Senior Secured Note between the Company and Ionic Ventures, LLC
EXHIBIT 10.2
PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE IT IS NOT MATERIAL AND OF A TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL. SUCH REDACTED PORTIONS ARE INDICATED WITH “[***].”
THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE HOLDER (IF REQUESTED BY THE COMPANY), IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THIS NOTE MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES. ANY TRANSFEREE OF THIS NOTE SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE, INCLUDING SECTIONS 14 AND 15(a) HEREOF. THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT REPRESENTED BY THIS NOTE MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNTS SET FORTH ON THE FACE HEREOF PURSUANT TO SECTION 9 OF THIS NOTE.
AVENIR WELLNESS SOLUTIONS, INC.,
F/K/A CURE PHARMACEUTICAL HOLDING CORP.
SENIOR SECURED NOTE
Issuance Date: December 15, 2024 |
| Original Principal Amount: U.S. $2,850,000 |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc., f/k/a Cure Pharmaceutical Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby promises to pay to the order of IONIC VENTURES LLC or its registered assigns (“Holder”) the amount set forth above as the Original Principal Amount (as reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to redemption or otherwise, the “Principal”) when due, whether upon the Maturity Date (as defined below), or upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof) and to pay interest (“Interest”) on any outstanding Principal at the applicable Interest Rate (as defined below) from the date set forth above as the Issuance Date (the “Issuance Date”) until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon the Maturity Date, or upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof). This Senior Secured Note (including all Senior Secured Notes issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, this “Note”) was issued pursuant to the Settlement Agreement with Mutual Releases, dated as of December 15, 2024 (the “Settlement Date”, and such agreement, the “Settlement Agreement”), by and between the Company and the initial Holder, as amended from time to time. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 28.
1. PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL. On the Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges (as defined in Section 21(c)) on such Principal and Interest. Other than as specifically permitted by this Note, the Company may not prepay any portion of the outstanding Principal, Make-Whole Amount, accrued and unpaid Interest or accrued and unpaid Late Charges on Principal, Make-Whole Amount and Interest, if any.
2. INTEREST; INTEREST RATE.
(a) Interest on this Note shall commence accruing on the Issuance Date and shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and twelve 30-day months and shall be payable in arrears on the Maturity Date or otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Note. Interest shall be paid on the Maturity Date in cash.
(b) Prior to the payment of Interest on the Maturity Date, Interest on this Note shall accrue at the Interest Rate and be payable by way of inclusion of the Interest in the Outstanding Amount upon any redemption in accordance with Section 9 or any required payment upon any Bankruptcy Event of Default. From and after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Interest Rate shall automatically be increased to fifteen percent (15.0%) per annum (the “Default Rate”). In the event that such Event of Default is subsequently cured (and no other Event of Default then exists, including, without limitation, for the Company’s failure to pay such Interest at the Default Rate on the Maturity Date), the adjustment referred to in the preceding sentence shall cease to be effective as of the calendar day immediately following the date of such cure; provided that the Interest as calculated and unpaid at such increased rate during the continuance of such Event of Default shall continue to apply to the extent relating to the days after the occurrence of such Event of Default through and including the date of such cure of such Event of Default.
3. RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT.
(a) Event of Default. Each of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default” and each of the events in clauses (iv), (v) and (vi) shall constitute a “Bankruptcy Event of Default”:
(i) the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s failure to pay to the Holder any amount of Principal, Make-Whole Amount, Interest, Late Charges or other amounts when and as due under this Note (including, without limitation, the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s failure to pay any redemption payments or amounts hereunder) or any other Settlement Document or any other agreement, document, certificate or other instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except, in the case of a failure to pay Interest, Make-Whole Amount and Late Charges when and as due, in which case only if such failure remains uncured for a period of at least two (2) Business Days;
(ii) the Company fails to remove any restrictive legend on any certificate or any shares of Common Stock issued to the Holder under the Settlement Agreement as and when required by the Settlement Agreement, unless otherwise then prohibited by applicable federal securities laws, and any such failure remains uncured for at least five (5) Business Days;
(iii) the occurrence of any default under, redemption of or acceleration prior to maturity of at least an aggregate of $250,000 of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
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(iv) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings for the relief of debtors shall be instituted by or against the Company or any Subsidiary and, if instituted against the Company or any Subsidiary by a third party, shall not be dismissed within thirty (30) days of their initiation;
(v) the commencement by the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent; or the consent by it to the entry of a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it; or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal, state or foreign law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property; or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the execution of a composition of debts, or the occurrence of any other similar federal, state or foreign proceeding; or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action or the taking of any action by any Person to commence a Uniform Commercial Code foreclosure sale or any other similar action under federal, state or foreign law;
(vi) the entry by a court of (i) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary or involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (ii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document adjudging the Company or any Subsidiary as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary under any applicable federal, state or foreign law or (iii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree, order, judgment or other similar document or any such other decree, order, judgment or other similar document unstayed and in effect for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days;
(vii) a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $250,000 are rendered against the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and which judgments are not, within thirty (30) days after the entry thereof, bonded, discharged, settled or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such stay; provided, however, any judgment which is covered by insurance or an indemnity from a credit worthy party shall not be included in calculating the $250,000 amount set forth above so long as the Company provides the Holder a written statement from such insurer or indemnity provider (which written statement shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to the effect that such judgment is covered by insurance or an indemnity and the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) will receive the proceeds of such insurance or indemnity within thirty (30) days of the issuance of such judgment;
