$10,000,000 Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note, dated March 12, 2007 issued by Bell Industries, Inc. to Newcastle Partners, L.P
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EX-10.1 3 a28386exv10w1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 exv10w1
Exhibit 10.1
ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY NOTWITHSTANDING, THE REPAYMENT OF THE OBLIGATIONS EVIDENCED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE LIENS AND SECURITY INTERESTS SECURING THE OBLIGATIONS EVIDENCED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHT OR REMEDY WITH RESPECT THERETO, AND CERTAIN OF THE RIGHTS OF THE HOLDER HEREOF ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AND SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MARCH 12, 2007 (AS AMENDED, RESTATED, SUPPLEMENTED, OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT), BY AND BETWEEN WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, INC., AS SENIOR AGENT, AND NEWCASTLE PARTNERS, L.P., AS SUBORDINATED CREDITOR. IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TERMS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND THIS AGREEMENT, THE TERMS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT SHALL GOVERN AND CONTROL.
This SECURITY AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of March 12, 2007, among Grantors listed on the signature pages hereof and those additional entities that hereafter become parties hereto by executing the form of Supplement attached hereto as Annex 1 (collectively, jointly and severally, the Grantors and each, individually, a Grantor), and NEWCASTLE PARTNERS, L.P., (together with its successors or assigns, the Secured Party).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Grantors and the Secured Party have entered into that certain Amended and Restated Convertible Promissory Note, dated March 12, 2007 (the Note) wherein Secured Party has agreed to advance $10,000,000 to Borrower and make certain financial accommodations pursuant to the terms thereof, and
WHEREAS, in order to induce the Secured Party to enter into the Note and other agreements between the parties, and to induce the Secured Creditor to make financial accommodations to Borrowers, Grantors have agreed to grant a continuing security interest in and to the Collateral in order to secure the prompt and complete payment, observance and performance of, among other things, the Secured Obligations owing to the Secured Creditor,
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement dated January 31 2007 (the Credit Agreement) among the Borrowers and Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc., in its capacity as administrative agent for a certain Lender Group and Bank Product Provider (together with its successors, the Agent), the Agent and Lender Group has made certain financial accommodations available to Borrowers from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof, and
WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement entered into by and between Secured Party and Agent, dated as of March 12, 2007 (the Intercreditor Agreement)
Schedule 1-1
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the recitals made above and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Defined Terms. All capitalized terms used herein (including in the preamble and recitals hereof) without definition shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Note. Any terms used in this Agreement that are defined in the Code shall be construed and defined as set forth in the Code unless otherwise defined herein or in the Note; provided, however, that if the Code is used to define any term used herein and if such term is defined differently in different Articles of the Code, the definition of such term contained in Article 9 of the Code shall govern. In addition to those terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, as used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Account means an account (as that term is defined in the Code).
(b) Account Debtor means an account debtor (as that term is defined in the Code).
(c) Agent had the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
(d) Agents Lien has the meaning specified therefor in the Agents Credit Agreement.
(e) Books means books and records (including each Grantors Records indicating, summarizing, or evidencing such Grantors assets (including the Collateral) or liabilities, each Grantors Records relating to such Grantors business operations or financial condition, and each Grantors goods or General Intangibles related to such information).
(f) Borrower or Borrowers has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals to this Agreement.
(g) Cash Equivalents means (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within 1 year from the date of acquisition thereof, (b) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within 1 year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either Standard & Poors Rating Group (S&P) or Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys), (c) commercial paper maturing no more than 270 days from the date of creation thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Moodys, (d) certificates of deposit or bankers acceptances maturing within 1 year from the date of acquisition thereof issued by any bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having at the date of acquisition thereof combined capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000, (e) Deposit Accounts maintained with (i) any bank that satisfies the criteria described in clause (d) above, or (ii) any other bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof so long as the amount maintained with any such other bank is less than or equal to $100,000 and is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and (f) Investments in money market funds substantially all of whose assets are invested in the types of assets described in clauses (a) through (e) above.
(h) Chattel Paper means chattel paper (as that term is defined in the Code) and includes tangible chattel paper and electronic chattel paper.
(i) Code means the California Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection, priority, or remedies with respect to Secured Partys Lien on any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of California, the term Code shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions thereof relating to such attachment, perfection, priority, or remedies.
(j) Collateral has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.
(k) Commercial Tort Claims means commercial tort claims (as that term is defined in the Code), and includes those commercial tort claims listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto (Commercial Tort Claims).
(l) Copyrights means copyrights and copyright registrations, and also includes (i) the copyright registrations and recordings thereof and all applications in connection therewith listed on Schedule 2 attached hereto and made a part hereof, (ii) all reissues, continuations, extensions or renewals thereof, (iii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including payments under all licenses entered into in connection therewith and damages and payments for past or future infringements or dilutions thereof, (iv) the right to sue for past, present and future infringements and dilutions thereof, (v) the goodwill of each Grantors business symbolized by the foregoing or connected therewith, and (vi) all of each Grantors rights corresponding thereto throughout the world.
(m) Copyright Security Agreement means each Copyright Security Agreement among Grantors, or any of them, and Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Party, in substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, pursuant to which Grantors have granted to Secured Party, a security interest in all their respective Copyrights.
(n) Deposit Account means any deposit account (as that term is defined in the Code).
(o) Equipment means equipment (as that term is defined in the Code).
(p) Event of Default has the meaning specified therefor in the Note or any breach of the terms and conditions of this Agreement or the failure to perform or observe any covenant hereof.
(q) General Intangibles means general intangibles (as that term is defined in the Code) and, in any event, includes payment intangibles, contract rights, rights to payment, rights arising under common law, statutes, or regulations, choses or things in action, goodwill
(including the goodwill associated with any Trademark, Patent, or Copyright), Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, URLs and domain names, industrial designs, other industrial or Intellectual Property or rights therein or applications therefor, whether under license or otherwise, programs, programming materials, blueprints, drawings, purchase orders, customer lists, monies due or recoverable from pension funds, route lists, rights to payment and other rights under any royalty or licensing agreements, including Intellectual Property Licenses, infringement claims, computer programs, information contained on computer disks or tapes, software, literature, reports, catalogs, pension plan refunds, pension plan refund claims, insurance premium rebates, tax refunds, and tax refund claims, interests in a partnership or limited liability company which do not constitute a security under Article 8 of the Code, and any other personal property other than Commercial Tort Claims, money, Accounts, Chattel Paper, Deposit Accounts, goods, Investment Related Property, Negotiable Collateral, and oil, gas, or other minerals before extraction.
