EXHIBIT 99.9
EXHIBIT A
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GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT
made by
AVALON CABLE HOLDINGS LLC
and the other entities listed
on Annex I hereto
in favor of
▇▇▇▇▇▇ COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.
as Administrative Agent
Dated as of October __, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SECTION 1. DEFINED TERMS.................................................. 2
1.1 Definitions...................................................... 2
1.2 Other Definitional Provisions.................................... 6
SECTION 2. GUARANTEE...................................................... 6
2.1 Guarantee........................................................ 6
2.2 Right of Contribution............................................ 7
2.3 No Subrogation................................................... 7
2.4 Amendments, etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations........ 7
2.5 Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional............................. 8
2.6 Reinstatement.................................................... 9
2.7 Payments......................................................... 9
SECTION 3. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST..................................... 9
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES................................. 10
4.1 Existence: Compliance with Law................................... 10
4.2 Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.......... 10
4.3 No Legal Bar..................................................... 11
4.4 No Material Litigation........................................... 11
4.5 No Default....................................................... 11
4.6 Intellectual Property............................................ 11
4.7 Taxes............................................................ 12
4.8 Labor Matters.................................................... 12
4.9 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations........................ 12
4.10 Accuracy of Information, etc.................................... 12
4.11 Security Documents.............................................. 12
4.12 Solvency........................................................ 13
4.13 Senior Indebtedness............................................. 13
4.14 Title; No Other Liens........................................... 13
4.15 Perfected First Priority Liens.................................. 13
4.16 Chief Executive Office.......................................... 14
4.17 Inventory and Equipment......................................... 14
4.18 Farm Products................................................... 14
4.19 Pledged Securities.............................................. 14
4.20 Receivables..................................................... 15
4.21 Intellectual Property........................................... 15
4.22 Vehicles........................................................ 15
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SECTION 5. COVENANTS...................................................... 15
5.1 Payment of Obligations........................................... 16
5.2 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence, etc............ 16
5.3 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions........... 16
5.4 Additional Collateral, etc....................................... 16
5.5 Limitation of Activities of the Grantors......................... 18
5.6 Delivery of Instruments and Chattel Paper........................ 18
5.7 Maintenance of Insurance......................................... 18
5.8 Payment of Obligations........................................... 19
5.9 Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation 19
5.10 Changes in Locations, Name, etc................................. 19
5.11 Notices......................................................... 20
5.12 Pledged Securities.............................................. 20
5.13 Receivables..................................................... 21
5.14 Intellectual Property........................................... 21
5.15 Vehicles........................................................ 23
SECTION 6. REMEDIAL PROVISIONS............................................ 23
6.1 Certain Matters Relating to Receivables.......................... 23
6.2 Communications with Obligors; Grantors Remain Liable............. 24
6.3 Pledged Stock.................................................... 24
6.4 Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent............... 25
6.5 Application of Proceeds.......................................... 26
6.6 Code and Other Remedies.......................................... 26
6.7 Registration Rights.............................................. 27
6.8 Waiver; Deficiency............................................... 28
SECTION 7. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT....................................... 28
7.1 Administrative Agent's Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc...... 28
7.2 Duty of Administrative Agent..................................... 30
7.3 Execution of Financing Statements................................ 30
7.4 Authority of Administrative Agent................................ 31
SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS.................................................. 31
8.1 Amendments in Writing............................................ 31
8.2 Notices.......................................................... 31
8.3 No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies.............. 31
8.4 Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification............................ 32
8.5 Successors and Assigns........................................... 32
8.6 Set-Off.......................................................... 32
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8.7 Counterparts..................................................... 33
8.8 Severability..................................................... 33
8.9 Section Headings................................................. 33
8.10 Integration..................................................... 33
8.11 GOVERNING LAW................................................... 33
8.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers............................. 33
8.13 Acknowledgements................................................ 34
8.14 Additional Grantors............................................. 34
8.15 Releases........................................................ 34
8.16 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL............................................ 35
ANNEXES:
1 Assumption Agreement
SCHEDULES:
1 Notice Addresses of Guarantors
2 Description of Pledged Securities
3 Filings and Other Actions Required to Perfect Security Interests
4 Location of Jurisdiction of Organization and Chief Executive Office
5 Location of Inventory and Equipment
6 Intellectual Property
7 Contracts
8 Vehicles
9 Existing Prior Liens
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FORM OF
GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT
GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT, dated as of November___, 1998,
made by each of the signatories hereto (together with any other entity that may
become a party hereto as provided herein, the "Grantors"), in favor of ▇▇▇▇▇▇
COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the
"Administrative Agent") for the banks and other financial institutions (the
"Lenders") from time to time parties to the Credit Agreement, dated as of
October __, 1998 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"), among AVALON CABLE OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (the "New England Borrower"), AVALON CABLE OF
MICHIGAN, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Michigan Borrower") and AVALON
CABLE FINANCE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Finance Borrower" and together
with the New England Borrower and the Michigan Borrower, the "Borrowers"), as
joint and several borrowers hereunder, AVALON CABLE HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("Avalon Cable"), AVALON CABLE OF NEW ENGLAND
HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Avalon New England"), AVALON CABLE LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company ("Avalon Cable LLC"), AVALON CABLE HOLDINGS
FINANCE, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Avalon Finance Holdings") and AVALON
CABLE OF MICHIGAN HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Avalon Michigan" and
together with Avalon Cable, Avalon New England, Avalon Cable LLC and Avalon
Finance Holdings, the "Holding Companies"), the several banks and other
financial institutions or entities from time to time parties to this Agreement
(the "Lenders"), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC., as advisor and arranger (in such
capacity, the "Arranger"), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as syndication agent
(in such capacity, the "Syndication Agent"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.,
as Administrative Agent.
W I T N E S S E T H:
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WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have severally
agreed to make extensions of credit to the Borrowers upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth therein;
WHEREAS, the Borrowers are members of an affiliated group of companies
that includes each other Grantor;
WHEREAS, the proceeds of the extensions of credit under the Credit
Agreement will be used in part to enable the Borrowers to make valuable
transfers to one or more of the other Grantors in connection with the operation
of their respective businesses;
WHEREAS, the Borrowers and the other Grantors are engaged in related
businesses, and each Grantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit
from the making of the extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement; and
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WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders
to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrowers under the Credit
Agreement that the Grantors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to
the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to
induce the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the
Borrowers thereunder, each Grantor hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent,
for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINED TERMS
1.1 Definitions. (a) 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 which are defined in the Uniform
Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof are used
herein as so defined: Accounts, Chattel Paper, Documents, Equipment, Farm
Products, Instruments, Inventory and Investment Property.
(b) The following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Agreement": this Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, as the same may
be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Borrower Obligations": the collective reference to the unpaid
principal of and interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and
all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrowers (including, without
limitation, interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the
Credit Agreement after the maturity of the Loans and Reimbursement
Obligations and interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in
the Credit Agreement after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the
commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding,
relating to any of the Borrowers, whether or not a claim for post-filing or
post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) to the Administrative
Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of any Hedge Agreement referred to
below, any Affiliate of any Lender), whether direct or indirect, absolute
or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred,
which may arise under, out of, or in connection with, the Credit Agreement,
this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any Letter of Credit or any Hedge
Agreement entered into by any of the Borrowers with any Lender (or any
Affiliate of any Lender) or any other document made, delivered or given in
connection therewith, in each case whether on account of principal,
interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or
otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of
counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to
be paid by the Borrowers pursuant to the terms of any of the foregoing
agreements).
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"Collateral": as defined in Section 3.
"Collateral Account": any collateral account established by the
Administrative Agent as provided in Section 6.1 or 6.4.
"Copyrights": (i) all copyrights arising under the laws of the United
States, any other country or any political subdivision thereof, whether
registered or unregistered and whether published or unpublished (including,
without limitation, those listed in Schedule 6), all registrations and
recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith,
including, without limitation, all registrations, recordings and
applications in the United States Copyright Office, and (ii) the right to
obtain all renewals thereof.
