary or advisable or as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to create, perfect, establish the priority of, or to preserve the validity, perfection or priority of, the Liens granted by this Agreement or to enable the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to enforce its rights, remedies, powers and privileges under this Agreement with respect to such Liens or to otherwise obtain or preserve the full benefits of this Agreement and the rights, powers and privileges herein granted.

(c)         Without limiting the obligations of the Grantors under Section 6.02(b) and Section 6.02(d): (i) upon the request of the Administrative Agent such Grantor shall take or cause to be taken all actions (other than any actions required to be taken by the Administrative Agent or any Lender) reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to cause the Administrative Agent to (A) have “control” (within the meaning of Sections 9-104, 9-105, 9-106, and 9-107 of the New York UCC) over any Collateral constituting Electronic Chattel Paper, Investment Property (including the Pledged Securities), or Letter-of-Credit Rights, including, without limitation, executing and delivering any agreements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with securities intermediaries, issuers or other Persons in order to establish “control”, and each Grantor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties of such Grantor’s acquisition of any such Collateral; provided that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred that is continuing, Administrative Agent will not exercise its rights and remedies under any such agreement, and (B) be a “protected purchaser” (as defined in Section 8-303 of the

 

New York UCC); (ii) with respect to Collateral other than certificated securities and goods covered by a document in the possession of a Person other than such Grantor or the Administrative Agent, such Grantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain written acknowledgment that such Person holds possession for the Administrative Agent’s benefit; and (iii) with respect to any Collateral constituting Goods that are in the possession of a bailee, such Grantor shall provide prompt notice to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties of any such Collateral then in the possession of such bailee, and such Grantor shall take or use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be taken all actions (other than any actions required to be taken by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party) necessary or requested by the Administrative Agent to cause the Administrative Agent to have a perfected security interest in such Collateral under applicable law.

(d)         Without limiting the obligations of the Grantors under Sections 6.02(a), (b) and (c), each Grantor will cause any of its Deposit Accounts, Commodities Accounts and Securities Accounts (excluding Excluded Accounts) to be subject to a deposit account control agreement or securities account control agreement, as applicable, to the extent and in the manner required under Section 8.19 of the Credit Agreement.

(e)         This Section 6.02 and the obligations imposed on each Grantor by this Section 6.02 shall be interpreted as broadly as possible in favor of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties in order to effectuate the purpose and intent of this Agreement.

Section 6.03       [Reserved].

Section 6.04       [Reserved].

Section 6.05      Further Identification of Collateral.  Such Grantor will furnish to the Administrative Agent from time to time, at such Grantor’s sole cost and expense, to the extent such information is reasonably available, statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other reports in connection with the Collateral as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.

Section 6.06       Changes in Locations, Name, etc.  Such Grantor recognizes that financing statements pertaining to the Collateral have been or may be filed where such Grantor maintains any Collateral or is organized.  Without limitation of any other covenant herein, such Grantor will not cause or permit any change to be made (a) in its company name or in any trade name used to identify such Grantor in the conduct of its business or in the ownership of its Properties, (b) in the location of its chief executive office or principal place of business, (c) in its identity or corporate structure or in the jurisdiction in which such Grantor is incorporated, formed or otherwise organized, or (d) in its organizational identification number in such jurisdiction of organization, unless such Grantor shall have first (i) notified the Administrative Agent of such change at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of such change (or such lesser time period as the Administrative Agent may agree), and (ii) taken all action reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of maintaining the perfection and priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interests under this Agreement.

Section 6.07      Compliance with Contractual Obligations.  Such Grantor will perform and comply in all material respects with all its contractual obligations (other than obligations to pay which are not yet delinquent or in default) relating to the Collateral (including, without limitation, with respect to the goods or services, the sale or lease or rendition of which gave rise or will give rise to each Account), except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the Grantor has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, or (b)

 

the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 6.08       Limitations on Dispositions of Collateral.  The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties do not authorize, and such Grantor agrees not to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral except to the extent permitted by the Credit Agreement.

Section 6.09       Pledged Securities.

(a)         If such Grantor shall become entitled to receive or shall receive any stock certificate or other instrument constituting Pledged Securities, such Grantor shall accept the same as the agent of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, hold the same in trust for the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and promptly deliver the same forthwith to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received, duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent, if required, together with an undated stock power or other equivalent instrument of transfer reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent covering such certificate or instrument duly executed in blank by such Grantor, to be held by the Administrative Agent, subject to the terms hereof, as additional collateral security for the Secured Obligations.