(r) Grantor and Grantors have the meanings specified therefor in the recitals to this Agreement.
(s) Guaranty has the meaning specified therefor in the Agents Credit Agreement.
(t) Indebtedness means (a) all obligations for borrowed money, (b) all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other similar instruments and all reimbursement or other obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers acceptances, interest rate swaps, or other financial products, (c) all obligations as a lessee under capital leases, (d) all obligations or liabilities of others secured by a Lien on any asset of a Person or its Subsidiaries, irrespective of whether such obligation or liability is assumed, (e) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of assets (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business and repayable in accordance with customary trade practices), (f) all obligations owing under hedge agreements, and (g) any obligation guaranteeing or intended to guarantee (whether directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed, co-made, discounted, or sold with recourse) any obligation of any other Person that constitutes Indebtedness under any of clauses (a) through (f) above.
(u) Insolvency Proceeding means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under any provision of the Bankruptcy Code or under any other state or federal bankruptcy or insolvency law, assignments for the benefit of creditors, formal or informal moratoria, compositions, extensions generally with creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other similar relief.
(v) Intellectual Property means Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, the goodwill associated with such Trademarks, trade secrets and customer lists, and Intellectual Property Licenses.
(w) Intellectual Property Licenses means rights under or interests in any patent, trademark, copyright or other intellectual property, including software license agreements with any other party, whether the applicable Grantor is a licensee or licensor under any such license agreement, including the license agreements listed on Schedule 3 attached hereto and made a part hereof.
(x) Inventory means inventory (as that term is defined in the Code).
(y) Investment Related Property means (i) investment property (as that term is defined in the Code), and (ii) all of the following (regardless of whether classified as investment property under the Code): all Pledged Interests, Pledged Operating Agreements, and Pledged Partnership Agreements.
(z) Negotiable Collateral means letters of credit, letter-of-credit rights, instruments, promissory notes, drafts, and documents.
(aa) Note has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
(bb) Obligations means all loans, advances, debts, principal, interest (including any interest that accrues after the commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in whole or in part as a claim in any such Insolvency Proceeding), contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to outstanding Letters of Credit, premiums, liabilities, obligations (including indemnification obligations), fees, charges, costs, (including any fees or expenses that accrue after the commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in whole or in part as a claim in any such Insolvency Proceeding), lease payments, guaranties, covenants, and duties of any kind and description owing by Borrowers to the Secured Party pursuant to or evidenced by the Note and irrespective of whether for the payment of money, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, and including all interest not paid when due and all other expenses or other amounts that Borrowers are required to pay or reimburse. Any reference in the Agreement or in the Note to the Obligations shall include all or any portion thereof and any extensions, modifications, renewals, or alterations thereof, both prior and subsequent to any Insolvency Proceeding.
(cc) Patents means patents and patent applications, and also includes (i) the patents and patent applications listed on Schedule 4 attached hereto and made a part hereof, (ii) all renewals thereof, (iii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including payments under all licenses entered into in connection therewith and damages and payments for past or future infringements or dilutions thereof, (iv) the right to sue for past, present and future infringements and dilutions thereof, and (v) all of each Grantors rights corresponding thereto throughout the world.
(dd) Patent Security Agreement means each Patent Security Agreement among Grantors, or any of them, and Secured Party, in substantially the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, pursuant to which Grantors have granted to Secured Party, a security interest in all their respective Patents.
(ee) Permitted Liens means (a) Liens held by the Agent under the Agents Credit Agreement, (b) Liens for unpaid taxes, assessments, or other governmental charges or levies that either (i) are not yet delinquent, or (ii) do not have priority over the Secured Partys Liens and the underlying taxes, assessments, or charges or levies are the subject of Permitted
Protests, (c) judgment Liens that do not constitute an Event of Default under the Note, (d) Liens set forth on Schedule P-2, provided that any such Lien only secures the Indebtedness that it secures on the Closing Date and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, (e) the interests of lessors under operating leases, (f) purchase money Liens or the interests of lessors under Capital Leases to the extent that such Liens or interests secure Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness and so long as (i) such Lien attaches only to the asset purchased or acquired and the proceeds thereof, and (ii) such Lien only secures the Indebtedness that was incurred to acquire the asset purchased or acquired or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, (g) Liens arising by operation of law in favor of warehousemen, landlords, carriers, mechanics, material men, laborers, or suppliers, incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money, and which Liens either (i) are for sums not yet delinquent, or (ii) are the subject of Permitted Protests, (h) Liens on amounts deposited in connection with obtaining workers compensation or other unemployment insurance, (i) Liens on amounts deposited in connection with the making or entering into of bids, tenders, or leases in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money, (j) Liens on amounts deposited as security for surety or appeal bonds in connection with obtaining such bonds in the ordinary course of business, (k) with respect to any Real Property, easements, rights of way, and zoning restrictions that do not materially interfere with or impair the use or operation thereof; (l) Liens held by Ingram Micro solely to secure any Ingram Micro Debt that is permitted by Section 6.1 of the Agents Agreement; provided, however, that from and after the date that is 5 Business Days after the closing date of the Agents Credit Agreement, such Liens shall only be permitted so long as (i) the Ingram Micro Subordination Agreement is in full force and effect; and (ii) the Ingram Micro Debt is permitted by Section 6.1 of the Agents Credit Agreement.
(ff) Person has the means natural persons, corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability partnerships, joint ventures, trusts, land trusts, business trusts, or other organizations, irrespective of whether they are legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
(gg) Pledged Companies means, each Person listed on Schedule 5 hereto as a Pledged Company, together with each other Person, all or a portion of whose Stock, is acquired or otherwise owned by a Grantor after the Closing Date.
(hh) Pledged Interests means all of each Grantors right, title and interest in and to all of the Stock now or hereafter owned by such Grantor, regardless of class or designation, including all substitutions therefor and replacements thereof, all proceeds thereof and all rights relating thereto, also including any certificates representing the Stock, the right to receive any certificates representing any of the Stock, all warrants, options, share appreciation rights and other rights, contractual or otherwise, in respect thereof, and the right to receive dividends, distributions of income, profits, surplus, or other compensation by way of income or liquidating distributions, in cash or in kind, and cash, instruments, and other property from time to time received, receivable, or otherwise distributed in respect of or in addition to, in substitution of, on account of, or in exchange for any or all of the foregoing.