"Copyright Licenses": any written agreement naming any Grantor as
licensor or licensee (including, without limitation, those listed in
Schedule 6), granting any right under any Copyright, including, without
limitation, the grant of rights to manufacture, distribute, exploit and
sell materials derived from any Copyright.
"General Intangibles": all "general intangibles" as such term is
defined in Section 9-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the
State of New York on the date hereof and, in any event, including, without
limitation, with respect to any Grantor, all contracts, agreements,
instruments and indentures in any form, and portions thereof, to which such
Grantor is a party or under which such Grantor has any right, title or
interest or to which such Grantor or any property of such Grantor is
subject, as the same may from time to time be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified, including, without limitation, (i) all rights of such
Grantor to receive moneys due and to become due to it thereunder or in
connection therewith, (ii) all rights of such Grantor to damages arising
thereunder and (iii) all rights of such Grantor to perform and to exercise
all remedies thereunder, in each case to the extent the grant by such
Grantor of a security interest pursuant to this Agreement in its right,
title and interest in such contract, agreement, instrument or indenture is
not prohibited by such contract, agreement, instrument or indenture without
the consent of any other party thereto, would not give any other party to
such contract, agreement, instrument or indenture the right to terminate
its obligations thereunder, or is permitted with consent if all necessary
consents to such grant of a security interest have been obtained from the
other parties thereto (it being understood that the foregoing shall not be
deemed to obligate such Grantor to obtain such consents); provided, that
the foregoing limitation shall not affect, limit, restrict or impair the
grant by such Grantor of a security interest pursuant to this Agreement in
any Receivable or any money or other amounts due or to become due under any
such contract, agreement, instrument or indenture.
"Guarantor Obligations": with respect to any Guarantor, all
obligations and liabilities of such Guarantor which may arise under or in
connection with this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2)
or any other Loan Document to which such Guarantor is a party, in each case
whether on account of guarantee obligations,
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reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise
(including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to
the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by
such Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document).
"Guarantors": the collective reference to each Grantor other than the
Borrowers.
"Hedge Agreements": as to any Person, all interest rate swaps, caps
or collar agreements or similar arrangements entered into by such Person
providing for protection against fluctuations in interest rates or currency
exchange rates or the exchange of nominal interest obligations, either
generally or under specific contingencies.
"Intellectual Property": the collective reference to all rights,
priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether
arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise,
including, without limitation, the Copyrights, the Copyright Licenses, the
Patents, the Patent Licenses, the Trademarks and the Trademark Licenses,
and all rights to ▇▇▇ at law or in equity for any infringement or other
impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages
therefrom.
"Intercompany Note": any promissory note evidencing loans made by any
Grantor to the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.
"Issuers": the collective reference to each issuer of a Pledged
Security.
"New York UCC": the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in
effect in the State of New York.
"Obligations": (i) in the case of each Borrower, its Borrower
Obligations, and (ii) in the case of each Guarantor, its Guarantor
Obligations.
"Parent": means Avalon Cable Holding LLC.
"Patents": (i) all letters patent of the United States, any other
country or any political subdivision thereof, all reissues and extensions
thereof and all goodwill associated therewith, including, without
limitation, any of the foregoing referred to in Schedule 6, (ii) all
applications for letters patent of the United States or any other country
and all divisions, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof,
including, without limitation, any of the foregoing referred to in Schedule
6, and (iii) all rights to obtain any reissues or extensions of the
foregoing.
"Patent License": all agreements, whether written or oral, providing
for the grant by or to any Grantor of any right to manufacture, use or sell
any invention covered in whole or in part by a Patent, including, without
limitation, any of the foregoing referred to in Schedule 6.
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"Pledged Notes": all promissory notes listed on Schedule 2, all
Intercompany Notes at any time issued to any Grantor and all other
promissory notes issued to or held by any Grantor (other than promissory
notes issued in connection with extensions of trade credit by any Grantor
in the ordinary course of business).
"Pledged Securities": the collective reference to the Pledged Notes
and the Pledged Stock.
"Pledged Stock": the shares of Capital Stock listed on Schedule 2,
together with any other shares, stock certificates, options or rights of
any nature whatsoever in respect of the Capital Stock of any Person that
may be issued or granted to, or held by, any Grantor while this Agreement
is in effect.
"Proceeds": all "proceeds" as such term is defined in Section 9-
306(1) of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York on
the date hereof and, in any event, shall include, without limitation, all
dividends or other income from the Pledged Securities, collections thereon
or distributions or payments with respect thereto.
"Receivable": any right to payment for goods sold or leased or for
services rendered, whether or not such right is evidenced by an Instrument
or Chattel Paper and whether or not it has been earned by performance
(including, without limitation, any Account).
"Securities Act": the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Subsidiary Guarantor": each Guarantor that is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of a Borrower.
"Trademarks": (i) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names,
company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles,
service marks, logos and other source or business identifiers, and all
goodwill associated therewith, now existing or hereafter adopted or
acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in
connection therewith, whether in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State
thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, or
otherwise, and all common-law rights related thereto, including, without
limitation, any of the foregoing referred to in Schedule 6, and (ii) the
right to obtain all renewals thereof.
"Trademark License": any agreement, whether written or oral,
providing for the grant by or to any Grantor of any right to use any
Trademark, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing referred to
in Schedule 6.
"Vehicles": all cars, trucks, trailers, construction and earth moving
equipment and other vehicles covered by a certificate of title law of any
state and, in any event including,
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without limitation, the vehicles listed on Schedule 8 and all tires and
other appurtenances to any of the foregoing.
1.2 Other Definitional Provisions. (a) The words "hereof," "herein",
"hereto" and "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in this Agreement
shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of
this Agreement, and Section and Schedule references are to this Agreement unless
otherwise specified.
(b) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.
(c) 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.
SECTION 2. GUARANTEE
2.1 Guarantee. (a) Each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and
severally, unconditionally and irrevocably, guarantees to the Administrative
Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders and their respective successors,
indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and complete payment and
performance by the Borrowers when due (whether at the stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise) of the Borrower Obligations.
(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 (after giving effect to the right of contribution
established in Section 2.2).
(c) Each Guarantor agrees that the Borrower 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 Section 2 or
affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender
hereunder.
(d) The guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall remain in full
force and effect until all the Borrower Obligations and the obligations of each
Guarantor under the guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall have been
satisfied by payment in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the
Commitments shall be terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time during
the term of the Credit Agreement the Borrowers may be free from any Borrower
Obligations.
(e) No payment made by any of the Borrowers, any of the Guarantors,
any other guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender
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from any 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 Borrower 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
Borrower Obligations or any payment received or collected from such Guarantor in
respect of the Borrower Obligations), remain liable for the Borrower Obligations
up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder until the Borrower
Obligations are paid in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the
Commitments are terminated.
2.2 Right of Contribution. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees
that to the extent that a Subsidiary Guarantor shall have paid more than its
proportionate share of any payment made hereunder, such Subsidiary Guarantor
shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other
Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder which has not paid its proportionate share of
such payment. Each Subsidiary Guarantor's right of contribution shall be subject
to the terms and conditions of Section 2.3. The provisions of this Section 2.2
shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Subsidiary
Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and each Subsidiary
Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for
the full amount guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.
2.3 No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment made by any
Guarantor hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of any Guarantor by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender, no Guarantor shall be entitled to be
subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender
against any Borrower or any other Guarantor or any collateral security or
guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for
the payment of the Borrower Obligations, nor shall any Guarantor seek or be
entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from any Borrower or any
other Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Guarantor hereunder, until
all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by the any of the
Borrowers on account of the Borrower Obligations are paid in full, no Letter of
Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments are terminated. If any amount
shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time
when all of the Borrower Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such
amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith
upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in
the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Guarantor to
the Administrative Agent, if required), to be applied against the Borrower
Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Administrative
Agent may determine.