(b)         Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Grantor will not (i) unless otherwise permitted hereby or the Credit Agreement, vote to enable, or take any other action to permit, any Issuer to issue any stock or other equity interests of any nature or to issue any other securities or interests convertible into or granting the right to purchase or exchange for any stock or other equity interests of any nature of any Issuer, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, the Pledged Securities or Proceeds thereof (except pursuant to a transaction expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement), (iii) create, incur or permit to exist any Lien except for Liens permitted by Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement or option in favor of, or any claim of any Person with respect to, any of the Pledged Securities or Proceeds thereof, or any interest therein, except for the security interests created by this Agreement or (iv) enter into any agreement or undertaking restricting the right or ability of such Grantor or the Administrative Agent to sell, assign or transfer any of the Pledged Securities or Proceeds thereof.

(c)         In the case of each Grantor which is an Issuer, such Issuer agrees that (i) it will be bound by the terms of this Agreement relating to the Pledged Securities issued by it and will comply with such terms insofar as such terms are applicable to it, (ii) it will notify the Administrative Agent promptly in writing of the occurrence of any of the events described in Section 6.09(a) with respect to the Pledged Securities issued by it and (iii) the terms of Section 7.01(c) and Section 7.05 shall apply to it, mutatis mutandis, with respect to all actions that may be required of it pursuant to Section 7.01(c) or Section 7.05 with respect to the Pledged Securities issued by it.

(d)         Such Grantor shall furnish to the Administrative Agent such stock powers and other equivalent instruments of transfer as may be required by the Administrative Agent to assure the transferability of and the perfection of the security interest in the Pledged Securities when and as often as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

(e)         The Pledged Securities will at all times constitute not less than 100% of the capital stock or other equity interests of the Issuer thereof owned by any Grantor or, in the case of the Pledged Securities of a Foreign Subsidiary, 66-2/3% of the capital stock or other equity interests of the Issuer thereof.  Each Grantor will not permit any Issuer of any of the Pledged Securities to issue any new shares (or other interests) of any class of capital stock or other equity interests of such Issuer without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent unless promptly upon issuance the same are pledged and, if

 

applicable, delivered to Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms hereof to the extent necessary to give Administrative Agent a first priority security interest after such issue in at least the same percentage of such Issuer’s outstanding shares or other interests as Grantor had before such issue.

Section 6.10       Limitations on Modifications, Waivers, Extensions of Agreements Giving Rise to Accounts.  Such Grantor will not (a) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of any Chattel Paper, Instrument or any agreement giving rise to an Account or Payment Intangible with a value in excess of $100,000 in any manner which could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the value of such Chattel Paper, Instrument, Payment Intangible or Account as Collateral, or (b) fail to exercise promptly and diligently each and every material right which it may have under any Chattel Paper, Instrument and each agreement giving rise to an Account or Payment Intangible with a value in excess of $100,000 (other than any right of termination); provided, that, a Grantor may make such adjustments, settlements or compromises and release wholly or partly any account debtor or obligor thereof and allow any credit or discounts thereon so long as (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) such action is taken in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, and (iii) such action is, in such Grantor’s good-faith business judgment, commercially reasonable.

Section 6.11       [Reserved]

Section 6.12       Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper.  If any amount payable in excess of $100,000 under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any Instrument or Tangible Chattel Paper, such Instrument or Tangible Chattel Paper shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request, duly endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to be held as Collateral pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 6.13       [Reserved].

Section 6.14      Commercial Tort Claims.  If such Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire a Commercial Tort Claim that satisfies the requirements of the following sentence, such Grantor shall, within thirty (30) days after such Commercial Tort Claim satisfies such requirements, notify the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties in a writing signed by such Grantor containing a brief description thereof, and granting to the Administrative Agent in such writing (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) 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 reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  The provisions of the preceding sentence shall apply only to a Commercial Tort Claim that satisfies the following requirements:  (a) the monetary value claimed by or payable to the relevant Grantor in connection with such Commercial Tort Claim shall exceed $100,000, and (b) either (i) such Grantor shall have filed a law suit or counterclaim or otherwise commenced legal proceedings (including, without limitation, arbitration proceedings) against the Person against whom such Commercial Tort Claim is made, or (ii) such Grantor and the Person against whom such Commercial Tort Claim is asserted shall have entered into a settlement agreement with respect to such Commercial Tort Claim.  In addition, to the extent that the existence of any Commercial Tort Claim held or acquired by any Grantor is disclosed by such Grantor in any public filing with the Securities Exchange Commission or any successor thereto or analogous Governmental Authority, or to the extent that the existence of any such Commercial Tort Claim is disclosed in any press release issued by any Grantor, then, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the relevant Grantor shall, within thirty (30) days after such request is made, transmit to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties a writing signed by such Grantor containing a brief description of such Commercial Tort Claim and granting to the Administrative Agent in such writing (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) 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 reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