(ii) Pledged Interests Addendum means a Pledged Interests Addendum substantially in the form of Exhibit C to this Agreement.
(jj) Pledged Operating Agreements means all of each Grantors rights, powers, and remedies under the limited liability company operating agreements of each of the Pledged Companies that are limited liability companies.
(kk) Pledged Partnership Agreements means all of each Grantors rights, powers, and remedies under the partnership agreements of each of the Pledged Companies that are partnerships.
(ll) Proceeds has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.
(mm) Real Property means any estates or interests in real property now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor and the improvements thereto.
(nn) Refinancing Indebtedness means refinancings, renewals, or extensions of Indebtedness so long as: (a) the terms and conditions of such refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not, in Secured Partys reasonable judgment, materially impair the prospects of repayment of the Obligations by Borrowers or materially impair Borrowers creditworthiness, (b) such refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not result in an increase in the principal amount of the Indebtedness so refinanced, renewed, or extended, (c) such refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not result in an increase in the interest rate with respect to the Indebtedness so refinanced, renewed, or extended, (d) such refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not result in a shortening of the average weighted maturity of the Indebtedness so refinanced, renewed, or extended, nor are they on terms or conditions that, taken as a whole, are materially more burdensome or restrictive to Borrowers, (e) if the Indebtedness that is refinanced, renewed, or extended was subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, then the terms and conditions of the refinancing, renewal, or extension must include subordination terms and conditions that are at least as favorable to the Secured Party as those that were applicable to the refinanced, renewed, or extended Indebtedness, and (f) the Indebtedness that is refinanced, renewed, or extended is not recourse to any Person that is liable on account of the Obligations other than those Persons which were obligated with respect to the Indebtedness that was refinanced, renewed, or extended.
(oo) Records means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or which is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
(pp) Security Interest has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.
(qq) Secured Obligations means each and all of the following: (a) all of the present and future obligations of Grantors arising from this Agreement or the Note, (b) all Obligations of Borrowers, including, in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), reasonable attorneys fees and expenses and any interest, fees, or expenses that accrue after the filing of an Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in whole or in part as a claim in any Insolvency Proceeding.
(rr) Securities Account means a securities account (as that term is defined in the Code).
(ss) Stock means all shares, options, warrants, interests, participations, or other equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a Person, whether voting or nonvoting, including common stock, preferred stock, or any other equity security (as such term is defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act).
(tt) Supporting Obligations means supporting obligations (as such term is defined in the Code).
(uu) Trademarks means trademarks, trade names, trademark applications, service marks, service mark applications, and also includes (i) the trade names, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, and service mark applications listed on Schedule 6 attached hereto and made a part hereof, and (ii) all renewals thereof, (iii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including payments under all licenses entered into in connection therewith and damages and payments for past or future infringements or dilutions thereof, (iv) the right to sue for past, present and future infringements and dilutions thereof, (v) the goodwill of each Grantors business symbolized by the foregoing or connected therewith, and (v) all of each Grantors rights corresponding thereto throughout the world.
(vv) Trademark Security Agreement means each Trademark Security Agreement among Grantors, or any of them, and Secured Party, in substantially the form of Exhibit D attached hereto, pursuant to which Grantors have granted to Secured Party a security interest in all their respective Trademarks.
(ww) URL means uniform resource locator, an internet web address.
2. Grant of Security. Each Grantor hereby unconditionally grants, assigns, and pledges to Secured Party, a continuing security interest (herein referred to as the Security Interest) in all personal property of such Grantor whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising and wherever located, including such Grantors right, title, and interest in and to the following, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising and wherever located (the Collateral):
(a) all of such Grantors Accounts;
(b) all of such Grantors Books;
(c) all of such Grantors Chattel Paper;
(d) all of such Grantors Deposit Accounts;
(e) all of such Grantors Equipment and fixtures;
(f) all of such Grantors General Intangibles;
(g) all of such Grantors Inventory;
(h) all of such Grantors Investment Related Property;
(i) all of such Grantors Negotiable Collateral;
(j) all of such Grantors rights in respect of Supporting Obligations;
(k) all of such Grantors Commercial Tort Claims;
(l) all of such Grantors money, Cash Equivalents, or other assets of each such Grantor that now or hereafter come into the possession, custody, or control of the Secured Party;
(m) all of the proceeds and products, whether tangible or intangible, of any of the foregoing, including proceeds of insurance or Commercial Tort Claims covering or relating to any or all of the foregoing, and any and all Accounts, Books, Chattel Paper, Deposit Accounts, Equipment, General Intangibles, Inventory, Investment Related Property, Negotiable Collateral, Supporting Obligations, money, or other tangible or intangible property resulting from the sale, lease, license, exchange, collection, or other disposition of any of the foregoing, the proceeds of any award in condemnation with respect to any of the foregoing, any rebates or refunds, whether for taxes or otherwise, and all proceeds of any such proceeds, or any portion thereof or interest therein, and the proceeds thereof, and all proceeds of any loss of, damage to, or destruction of the above, whether insured or not insured, and, to the extent not otherwise included, any indemnity, warranty, or guaranty payable by reason of loss or damage to, or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing (the Proceeds). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term Proceeds includes whatever is receivable or received when Investment Related Property or proceeds are sold, exchanged, collected, or otherwise disposed of, whether such disposition is voluntary or involuntary, and includes proceeds of any indemnity or guaranty payable to any Grantor or Secured Party from time to time with respect to any of the Investment Related Property.
3. Security for Obligations. Subject only to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, this Agreement and the Security Interest created hereby secures the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, whether now existing or arising hereafter. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement secures the payment of all amounts which constitute part of the Secured Obligations and would be owed by Grantors, or any of them, to Secured Party, but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of an Insolvency Proceeding involving any Grantor.