2.4 Amendments, etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations. Each
Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any
reservation of rights against any Guarantor and without notice to or further
assent by any Guarantor, any demand for payment of any of the Borrower
Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by
the Administrative Agent or such Lender and any of the Borrower Obligations
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continued, and the Borrower Obligations, or 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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and the
Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents 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 or all Lenders, as the case may be) may deem advisable from time to
time, and any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held
by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Borrower
Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the
Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to protect,
secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the
Borrower Obligations or for the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or any
property subject thereto.
2.5 Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. Each Guarantor waives any
and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the
Borrower Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or acceptance
of the guarantee contained in this Section 2; the Borrower 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 this Section 2; and all dealings between any of the
Borrowers and any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively
presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon the guarantee
contained in this Section 2. Each Guarantor waives diligence, presentment,
protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon any
of the Borrowers or any of the Guarantors with respect to the Borrower
Obligations. Each Guarantor understands and agrees that the guarantee contained
in this Section 2 shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional
guarantee of payment without regard to (a) the validity or enforceability of the
Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, any of the Borrower 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 Lender, (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 Borrower or any other Person against the Administrative Agent
or any Lender, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice
to or knowledge of such Borrower or such Guarantor) which constitutes, or might
be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of any of the
Borrowers for the Borrower Obligations, or of such Guarantor under the guarantee
contained in this Section 2, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When making
any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder
against any Guarantor, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may, but shall be
under no obligation to, make a similar demand on or otherwise pursue such rights
and remedies as it may have against any Borrower, any other Guarantor or any
other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Borrower
Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to make any such demand, to pursue such other
rights or remedies or to collect any payments from any of the Borrowers, any
other
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Guarantor 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 any of the
Borrowers, any other Guarantor or any other Person or any such collateral
security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve any Guarantor 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 Lender against any Guarantor. For the purposes
hereof "demand" shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal
proceedings.
2.6 Reinstatement. The guarantee contained in this Section 2 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 Borrower Obligations is rescinded or
must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender
upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of
any Borrower or any Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a
receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, any
Borrower or any Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise,
all as though such payments had not been made.
2.7 Payments. Each Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments
hereunder will be paid to the Administrative Agent without set-off or
counterclaim in Dollars at the office of the Administrative Agent located at the
Payment Office specified in the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 3. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
Each Grantor hereby assigns and transfers to the Administrative Agent,
and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the
Lenders, 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
(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 such Grantor's Obligations,:
(a) all Accounts;
(b) all Chattel Paper;
(c) all Contracts;
(d) all Documents;
(e) all Equipment;
(f) all General Intangibles;
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(g) all Instruments;
(h) all Intellectual Property;
(i) all Inventory;
(j) all Pledged Securities;
(k) all Vehicles;
(l) all Investment Property;
(m) all deposit accounts and other bank accounts;
(n) all books and records pertaining to the Collateral; and
(o) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of
any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees
given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing.
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into the
Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective extensions
of credit to the Borrowers thereunder, each Grantor hereby represents and
warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:
4.1 Existence: Compliance with Law. Each of the Grantors (a) is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has the corporate power and authority or
the limited liability company power and authority, as the case may be, and the
legal right, to own and operate its Property, to lease the Property it operates
as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, (c) is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation or limited liability company, as the
case may be, and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its
ownership, lease or operation of Property or the conduct of its business
requires such qualification except to the extent that the failure to be so
qualified and/or in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect and (d) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law,
except to the extent that the failure to comply therewith could not, in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.2 Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. Each
Grantor has the corporate power and authority or the limited liability company
power and authority, as the case may be, and the legal right, to make, deliver
and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party. Each Grantor has taken
all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution,
11
delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party. No
consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in
respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in
connection with the Acquisition, the borrowings under the Credit Agreement,
under the Bridge Credit Agreement or with the execution, delivery, performance,
validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents,
except (i) consents, authorizations, filings and notices described in Schedule
4.4, which consents, authorizations, filings and notices have been obtained or
made and are in full force and effect other than such consents, authorizations,
filings and notices the failure to obtain or make could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) the filings referred to in
Section [4.19]. Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered on
behalf of each Loan Party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other
Loan Document upon execution will constitute, a legal, valid and binding
obligation of each Loan Party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party
in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general
equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or
at law).
4.3 No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the issuance of Letters of Credit, the
borrowings under the Credit Agreement and the use of the proceeds thereof will
not violate any Requirement of Law or any Contractual Obligation of any of the
Grantors and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any
Lien on any of their respective properties or revenues pursuant to any
Requirement of Law or any such Contractual Obligation (other than the Liens
created by the Security Documents).
4.4 No Material Litigation. No litigation, investigation or
proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or,
to the knowledge of any of the Grantors, threatened by or against any of the
Grantors or against any of their respective properties or revenues (a) with
respect to any of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, or (b) which could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
4.5 No Default. None of the Grantors are in default under or with
respect to any of their Contractual Obligations in any respect which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing.
4.6 Intellectual Property. Each of the Grantors owns, or is licensed
to use, all material Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its
business as currently conducted. To the knowledge of the Grantors, no material
claim has been asserted and is pending by any Person challenging or questioning
the use of any material Intellectual Property or the validity or effectiveness
of any material Intellectual Property, nor do any of the Grantors know of any
valid basis for any such claim. The use of Intellectual Property by the Grantors
does not infringe on the rights of any Person in any material respect.
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4.7 Taxes. Each of the Grantors has filed or caused to be filed all
material Federal, state, local and foreign tax returns which are required to be
filed and has paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on said returns or on
any assessments made against it or any of its Property and all other material
taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its Property by any
Governmental Authority (other than any the amount or validity of which are
currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with
respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the
books of the Grantors, as the case may be); no tax Lien has been filed (other
than Permitted Liens), and, to the knowledge of the Grantors, no claim is being
asserted, with respect to any material tax, fee or other charge.
4.8 Labor Matters. There are no strikes or other labor disputes
against any of the Grantors pending or, to the knowledge of the Grantors,
threatened that (individually or in the aggregate) could reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect. Hours worked by and payment made to employees
of the Grantors have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or
any other applicable Requirement of Law dealing with such matters that
(individually or in the aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. All payments due from the Grantors on account of
employee health and welfare insurance that (individually or in the aggregate)
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if not paid have
been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Grantors.
4.9 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations. No Grantor is an
"investment company", or a company "controlled" by an "investment company",
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. No
Grantor is subject to regulation under any Requirement of Law (other than
Regulation X of the Board) which limits its ability to incur Indebtedness.
4.10 Accuracy of Information, etc. Subject to the next succeeding
sentence and to the qualifications provided therein, no statement or information
contained in this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Confidential
Information Memorandum or any other document, certificate or statement furnished
to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders or any of them, by or on behalf of
any Grantor for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, taken as a whole, contained as of the
date such statement, information, document or certificate was so furnished (or,
in the case of the Confidential Information Memorandum, as of the date of this
Agreement), any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or
therein, taken as a whole, not misleading. There is no fact known to any Grantor
that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not
been expressly disclosed herein, in the other Loan Documents, in the
Confidential Information Memorandum or in any other documents, certificates and
statements furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for use in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan
Documents.
[4.11 Security Documents. (a) This Agreement is effective to create
in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a legal,
valid and enforceable security
13
interest in the Collateral herein and in the proceeds thereof. In the case of
the Pledged Stock described herein, when any stock certificates representing
such Pledged Stock are delivered to the Administrative Agent, and in the case of
the other Collateral described herein, when financing statements in appropriate
form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 4.19(a) to the Credit
Agreement (which financing statements have been duly completed and executed and
delivered to the Administrative Agent) and such other filings as are specified
on Schedule 3 to this Agreement (all of which filings have been duly completed),
this Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest
in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral and the
proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations, in each case prior and
superior in right to any other Person (except, in the case of Collateral other
than Pledged Stock, Liens permitted by Section 7.3 of the Credit Agreement).