Section 6.15     Keepwell.  Each Qualified Keepwell Provider hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Grantor to honor all of its obligations under this Agreement in respect of Swap Obligations (provided, however, that each Qualified Keepwell Provider shall only be liable under this Section 6.15 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 6.15, or otherwise under this Agreement, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount).  The obligations of each Qualified Keepwell Provider under this Section 6.15 shall remain in full force and effect until the Payment in Full.  Each Qualified Keepwell Provider intends that this Section 6.15 constitute, and this Section 6.15 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Grantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

ARTICLE VII

REMEDIAL PROVISIONS

Section 7.01       Pledged Securities.

(a)         Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent shall have given notice to the relevant Grantor of the Administrative Agent’s intent to exercise its corresponding rights pursuant to Section 7.01(b), each Grantor shall be permitted to receive all cash dividends paid in respect of the Pledged Securities paid in the normal course of business of the relevant Issuer, to the extent permitted in the Credit Agreement, and to exercise all voting, corporate and other rights with respect to the Pledged Securities.

(b)         If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, then at any time in the Administrative Agent’s discretion following notice to the relevant Grantor, (i) the Administrative Agent shall have the right to receive any and all cash dividends, payments or other Proceeds paid in respect of the Pledged Securities and make application thereof to the Secured Obligations in accordance with Section 10.02 of the Credit Agreement, and (ii) any or all of the Pledged Securities shall be registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee, and the Administrative Agent or its nominee may thereafter exercise (A) all voting, corporate and other rights pertaining to such Pledged Securities at any meeting of shareholders (or other equivalent body) of the relevant Issuer or Issuers or otherwise and (B) any and all rights of conversion, exchange and subscription and any other rights, privileges or options pertaining to such Pledged Securities as if it were the absolute owner thereof (including, without limitation, the right to exchange at its discretion any and all of the Pledged Securities upon the merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other fundamental change in the organizational structure of any Issuer, or upon the exercise by any Grantor or the Administrative Agent of any right, privilege or option pertaining to such Pledged Securities, and in connection therewith, the right to deposit and deliver any and all of the Pledged Securities with any committee, depositary, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms and conditions as the Administrative Agent may determine), all without liability except to account for property actually received by it, but the Administrative Agent shall have no duty to any Grantor to exercise any such right, privilege or option and shall not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so doing.

(c)         Each Grantor hereby authorizes and instructs each Issuer of any Pledged Securities pledged by such Grantor hereunder (and each Issuer party hereto hereby agrees) to (i) comply with any instruction received by it from the Administrative Agent in writing that (A) states that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (B) is otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without any other or further instructions from such Grantor, and each Grantor agrees that each Issuer shall be fully protected in so complying, and (ii) unless otherwise expressly permitted hereby, at any time that an Event

 

of Default exists, pay any dividends or other payments with respect to the Pledged Securities directly to the Administrative Agent.

(d)         After the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default,  if the Issuer of any Pledged Securities is the subject of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, custodianship or other proceedings under the supervision of any Governmental Authority, then all rights of the Grantor in respect thereof to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which such Grantor would otherwise be entitled to exercise with respect to the Pledged Securities issued by such Issuer shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent who shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise such voting and other consensual rights, but the Administrative Agent shall have no duty to exercise any such voting or other consensual rights and shall not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so doing.

Section 7.02       Collections on Accounts, Etc.  The Administrative Agent hereby authorizes each Grantor to collect upon the Accounts, Instruments, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles 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.  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 the Account Debtors that the applicable Accounts, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles 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.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may in its own name or in the name of others communicate with the Account Debtors to verify with them to its satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any Accounts, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangibles.

Section 7.03       Proceeds.  If required by the Administrative Agent at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any payments of Accounts, Instruments, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles, when collected or received by each Grantor, and any other cash or non-cash Proceeds received by each Grantor upon the sale or other disposition of any Collateral, 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 special collateral account maintained by the Administrative Agent, subject to withdrawal by the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties only, as hereinafter provided, and, until so turned over, shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of any such Grantor.  All Proceeds (including, without limitation, Proceeds constituting collections of Accounts, Chattel Paper, Instruments) while held by the Administrative Agent (or by any Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) shall continue to be collateral security for all of the Secured Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as hereinafter provided.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any time at the Administrative Agent’s election the Administrative Agent shall apply all or any part of the funds on deposit in said special collateral account on account of the Secured Obligations in such order as specified in Section 10.02(c) of the Credit Agreement, and any part of such funds which the Administrative Agent elects not so to apply and deems not required as collateral security for the Secured Obligations shall be paid over from time to time by the Administrative Agent to each Grantor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.

