EXHIBIT 4.3
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PLEDGE AGREEMENT
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PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of February 19, 1997 (as amended, modified
or supplemented from time to time, this "Agreement"), made by each of the
undersigned (each, a "Pledgor" and, together with any other entity that becomes
a party hereto pursuant to Section 22 hereof, the "Pledgors"), in favor of
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Collateral Agent (the "Pledgee"), for the benefit of
the Secured Creditors (as defined below). Except as otherwise defined herein,
terms used herein and defined in the Credit Agreement (as defined below) shall
be used herein as therein defined.
W I T N E S S E T H :
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WHEREAS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ VisionCare, Inc. ("Holdings"), ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇
Corporation (the "Borrower"), the financial institutions from time to time party
thereto (the "Banks"), and Bankers Trust Company, as Agent (together with any
successor agent, the "Agent", and together with the Pledgee and the Banks, the
"Bank Creditors"), have entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of February
19, 1997 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"), providing for the making of Loans to the Borrower and the issuance
of, and participation in, Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower, all
as contemplated therein;
WHEREAS, the Borrower may from time to time be party to one or more
(i) interest rate agreements, interest rate cap agreements, interest rate collar
agreements or other similar agreements or arrangements, (ii) foreign exchange
contracts, currency swap agreements or similar agreements or arrangements
designed to protect against the fluctuations in currency values and/or (iii)
other types of hedging agreements from time to time (each such agreement or
arrangement with an Other Creditor (as hereinafter defined), an "Interest Rate
Protection Agreement or Other Hedging Agreement"), with a Bank or an affiliate
of a Bank (each such Bank or affiliate, even if the respective Bank subsequently
ceases to be a Bank under the Credit Agreement for any reason, together with
such Bank's or affiliate's successors and assigns, collectively, the "Other
Creditors," and together with Bank Creditors, the "Secured Creditors");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Holdings Guaranty, Holdings has guaranteed
to the Secured Creditors the payment when due of all obligations and liabilities
of the Borrower under or with respect to the Credit Documents and the Interest
Rate Protection Agreements or Other Hedging Agreements;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty, each Pledgor (other than
Holdings and the Borrower) has jointly and severally guaranteed to the Secured
Creditors the payment when due of all obligations and liabilities of the
Borrower under or with respect to the Credit Documents and the Interest Rate
Protection Agreements or Other Hedging Agreements;
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the making of Loans to the
Borrower under the Credit Agreement that each Pledgor shall have executed and
delivered to the Pledgee this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, each Pledgor desires to execute this Agreement to satisfy the
conditions described in the preceding paragraph;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the benefits accruing to each
Pledgor, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each
Pledgor hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the Pledgee
and hereby covenants and agrees with the Pledgee as follows:
1. SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS. This Agreement is made by each Pledgor
for the benefit of the Secured Creditors to secure:
(i) the full and prompt payment when due (whether at the stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of all obligations and liabilities
(including obligations which, but for the automatic stay under Section
362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, would become due) of such Pledgor, now
existing or hereafter incurred under, arising out of or in connection with
any Credit Document to which such Pledgor is a party and the due
performance and compliance by such Pledgor with the terms of each such
Credit Document (all such obligations and liabilities under this clause
(i), except to the extent consisting of obligations or indebtedness with
respect to Interest Rate Protection Agreements or Other Hedging Agreements,
being herein collectively called the "Credit Document Obligations");
(ii) the full and prompt payment when due (whether at the stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of all obligations (including
obligations which, but for the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the
Bankruptcy Code, would become due) and liabilities of such Pledgor, now
existing or hereafter incurred under, arising out of or in connection with
any Interest Rate Protection Agreement or Other Hedging Agreement
including, in the case of Pledgors other than the Borrower, all obligations
of such Pledgor under its Guaranty in respect of Interest Rate Protection
Agreements or Other Hedging Agreements (all such obligations and
liabilities under this clause (ii) being herein collectively called the
"Other Obligations");
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(iii) any and all sums advanced by the Pledgee in order to preserve
the Collateral (as hereinafter defined) or preserve its security interest
in the Collateral;
(iv) in the event of any proceeding for the collection or
enforcement of any indebtedness, obligations, or liabilities referred to in
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, after an Event of Default (such term, as
used in this Agreement, shall mean any Event of Default under, and as
defined in, the Credit Agreement, or any payment default by the Borrower
under any Interest Rate Protection Agreement or Other Hedging Agreement and
shall in any event include, without limitation, any payment default (after
the expiration of any applicable grace period) on any of the Obligations
(as hereinafter defined)) shall have occurred and be continuing, the
reasonable expenses of retaking, holding, preparing for sale or lease,
selling or otherwise disposing or realizing on the Collateral, or of any
exercise by the Pledgee of its rights hereunder, together with reasonable
attorneys' fees and court costs; and
(v) all amounts paid by any Secured Creditor as to which such
Secured Creditor has the right to reimbursement under Section 11 of this
Agreement;
all such obligations, liabilities, sums and expenses set forth in clauses (i)
through (v) of this Section 1 being herein collectively called the
"Obligations".