4. Grantors Remain Liable. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) each of the Grantors shall remain liable under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral, including the Pledged Operating Agreements and the Pledged Partnership Agreements, to perform all of the duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed, (b) the exercise by Secured Party of any of the rights hereunder shall not release any Grantor from any of its duties or obligations under such contracts and agreements included in the Collateral, and (c) Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under such contracts and agreements included in the Collateral by reason of this Agreement, nor shall Secured Party be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of
any Grantors thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned hereunder. Until an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Grantors shall have the right to possession and enjoyment of the Collateral for the purpose of conducting the ordinary course of their respective businesses. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is the intention of the parties hereto that record and beneficial ownership of the Pledged Interests, including all voting, consensual, and dividend rights, shall remain in the applicable Grantor until the occurrence of an Event of Default and until Secured Party shall notify the applicable Grantor of Secured Partys exercise of voting, consensual, or dividend rights with respect to the Pledged Interests pursuant to Section 15 hereof.
5. Representations and Warranties. Each Grantor hereby represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The exact legal name of each of the Grantors is set forth on the signature pages of this Agreement.
(b) Schedule 7 attached hereto sets forth all Real Property owned by Grantors as of the Closing Date.
(c) As of the Closing Date, no Grantor has any interest in, or title to, any Copyrights, Intellectual Property Licenses, Patents, or Trademarks except as set forth on Schedules 2, 3, 4, and 6, respectively, attached hereto. This Agreement is effective to create a valid and continuing Lien on such Copyrights, Intellectual Property Licenses, Patents and Trademarks and, upon filing of the Copyright Security Agreement with the United States Copyright Office and filing of the Patent Security Agreement and the Trademark Security Agreement with the United State Patent and Trademark Office, and the filing of appropriate financing statements in the jurisdictions listed on Schedule 8 hereto, all action necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the Security Interest in and to on each Grantors Patents, Trademarks, or Copyrights has been taken and such perfected Security Interest is enforceable as such as against any and all creditors of and purchasers from any Grantor. No Grantor has any interest in any Copyright that is necessary in connection with the operation of such Grantors business, except for those Copyrights identified on Schedule 2 attached hereto which have been registered with the United States Copyright Office.
(d) This Agreement creates a valid security interest in the Collateral of each of Grantors, to the extent a security interest therein can be created under the Code, securing the payment of the Secured Obligations. Except to the extent a security interest in the Collateral cannot be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Code, all filings and other actions necessary or desirable to perfect and protect such security interest have been duly taken or will have been taken upon the filing of financing statements listing each applicable Grantor, as a debtor, and Secured Party, as secured party, in the jurisdictions listed next to such Grantors name on Schedule 8 attached hereto. Upon the making of such filings, Secured Party shall have a secured priority perfected security interest in the Collateral of each Grantor to the extent such security interest can be perfected by the filing of a financing statement. All action by any Grantor necessary to protect and perfect such security interest on each item of Collateral has been duly taken.
(e) Except for the Security Interest created for the benefit of the Agent, and hereby for Secured Party, each Grantor is and will at all times be the sole holder of record and the legal and beneficial owner, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, of the Pledged Interests indicated on Schedule 5 as being owned by such Grantor and, when acquired by such Grantor, any Pledged Interests acquired after the Closing Date; (ii) all of the Pledged Interests are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and the Pledged Interests constitute or will constitute the percentage of the issued and outstanding Stock of the Pledged Companies of such Grantor identified on Schedule 5 hereto as supplemented or modified by any Pledged Interests Addendum or any Supplement to this Agreement; (ii) such Grantor has the right and requisite authority to pledge, the Investment Related Property pledged by such Grantor to Secured Party as provided herein; (iii) all actions necessary or desirable to perfect, establish the priority of, or otherwise protect, Secured Partys Liens in the Investment Related Collateral, and the proceeds thereof, have been duly taken, (A) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement; (B) upon the taking of possession by Secured Party of any certificates constituting the Pledged Interests, to the extent such Pledged Interests are represented by certificates, together with undated powers endorsed in blank by the applicable Grantor; (C) upon the filing of financing statements in the applicable jurisdiction set forth on Schedule 8 attached hereto for such Grantor with respect to the Pledged Interests of such Grantor that are not represented by certificates, and (D) with respect to any Securities Accounts, upon the delivery of Control Agreements with respect thereto; and (iv) each Grantor has delivered to and deposited with Secured Party (or, with respect to any Pledged Interests created or obtained after the Closing Date, will deliver and deposit in accordance with Sections 6(a) and 8 hereof) all certificates representing the Pledged Interests owned by such Grantor to the extent such Pledged Interests are represented by certificates, and undated powers endorsed in blank with respect to such certificates. None of the Pledged Interests owned or held by such Grantor has been issued or transferred in violation of any securities registration, securities disclosure, or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject. Upon satisfaction in full of the Agents liens, the Grantors shall take such actions as the Secured Party reasonably requests to effectuate the delivery of any certificate, document of title, or other document constituting or relating to the Pledged Interests, Investment Related Collateral or any other form of Collateral to the Secured Party.
(f) No consent, approval, authorization, or other order or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required (i) for the grant of a Security Interest by such Grantor in and to the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement or for the execution, delivery, or performance of this Agreement by such Grantor, or (ii) for the exercise by Secured Party of the voting or other rights provided for in this Agreement with respect to the Investment Related Property or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement, except as may be required in connection with such disposition of Investment Related Property by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally.
(g) Schedule 9 attached hereto sets forth all motor vehicles owned by Grantors as of the Closing Date, by model, model year and vehicle identification number (VIN).
6. Covenants. Each Grantor, jointly and severally, covenants and agrees with Secured Party that from and after the date of this Agreement and until the date of termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 22 hereof:
(a) Possession of Collateral. Subject only to the Agents senior interests, in the event that any Collateral, including proceeds, is evidenced by or consists of Negotiable Collateral, Investment Related Property, or Chattel Paper, and if and to the extent that perfection or priority of Secured Partys Security Interest is dependent on or enhanced by possession, the applicable Grantor, immediately upon the request of Secured Party, shall execute such other documents and instruments as shall be requested by Secured Party or, if applicable, endorse and deliver physical possession of such Negotiable Collateral, Investment Related Property, or Chattel Paper to Secured Party, together with such undated powers endorsed in blank as shall be requested by Secured Party;
(b) Chattel Paper.