Section 7.04       New York UCC and Other Remedies.

(a)         If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, may exercise in its discretion, in addition to all other rights, remedies, powers and privileges granted to them in this Agreement, any other Secured Agreement, all rights, remedies,

 

powers and privileges of a secured party under the New York UCC (whether the New York UCC is in effect in the jurisdiction where such rights, remedies, powers or privileges are asserted) or any other applicable law or otherwise available at law or equity.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (or its agent), without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law) to or upon any Grantor or any other Person (all and each of which demands, defenses, advertisements and notices are hereby waived), may in such circumstances forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, and/or may forthwith sell, lease, assign, give option or options to purchase, or otherwise dispose of and deliver the Collateral or any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or office of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party or elsewhere upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk.  The Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption in any Grantor, which right or equity is hereby waived and released.  If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, each Grantor further agrees, at the Administrative Agent’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Administrative Agent at places which the Administrative Agent shall reasonably select, whether at such Grantor’s premises or elsewhere.  Any such sale or transfer by the Administrative Agent either to itself or to any other Person shall be absolutely free from any claim of right by Grantor, including any equity or right of redemption, stay or appraisal which Grantor has or may have under any rule of law, regulation or statute now existing or hereafter adopted.  Upon any such sale or transfer, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to deliver, assign and transfer to the purchaser or transferee thereof the Collateral so sold or transferred.  The Administrative Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it pursuant to this Section 7.04, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred in connection therewith or incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral or in any way relating to the Collateral or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, to the payment in whole or in part of the Secured Obligations, in accordance with Section 10.02 of the Credit Agreement, and only after such application and after the payment by the Administrative Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, including, without limitation, Section 9-615 of the New York UCC, need the Administrative Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any Grantor.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages and demands it may acquire against the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder.  If any notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be required by law, such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 10 days before such sale or other disposition.

(b)         In the event that the Administrative Agent elects not to sell the Collateral, the Administrative Agent retains its rights to dispose of or utilize the Collateral or any part or parts thereof in any manner authorized or permitted by law or in equity, and to apply the proceeds of the same towards payment of the Secured Obligations.  Each and every method of disposition of the Collateral described in this Agreement shall constitute disposition in a commercially reasonable manner.  The Administrative Agent may appoint any Person as agent to perform any act or acts necessary or incident to any sale or transfer of the Collateral.

Section 7.05      Private Sales of Pledged Securities.  Each Grantor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Securities, by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or otherwise, and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers which will be obliged 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.  Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that any

 

such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner.  The Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Securities for the period of time necessary to permit the Issuer thereof to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act, or under applicable state securities laws, even if such Issuer would agree to do so.  Each Grantor agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to do or cause to be done all such other acts as may reasonably be necessary to make such sale or sales of all or any portion of the Pledged Securities pursuant to this Section 7.05 valid and binding and in compliance with any and all other applicable Governmental Requirements.  Each Grantor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section 7.05 will cause irreparable injury to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, that the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, that each and every covenant contained in this Section 7.05 shall be specifically enforceable against such Grantor, and such Grantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants.

Section 7.06       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 Secured Obligations and, to the extent set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to collect such deficiency.

Section 7.07      Non-Judicial Enforcement.  The Administrative Agent may enforce its rights hereunder without prior judicial process or judicial hearing, and to the extent permitted by law, each Grantor expressly waives any and all legal rights which might otherwise require the Administrative Agent to enforce its rights by judicial process.

ARTICLE VIII

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Section 8.01       Administrative Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, Etc.

(a)         Each Grantor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or in its own name, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all reasonably appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which may be reasonably necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby gives the Administrative Agent the power and right, on behalf of such Grantor, without notice to or assent by such Grantor, to do any or all of the following (subject to the terms hereof):

(i)          pay or discharge taxes and Liens levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral, effect any repairs or any insurance called for by the terms of this Agreement and pay all or any part of the premiums therefor and the costs thereof;

(ii)         execute, in connection with any sale provided for in Section 7.04 or Section 7.05, any endorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral; and

(iii)        (A) direct any party liable for any payment under any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all moneys due or to become due thereunder directly to the Administrative Agent or as the Administrative Agent shall direct; (B) take possession of and indorse and collect any checks,