2. DEFINITION OF STOCK, NOTES, SECURITIES, ETC. As used herein: (i)
the term "Stock" shall mean (x) with respect to corporations incorporated under
the laws of the United States or any State or territory thereof (each, a
"Domestic Corporation"), all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of any Domestic Corporation at any time owned by each Pledgor and (y) with
respect to corporations not Domestic Corporations (each, a "Foreign
Corporation"), all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock at any
time directly owned by any Pledgor of any Foreign Corporation, provided that,
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except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 2, such Pledgor shall
not be required to pledge hereunder more than 65% of the total combined voting
power of all classes of capital stock of any Foreign Corporation entitled to
vote; (ii) the term "Notes" shall mean (x) all Intercompany Notes at any time
issued to each Pledgor and (y) all other promissory notes from time to time
issued to, or held by, each Pledgor; provided, that, except as provided in the
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last sentence of this Section 2, no Pledgor shall be required to pledge
hereunder any promissory notes (including Intercompany Notes) issued to such
Pledgor by any Subsidiary of such Pledgor which is a Foreign Corporation and
(iii) the term "Securities" shall mean all of the Stock and Notes; provided
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that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Securities" shall not include any
Notes listed in Annex D hereto. Each Pledgor represents and warrants that on the
date hereof (i) each Subsidiary of such Pledgor, and the direct ownership
thereof, is listed in Annex A hereto; (ii) the Stock held by such Pledgor
consists of the number and type of shares of the stock of the corporations as
described in Annex B hereto; (iii) such Stock constitutes that percentage of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of the issuing corporation as is set forth
in Annex B hereto; (iv) the Notes held by such Pledgor consist of the promissory
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notes described in Annex C hereto where such Pledgor is listed as the Lender;
and (v) on the date hereof, such Pledgor owns no other Securities. In the
circumstances and to the extent provided in Section 7.14 of the Credit
Agreement, the 65% limitation set forth in clause (i)(y) and the limitation in
the proviso of clause (ii) in each case of this Section 2 and in Section 3.2
hereof shall no longer be applicable and such Pledgor shall duly pledge and
deliver to the Pledgee such of the Securities not theretofore required to be
pledged hereunder.
3. PLEDGE OF SECURITIES, ETC.
3.1. Pledge. To secure the Obligations and for the purposes set
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forth in Section 1 hereof, each Pledgor hereby: (i) grants to the Pledgee a
security interest in all of the Collateral owned by such Pledgor; (ii) pledges
and deposits as security with the Pledgee the Securities owned by such Pledgor
on the date hereof, and delivers to the Pledgee certificates or instruments
therefor, duly endorsed in blank in the case of Notes and accompanied by undated
stock powers duly executed in blank by such Pledgor in the case of Stock, or
such other instruments of transfer as are acceptable to the Pledgee; and (iii)
assigns, transfers, hypothecates, mortgages, charges and sets over to the
Pledgee all of such Pledgor's right, title and interest in and to such
Securities (and in and to all certificates or instruments evidencing such
Securities), to be held by the Pledgee, upon the terms and conditions set forth
in this Agreement.