(i) Each Grantor shall take all steps reasonably necessary to grant Secured Party control of all electronic Chattel Paper in accordance with the Code and all transferable records as that term is defined in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act and Section 201 of the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction;
(ii) If any Grantor retains possession of any Chattel Paper or instruments (which retention of possession shall be subject to the extent permitted hereby and by the Note), promptly upon the request of Secured Party, such Chattel Paper and instruments shall be marked with the following legend: This writing and the obligations evidenced or secured hereby are subject to the Security Interest of Newcastle Partners, L.P.;
(c) Control Agreements.
(i) Upon satisfaction in full of the Agents senior liens, each Grantor for the benefit of Secured Party shall obtain an authenticated Control Agreement, from each bank maintaining a Deposit Account for such Grantor;
(ii) Upon satisfaction in full of the Agents senior liens, each Grantor for the benefit of Secured Party shall obtain authenticated Control Agreements, from each issuer of uncertificated securities, securities intermediary, or commodities intermediary issuing or holding any financial assets or commodities to or for any Grantor;
(d) Letter-of-Credit Rights. Each Grantor that is or becomes the beneficiary of a letter of credit shall promptly (and in any event within 2 Business Days after becoming a beneficiary), notify Secured Party thereof and, upon the request by Secured Party, enter into a tri-party agreement with Secured Party and the issuer or confirmation bank with respect to letter-of-credit rights assigning such letter-of-credit rights to Secured Party and directing all payments thereunder to Secured Partys Account, all in form and substance satisfactory to Secured Party;
(e) Commercial Tort Claims. Each Grantor shall promptly (and in any event within 2 Business Days of receipt thereof), notify Secured Party in writing upon incurring or otherwise obtaining a Commercial Tort Claim after the date hereof and, upon request of Agent, promptly amend Schedule 1 to this Agreement to describe such after-acquired Commercial Tort Claim in a manner that reasonably identifies such Commercial Tort Claim, and hereby authorizes the filing of additional financing statements or amendments to existing financing statements describing such Commercial Tort Claims, and agrees to do such other acts or things deemed necessary or desirable by Secured Party to give Secured Party a perfected security interest in any such Commercial Tort Claim;
(f) Government Contracts. If any Account or Chattel Paper arises out of a contract or contracts with the United States of America or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, Grantors shall promptly (and in any event within 2 Business Days of the creation thereof) notify Secured Party thereof in writing and execute any instruments or take any steps reasonably required by Secured Party in order that all moneys due or to become due under such contract or contracts shall be assigned to Secured Party, and shall provide written notice thereof under the Assignment of Claims Act or other applicable law;
(g) Intellectual Property.
(i) Upon request of Secured Party, in order to facilitate filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, each Grantor shall execute and deliver to Secured Party one or more Copyright Security Agreements, Trademark Security Agreements, or Patent Security Agreements to further evidence Secured Partys Lien on such Grantors Patents, Trademarks, or Copyrights, and the General Intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby;
(ii) Each Grantor shall have the duty, to the extent necessary or economically desirable in the operation of such Grantors business, (A) to promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation, or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation, or dilution, (B) to prosecute diligently any trademark application or service mark application that is part of the Trademarks pending as of the date hereof or hereafter until the termination of this Agreement, (C) to prosecute diligently any patent application that is part of the Patents pending as of the date hereof or hereafter until the termination of this Agreement, and (D) to take all reasonable and necessary action to preserve and maintain all of such Grantors Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, Intellectual Property Licenses, and its rights therein, including the filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of noncontestability and opposition and interference and cancellation proceedings. Each Grantor shall promptly file an application with the United States Copyright Office for any Copyright that has not been registered with the United States Copyright Office if such Copyright is necessary in connection with the operation of such Grantors business. Any expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing shall be borne by the appropriate Grantor. Each Grantor further agrees not to abandon any Trademark, Patent, Copyright, or Intellectual Property License that is necessary or economically desirable in the operation of such Grantors business;
(iii) Grantors acknowledge and agree that the Secured Party shall have no duties with respect to the Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, or Intellectual Property Licenses. Without limiting the generality of this Section 6(g), Grantors acknowledge and agree that Secured Party shall not be under any obligation to take any steps necessary to preserve rights in
the Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, or Intellectual Property Licenses against any other Person, but Secured Party may do so at its option from and after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and all expenses incurred in connection therewith (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and other professionals) shall be for the sole account of Borrowers ;
(iv) In no event shall any Grantor, either itself or through any agent, employee, licensee, or designee, file an application for the registration of any Patent, Trademark, or Copyright with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency without giving Secured Party prior written notice thereof. Promptly upon any such filing, each Grantor shall comply with Section 6(g)(i) hereof;
(h) Investment Related Property.
(i) If any Grantor shall receive or become entitled to receive any Pledged Interests after the Closing Date, it shall promptly (and in any event within 2 Business Days of receipt thereof) deliver to Secured Party a duly executed Pledged Interests Addendum identifying such Pledged Interests;
(ii) All sums of money and property paid or distributed in respect of the Investment Related Property which are received by any Grantor shall be held by the Grantors in trust for the benefit of Secured Party segregated from such Grantors other property, and such Grantor shall deliver it forthwith to Secured Partys in the exact form received;
(iii) Each Grantor shall promptly deliver to Secured Party a copy of each notice or other communication received by it in respect of any Pledged Interests;
(iv) No Grantor shall make or consent to any amendment or other modification or waiver with respect to any Pledged Interests, Pledged Operating Agreement, or Pledged Partnership Agreement, or enter into any agreement or permit to exist any restriction with respect to any Pledged Interests;
(v) Each Grantor agrees that it will cooperate with Secured Party in obtaining all necessary approvals and making all necessary filings under federal, state, local, or foreign law in connection with the Security Interest on the Investment Related Property or any sale or transfer thereof;
(vi) As to all limited liability company or partnership interests, issued under any Pledged Operating Agreement or Pledged Partnership Agreement, each Grantor hereby represents, warrants and covenants that the Pledged Interests issued pursuant to such agreement (A) are not and shall not be dealt in or traded on securities exchanges or in securities markets, (B) do not and will not constitute investment company securities, and (C) are not and will not be held by such Grantor in a securities account. In addition, none of the Pledged Operating Agreements, the Pledged Partnership Agreements, or any other agreements governing any of the Pledged Interests issued under any Pledged Operating Agreement or Pledged Partnership Agreement, provide or shall provide that such Pledged Interests are securities governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction;
(i) Real Property; Fixtures. Each Grantor covenants and agrees that upon the acquisition of any fee interest in Real Property it will promptly (and in any event within 2 Business Days of acquisition) notify Secured Party of the acquisition of such Real Property and will grant to Secured Party, a Mortgage on each fee interest in Real Property now or hereafter owned by such Grantor and shall deliver such other documentation and opinions, in form and substance satisfactory to Secured Party, in connection with the grant of such Mortgage as Secured Party shall request in its Permitted Discretion, including title insurance policies, financing statements, fixture filings and environmental audits and such Grantor shall pay all recording costs, intangible taxes and other fees and costs (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses) incurred in connection therewith. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all of the Collateral shall remain personal property regardless of the manner of its attachment or affixation to real property.