 

drafts, notes, acceptances or other instruments for the payment of moneys due under any Account, Instrument, General Intangible, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible or with respect to any other Collateral, and to file any claim or to take any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of collecting any and all such moneys due under any Account, Instrument or  General Intangible or with respect to any other Collateral whenever payable; (C) ask or demand for, collect, and receive payment of and receipt for, any and all moneys, claims and other amounts due or to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral; (D) sign and indorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications, notices and other documents in connection with any of the Collateral; (E) receive, change the address for delivery, open and dispose of mail addressed to any Grantor, and to execute, assign and indorse negotiable and other instruments for the payment of money, documents of title or other evidences of payment, shipment or storage for any form of Collateral on behalf of and in the name of any Grantor; (F) commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the Collateral or any portion thereof and to enforce any other right in respect of any Collateral; (G) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against such Grantor with respect to any Collateral; (H) settle, compromise or adjust any such suit, action or proceeding and, in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate; and (I) generally, sell, transfer, pledge and make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though the Administrative Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and do, at the Administrative Agent’s option and such Grantor’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things which the Administrative Agent deems necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Administrative Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ security interests therein and to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as such Grantor might do.

Anything in this Section 8.01(a) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Administrative Agent agrees that it will not, and will not permit any of its officers or agents to, exercise any rights under the power of attorney provided for in this Section 8.01(a) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(b)         If any Grantor fails to perform or comply with any of its agreements contained herein within the applicable grace periods, the Administrative Agent, at its option, but without any obligation so to do, may perform or comply, or otherwise cause performance or compliance, with such agreement.

(c)         The expenses of the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with actions undertaken as provided in this Section 8.01, together with interest thereon at the Post-Default Rate from the date of payment by the Administrative Agent to the date reimbursed by the relevant Grantor, shall be payable jointly and severally by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent on demand.

(d)         Each Grantor hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue and in compliance hereof.  All powers, authorizations and agencies contained in this Agreement are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable until this Agreement is terminated and the security interests created hereby are released.

Section 8.02      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 and shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which comparable secured parties accord comparable collateral.  Neither the

 

Administrative Agent, any other Secured Party 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 other Secured Parties hereunder are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise any such powers.  The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts that they actually receive as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither they nor any of their officers, directors, employees or agents (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, NOTWITHSTANDING THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF EVERY KIND OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE, WHETHER AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT OR AN OMISSION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL TYPES OF NEGLIGENT CONDUCT IDENTIFIED IN THE RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS OF ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNITEES OR BY REASON OF STRICT LIABILITY IMPOSED WITHOUT FAULT ON ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNITEES; PROVIDED THAT SUCH EXCULPATION SHALL NOT, AS TO ANY INDEMNITEE, BE AVAILABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES OR RELATED EXPENSES RESULT FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE, BAD FAITH OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNITEE.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Administrative Agent shall be under no duty whatsoever to make or give any presentment, notice of dishonor, protest, demand for performance, notice of non-performance, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, or other notice or demand in connection with any Collateral or the Secured Obligations, or to take any steps necessary to preserve any rights against any Grantor or other Person or ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any Collateral, whether or not it has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters.  Each Grantor, to the extent permitted by applicable law, waives any right of marshaling in respect of any and all Collateral, and waives any right to require the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to proceed against any Grantor or other Person, exhaust any Collateral or enforce any other remedy which the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party now has or may hereafter have against each Grantor, any Grantor or other Person.

Section 8.03       Filing of Financing Statements.  Pursuant to the New York UCC and any other applicable law, each Grantor authorizes the Administrative Agent, its counsel or its representative, at any time and from time to time, to file or record financing statements, continuation statements, amendments thereto and other filing or recording documents or instruments with respect to the Collateral without the signature of such Grantor in such form and in such offices as the Administrative Agent reasonably determines appropriate to perfect the security interests of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement.  Additionally, each Grantor authorizes the Administrative Agent, its counsel or its representative, at any time and from time to time, to file or record such financing statements that describe the collateral covered thereby as “all assets of the Grantor”, “all personal property of the Grantor” or words of similar effect.  In no event shall the above authorizations be deemed to be obligations.

Section 8.04       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 other Secured Parties, 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 Secured Parties 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.

ARTICLE IX

SUBORDINATION OF INDEBTEDNESS

Section 9.01      Subordination of All Guarantor Claims.  As used herein, the term “Guarantor Claims” shall mean all debts and obligations of the Borrower or any other Grantor to any Grantor, whether such debts and obligations now exist or are hereafter incurred or arise, or whether the obligation of the debtor thereon be direct, contingent, primary, secondary, several, joint and several, or otherwise, and irrespective of whether such debts or obligations be evidenced by note, contract, open account, or otherwise, and irrespective of the Person or Persons in whose favor such debts or obligations may, at their inception, have been, or may hereafter be created, or the manner in which they have been or may hereafter be acquired by. After and during the continuation of an Event of Default, no Grantor shall receive or collect, directly or indirectly, from any obligor in respect thereof any amount upon the Guarantor Claims until Payment in Full.