(b) Each of the Mortgages is effective to create in favor of the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a legal, valid and
enforceable Lien on the Mortgaged Properties described therein and proceeds
thereof, and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule
4.19(b) to the Credit Agreement, each such Mortgage shall constitute a fully
perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of
the Loan Parties in the Mortgaged Properties and the proceeds thereof, as
security for the Obligations (as defined in the relevant Mortgage), in each case
prior and superior in right to any other Person other than Liens permitted by
the Credit Agreement that have priority by operation of law.]
4.12 Solvency. Each Grantor is, and after giving effect to the
Acquisition and the incurrence of all Indebtedness and obligations being
incurred in connection herewith and therewith will be and will continue to be,
Solvent.
4.13 Senior Indebtedness. The obligations of each Subsidiary
Guarantor hereunder will constitute "Guarantor Senior Indebtedness" of such
Subsidiary Guarantor under and as defined in the Senior Subordinated Note
Indenture (when and if entered into).
4.14 Title; No Other Liens. Except for the security interest granted
to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders pursuant to
this Agreement and the other Liens permitted to exist on the Collateral by the
Credit Agreement, such Grantor owns each item of the Collateral free and clear
of any and all Liens or claims of others. 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 Lenders, pursuant to this
Agreement or as are permitted by the Credit Agreement.
4.15 Perfected First Priority Liens. This Agreement (a) is effective
to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,
a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described
therein and proceeds thereof. In the case of the Pledged Stock described in
this Agreement, when any stock certificates representing such Pledged Stock are
delivered to the Administrative Agent, and in the case of the other Collateral
described in this Agreement, when financing statements in appropriate form are
filed in the
14
offices specified on Schedule 4.19(a) of the Credit Agreement (which financing
statements have been duly completed and executed and delivered to the
Administrative Agent) and such other filings as are specified on Schedule 3 (all
of which filings have been duly completed), this Agreement shall constitute a
fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest
of the Loan Parties in such Collateral and the proceeds thereof, as security for
the Obligations (as defined herein), in each case prior and superior in right to
any other Person (except, in the case of Collateral other than Pledged Stock,
Liens permitted by Section 7.3 of the Credit Agreement).
(b) Each of the Mortgages is effective to create in favor of the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a legal, valid and
enforceable Lien on the Mortgaged Properties described therein and proceeds
thereof, and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule
4.19(b) of the Credit Agreement, each such Mortgage shall constitute a fully
perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of
the Loan Parties in the Mortgaged Properties and the proceeds thereof, as
security for the Obligations (as defined in the relevant Mortgage), in each case
prior and superior in right to any other Person other than Liens permitted by
Section 7.3 of the Credit Agreement that have priority by operation of law.
4.16 Chief Executive Office. On the date hereof, such Grantor's
jurisdiction of organization and the location of such Grantor's chief executive
office or sole place of business are specified on Schedule 4.
4.17 Inventory and Equipment. On the date hereof, the Inventory and
the Equipment (other than mobile goods) are kept at the locations listed on
Schedule 5.
4.18 Farm Products. None of the Collateral constitutes, or is the
Proceeds of, Farm Products.
4.19 Pledged Securities. (a) The shares of Pledged Stock pledged by
such Grantor hereunder constitute all the issued and outstanding shares of all
classes of the Capital Stock of each Issuer owned by such Grantor.
(b) All the shares of the Pledged Stock have been duly and validly
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.
(c) Each of the Pledged Notes constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the obligor with respect thereto, enforceable in accordance with
its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good
faith and fair dealing.
15
(d) Such Grantor is the record and beneficial owner of, and has good
and marketable title to, the Pledged Securities pledged by it hereunder, free of
any and all Liens or options in favor of, or claims of, any other Person, except
the security interest created by this Agreement and the Permitted Liens.
4.20 Receivables. (a) No amount payable to such Grantor under or in
connection with any Receivable is evidenced by any Instrument or Chattel Paper
which has not been delivered to the Administrative Agent.
(b) The amounts represented by such Grantor to the Lenders from time
to time as owing to such Grantor in respect of the Receivables will at such
times be accurate.
4.21 Intellectual Property. (a) Schedule 6 lists all Intellectual
Property owned by such Grantor in its own name on the date hereof.
(b) On the date hereof, all material Intellectual Property is valid,
subsisting, unexpired and enforceable, has not been abandoned and does not
infringe the intellectual property rights of any other Person.
(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 6, on the date hereof, none of the
Intellectual Property is the subject of any licensing or franchise agreement
pursuant to which such Grantor is the licensor or franchisor.
(d) No holding, decision or judgment has been rendered by any
Governmental Authority which would limit, cancel or question the validity of, or
such Grantor's rights in, any Intellectual Property in any respect that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) No action or proceeding is pending, or, to the knowledge of such
Grantor, threatened, on the date hereof (i) seeking to limit, cancel or question
the validity of any Intellectual Property or such Grantor's ownership interest
therein, or (ii) which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the value of any material Intellectual
Property.
4.22 Vehicles. Schedule 8 is a complete and correct list of all
Vehicles owned by such Grantor on the date hereof.
SECTION 5. COVENANTS
Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders that, from and after the date of this Agreement until the
Obligations ______ ______ ______ entered into in the ordinary course of business
shall have been paid in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the
Commitments shall have terminated:
16
5.1 Payment of Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at
or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all its
material obligations of whatever nature, except where the amount or validity
thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
and reserves in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on
the books of the Grantors, as the case may be.
5.2 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence, etc.
(a)(i) Preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence
and (ii) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and
franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except,
in each case, as otherwise permitted by Section 7.4 and except, in the case of
clause (ii) above, to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) comply with all Contractual
Obligations and Requirements of Law except to the extent that failure to comply
therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
5.3 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions. (a) Keep
proper books of records and account in which full, true and correct entries in
conformity with GAAP and all Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings
and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (b) permit
representatives of any Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties and
examine and make abstracts from any of its books and records at any reasonable
time and as often as may reasonably be desired and to discuss the business,
operations, properties and financial and other condition of the Grantors with
officers and employees of the Grantors and with its independent certified public
accountants (such visits and inspections shall be coordinated by the Lenders to
the extent reasonably practicable).
5.4 Additional Collateral, etc. (a) With respect to any Property
acquired after the Closing Date by any of the Grantors (other than (x) any real
property or the Capital Stock of any new Subsidiary, (y) any Property subject to
a Lien expressly permitted by Section 7.3(g) and (z) Property acquired by an
Excluded Foreign Subsidiary) as to which the Administrative Agent, for the
benefit of the Lenders, does not have a perfected Lien, promptly (i) execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement or such other documents as the Administrative Agent deems
necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of
the Lenders, a security interest in such Property and (ii) take all actions
necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of
the Lenders, a perfected first priority security interest in such Property,
including without limitation, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing
statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement or by law or as may be requested by the Administrative
Agent.