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(viii) the Company and/or any Subsidiary, individually or in the aggregate, either (i) fails to pay, when due, or within any applicable grace period, any payment with respect to any Indebtedness in excess of $250,000 due to any third party (other than, with respect to unsecured Indebtedness only, payments contested by the Company and/or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) in good faith by proper proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof in accordance with GAAP) or is otherwise in breach or violation of any agreement for monies owed or owing in an amount in excess of $250,000, which breach or violation permits the other party thereto to declare a default or otherwise accelerate amounts due thereunder, or (ii) suffer to exist any other circumstance or event that would, with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice, result in a default or event of default under any agreement binding the Company or any Subsidiary, which default or event of default would or is likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, operations (including results thereof), liabilities, properties, condition (including financial condition) or prospects of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate;
(ix) other than as specifically set forth in another clause of this Section 3(a), the Company or any Subsidiary breaches any representation or warranty, in any material respect (other than representations or warranties subject to material adverse effect or materiality, which may not be breached in any respect) or any covenant or other term or condition of any Settlement Document, except, in the case of a breach of a covenant or other term or condition that is curable, only if such breach remains uncured for a period of five (5) consecutive Business Days;
(x) a false or inaccurate certification by the Company as to whether any Event of Default has occurred;
(xi) any breach or failure in any respect by the Company or any Subsidiary to comply with any provision of Section 11 of this Note;
(xii) any Material Adverse Effect occurs;
(xiii) any Change of Control occurs;
(xiv) any provision of any Settlement Document (including, without limitation, the Security Documents and the Guaranties) shall at any time for any reason (other than pursuant to the express terms thereof) cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against the parties thereto, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any party thereto, or a proceeding shall be commenced by the Company or any Subsidiary or any governmental authority having jurisdiction over any of them, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof, or the Company or any Subsidiary shall deny in writing that it has any liability or obligation purported to be created under any Settlement Document (including, without limitation, the Security Documents and the Guaranties); or
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(xv) any Security Document shall for any reason fail or cease to create a separate valid and perfected and, except to the extent permitted by the terms hereof or thereof, first priority Lien on the Collateral (as defined in the Security Documents) in favor of the Collateral Agent (as defined in the Security Agreement) or any material provision of any Security Document shall at any time for any reason cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against the Company or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any party thereto, or a proceeding shall be commenced by the Company or any governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Company, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof.
(b) Notice of an Event of Default; Redemption Right. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to this Note, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day deliver written notice thereof via facsimile or electronic mail and overnight courier (with next day delivery specified) (an “Event of Default Notice”) to the Holder. At any time after the earlier of the Holder’s receipt of an Event of Default Notice and the Holder becoming aware of an Event of Default, the Holder may require the Company to redeem (regardless of whether such Event of Default has been cured) all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (the “Event of Default Redemption Notice”) to the Company, which Event of Default Redemption Notice shall indicate the portion of this Note the Holder is electing to redeem. Each portion of this Note subject to redemption by the Company pursuant to this Section 3(b) shall be redeemed by the Company at a price in cash equal to the product of (A) the Outstanding Amount to be redeemed multiplied by (B) the Redemption Premium (the “Event of Default Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 3(b) shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 9. To the extent redemptions required by this Section 3(b) are deemed or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be prepayments of this Note by the Company, such redemptions shall be deemed to be voluntary prepayments. In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 3(b), the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 3(b) is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty. Any redemption upon an Event of Default shall not constitute an election of remedies by the Holder, and all other rights and remedies of the Holder shall be preserved.
(c) Mandatory Redemption upon Bankruptcy Event of Default. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, upon any Bankruptcy Event of Default, whether occurring prior to or following the Maturity Date, the Company shall immediately pay to the Holder an amount in cash representing (i) all outstanding Principal, Make-Whole Amount, accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges on such Principal, Make-Whole Amount and Interest, multiplied by (ii) the Redemption Premium, in addition to any and all other amounts due hereunder, without the requirement for any notice or demand or other action by the Holder or any other person or entity, provided that the Holder may, in its sole discretion, waive such right to receive payment upon a Bankruptcy Event of Default, in whole or in part, and any such waiver shall not affect any other rights of the Holder hereunder, including any other rights in respect of such Bankruptcy Event of Default, and any right to payment of the Event of Default Redemption Price or any other Redemption Price, as applicable.
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4. RIGHTS UPON FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTION.
(a) Assumption. The Company shall not enter into or be party to a Fundamental Transaction unless the Successor Entity assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Settlement Documents in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4(a) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the holder of a majority of the Notes then outstanding (the “Required Holders”) and approved by the Required Holders prior to such Fundamental Transaction, including agreements to deliver to each holder of Notes in exchange for such Notes a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to the Notes, including, without limitation, having a principal amount and interest rate equal to the principal amounts then outstanding and the interest rates of the Notes held by such holder, having similar ranking and security to the Notes, and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders. Upon the occurrence of any Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Note and the other Settlement Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Settlement Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. The provisions of this Section 4 shall apply similarly and equally to successive Fundamental Transactions.