3.2. Subsequently Acquired Securities. If any Pledgor shall acquire
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(by purchase, stock dividend or otherwise) any additional Securities at any time
or from time to time after the date hereof, such Pledgor will forthwith pledge
and deposit such Securities (or certificates or instruments representing such
Securities) as security with the Pledgee and deliver to the Pledgee certificates
therefor or instruments thereof, duly endorsed in blank in the case of Notes and
accompanied by undated stock powers duly executed in blank in the case of Stock,
or such other instruments of transfer as are acceptable to the Pledgee, and will
promptly thereafter deliver to the Pledgee a certificate executed by any
Authorized Officer of such Pledgor describing such Securities and certifying
that the same have been duly pledged with the Pledgee hereunder. Subject to the
last sentence of Section 2 hereof, no Pledgor shall be required at any time to
pledge hereunder (x) any Stock which is more than 65% of the total combined
voting power of all classes of capital stock of any Foreign Corporation entitled
to vote or (y) any promissory notes (including Intercompany Notes) issued to
such Pledgor by any Subsidiary of such Pledgor which is a Foreign Corporation.
3.3. Uncertificated Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the
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contrary contained in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 hereof, if any Securities (whether
now owned or hereafter acquired) are uncertificated securities, the respective
Pledgor shall promptly notify the Pledgee in writing thereof, and, if after such
notification, the Pledgee so requests, such Pledgor shall promptly take all
actions required to perfect the security interest of the Pledgee under
applicable law (including, in any event, under Sections 8-313 and 8-321 of the
New York UCC, if applicable). Each Pledgor further agrees to take such actions
as the
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Pledgee deems reasonably necessary or desirable to effect the foregoing and to
permit the Pledgee to exercise any of its rights and remedies hereunder, and
agrees to provide an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Pledgee
with respect to any such pledge of uncertificated Securities promptly upon
request of the Pledgee.
3.4 Definition of Pledged Stock, Pledged Notes, Pledged Securities
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and Collateral. All Stock at any time pledged or required to be pledged
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hereunder is hereinafter called the "Pledged Stock," all Notes at any time
pledged or required to be pledged hereunder are hereinafter called the "Pledged
Notes," all of the Pledged Stock and Pledged Notes together are hereinafter
called the "Pledged Securities," which together with all dividends and interest
thereon, as the case may be, and all proceeds thereof, including any securities
and moneys received and at the time held by the Pledgee hereunder, is
hereinafter called the "Collateral."
4. APPOINTMENT OF SUB-AGENTS; ENDORSEMENTS, ETC. The Pledgee shall
have the right to appoint one or more sub-agents for the purpose of retaining
physical possession of the Pledged Securities, which may be held (in the
discretion of the Pledgee) in the name of such Pledgor, endorsed or assigned in
blank or in favor of the Pledgee or any nominee or nominees of the Pledgee or a
sub-agent appointed by the Pledgee. The Pledgee agrees to promptly notify the
relevant Pledgor after the appointment of any sub-agent; provided, however, that
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the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such
appointment.
5. VOTING, ETC., WHILE NO EVENT OF DEFAULT. Unless and until (i) an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) written notice
thereof shall have been given by the Pledgee to the relevant Pledgor (provided,
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that if an Event of Default specified in Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement
shall occur, no such notice shall be required), each Pledgor shall be entitled
to exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the
Pledged Securities and to give all consents, waivers or ratifications in respect
thereof; provided, that no vote shall be cast or any consent, waiver or
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ratification given or any action taken which would violate or be inconsistent
with any of the terms of this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any
Interest Rate Protection Agreement or Other Hedging Agreement (collectively, the
"Secured Debt Agreements"), or which would have the effect of impairing the
position or interests of the Pledgee or any other Secured Creditor, except to
the extent such violation, inconsistency or impairment shall be waived in
accordance with the terms of Section 20 hereof. All such rights of such Pledgor
to vote and to give consents, waivers and ratifications shall cease in case an
Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, and Section 7 hereof shall
become applicable.
6. DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS. Unless an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, all cash dividends payable in respect of
the Pledged Stock and all payments in respect of the Pledged Notes shall be paid
to the respective Pledgor; provided, that all cash dividends payable in respect
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of the Pledged Stock which are determined by the Pledgee to represent in whole
or in part an extraordinary,
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liquidating or other distribution in return of capital shall be paid, to the
extent so determined to represent an extraordinary, liquidating or other
distribution in return of capital, to the Pledgee and retained by it as part of
the Collateral. Subject to the last sentence of Section 3.2 hereof, Pledgee
shall also be entitled to receive directly, and to retain as part of the
Collateral:
(i) all other or additional stock or other securities or
property (other than cash) paid or distributed by way of dividend or
otherwise in respect of the Pledged Stock;
(ii) all other or additional stock or other securities or
property (including cash) paid or distributed in respect of the Pledged
Stock by way of stock-split, spin-off, split-up, reclassification,
combination of shares or similar rearrangement; and
(iii) all other or additional stock or other securities or property
(including cash) which may be paid in respect of the Collateral by reason
of any consolidation, merger, exchange of stock, conveyance of assets,
liquidation or similar corporate reorganization.
7. REMEDIES IN CASE OF EVENT OF DEFAULT. In case an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, the Pledgee shall be entitled to exercise
all of the rights, powers and remedies (whether vested in it by this Agreement
or by any other Secured Debt Agreement or by law) for the protection and
enforcement of its rights in respect of the Collateral, and the Pledgee shall be
entitled, without limitation, to exercise the following rights, which each
Pledgor hereby agrees to be commercially reasonable:
(i) to receive all amounts payable in respect of the Collateral
payable to such Pledgor under Section 6 hereof;
(ii) to transfer all or any part of the Pledged Securities into
the Pledgee's name or the name of its nominee or nominees (the Pledgee
agrees to promptly notify the relevant Pledgor after such transfer;
provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect
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the validity of such transfer);
(iii) to accelerate any Pledged Note which may be accelerated in
accordance with its terms, and take any other action to collect upon any
Pledged Note (including, without limitation, to make any demand for payment
thereon);
(iv) subject to the giving of written notice to the relevant
Pledgor in accordance with clause (ii) of Section 5 hereof (to the extent
required by such Section 5), to vote all or any part of the Pledged Stock
(whether or not transferred into the name of the Pledgee) and give all
consents, waivers and ratifications in respect of the Collateral and
otherwise act with respect thereto as though it were the outright owner
thereof (each Pledgor hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing
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the Pledgee the proxy and attorney-in-fact of such Pledgor, with full power
of substitution to do so); and
(v) at any time or from time to time to sell, assign and deliver,
or grant options to purchase, all or any part of the Collateral, or any
interest therein, at any public or private sale, without demand of
performance, advertisement or notice of intention to sell or of the time or
place of sale or adjournment thereof or to redeem or otherwise (all of
which are hereby waived by each Pledgor), for cash, on credit or for other
property, for immediate or future delivery without any assumption of credit
risk, and for such price or prices and on such terms as the Pledgee in its
absolute discretion may determine; provided, that at least 10 days'
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written notice of the time and place of any such sale shall be given to
such Pledgor. Each Pledgor hereby waives and releases to the fullest
extent permitted by law any right or equity of redemption with respect to
the Collateral, whether before or after sale hereunder, and all rights, if
any, of marshalling the Collateral and any other security for the
Obligations or otherwise. At any such sale, unless prohibited by
applicable law, the Pledgee on behalf of the Secured Creditors may bid for
and purchase all or any part of the Collateral so sold free from any such
right or equity of redemption. Neither the Pledgee nor any Secured
Creditor shall be liable for failure to collect or realize upon any or all
of the Collateral or for any delay in so doing nor shall any of them be
under any obligation to take any action whatsoever with regard thereto.
8. REMEDIES, ETC., CUMULATIVE. Each right, power and remedy of the
Pledgee provided for in this Agreement or any other Secured Debt Agreement or
now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute shall be cumulative
and concurrent and shall be in addition to every other such right, power or
remedy. The exercise or beginning of the exercise by the Pledgee or any other
Secured Creditor of any one or more of the rights, powers or remedies provided
for in this Agreement or any other Secured Debt Agreement or now or hereafter
existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise shall not preclude the
simultaneous or later exercise by the Pledgee or any other Secured Creditor of
all such other rights, powers or remedies, and no failure or delay on the part
of the Pledgee or any other Secured Creditor to exercise any such right, power
or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof. The Secured Creditors agree that
this Agreement may be enforced only by the action of the Agent or the Pledgee,
in each case acting upon the instructions of the Required Banks (or, after the
date on which all Credit Document Obligations have been paid in full, the
holders of at least the majority of the outstanding Other Obligations) and that
no other Secured Creditor shall have any right individually to seek to enforce
or to enforce this Agreement or to realize upon the security to be granted
hereby, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be
exercised by the Agent or the Pledgee or the holders of at least a majority of
the outstanding Other Obligations, as the case may be, for the benefit of the
Secured Creditors upon the terms of this Agreement.