(b) With respect to any fee interest in any real property having a
value (together with improvements thereof) of at least $2,500,000 acquired after
the Closing Date by any of the Grantors (other than any such real property owned
by an Excluded Foreign Subsidiary subject to a Lien expressly permitted by
Section 7.3(g)), promptly (i) execute and deliver a first priority Mortgage in
favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, covering such
real
17
property, (ii) if requested by the Administrative Agent, provide the Lenders
with (x) title and extended coverage insurance covering such real property in an
amount at least equal to the purchase price of such real estate (or such other
amount as shall be reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent) as well as
a current ALTA survey thereof, together with a surveyor's certificate and (y)
any consents or estoppels reasonably deemed necessary or advisable by the
Administrative Agent in connection with such mortgage or deed of trust, each of
the foregoing in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and (iii) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver
to the Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described
above, which opinions shall be in form and substance, and from counsel,
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(c) With respect to any new Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Foreign
Subsidiary) created or acquired after the Closing Date (which, for the purposes
of this paragraph, shall include any existing Subsidiary that ceases to be an
Excluded Foreign Subsidiary), by any of the Grantors, promptly (i) execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable to
grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected
first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary
which is owned by any of the Grantors, (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent
the certificates representing such Capital Stock, together with undated stock
powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of any of
the Grantors, as the case may be, (iii) cause such new Subsidiary (A) to become
a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and (B) to take such actions
necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of
the Lenders a perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral
described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement with respect to such new
Subsidiary, including, without limitation, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code
financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Guarantee
and Collateral Agreement or by law or as may be requested by the Administrative
Agent, and (iv) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the
Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described above,
which opinions shall be in form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(d) With respect to any new Excluded Foreign Subsidiary created or
acquired after the Closing Date by any of the Grantors, promptly (i) execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable in
order to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a
perfected first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such new
Subsidiary which is owned by any of the Grantors (provided that in no event
shall more than 65% of the total outstanding Capital Stock of any such new
Subsidiary be required to be so pledged), (ii) deliver to the Administrative
Agent the certificates representing such Capital Stock, together with undated
stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of
any of the Grantors, as the case may be, and take such other action as may be
necessary or, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, desirable to perfect
the Lien of the Administrative Agent thereon, and (iii) if requested by the
Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal opinions
relating to the matters described above, which opinions
18
shall be in form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent.
5.5 Limitation of Activities of the Grantors. In the case of the
Grantors, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Senior Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document, (i) conduct, transact or otherwise engage
in, or commit to conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, any business or
operations other than those incidental to their ownership of the Capital Stock
of the Borrowers and Subsidiaries thereof; (ii) incur, create, assume or suffer
to exist any Indebtedness or other liabilities or financial obligations, except
(A) nonconsensual obligations imposed by operation of law, (B) pursuant to the
Loan Documents to which it is a party, (C) obligations with respect to its
Capital Stock, (D) pursuant to the Bridge Credit Agreement, (E) Senior Discount
Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $150,000,000, (F) pursuant
to the ABRY Junior Bridge Facility, and (G) any Indebtedness that refinances the
obligations under the Bridge Credit Agreement, the ABRY Junior Bridge Facility
or the Senior Discount Notes, provided that (x) the principal amount thereof
shall not be increased, (y) the maturity thereof shall be the same or later than
the Indebtedness being refinanced, and (z) the terms and conditions thereof
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Required Lenders, as evidenced by prior
written approval thereof; (iii) own, lease, manage or otherwise operate any
properties or assets (including cash (other than cash received in connection
with dividends made by the Borrowers in accordance with Section 7.6 pending
application in the manner contemplated by said Section) and cash equivalents)
other than the ownership of shares of Capital Stock of the Borrowers and
Subsidiaries thereof; or (iv) enter into any merger, consolidation or
amalgamation except with another Grantor or pursuant to the Reorganization.
5.6 Delivery of Instruments and Chattel Paper. If any amount payable
under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced
by any Instrument or Chattel Paper, such Instrument or Chattel Paper shall be
immediately delivered to the Administrative Agent, duly indorsed in a manner
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to be held as Collateral pursuant to
this Agreement.
5.7 Maintenance of Insurance. (a) Such Grantor will maintain, with
financially sound and reputable companies, insurance policies (i) insuring the
Inventory, Equipment and Vehicles against loss by fire, explosion, theft and
such other casualties as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent and (ii) to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, insuring
such Grantor, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders against liability for
personal injury and property damage relating to such Inventory, Equipment and
Vehicles, such policies to be in such form and amounts and having such coverage
as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
(b) All such insurance shall (i) provide that no cancellation,
material reduction in amount or material change in coverage thereof shall be
effective until at least 30 days after receipt by the Administrative Agent of
written notice thereof, (ii) name the Administrative Agent as insured party or
loss payee, (iii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, include
19
a breach of warranty clause and (iv) be reasonably satisfactory in all other
respects to the Administrative Agent.
(c) The Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders a report of a reputable insurance broker with respect to such insurance
substantially concurrently with the delivery by the Borrowers to the
Administrative Agent of its audited financial statements for each fiscal year
and such supplemental reports with respect thereto as the Administrative Agent
may from time to time reasonably request.
5.8 Payment of Obligations. Such Grantor will pay, discharge or
otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the
case may be, all its material obligations of whatever nature, except where the
amount or validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and reserves in conformity with GAAP with respect
thereto have been provided on the books of the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries,
as the case may be.
5.9 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 4.3 and shall defend such security interest against the claims and
demands of all Persons whomsoever.
(b) Such Grantor will furnish to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders from time to time 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.
(c) At any time and from time to time, upon the written request of
the Administrative Agent, and at the sole expense of such Grantor, such Grantor
will promptly and duly execute and deliver, and have recorded, such further
instruments and documents and take such further actions as the Administrative
Agent may reasonably request for the purpose of obtaining or preserving the full
benefits of this Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted,
including, without limitation, the filing of any financing or continuation
statements under the Uniform Commercial Code (or other similar laws) in effect
in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created hereby.
5.10 Changes in Locations, Name, etc. Such Grantor will not, except
upon 15 days' prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and delivery to
the Administrative Agent of (a) all additional executed financing statements and
other documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to maintain the
validity, perfection and priority of the security interests provided for herein
and (b) if applicable, a written supplement to Schedule 5 showing any additional
location at which Inventory or Equipment shall be kept:
(i) permit any of the Inventory or Equipment to be kept at a location
other than those listed on Schedule 5 [other than for temporary transfers
of immaterial amounts of
20
inventory, or for transfer of Equipment for periods not exceeding 3 months
for the limited purposes of repair];
(ii) change the location of its chief executive office or sole place
of business from that referred to in Section 4.4; or
(iii) change its name, identity or corporate structure to such an
extent that any financing statement filed by the Administrative Agent in
connection with this Agreement would become misleading.
5.11 Notices. Such Grantor will advise the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders promptly, in reasonable detail, of:
(a) any Lien (other than security interests created hereby or Liens
permitted under the Credit Agreement) on any of the Collateral which would
adversely affect the ability of the Administrative Agent to exercise any of its
remedies hereunder; and
(b) of the occurrence of any other event which could reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the aggregate value of the
Collateral or on the security interests created hereby.
5.12 Pledged Securities. (a) If such Grantor shall become entitled to
receive or shall receive any stock certificate (including, without limitation,
any certificate representing a stock dividend or a distribution in connection
with any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital or any certificate
issued in connection with any reorganization), option or rights in respect of
the Capital Stock of any Issuer, whether in addition to, in substitution of, as
a conversion of, or in exchange for, any shares of the Pledged Stock, or
otherwise in respect thereof, such Grantor shall accept the same as the agent of
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, hold the same in trust for the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders and 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
covering such certificate duly executed in blank by such Grantor and with, if
the Administrative Agent so requests, signature guaranteed, to be held by the
Administrative Agent, subject to the terms hereof, as additional collateral
security for the Obligations. Any sums paid upon or in respect of the Pledged
Securities upon the liquidation or dissolution of any Issuer shall be paid over
to the Administrative Agent to be held by it hereunder as additional collateral
security for the Obligations, and in case any distribution of capital shall be
made on or in respect of the Pledged Securities or any property shall be
distributed upon or with respect to the Pledged Securities pursuant to the
recapitalization or reclassification of the capital of any Issuer or pursuant to
the reorganization thereof, the property so distributed shall, unless otherwise
subject to a perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent,
be delivered to the Administrative Agent to be held by it hereunder as
additional collateral security for the Obligations. If any sums of money or
property so paid or distributed in respect of the Pledged Securities shall be
received by such Grantor, such Grantor shall, until such money or property is
paid or delivered to the
21
Administrative Agent, hold such money or property in trust for the Lenders,
segregated from other funds of such Grantor, as additional collateral security
for the Obligations.