Section 9.02      Claims in Bankruptcy.  In the event of receivership, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, debtor’s relief or other insolvency proceedings involving any Grantor, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties shall have the right to prove their claim in any proceeding, so as to establish their rights hereunder and receive directly from the receiver, trustee or other court custodian, dividends and payments which would otherwise be payable upon Guarantor Claims.  Each Grantor hereby assigns such dividends and payments to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties for application against the Secured Obligations as provided under Section 10.02 of the Credit Agreement.  Should any Agent or Secured Party receive, for application upon the Secured Obligations, any such dividend or payment which is otherwise payable to any Grantor, and which, as between such Grantor, shall constitute a credit upon the Guarantor Claims, then upon Payment in Full, the intended recipient shall become subrogated to the rights of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties to the extent that such payments to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on the Guarantor Claims have contributed toward the liquidation of the Secured Obligations, and such subrogation shall be with respect to that proportion of the Secured Obligations which would have been unpaid if the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties had not received dividends or payments upon the Guarantor Claims.

Section 9.03      Payments Held in Trust.  In the event that notwithstanding Section 9.01 and Section 9.02, any Grantor should receive any funds, payments, claims or distributions which is prohibited by such Sections, then it agrees: (a) to hold in trust for the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties an amount equal to the amount of all funds, payments, claims or distributions so received, and (b) that it shall have absolutely no dominion over the amount of such funds, payments, claims or distributions except to pay them promptly to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties; and each Grantor covenants promptly to pay the same to the Administrative Agent.

Section 9.04      Liens Subordinate.  Each Grantor agrees that, until Payment in Full, any Liens securing payment of the Guarantor Claims shall be and remain inferior and subordinate to any Liens securing payment of the Secured Obligations, regardless of whether such encumbrances in favor of such Grantor, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party presently exist or are hereafter created or attach.  Prior to the Payment in Full, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, no Grantor shall (a) exercise or enforce any creditor’s right it may have against any debtor in respect of the Guarantor Claims, or (b) foreclose, repossess, sequester or otherwise take steps or institute any action or proceeding (judicial or otherwise, including without limitation the commencement of or joinder in any liquidation, bankruptcy, rearrangement, debtor’s relief or insolvency proceeding) to enforce any Lien held by it.

 

Section 9.05      Notation of Records.  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, all promissory notes and all accounts receivable ledgers or other evidence of the Guarantor Claims accepted by or held by any Grantor shall contain a specific written notice thereon that the indebtedness evidenced thereby is subordinated under the terms of this Agreement.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.01     Waiver.  No failure on the part of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise and no delay in exercising, and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, remedy, power or privilege under any of the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege under any of the Loan Documents preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.  The exercise by the Administrative Agent of any one or more of the rights, powers and remedies herein shall not be construed as a waiver of any other rights, powers and remedies, including, without limitation, any rights of set-off.

Section 10.02    Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be given in the manner and subject to the terms of Section 12.01 of the Credit Agreement; provided that any such notice, request or demand to or upon any Guarantor shall be addressed to such Guarantor at its notice address set forth on Schedule 1.

Section 10.03     Payment of Expenses, Indemnities, Etc.

(a)         Each Grantor, jointly and severally, agrees to pay or promptly reimburse the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party for its reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in accordance with Section 12.03(a) of the Credit Agreement.

(b)         EACH GRANTOR, JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY, AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND TO HOLD THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE OTHER SECURED PARTIES HARMLESS FROM, ANY AND ALL ACTUAL LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, LIABILITIES AND RELATED EXPENSES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WITH RESPECT TO THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY ENFORCEMENT, PERFORMANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE EXTENT THE BORROWER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO SO PURSUANT TO SECTION 12.03 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.  ALL AMOUNTS DUE UNDER THIS SECTION 10.03 SHALL BE PAYABLE NOT LATER THAN 10 DAYS AFTER WRITTEN DEMAND THEREFOR.

Section 10.04    Amendments in Writing.  None of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except in accordance with Section 12.02 of the Credit Agreement.

Section 10.05     Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Grantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and their successors and assigns; provided that no Grantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

Section 10.06    Invalidity.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any of the Loan Documents to which a Grantor is a party shall, for any reason, be held

 

invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or such other Loan Document and the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect and shall be liberally construed to carry out the provisions and intent hereof; provided, if any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be determined or held to be invalid or unenforceable because such provision is overly broad as to duration, geographic scope, activity or subject, such provision shall be deemed amended by limiting and reducing it to the extent necessary to make such provision valid and enforceable.