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9. APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS. (a) All moneys collected by the Pledgee
upon any sale or other disposition of the Collateral pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, together with all other moneys received by the Pledgee
hereunder, shall be applied in the manner provided in the Security Agreement.
(b) It is understood and agreed that the Pledgors shall remain
jointly and severally liable to the extent of any deficiency between the amount
of the proceeds of the Collateral hereunder and the aggregate amount of the
Obligations.
10. PURCHASERS OF COLLATERAL. Upon any sale of the Collateral by the
Pledgee hereunder (whether by virtue of the power of sale herein granted,
pursuant to judicial process or otherwise), the receipt of the Pledgee or the
officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or
purchasers of the Collateral so sold, and such purchaser or purchasers shall not
be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid
over to the Pledgee or such officer or be answerable in any way for the
misapplication or nonapplication thereof.
11. INDEMNITY. Each Pledgor jointly and severally agrees (i) to
indemnify and hold harmless the Pledgee in such capacity and each other Secured
Creditor from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, judgments and
liabilities of whatsoever kind or nature, and (ii) to reimburse the Pledgee and
each other Secured Creditor for all costs and expenses, including attorneys'
fees, growing out of or resulting from this Agreement or the exercise by the
Pledgee of any right or remedy granted to it hereunder or under any other
Secured Debt Agreement except, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, for
those arising from the Pledgee's or such other Secured Creditor's gross
negligence or willful misconduct. In no event shall the Pledgee be liable, in
the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part, for any
matter or thing in connection with this Agreement other than to account for
moneys actually received by it in accordance with the terms hereof. If and to
the extent that the obligations of the Pledgors under this Section 11 are
unenforceable for any reason, each Pledgor hereby agrees to make the maximum
contribution to the payment and satisfaction of such obligations which is
permissible under applicable law.
12. FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each Pledgor agrees that it will join with
the Pledgee in executing and, at such Pledgor's own expense, file and refile
under the applicable UCC or appropriate local equivalent, such financing
statements, continuation statements and other documents in such offices as the
Pledgee may deem reasonably necessary or appropriate and wherever required or
permitted by law in order to perfect and preserve the Pledgee's security
interest in the Collateral and hereby authorizes the Pledgee to file financing
statements and amendments thereto relative to all or any part of the Collateral
without the signature of such Pledgor where permitted by law, and agrees to do
such further acts and things and to execute and deliver to the Pledgee such
additional conveyances, assignments, agreements and instruments as the Pledgee
may reasonably re-
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quire or deem advisable to carry into effect the purposes of this Agreement or
to further assure and confirm unto the Pledgee its rights, powers and remedies
hereunder.
13. THE PLEDGEE AS AGENT. The Pledgee will hold in accordance with
this Agreement all items of the Collateral at any time received under this
Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that the obligations of the
Pledgee as holder of the Collateral and interests therein and with respect to
the disposition thereof, and otherwise under this Agreement, are only those
expressly set forth in this Agreement. The Pledgee shall act hereunder on the
terms and conditions set forth herein and in Section 11 of the Credit Agreement.
14. TRANSFER BY PLEDGORS. Except for sales or dispositions of
Collateral permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement, no Pledgor will sell or
otherwise dispose of, grant any option with respect to, or mortgage, pledge or
otherwise encumber any of the Collateral or any interest therein (except in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement).
15. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF PLEDGOR. Each
Pledgor represents, warrants and covenants that (i) it is the legal, record and
beneficial owner of, and has good and marketable title to, all Securities
pledged by it hereunder, subject to no pledge, lien, mortgage, hypothecation,
security interest, charge, option or other encumbrance whatsoever, except the
liens and security interests created by this Agreement and liens permitted under
clauses (a) and (e) of Section 8.03 of the Credit Agreement; (ii) it has full
power, authority and legal right to pledge all the Securities pledged by it
pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) this Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by such Pledgor and constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of such Pledgor enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that the enforceability hereof may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and by equitable principles (regardless of
whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law); (iv) no consent of any other
party (including, without limitation, any stockholder or creditor of such
Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries) and no consent, license, permit, approval or
authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or registration, filing or
declaration with, any governmental authority is required to be obtained by such
Pledgor in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement, or in connection with the exercise of its rights and remedies
pursuant to this Agreement, except as may be required in connection with the
disposition of the Securities by laws affecting the offering and sale of
securities generally; (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by such Pledgor does not violate any provision of any applicable law
or regulation or of any order, judgment, writ, award or decree of any court,
arbitrator or governmental authority, domestic or foreign, or of the certificate
of incorporation or by-laws of such Pledgor or of any securities issued by such
Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries, or of any mortgage, indenture, deed of
trust, loan agreement, credit agreement or any other material agreement or
material instrument to which such Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
or which
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purports to be binding upon such Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries or upon any
of their respective assets and will not result in the creation or imposition of
any lien or encumbrance on any of the assets of such Pledgor or any of its
Subsidiaries except as contemplated by this Agreement; (vi) all the shares of
Stock of Subsidiaries of Holdings have been duly and validly issued, are fully
paid and non assessable; (vii) each of the Pledged Notes constituting
Intercompany Notes, when executed by the obligor thereof, will be the legal,
valid and binding obligation of such obligor, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by equitable principles
(regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law); and (viii)
the pledge and assignment of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, together
with the delivery of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (which delivery
has been made), creates a valid and perfected first security interest in such
Securities and the proceeds thereof, subject to no prior lien or encumbrance or
to any agreement purporting to grant to any third party a lien or encumbrance on
the property or assets of such Pledgor which would include the Securities other
than liens permitted under clauses (a) and (e) of Section 8.03 of the Credit
Agreement. Each Pledgor covenants and agrees that it will defend the Pledgee's
right, title and security interest in and to the Securities and the proceeds
thereof against the claims and demands of all persons whomsoever; and such
Pledgor covenants and agrees that it will have like title to and right to pledge
any other property at any time hereafter pledged to the Pledgee as Collateral
hereunder and will likewise defend the right thereto and security interest
therein of the Pledgee and the other Secured Creditors.
16. PLEDGORS' OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE, ETC. The obligations of each
Pledgor under this Agreement shall be absolute and unconditional and shall
remain in full force and effect without regard to, and shall not be released,
suspended, discharged, terminated or otherwise affected by, any circumstance or
occurrence whatsoever, including, without limitation: (i) any renewal,
extension, amendment or modification of or addition or supplement to or deletion
from any Secured Debt Agreement or any other instrument or agreement referred to
therein, or any assignment or transfer of any thereof; (ii) any waiver, consent,
extension, indulgence or other action or inaction under or in respect of any
such agreement or instrument or this Agreement; (iii) any furnishing of any
additional security to the Pledgee or its assignee or any acceptance thereof or
any release of any security by the Pledgee or its assignee; (iv) any limitation
on any party's liability or obligations under any such instrument or agreement
or any invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of any such
instrument or agreement or any term thereof; or (v) any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, composition, adjustment, dissolution, liquidation or other like
proceeding relating to such Pledgor or any Subsidiary of such Pledgor, or any
action taken with respect to this Agreement by any trustee or receiver, or by
any court, in any such proceeding, whether or not such Pledgor shall have notice
or knowledge of any of the foregoing.
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17. REGISTRATION, ETC. (a) If an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing and any Pledgor shall have received from the Pledgee
a written request or requests that such Pledgor cause any registration,
qualification or compliance under any Federal or state securities law or laws to
be effected with respect to all or any part of the Pledged Stock, such Pledgor
as soon as practicable and at its expense will use its reasonable efforts to
cause such registration to be effected (and be kept effective) and will use its
reasonable efforts to cause such qualification and compliance to be effected
(and be kept effective) as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate
the sale and distribution of such Pledged Stock, including, without limitation,
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 as then in effect (or any similar
statute then in effect), appropriate qualifications under applicable blue sky or
other state securities laws and appropriate compliance with any other government
requirements; provided, that the Pledgee shall furnish to such Pledgor such
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information regarding the Pledgee as such Pledgor may request in writing and as
shall be required in connection with any such registration, qualification or
compliance. Such Pledgor will cause the Pledgee to be kept reasonably advised in
writing as to the progress of each such registration, qualification or
compliance and as to the completion thereof, will furnish to the Pledgee such
number of prospectuses, offering circulars or other documents incident thereto
as the Pledgee from time to time may reasonably request, and will indemnify the
Pledgee, each other Secured Creditor and all others participating in the
distribution of the Pledged Stock against all claims, losses, damages and
liabilities caused by any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a
material fact contained therein (or in any related registration statement,
notification or the like) or by any omission (or alleged omission) to state
therein (or in any related registration statement, notification or the like) a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, except insofar as the same may have been caused by an
untrue statement or omission based upon information furnished in writing to such
Pledgor by the Pledgee or such other Secured Creditor expressly for use therein.