(b) Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent,
such Grantor will not (i) vote to enable, or take any other action to permit,
any Issuer to issue any stock or other equity securities of any nature or to
issue any other securities convertible into or granting the right to purchase or
exchange for any stock or other equity securities 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 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
5.8(a) with respect to the Pledged Securities issued by it and (iii) the terms
of Sections 6.3(c) and 6.7 shall apply to it, mutatis mutandis, with respect to
all actions that may be required of it pursuant to Section 6.3(c) or 6.7 with
respect to the Pledged Securities issued by it.
5.13 Receivables. (a) Other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with its past practice, such Grantor will not (i) grant any extension
of the time of payment of any Receivable, (ii) compromise or settle any
Receivable for less than the full amount thereof, (iii) release, wholly or
partially, any Person liable for the payment of any Receivable, (iv) allow any
credit or discount whatsoever on any Receivable or (v) amend, supplement or
modify any Receivable in any manner that could adversely affect the value
thereof.
(b) Such Grantor will deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of
each material demand, notice or document received by it that questions or calls
into doubt the validity or enforceability of more than 5% of the aggregate
amount of the then outstanding Receivables.
5.14 Intellectual Property. (a) Such Grantor (either itself or
through licensees) will (i) continue to use each material Trademark owned or
licensed by such Grantor on each and every trademark class of goods applicable
to its current line as reflected in its current catalogs, brochures and price
lists in order to maintain such Trademark in full force free from any claim of
abandonment for non-use, (ii) maintain as in the past the quality of products
and services offered under such Trademark, (iii) use such Trademark with the
appropriate notice of registration and all other notices and legends required by
applicable Requirements of Law, (iv) not adopt or use any ▇▇▇▇ which is
confusingly similar or a colorable imitation of such Trademark unless the
Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, shall obtain a
perfected security interest in such ▇▇▇▇ pursuant to this Agreement, and (v) not
(and not permit any licensee or
22
sublicensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby such
Trademark may become invalidated or impaired in any way.
(b) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will not do any
act, or omit to do any act, whereby any material Patent may become forfeited,
abandoned or dedicated to the public.
(c) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) (i) will employ
each material Copyright and (ii) will not (and will not permit any licensee or
sublicensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby any
material portion of the Copyrights may become invalidated or otherwise impaired.
Such Grantor will not (either itself or through licensees) do any act whereby
any material portion of the Copyrights owned by such Grantor may fall into the
public domain.
(d) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will not do any
act that knowingly uses any material Intellectual Property to infringe the
intellectual property rights of any other Person.
(e) Such Grantor will notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
promptly if it knows, or has reason to know, that any application or
registration relating to any material Intellectual Property is reasonably likely
to become forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public, or of any adverse
determination or development (including, without limitation, the institution of,
or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any court or
tribunal in any country) regarding such Grantor's ownership of, or the validity
of, any material Intellectual Property or such Grantor's right to register the
same or to own and maintain the same.
(f) Whenever such Grantor, either by itself or through any agent,
employee, licensee or designee, shall file an application for the registration
of any Intellectual Property with the United States Patent and Trademark Office,
the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency in any other
country or any political subdivision thereof, such Grantor shall report such
filing to the Administrative Agent within five Business Days after the last day
of the fiscal quarter in which such filing occurs. Upon request of the
Administrative Agent, such Grantor shall execute and deliver, and have recorded,
any and all agreements, instruments, documents, and papers as the Administrative
Agent may request to evidence the Administrative Agent's and the Lenders'
security interest in any Copyright, Patent or Trademark and the goodwill and
general intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby.
(g) Such Grantor will take all reasonable and necessary steps,
including, without limitation, in any proceeding before the United States Patent
and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office
or agency in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, to maintain
and pursue each application (and to obtain the relevant registration) and to
maintain each registration of the material Intellectual Property, including,
23
without limitation, filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use and
affidavits of incontestability.
(h) In the event that any material Intellectual Property is
infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Grantor shall (i)
take such actions as such Grantor shall reasonably deem appropriate under the
circumstances to protect such Intellectual Property and (ii) if such
Intellectual Property is of material economic value, promptly notify the
Administrative Agent after it learns thereof and ▇▇▇ for infringement,
misappropriation or dilution, to seek injunctive relief where appropriate and to
recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution.
5.15 Vehicles. (a) No Vehicle shall be removed from the state which
has issued the certificate of title/ownership therefor for a period in excess of
4 months.
(b) With respect to any Vehicles acquired by such Grantor subsequent
to the date hereof, within 30 days after the date of acquisition thereof, all
applications for certificates of title/ownership indicating the Administrative
Agent's first priority security interest in the Vehicle covered by such
certificate, and any other necessary documentation, shall be filed in each
office in each jurisdiction which the Administrative Agent shall deem advisable
to perfect its security interests in the Vehicles.
SECTION 6. REMEDIAL PROVISIONS
6.1 Certain Matters Relating to Receivables. (a) The Administrative
Agent shall have the right to make test verifications of the Receivables in any
manner and through any medium that it reasonably considers advisable, and each
Grantor shall furnish all such assistance and information as the Administrative
Agent may require in connection with such test verifications. At any time and
from time to time, upon the Administrative Agent's request and at the expense of
the relevant Grantor, such Grantor shall cause independent public accountants or
others satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to furnish to the Administrative
Agent reports showing reconciliations, aging and test verifications of, and
trial balances for, the Receivables.
(b) The Administrative Agent hereby authorizes each Grantor to
collect such Grantor's Receivables, subject to the Administrative Agent's
direction and control, and the Administrative Agent may curtail or terminate
said authority at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Event of Default. If required by the Administrative Agent at any time after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any payments of
Receivables, when collected by any Grantor, (i) shall be forthwith (and, in any
event, within two Business Days) deposited by such Grantor in the exact form
received, duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent if required,
in a Collateral Account maintained under the sole dominion and control of the
Administrative Agent, subject to withdrawal by the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Lenders only as provided in Section 6.5, and (ii) until so turned
over, shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and
the
24
Lenders, segregated from other funds of such Grantor. Each such deposit of
Proceeds of Receivables shall be accompanied by a report identifying in
reasonable detail the nature and source of the payments included in the deposit.
(c) At the Administrative Agent's request, each Grantor shall deliver
to the Administrative Agent all original and other documents evidencing, and
relating to, the agreements and transactions which gave rise to the Receivables,
including, without limitation, all original orders, invoices and shipping
receipts.
6.2 Communications with Obligors; Grantors Remain Liable. (a) The
Administrative Agent in its own name or in the name of others may at any time
after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default
communicate with obligors under the Receivables and parties to the Contracts to
verify with them to the Administrative Agent's satisfaction the existence,
amount and terms of any Receivables or Contracts.
(b) Upon the request of the Administrative Agent at any time after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall
notify obligors on the Receivables and parties to the Contracts that the
Receivables and the Contracts have been assigned to the Administrative Agent for
the ratable benefit of the Lenders and that payments in respect thereof shall be
made directly to the Administrative Agent.
(c) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Grantor
shall remain liable under each of the Receivables and Contracts to observe and
perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it
thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise
thereto. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any
obligation or liability under any Receivable (or any agreement giving rise
thereto) or Contract by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the
receipt by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of any payment relating
thereto, nor shall the Administrative Agent or any Lender be obligated in any
manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any
Receivable (or any agreement giving rise thereto) or Contract, to make any
payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment
received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party
thereunder, to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any
performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been
assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.