(j) Transfers and Other Liens. Grantors shall not (i) sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any of the Collateral, except expressly permitted by the Note, or (ii) create or permit to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of the Collateral of any of Grantors, except for Permitted Liens. The inclusion of Proceeds in the Collateral shall not be deemed to constitute Secured Partys consent to any sale or other disposition of any of the Collateral except as expressly permitted in this Agreement; and
(k) Other Actions as to Any and All Collateral. Each Grantor shall promptly (and in any event within 2 Business Days of acquiring or obtaining such Collateral) notify Secured Party in writing upon (i) acquiring or otherwise obtaining any Collateral after the date hereof consisting of Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, Intellectual Property Licenses, Investment Related Property, Chattel Paper (electronic, tangible or otherwise), documents (as defined in Article 9 of the Code), promissory notes (as defined in the Code, or instruments (as defined in the Code) or (ii) any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral being or becoming evidenced after the date hereof by any Chattel Paper, documents, promissory notes, or instruments and, in each such case upon the request of Secured Party, promptly execute such other documents, or if applicable, deliver such Chattel Paper, other documents or certificates evidencing any Investment Related Property and do such other acts or things deemed necessary or desirable by Secured Party to protect Secured Partys Security Interest therein; and
(l) Motor Vehicles. Upon request of Secured Party, with respect to all motor vehicles owned by any Grantor, Grantor shall deliver to Secured Party, a certificate of title for all such motor vehicles and shall cause those title certificates to be filed (with the Secured Partys Lien noted thereon) in the appropriate state motor vehicle filing office.
7. Relation to Other Security Documents. The provisions of this Agreement shall be read and construed with the other documents referred to below in the manner so indicated.
(a) Note. In the event of any conflict between any provision in this Agreement and a provision in the Note, such provision of the Note shall control.
(b) Patent, Trademark, Copyright Security Agreements. The provisions of the Copyright Security Agreements, Trademark Security Agreements, and Patent Security Agreements are supplemental to the provisions of this Agreement, and nothing contained in the Copyright Security Agreements, Trademark Security Agreements, or the Patent Security Agreements shall limit any of the rights or remedies of Secured Party hereunder.
8. Further Assurances.
(a) Each Grantor agrees that from time to time, at its own expense, such Grantor will promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary or that Secured Party may reasonably request, in order to perfect and protect the Security Interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable Secured Party to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any of the Collateral.
(b) Each Grantor authorizes the filing by Secured Party financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto, and such Grantor will execute and deliver to Secured Party such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or as Secured Party may reasonably request, in order to perfect and preserve the Security Interest granted or purported to be granted hereby.
(c) Each Grantor authorizes Secured Party at any time and from time to time to file, transmit, or communicate, as applicable, financing statements and amendments (i) describing the Collateral as all personal property of debtor or all assets of debtor or words of similar effect, (ii) describing the Collateral as being of equal or lesser scope or with greater detail, or (iii) that contain any information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the Code for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance. Each Grantor also hereby ratifies any and all financing statements or amendments previously filed by Secured Party in any jurisdiction.
(d) Each Grantor acknowledges that it is not authorized to file any financing statement or amendment or termination statement with respect to any financing statement filed in connection with this Agreement without the prior written consent of Secured Party, subject to such Grantors rights under Section 9-509(d)(2) of the Code.
9. Secured Partys Right to Perform Contracts, Exercise Rights, etc. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Secured Party (or its designee) (a) may proceed to perform any and all of the obligations of any Grantor contained in any contract, lease, or other agreement and exercise any and all rights of any Grantor therein contained as fully as such Grantor itself could, (b) shall have the right to use any Grantors rights under Intellectual Property Licenses in connection with the enforcement of the Secured Partys rights hereunder, including the right to prepare for sale and sell any and all Inventory and Equipment now or hereafter owned by any Grantor and now or hereafter covered by such licenses, and (c) shall have the right to request that any Stock that is pledged hereunder be registered in the name of Secured Party or any of its nominees.
10. Secured Party Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Each Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints Secured Party its attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or otherwise, at such time as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Note, to take any action and to execute any instrument which Secured Party may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including:
(a) to ask, demand, collect, sue for, recover, compromise, receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in connection with the Accounts or any other Collateral of such Grantor;
(b) to receive and open all mail addressed to such Grantor and to notify postal authorities to change the address for the delivery of mail to such Grantor to that of Secured Party;
(c) to receive, indorse, and collect any drafts or other instruments, documents, Negotiable Collateral or Chattel Paper;
(d) to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings which Secured Party may deem necessary or desirable for the collection of any of the Collateral of such Grantor or otherwise to enforce the rights of Secured Party with respect to any of the Collateral;
(e) to repair, alter, or supply goods, if any, necessary to fulfill in whole or in part the purchase order of any Person obligated to such Grantor in respect of any Account of such Grantor;
(f) to use any labels, Patents, Trademarks, trade names, URLs, domain names, industrial designs, Copyrights, advertising matter or other industrial or intellectual property rights, in advertising for sale and selling Inventory and other Collateral and to collect any amounts due under Accounts, contracts or Negotiable Collateral of such Grantor; and
(g) Secured Party shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to bring suit in its own name to enforce the Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights and Intellectual Property Licenses and, if Secured Party shall commence any such suit, the appropriate Grantor shall, at the request of Secured Party, do any and all lawful acts and execute any and all proper documents reasonably required by Secured Party in aid of such enforcement.
To the extent permitted by law, each Grantor hereby ratifies all that such attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until this Agreement is terminated.
11. Secured Party May Perform. If any of Grantors fails to perform any agreement contained herein, Secured Party may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement, and the reasonable expenses of Secured Party incurred in connection therewith shall be payable, jointly and severally, by Grantors.