(b) If at any time when the Pledgee shall determine to exercise its
right to sell all or any part of the Pledged Securities pursuant to Section 7
hereof, such Pledged Securities or the part thereof to be sold shall not, for
any reason whatsoever, be effectively registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as then in effect, the Pledgee may, in its sole and absolute discretion,
sell such Pledged Securities or part thereof by private sale in such manner and
under such circumstances as the Pledgee may deem necessary or advisable in order
that such sale may legally be effected without such registration; provided, that
--------
at least 10 days' notice of the time and place of any such sale shall be given
to such Pledgor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in any such
event the Pledgee, in its sole and absolute discretion: (i) may proceed to make
such private sale notwithstanding that a registration statement for the purpose
of registering such Pledged Securities or part thereof shall have been filed
under such Securities Act; (ii) may approach and negotiate with a single
possible purchaser to effect such sale; and (iii) may restrict such sale to a
purchaser who will represent and agree that such purchaser is purchasing for its
own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or sale of
such Pledged Securities or part thereof. In the event of any such sale, the
Pledgee shall incur no responsibility or liability
-11-
for selling all or any part of the Pledged Securities at a price which the
Pledgee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may in good ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ reasonable
under the circumstances, notwithstanding the possibility that a substantially
higher price might be realized if the sale were deferred until after
registration as aforesaid.
18. TERMINATION, RELEASE. (a) After the Termination Date (as
defined below), this Agreement shall terminate (provided that all indemnities
set forth herein including, without limitation, in Section 11 hereof shall
survive any such termination) and the Pledgee, at the request and expense of the
respective Pledgor, will promptly execute and deliver to such Pledgor a proper
instrument or instruments acknowledging the satisfaction and termination of this
Agreement, and will duly release from the security interest created hereby and
assign, transfer and deliver to such Pledgor (without recourse and without any
representation or warranty) such of the Collateral as may be in the possession
of the Pledgee and as has not theretofore been sold or otherwise applied or
released pursuant to this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, "Termination
Date" shall mean the date upon which the Total Commitment and all Interest Rate
Protection Agreements or Other Hedging Agreements have been terminated, no Note
(as defined in the Credit Agreement) or Letter of Credit is outstanding (other
than Letters of Credit, together with all Fees that have accrued and will accrue
thereon through the stated termination date of such Letters of Credit, which
have been supported in a manner satisfactory to the Letter of Credit Issuer in
its sole and absolute discretion) and all other Obligations (other than
indemnities described in Section 11 hereof and in Section 12.13 of the Credit
Agreement which are not then due and payable) have been paid in full.
(b) In the event that any part of the Collateral is sold or otherwise
disposed of in connection with a sale or other disposition permitted by Section
8.02 of the Credit Agreement or is otherwise released at the direction of the
Required Banks (or all the Banks if required by Section 12.12 of the Credit
Agreement), the Pledgee, at the request and expense of such Pledgor will duly
release from the security interest created hereby and assign, transfer and
deliver to such Pledgor (without recourse and without any representation or
warranty) such of the Collateral as is then being (or has been) so sold or
released and as may be in possession of the Pledgee and has not theretofore been
released pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) At any time that a Pledgor desires that Collateral be released as
provided in the foregoing Section 18(a) or (b), it shall deliver to the Pledgee
a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer of such Pledgor stating that the
release of the respective Collateral is permitted pursuant to Section 18(a) or
(b).