6.3 Pledged Stock. (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 6.3(b), each Grantor shall be permitted
to receive all cash dividends paid in respect of the Pledged Stock and all
payments made in respect of the Pledged Notes, in each case paid in the normal
course of business of the relevant Issuer and consistent with past practice, to
the extent permitted in the Credit Agreement, and to exercise all voting and
corporate rights with respect to the Pledged Securities; provided, however, that
no vote shall be cast or corporate right exercised or other action taken which,
in the Administrative Agent's reasonable judgment, would impair the
25
Collateral or which would be inconsistent with or result in any violation of any
provision of the Credit Agreement, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(b) If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and the
Administrative Agent shall give notice of its intent to exercise such rights to
the relevant Grantor or Grantors, (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
Obligations in the order set forth in Section 6.5, 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 (x) all voting, corporate and other rights pertaining to such Pledged
Securities at any meeting of shareholders of the relevant Issuer or Issuers or
otherwise and (y) 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 corporate 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 to (i) comply with any
instruction received by it from the Administrative Agent in writing that (x)
states that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) 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, pay any dividends or other payments with respect to the
Pledged Securities directly to the Administrative Agent.
6.4 Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent. In addition to
the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders specified in Section 6.1
with respect to payments of Receivables, if an Event of Default shall occur and
be continuing, all Proceeds received by any Grantor consisting of cash, checks
and other near-cash items shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, segregated from other funds of such
Grantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Grantor, be turned over to
the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Grantor (duly
indorsed by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent, if required). All Proceeds
received by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be held by the
Administrative Agent in a Collateral Account maintained under its sole dominion
and control. All Proceeds while held by the Administrative Agent in a Collateral
Account (or by such Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders) shall
26
continue to be held as collateral security for all the Obligations and shall not
constitute payment thereof until applied as provided in Section 6.5.
6.5 Application of Proceeds. At such intervals as may be agreed upon
by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, or, if an Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, at any time at the Administrative Agent's
election, the Administrative Agent may apply all or any part of Proceeds
constituting Collateral, whether or not held in any Collateral Account, and any
proceeds of the guarantee set forth in Section 2, in payment of the Obligations
in the following order:
First, to pay incurred and unpaid fees and expenses of the
Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents;
Second, to the Administrative Agent, for application by it towards
payment of amounts then due and owing and remaining unpaid in respect of
the Obligations, pro rata among the Lenders according to the amounts of the
Obligations then due and owing and remaining unpaid to the Lenders;
Third, to the Administrative Agent, for application by it towards
prepayment of the Obligations, pro rata among the Lenders according to the
amounts of the Obligations then held by the Lenders; and
Fourth, any balance of such Proceeds remaining after the Obligations
shall have been paid in full, no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding and
the Commitments shall have terminated shall be paid over to the Borrowers
or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.
6.6 Code and Other Remedies. If an Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, may exercise, in
addition to all other rights and remedies granted to them in this Agreement and
in any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or relating to the
Obligations, all rights and remedies of a secured party under the New York UCC
or any other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Administrative Agent, without demand of performance or other demand,
presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice
required by law referred to below) 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 Lender 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 Lender shall have
the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by
law, upon any such
27
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. 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. The
Administrative Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it
pursuant to this Section 6.6, 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 Lenders hereunder, including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements, to the payment
in whole or in part of the Obligations, in such order as the Administrative
Agent may elect, 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 9-504(1)(c) 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 Lender 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.
6.7 Registration Rights. (a) If the Administrative Agent shall
determine to exercise its right to sell any or all of the Pledged Stock pursuant
to Section 6.6, and if in the opinion of the Administrative Agent it is
necessary or advisable to have the Pledged Stock, or that portion thereof to be
sold, registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, the relevant
Grantor will cause the Issuer thereof to (i) execute and deliver, and cause the
directors and officers of such Issuer to execute and deliver, all such
instruments and documents, and do or cause to be done all such other acts as may
be, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, necessary or advisable to
register the Pledged Stock, or that portion thereof to be sold, under the
provisions of the Securities Act, (ii) use its best efforts to cause the
registration statement relating thereto to become effective and to remain
effective for a period of one year from the date of the first public offering of
the Pledged Stock, or that portion thereof to be sold, and (iii) make all
amendments thereto and/or to the related prospectus which, in the opinion of the
Administrative Agent, are necessary or advisable, all in conformity with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission applicable thereto. Each Grantor agrees to
cause such Issuer to comply with the provisions of the securities or "Blue Sky"
laws of any and all jurisdictions which the Administrative Agent shall designate
and to make available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, an
earnings statement (which need not be audited) which will satisfy the provisions
of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.
(b) Each Grantor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be
unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Stock, 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
28
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 Stock
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.
(c) Each Grantor agrees to use its best efforts to do or cause to be
done all such other acts as may be necessary to make such sale or sales of all
or any portion of the Pledged Stock pursuant to this Section 6.7 valid and
binding and in compliance with any and all other applicable Requirements of Law.
Each Grantor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in
this Section 6.7 will cause irreparable injury to the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders, that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have no adequate
remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, that each and
every covenant contained in this Section 6.7 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 except
for a defense that no Event of Default has occurred under the Credit Agreement.
6.8 Waiver; Deficiency. Each Grantor waives and agrees not to assert
any rights or privileges which it may acquire under Section 9-112 of the New
York UCC. Each Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of
any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay its
Obligations and the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to collect such deficiency.
SECTION 7. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
7.1 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 appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and
instruments which may be 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:
(i) in the name of such Grantor or its own name, or otherwise, take
possession of and indorse and collect any checks, drafts, notes,
acceptances or other instruments for the payment of moneys due under any
Receivable or Contract or with respect to any other
29
Collateral and file any claim or 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 Receivable or Contract or with respect to any other
Collateral whenever payable;
(ii) in the case of any Intellectual Property, execute and deliver,
and have recorded, any and all agreements, instruments, documents and
papers as the Administrative Agent may request to evidence the
Administrative Agent's and the Lenders' security interest in such
Intellectual Property and the goodwill and general intangibles of such
Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby;
(iii) pay or discharge taxes and Liens levied or placed on or
threatened against the Collateral, effect any repairs or procure any
insurance called for by the terms of this Agreement and pay all or any part
of the premiums therefor and the costs thereof;
(iv) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in Section 6.6
or 6.7, any indorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or
transfer with respect to the Collateral; and
(v) (1) 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; (2) 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; (3)
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; (4) 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; (5) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought
against such Grantor with respect to any Collateral; (6) 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; (7) assign any Copyright, Patent or Trademark (along with the
goodwill of the business to which any such Copyright, Patent or Trademark
pertains), throughout the world for such term or terms, on such conditions,
and in such manner, as the Administrative Agent shall in its sole
discretion determine; and (8) 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 Lenders' security interests therein and to effect the
intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as such Grantor
might do.
30
Anything in this Section 7.1(a) to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Administrative Agent agrees that it will not exercise any rights under the power
of attorney provided for in this Section 7.1(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, 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 7.1, together with interest
thereon at a rate per annum equal to the rate per annum at which interest would
then be payable on past due Revolving Credit Loans that are Base Rate Loans and
past due Term Loans that are Base Rate Loans under the Credit Agreement, from
the date of payment by the Administrative Agent to the date reimbursed by the
relevant Grantor, shall be payable 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 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.
7.2 Duty of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent's sole duty
with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the
Collateral in its possession, under Section 9-207 of the New York UCC or
otherwise, shall be to deal with it in the same manner as the Administrative
Agent deals with similar property for its own account. Neither the
Administrative Agent, any Lender nor any of their respective officers,
directors, employees or agents shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or
realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be
under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the
request of any Grantor or any other Person or to take any other action
whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The powers
conferred on the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder are solely to
protect the Administrative Agent's and the Lenders' interests in the Collateral
and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any Lender to
exercise any such powers. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be
accountable only for amounts that they actually receive as a result of the
exercise of such powers, and neither they nor any of their officers, directors,
employees or agents shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure
to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
7.3 Execution of Financing Statements. Pursuant to Section 9-402 of
the New York UCC and any other applicable law, each Grantor authorizes the
Administrative Agent to file or record financing statements 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
31
the Administrative Agent under this Agreement. A photographic or other
reproduction of this Agreement shall be sufficient as a financing statement or
other filing or recording document or instrument for filing or recording in any
jurisdiction.