12. Secured Partys Duties. The powers conferred on Secured Party hereunder are solely to protect Secured Partys interest in the Collateral, and shall not impose any duty upon Secured Party to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its actual possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, Secured Party shall have no duty as to any Collateral or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral. Secured Party shall be
deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its actual possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which Secured Party accords its own property.
13. Collection of Accounts, General Intangibles and Negotiable Collateral. At any time upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, Secured Party or Secured Partys designee may (a) notify Account Debtors of any Grantor that the Accounts, General Intangibles, Chattel Paper or Negotiable Collateral have been assigned to Secured Party, or that Secured Party has a security interest therein, and (b) collect the Accounts, General Intangibles and Negotiable Collateral directly, and any collection costs and expenses shall constitute part of such Grantors Secured Obligations under the Note.
14. Disposition of Pledged Interests by Secured Party. None of the Pledged Interests existing as of the date of this Agreement are, and none of the Pledged Interests hereafter acquired on the date of acquisition thereof will be, registered or qualified under the various federal or state securities laws of the United States and disposition thereof after an Event of Default may be restricted to one or more private (instead of public) sales in view of the lack of such registration. Each Grantor understands that in connection with such disposition, Secured Party may approach only a restricted number of potential purchasers and further understands that a sale under such circumstances may yield a lower price for the Pledged Interests than if the Pledged Interests were registered and qualified pursuant to federal and state securities laws and sold on the open market. Each Grantor, therefore, agrees that: (a) if Secured Party shall, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, sell or cause the Pledged Interests or any portion thereof to be sold at a private sale, Secured Party shall have the right to rely upon the advice and opinion of any nationally recognized brokerage or investment firm (but shall not be obligated to seek such advice and the failure to do so shall not be considered in determining the commercial reasonableness of such action) as to the best manner in which to offer the Pledged Interest or any portion thereof for sale and as to the best price reasonably obtainable at the private sale thereof; and (b) such reliance shall be conclusive evidence that Secured Party has handled the disposition in a commercially reasonable manner.
15. Voting Rights.
(a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, (i) Secured Party may, at its option, and with 2 Business Days prior notice to any Grantor, and in addition to all rights and remedies available to Secured Party under any other agreement, at law, in equity, or otherwise, exercise all voting rights, and all other ownership or consensual rights in respect of the Pledged Interests owned by such Grantor, but under no circumstances is Secured Party obligated by the terms of this Agreement to exercise such rights, and (ii) if Secured Party duly exercises its right to vote any of such Pledged Interests, each Grantor hereby appoints Secured Party, such Grantors true and lawful attorney-in-fact and IRREVOCABLE PROXY to vote such Pledged Interests in any manner Secured Party deems advisable for or against all matters submitted or which may be submitted to a vote of shareholders, partners or members, as the case may be. The power-of-attorney granted hereby is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable.
(b) For so long as any Grantor shall have the right to vote the Pledged Interests owned by it, such Grantor covenants and agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Secured Party, vote or take any consensual action with respect to such Pledged Interests which would materially adversely affect the rights of Secured Party and the other members of the Lender Group or the value of the Pledged Interests.
16. Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(a) Secured Party may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein, in the Note, or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party on default under the Code or any other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor expressly agrees that, in any such event, without demand of performance or other demand, advertisement or notice of any kind (except a notice specified below of time and place of public or private sale) to or upon any of Grantors or any other Person (all and each of which demands, advertisements and notices are hereby expressly waived to the maximum extent permitted by the Code or any other applicable law), may take immediate possession of all or any portion of the Collateral and (i) require Grantors to, and each Grantor hereby agrees that it will at its own expense and upon request of Secured Party forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by Secured Party and make it available to Secured Party at one or more locations where such Grantor regularly maintains Inventory, and (ii) without notice except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any of Secured Partys offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit, and upon such other terms as Secured Party may deem commercially reasonable. Each Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least 10 days notice to any of Grantors of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification and specifically such notice shall constitute a reasonable authenticated notification of disposition within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the Code. Secured Party shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. Secured Party may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.
(b) Secured Party is hereby granted a license or other right to use, without liability for royalties or any other charge, each Grantors labels, Patents, Copyrights, rights of use of any name, trade secrets, trade names, Trademarks, service marks and advertising matter, URLs, domain names, industrial designs, other industrial or intellectual property or any property of a similar nature, whether owned by any of Grantors or with respect to which any of Grantors have rights under license, sublicense, or other agreements, as it pertains to the Collateral, in preparing for sale, advertising for sale and selling any Collateral, and each Grantors rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements shall inure to the benefit of Secured Party.
(c) Any cash held by Secured Party as Collateral and all cash proceeds received by Secured Party in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied against the Secured Obligations in the order set forth in the Note. In the event the proceeds of Collateral are insufficient to satisfy all of the Secured Obligations in full, each Grantor shall remain jointly and severally liable for any such deficiency.
(d) Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that the Secured Obligations arose out of a commercial transaction, and agrees that if an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing Secured Party shall have the right to an immediate writ of possession without notice of a hearing. Secured Party shall have the right to the appointment of a receiver for the properties and assets of each of Grantors, and each Grantor hereby consents to such rights and such appointment and hereby waives any objection such Grantors may have thereto or the right to have a bond or other security posted by Secured Party.
17. Remedies Cumulative. Each right, power, and remedy of Secured Party as provided for in this Agreement or in the Note or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise shall be cumulative and concurrent and shall be in addition to every other right, power, or remedy provided for in this Agreement or in the Note or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise by Secured Party, of any one or more of such rights, powers, or remedies shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise by Secured Party of any or all such other rights, powers, or remedies.
18. Marshaling. Secured Party shall not be required to marshal any present or future collateral security (including but not limited to the Collateral) for, or other assurances of payment of, the Secured Obligations or any of them or to resort to such collateral security or other assurances of payment in any particular order, and all of its rights and remedies hereunder and in respect of such collateral security and other assurances of payment shall be cumulative and in addition to all other rights and remedies, however existing or arising. To the extent that it lawfully may, each Grantor hereby agrees that it will not invoke any law relating to the marshaling of collateral which might cause delay in or impede the enforcement of Secured Partys rights and remedies under this Agreement or under any other instrument creating or evidencing any of the Secured Obligations or under which any of the Secured Obligations is outstanding or by which any of the Secured Obligations is secured or payment thereof is otherwise assured, and, to the extent that it lawfully may, each Grantor hereby irrevocably waives the benefits of all such laws.