-12-
19. NOTICES, ETC. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be delivered or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed:
(a) if to any Pledgor, at its address set forth opposite its
signature below;
(b) if to the Pledgee, at:
Bankers Trust Company
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.:(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.:(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(c) if to any Bank (other than the Pledgee), at such address as
such Bank shall have specified in the Credit Agreement;
(d) if to any Other Creditor, at such address as such Other
Creditor shall have specified in writing to each Pledgor and the Pledgee;
or at such other address as shall have been furnished in writing by any Person
described above to the party required to give notice hereunder.
20. WAIVER; AMENDMENT. None of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement may be changed, waived, modified or varied in any manner whatsoever
unless in writing duly signed by each Pledgor directly affected thereby and the
Pledgee (with the written consent of either (x) the Required Banks (or all the
Banks if required by Section 12.12 of the Credit Agreement) at all times prior
to the time on which all Credit Document Obligations have been paid in full or
(y) the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Other Obligations at
all times after the time on which all Credit Document Obligations have been paid
in full); provided, that any change, waiver, modification or variance affecting
--------
the rights and benefits of a single Class (as defined below) of Secured
Creditors (and not all Secured Creditors in a like or similar manner) shall
require the written consent of the Requisite Creditors (as defined below) of
such Class. For the purpose of this Agreement, the term "Class" shall mean each
class of Secured Creditors, i.e., whether (i) the Bank Creditors as holders of
----
the Credit Document Obligations or (ii) the Other Creditors as holders of the
Other Obligations. For the purpose of this Agreement, the term "Requisite
Creditors" of any Class shall mean each of (i) with respect to the Credit
Document Obligations, the Required Banks and (ii) with respect to the Other
Obligations, the holders of at least a majority of all obligations outstanding
from time to time under the Interest Rate Protection Agreements or Other Hedging
Agreements.
-13-
21. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) This Agreement shall be binding upon the
successors and assigns of each Pledgor and shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Pledgee and its successors and assigns. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL
BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK. The headings in this Agreement are for purposes of reference
only and shall not limit or define the meaning hereof. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but
all of which shall constitute one instrument.
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, it is
understood and agreed that with respect to uncertificated Securities of any
Foreign Corporation directly owned by any Pledgor, no Pledgor shall be required
to perfect the Pledgee's security interest in such uncertificated Securities
until such time as the Credit Agreement shall otherwise provide.
(c) A simplified version of this Agreement for the purposes of
pledging the shares of ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇ S.p.A., an Italian corporation, is attached
as Exhibit A hereto (the "Unilateral Deed of Pledge") and shall be executed by
the Borrower simultaneously with the signing of this Agreement and notarized and
legalized by means of the apostille thereto pursuant to The Hague Convention of
October 5, 1961. The Unilateral Deed of Pledge shall not supersede in any
fashion the contents of this Agreement. In case of discrepancy, this Agreement
shall prevail over the Unilateral Deed of Pledge.
22. ADDITIONAL PLEDGORS. It is understood and agreed that any
Subsidiary of Holdings that is required to execute a counterpart of this
Agreement after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 7.14 and/or 8.14 of the
Credit Agreement shall automatically become a Pledgor hereunder by executing a
counterpart hereof and delivering the same to the Pledgee.
* * *
-14-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Pledgor and the Pledgee have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their duly elected officers duly authorized as of
the date first above written.
Address: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ VISIONCARE, INC.,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ as a Pledgor
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer, Secretary
Address: ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇ CORPORATION,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ as a Pledgor
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer
Address: PBH, INC.,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ as a Pledgor
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer
Address: PBH INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ as a Pledgor
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer
Address: ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ as a Pledgor
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer
Address: ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇ (PUERTO RICO),
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ as a Pledgor
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Collateral Agent and Pledgee
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------
Title: Managing Director
ANNEX A
to
PLEDGE AGREEMENT
----------------
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
--------------------
[TO BE PROVIDED BY PLEDGORS]
ANNEX B
to
PLEDGE AGREEMENT
----------------
LIST OF STOCK
-------------
[TO BE PROVIDED BY PLEDGORS]
ANNEX C
to
PLEDGE AGREEMENT
----------------
LIST OF NOTES
-------------
[TO BE PROVIDED BY PLEDGORS]
ANNEX D
to
PLEDGE AGREEMENT
----------------
LIST OF EXCLUDED NOTES
----------------------