Section 10.07     Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic means (such as a PDF) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

Section 10.08    Survival.  The obligations of the parties under Section 10.03 shall survive notwithstanding the Secured Obligations having been paid as provided in Section 12.18(a) of the Credit Agreement.  To the extent that any payments on the Secured Obligations or proceeds of any Collateral are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, debtor in possession, receiver or other Person under any bankruptcy law, common law or equitable cause, then to such extent, the Secured Obligations so satisfied shall be revived and continue as if such payment or proceeds had not been received and the Administrative Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ Liens, security interests, rights, powers and remedies under this Agreement and each Security Instrument shall continue in full force and effect.  In such event, each Security Instrument shall be automatically reinstated and each Grantor shall take such action as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties to effect such reinstatement.

Section 10.09    Captions.  Captions and section headings appearing herein are included solely for convenience of reference and are not intended to affect the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

Section 10.10    No Oral Agreements.  The Loan Documents (other than the Letters of Credit) embody the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supersede all other agreements and understandings between such parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof.  THE LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.  In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement shall control.

Section 10.11     Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.

(a)         This Agreement shall be governed by, construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the state of New York.

(B)        SECTION 12.09 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT IS HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AND SHALL APPLY TO THIS AGREEMENT MUTATIS MUTANDIS.

Section 10.12     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 other Secured Party 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 the other Secured Parties, 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 Secured Parties or among the Grantors and the Lenders.

(d)         each of the parties hereto specifically agrees that it has a duty to read this Agreement and the Security Instruments and agrees that it is charged with notice and knowledge of the terms of this Agreement and the Security Instruments; that it has in fact read this Agreement and is fully informed and has full notice and knowledge of the terms, conditions and effects of this Agreement; that it has been represented by independent legal counsel of its choice throughout the negotiations preceding its execution of this Agreement and the Security Instruments; and has received the advice of its attorney in entering into this Agreement and the Security Instruments; and that it recognizes that certain of the terms of this Agreement and the Security Instruments result in one party assuming the liability inherent in some aspects of the transaction and relieving the other party of its responsibility for such liability.  Each party hereto agrees and covenants that it will not contest the validity or enforceability of any exculpatory provision of this Agreement and the Security Instruments on the basis that the party had no notice or knowledge of such provision or that the provision is not “conspicuous.”

(e)         each Grantor warrants and agrees that each of the waivers and consents set forth in this Agreement are made voluntarily and unconditionally after consultation with outside legal counsel and with full knowledge of their significance and consequences, with the understanding that events giving rise to any defense or right waived may diminish, destroy or otherwise adversely affect rights which such Grantor otherwise may have against the Borrower, any other Grantor, the Secured Parties or any other Person or against any collateral.  If, notwithstanding the intent of the parties that the terms of this Agreement shall control in any and all circumstances, any such waivers or consents are determined to be unenforceable under applicable law, such waivers and consents shall be effective to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Section 10.13    Additional Grantors.  Each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.14 of the Credit Agreement and is not a signatory hereto shall become a Grantor for all purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary of an Assumption Agreement in the form of Annex I hereto.

Section 10.14    Set-Off.  Each Grantor agrees that, in addition to (and without limitation of) any right of set-off, bankers’ lien or counterclaim a Secured Party may otherwise have, each Secured Party shall have the right and be entitled (after consultation with the Administrative Agent), at its option, to offset (i) balances held by it or by any of its Affiliates for account of any Grantor or any Subsidiary at any of its offices, in Dollars or in any other currency, and (ii) amounts due and payable to such Lender (or any Affiliate of such Lender) under any Secured Agreement, against any principal of or interest on any of such Secured Party’s Loans, or any other amount due and payable to such Secured Party hereunder, which is not paid when due (regardless of whether such balances are then due to such Person), in which case it shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof, provided that such Secured Party’s failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity thereof.

 

Section 10.15     Releases.

(a)         Payment In Full.  Upon the Payment in Full, the Administrative Agent, at the written request and expense of the Borrower, will promptly release, reassign and transfer the Collateral to the Grantors and declare this Agreement to be of no further force or effect.

(b)         Further Assurances.  Section 12.18(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference and shall apply to this Agreement mutatis mutandis.

(c)         Retention in Satisfaction.  Except as may be expressly applicable pursuant to Section 9-620 of the New York UCC, no action taken or omission to act by the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties hereunder, including, without limitation, any exercise of voting or consensual rights or any other action taken or inaction, shall be deemed to constitute a retention of the Collateral in satisfaction of the Secured Obligations or otherwise to be in full satisfaction of the Secured Obligations, and the Secured Obligations shall remain in full force and effect, until the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall have applied payments (including, without limitation, collections from Collateral) towards the Secured Obligations in the full amount then outstanding or until such subsequent time as is provided in Section 10.15(a).