7.4 Authority of Administrative Agent. Each Grantor acknowledges that
the rights and responsibilities of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement
with respect to any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the exercise or
non-exercise by the Administrative Agent of any option, voting right, request,
judgment or other right or remedy provided for herein or resulting or arising
out of this Agreement shall, as between the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders, be governed by the Credit Agreement and by such other agreements with
respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but, as between the
Administrative Agent and the Grantors, the Administrative Agent shall be
conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Lenders with full and valid
authority so to act or refrain from acting, and no Grantor shall be under any
obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.
SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 Amendments in Writing. None of the terms or provisions of this
Agreement may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except by a
written instrument executed by each affected Grantor and the Administrative
Agent, provided that any provision of this Agreement imposing obligations on any
Grantor may be waived by the Administrative Agent in a written instrument
executed by the Administrative Agent
8.2 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the
Administrative Agent or any Grantor hereunder shall be effected in the manner
provided for in Section 10.2 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.
8.3 No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies. Neither the
Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall by any act (except by a written
instrument pursuant to Section 8.1), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be
deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any
Default or Event of Default. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in
exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right,
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or
partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or
privilege. A waiver by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of any right or
remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any
right or remedy which the Administrative Agent or such Lender would otherwise
have on any future occasion. The rights and remedies herein provided are
cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any
other rights or remedies provided by law.
32
8.4 Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification. (a) Each Guarantor agrees
to pay or reimburse each Lender and the Administrative Agent for all its costs
and expenses incurred in collecting against such Guarantor under the guarantee
contained in Section 2 or otherwise enforcing or preserving any rights under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party,
including, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of counsel (including
the allocated fees and expenses of in-house counsel) to each Lender and of
counsel to the Administrative Agent.
(b) Each Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders harmless from, any and all liabilities with respect to, or
resulting from any delay in paying, any and all stamp, excise, sales or other
taxes which may be payable or determined to be payable with respect to any of
the Collateral or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
(c) Each Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders harmless from, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery,
enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement to the extent the
Borrowers would be required to do so pursuant to Section 10.5 of the Credit
Agreement.
(d) The agreements in this Section shall survive repayment of the
Obligations and all other amounts payable under the Credit Agreement and the
other Loan Documents.
8.5 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 Lenders 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.
8.6 Set-Off. Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the
Administrative Agent and each Lender at any time and from time to time pursuant
to Section 10.7(b) of the Credit Agreement, without notice to such Grantor or
any other Grantor, any such notice being expressly waived by each Grantor, to
set-off and appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time
or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits,
indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or
indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or
owing by the Administrative Agent or such Lender to or for the credit or the
account of such Grantor, or any part thereof in such amounts as the
Administrative Agent or such Lender may elect, against and on account of the
obligations and liabilities of such Grantor to the Administrative Agent or such
Lender hereunder and claims of every nature and description of the
Administrative Agent or such Lender against such Grantor, in any currency,
whether arising hereunder, under the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document
or otherwise, as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may elect, whether or
not the Administrative Agent or any Lender has made any demand for payment and
although
33
such obligations, liabilities and claims may be contingent or unmatured. The
Administrative Agent and each Lender shall notify such Grantor promptly of any
such set-off and the application made by the Administrative Agent or such Lender
of the proceeds thereof, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not
affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of the
Administrative Agent and each Lender under this Section are in addition to other
rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off)
which the Administrative Agent or such Lender may have.
8.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the
parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by
telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to
constitute one and the same instrument.
8.8 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited
or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
8.9 Section Headings. The Section headings used in this Agreement are
for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof
or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.
8.10 Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents
represent the agreement of the Grantors, the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and there are no
promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender relative to subject matter hereof and thereof not expressly
set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.
8.11 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
8.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each Grantor hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally:
(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or
proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which
it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in
respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the Courts of
the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the
Southern District of New York, and appellate courts from any thereof;
(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such
courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the
venue of any such
34
action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding
was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the
same;
(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding
may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail
(or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such
Grantor at its address referred to in Section 8.2 or at such other address
of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant
thereto;
(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect
service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the
right to ▇▇▇ in any other jurisdiction; and
(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right
it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred
to in this Section any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential
damages.
8.13 Acknowledgements. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that:
(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a
party;
(b) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any
fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Grantor arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the
relationship between the Grantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative
Agent and Lenders, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith
is solely that of debtor and creditor; and
(c) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan
Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated
hereby among the Lenders or among the Grantors and the Lenders.
8.14 Additional Grantors. Each Subsidiary of each Borrower that is
required to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.10(c) of the
Credit Agreement 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 1 hereto.
8.15 Releases. (a) At such time as the Loans, the Reimbursement
Obligations and the other Obligations other than standard contractual
indemnities entered into in the ordinary course of business shall have been paid
in full, the Commitments have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be
outstanding, the Collateral shall be released from the Liens created hereby, and
this Agreement and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive
such termination) of the Administrative Agent and each Grantor hereunder shall
terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by
any party, and all rights to the Collateral
35
shall revert to the Grantors. At the request and sole expense of any Grantor
following any such termination, the Administrative Agent shall deliver to such
Grantor any Collateral held by the Administrative Agent hereunder, and execute
and deliver to such Grantor such documents as such Grantor shall reasonably
request to evidence such termination.
(b) If any of the Collateral shall be sold, transferred or otherwise
disposed of by any Grantor in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement,
then the Administrative Agent, at the request and sole expense of such Grantor,
shall execute and deliver to such Grantor all releases or other documents
reasonably necessary or desirable for the release of the Liens created hereby on
such Collateral. At the request and sole expense of the Borrowers, a Subsidiary
Guarantor shall be released from its obligations hereunder in the event that all
the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sold, transferred or
otherwise disposed of in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement;
provided that the Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at
least ten Business Days prior to the date of the proposed release, a written
request for release identifying the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor and the terms
of the sale or other disposition in reasonable detail, including the price
thereof and any expenses in connection therewith, together with a certification
by the Borrowers stating that such transaction is in compliance with the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
8.16 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING
TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
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.
[NAME OF GRANTOR]
By:________________________________
Title:
Annex 1 to
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
----------------------------------
ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of ________________, 199_, made by
______________________________, a ______________ corporation (the "Additional
Grantor"), in favor of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., 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, AVALON CABLE OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (the "New England Borrower"), AVALON CABLE OF MICHIGAN, INC., a
Pennsylvania corporation (the "Michigan Borrower") and AVALON CABLE FINANCE,
INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Finance Borrower" and together with the New
England Borrower and the Michigan Borrower, the "Borrowers"), as joint and
several borrowers hereunder, AVALON CABLE HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company ("Avalon Cable"), AVALON CABLE OF NEW ENGLAND HOLDINGS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation ("Avalon New England"), AVALON CABLE LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("Avalon Cable LLC"), AVALON CABLE HOLDINGS FINANCE,
INC., a Delaware corporation ("Avalon Finance Holdings") and AVALON CABLE OF
MICHIGAN HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Avalon Michigan" and together
with Avalon Cable, Avalon New England, Avalon Cable LLC and Avalon Finance
Holdings, the "Holding Companies"), the Lenders and the Administrative Agent
have entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of October__, 1998 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement");
WHEREAS, in connection with the Credit Agreement, the Borrowers and certain
of their Affiliates (other than the Additional Grantor) have entered into the
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of October__, 1998 (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;
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;
2
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
1. Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. By executing and delivering this
Assumption Agreement, the Additional Grantor, as provided in Section 8.15 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. The information set forth in Annex 1-A hereto is hereby
added to the information set forth in Schedules ____________/4/ to the Guarantee
and Collateral Agreement. The Additional Grantor hereby represents and warrants
that each of the representations and warranties contained in Section 4 of the
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is 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, AND
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.
[ADDITIONAL GRANTOR]
By: Name:
-------------------------------
Title:
--------------------
/4/ Refer to each Schedule which needs to be supplemented.