19. Indemnity and Expenses.
(a) Each Grantor agrees to indemnify Secured Party from and against all claims, lawsuits and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys fees) growing out of or resulting from this Agreement (including enforcement of this Agreement) or any other agreement with Secured Party to which such Grantor is a party, except claims, losses or liabilities resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification as determined by a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction. This provision shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the Note and the repayment of the Secured Obligations.
(b) Grantors, jointly and severally, shall, upon demand, pay to Secured Party all the expenses which Secured Party may incur in connection with (i) the administration of this Agreement, (ii) the custody, preservation, use or operation of, or, upon an Event of Default, the
sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, any of the Collateral in accordance with this Agreement and the Note, (iii) the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of Secured Party hereunder or (iv) the failure by any of Grantors to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.
20. Merger, Amendments; Etc. THIS AGREEMENT TOGETHER WITH THE NOTE REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by any of Grantors herefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Secured Party, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Secured Party and each of Grantors to which such amendment applies.
21. Addresses for Notices. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be given in the form and manner and delivered to Secured Party at the following address:
Newcastle Partners, L.P.
Attn: Evan Stone, Esq.
200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas, TX 75201
Attn: Evan Stone, Esq.
200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas, TX 75201
with a copy to:
Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP
Attn: Steve Wolosky, Esq.
Park Avenue Tower
65 East 55th Street
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Steve Wolosky, Esq.
Park Avenue Tower
65 East 55th Street
New York, NY 10022
22. Continuing Security Interest: Assignments under the Note. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall (a) remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been paid in full in cash in accordance with the provisions of the Note, (b) be binding upon each of Grantors, and their respective successors and assigns, and (c) inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Secured Party, and its successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (c), Secured Party may assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its rights and obligations under the Note to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to such the Lender herein or otherwise. Upon payment in full in cash of the Obligations in accordance with the provisions of the Note, the Security Interest granted hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to Grantors or any other Person entitled thereto. At such time, Secured Party will authorize the filing of appropriate termination statements to terminate such Security Interests. No transfer or renewal, extension, assignment, or termination of this Agreement or of the Note any other instrument or document executed and delivered by any Grantor to Secured Party nor any additional Advances or other loans made by any Lender to Borrowers, nor the taking of further security, nor the retaking or re-delivery of the
Collateral to Grantors, or any of them, by Secured Party, shall release any of Grantors from any obligation, except a release or discharge executed in writing by Secured Party in accordance with the provisions of the Note. Secured Party shall not by any act, delay, omission or otherwise, be deemed to have waived any of its rights or remedies hereunder, unless such waiver is in writing and signed by Secured Party and then only to the extent therein set forth. A waiver by Secured Party of any right or remedy on any occasion shall not be construed as a bar to the exercise of any such right or remedy which Secured Party would otherwise have had on any other occasion.
23. Governing Law.
(a) THE VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY IN ANOTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN RESPECT OF SUCH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT), THE CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF AND THEREOF, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS ARISING HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER OR RELATED HERETO OR THERETO SHALL BE DETERMINED UNDER, GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
(b) THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE TRIED AND LITIGATED ONLY IN THE STATE AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY SUIT SEEKING ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE BROUGHT, AT SECURED PARTYS OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SECURED PARTY ELECTS TO BRING SUCH ACTION OR WHERE SUCH COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE FOUND. SECURED PARTY AND EACH GRANTOR WAIVE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT EACH MAY HAVE TO ASSERT THE DOCTRINE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS OR TO OBJECT TO VENUE TO THE EXTENT ANY PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION 23(b).
(c) TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SECURED PARTY AND EACH GRANTOR HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREIN, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW OR STATUTORY CLAIMS. SECURED PARTY AND EACH GRANTOR REPRESENT THAT EACH HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER AND EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
24. New Subsidiaries. Any new direct or indirect Subsidiary (whether by acquisition or creation) of Grantor is required to enter into this Agreement by executing and delivering in favor of Secured Party a supplement to this Agreement in the form of Annex 1 attached hereto. Upon the execution and delivery of Annex 1 by such new Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution and delivery of any instrument adding an additional Grantor as a party to this Agreement shall not require the consent of any Grantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor hereunder.
25. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Agreement but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and binding effect of this Agreement.
(b) Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof in that jurisdiction or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
(c) Headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used in connection with the interpretation of any provision hereof.
(d) The pronouns used herein shall include, when appropriate, either gender and both singular and plural, and the grammatical construction of sentences shall conform thereto.
(e) Unless the context of this Agreement or the Note clearly requires otherwise, references to the plural include the singular, references to the singular include the plural, the terms includes and including are not limiting, and the term or has, except where otherwise indicated, the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase and/or. The words hereof, herein, hereby, hereunder, and similar terms in this Agreement or the Note refer to this Agreement or such Note, as the case may be, as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement or such Note, as the case may be. Section, subsection, clause, schedule, and exhibit references herein are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any reference in this Agreement or in the Note to any agreement, instrument, or document shall include all alterations, amendments, changes, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions, joinders, and supplements, thereto and thereof, as applicable (subject to any restrictions on such alterations, amendments, changes, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions, joinders, and supplements set forth herein). Any reference herein or in the Note to the satisfaction or repayment in full of the Obligations shall mean the repayment in full in cash (or cash collateralization in accordance with the terms hereof) of all Obligations other than unasserted contingent indemnification Obligations. Any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns. Any requirement of a writing contained herein or in the Note shall be satisfied by the transmission of a Record and any Record so transmitted shall constitute a representation and warranty as to the accuracy and completeness of the information contained therein.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties hereto have executed this Agreement by and through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.
GRANTORS: | BELL INDUSTRIES, INC., | |||||||
a California corporation | ||||||||
By: | ||||||||
Name: | ||||||||
Title: | ||||||||
BELL INDUSTRIES, INC., | ||||||||
a Minnesota corporation | ||||||||
By: | ||||||||
Name: | ||||||||
Title: | ||||||||
NEWCASTLE PARTNERS, L.P. | ||||||||
By: | ||||||||
Name: | ||||||||
Title: | ||||||||