Section 10.16   Reinstatement.  The obligations of each Grantor under this Agreement (including, without limitation, with respect to the guarantee contained in Article II and the provision of collateral herein) shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of any Grantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any Grantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

Section 10.17    Acceptance.  Each Grantor hereby expressly waives notice of acceptance of this Agreement, acceptance on the part of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties being conclusively presumed by their request for this Agreement and delivery of the same to the Administrative Agent.

 

[Signature pages follow.]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Guarantee and Collateral Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and Agreed to as

of the date hereof by:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1

NOTICE ADDRESSES OF GRANTORS

 

 

 

 

Schedule 2

DESCRIPTION OF PLEDGED SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

Schedule 3

FILINGS AND OTHER ACTIONS

REQUIRED TO PERFECT SECURITY INTERESTS

Uniform Commercial Code Filings

1.    Filing of UCC-1 Financing Statement for the Borrower with respect to the Collateral with the Secretary of State of the State of Colorado.

 

2.    Filing of UCC-1 Financing Statement for Sundance Energy Australia Limited with respect to the Collateral with the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in the District of Columbia.

 

3.    Filing of UCC-1 Financing Statement for Sundance Energy Australia Limited with respect to the Collateral with the Secretary of State of the State of Colorado.

 

4.    Filing of UCC-1 Financing Statement for SEA Eagle Ford, LLC with respect to the Collateral with the Secretary of State of Texas.

 

5.    Filing of UCC-1 Financing Statement for Armadillo E&P, Inc. with respect to the Collateral with the Secretary of State of Delaware.

 

6.    Filing of a financing statement on the PPSR in respect of Sundance Energy Australia Limited ACN 112 202 883 in the collateral class ‘All present and after acquired property – with exceptions’ and with collateral description ‘Except any PPSA Personal Property of the Grantor which the Secured Party agrees from time to time in writing is not subject to a security agreement in favor of the Secured Party’

Delivery to Administrative Agent of Pledged Securities

1.    Delivery to Administrative Agent of certificated pledged securities described on Schedule 2, together with corresponding stock powers endorsed in blank.

 

 

Schedule 4

CORRECT LEGAL NAME, LOCATION OF JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION, ORGANIZATIONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, TAXPAYOR IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 5

PRIOR NAMES AND PRIOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE

 

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CONSENT

The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of April 23, 2018 (the “Agreement”), made by the Grantors parties thereto for the benefit of NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Administrative Agent.  The undersigned agrees for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:

1.          The undersigned will be bound by the terms of the Agreement and will comply with such terms insofar as such terms are applicable to the undersigned.

2.          The terms of Sections 7.01(c) and 7.05 of the Agreement shall apply to it, mutatis mutandis, with respect to all actions that may be required of it pursuant to Sections 7.01(c) or 7.05 of the Agreement.

 

 

 

 

*This consent is necessary only with respect to any Issuer which is not also a Grantor.  This consent may be modified or eliminated with respect to any Issuer that is not controlled by a Grantor.

 

 

 

Annex I

Assumption Agreement

ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of ________________, 20__, made by ______________________________, a ______________ (the “Additional Grantor”), in favor of NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the banks and other financial institutions (the “Lenders”) parties to the Credit Agreement referred to below.  All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in such Credit Agreement.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, Sundance Energy Australia Limited, a limited company organized and existing under the laws of South Australia (“Parent”), Sundance Energy, Inc., a Colorado corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, have entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of April 23, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Credit Agreement, Parent, the Borrower and certain of its Subsidiaries have entered into the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of April 23, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”) in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and Affiliates of the Lenders;

WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement requires the Additional Grantor to become a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Additional Grantor has agreed to execute and deliver this Assumption Agreement in order to become a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

1.          Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.  By executing and delivering this Assumption Agreement, the Additional Grantor, as provided in Section 10.13 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, hereby becomes a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as a Grantor thereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, hereby expressly assumes all obligations and liabilities of a Grantor thereunder and expressly grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), a security interest in all Collateral owned by such Additional Grantor to secure all of such Additional Grantor’s obligations and liabilities thereunder.  The information set forth in Annex 1-A hereto is hereby added to the information set forth in Schedules 1 through 5 to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.  The Additional Grantor hereby represents and warrants that each of the representations and warranties contained in Article IV of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is true and correct in all material respects (unless already qualified by materiality in which case such applicable representation and warranty shall be true and correct) on and as the date hereof (after giving effect to this Assumption Agreement) as if made on and as of such date.

2.          Governing Law.  THIS ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Assumption Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.