5. REDEMPTIONS AT THE COMPANY’S ELECTION. At any time, the Company shall have the right to redeem all, or any portion, of the Outstanding Amount then remaining under this Note (the “Company Optional Redemption Amount”) on the Company Optional Redemption Date (each as defined below) (a “Company Optional Redemption”). The portion of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 5 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price (the “Company Optional Redemption Price”) equal to the Outstanding Amount being redeemed as of the Company Optional Redemption Date. The Company may exercise its right to require redemption under this Section 5 by delivering a written notice thereof by facsimile or electronic mail and overnight courier to all, but not less than all, of the holders of Notes (the “Company Optional Redemption Notice” and the date all of the holders of Notes received such notice is referred to as the “Company Optional Redemption Notice Date”). The Company Optional Redemption Notice shall (x) state the date on which the Company Optional Redemption shall occur (the “Company Optional Redemption Date”) which date shall not be less than five (5) Business Days nor more than twenty (20) Business Days following the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date, any (y) state the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Notes which is being redeemed in such Company Optional Redemption from the Holder and all of the other holders of the Notes pursuant to this Section 5 on the Company Optional Redemption Date. Redemptions made pursuant to this Section 5 shall be made in accordance with Section 9. In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 5, the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 5 is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty For the avoidance of doubt, the Company may effect a Company Optional Redemption if any Event of Default has occurred and continuing but only at the Event of Default Redemption Price (in lieu of the Company Optional Redemption Price.
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6. SUBSEQUENT PLACEMENT OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
(a) General. At any time from and after the earlier of (x) the date the Holder becomes aware of the occurrence of a Subsequent Placement (the “Holder Subsequent Placement Notice Date”) and (y) the time of consummation of a Subsequent Placement (in each case, other than with respect to Excluded Securities) (each, an “Eligible Subsequent Placement”), the Holder shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem (each an “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption”) all, or any portion, of the Outstanding Amount under this Note not in excess of 50% of the net cash proceeds of such Eligible Subsequent Placement (the “Eligible Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount”) by delivering written notice thereof (an “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice”) to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the written request of the Holder, the Company shall permit the Holder to participate in such Subsequent Placement and the Company shall apply all, or any part, as set forth in such written request, of any amounts that would otherwise be payable to the Holder in such Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, against the purchase price of the securities to be purchased by the Holder in such Eligible Subsequent Placement (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be less than securities with a purchase price equal to the portion of the Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount the Holder elects to apply against thereto).
(b) Mechanics. Each Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice shall indicate that all, or such applicable portion, as set forth in the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice, of the Eligible Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount the Holder is electing to have redeemed (the “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount”) and the date of such Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption (the “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Date”), which shall be the later of (x) the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date of the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice and (y) the date of the consummation of such Eligible Subsequent Placement. The portion of the Outstanding Amount of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 6 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount being redeemed as of the Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Date (the “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 6 shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.
7. ASSET SALE OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
(a) General. At any time from and after the earlier of (x) the date the Holder becomes aware of the occurrence of an Asset Sale (including any insurance and condemnation proceeds thereof) (the “Holder Asset Sale Notice Date”) and (y) the time of consummation of an Asset Sale (other than sales of inventory and product in the ordinary course of business) (each, an “Eligible Asset Sale”), the Holder shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem (each an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption”) all, or any portion, of the Outstanding Amount under this Note not in excess of 50% of the (including any insurance and condemnation proceeds with respect thereto) net cash proceeds to the Company of such Eligible Asset Sale (the “Eligible Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount”) by delivering written notice thereof (an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice”) to the Company.
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(b) Mechanics. Each Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice shall indicate that all, or such applicable portion, as set forth in the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice, of the Eligible Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount the Holder is electing to have redeemed (the “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount”) and the date of such Asset Sale Optional Redemption (the “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Date”), which shall be the later of (x) the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date of the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice and (y) the date of the consummation of such Eligible Asset Sale. The portion of the Outstanding Amount of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 7 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount being redeemed as of the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Date (the “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 7 shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.
8. NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Note, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the provisions of this Note and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder of this Note.
9. REDEMPTIONS. The Company shall deliver the applicable Event of Default Redemption Price to the Holder in cash within five (5) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of the Holder’s Event of Default Redemption Notice. The Company shall deliver the applicable Company Optional Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Company Optional Redemption Date. The Company shall deliver the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Date. The Company shall deliver the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Date. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in connection with any redemption hereunder at a time the Holder is entitled to receive a cash payment under any of the other Settlement Documents, at the option of the Holder delivered in writing to the Company, the applicable Redemption Price hereunder shall be increased by the amount of such cash payment owed to the Holder under such other Settlement Document and, upon payment in full in accordance herewith, shall satisfy the Company’s payment obligation under such other Settlement Document. In the event of a redemption of less than all of the Outstanding Amount of this Note, the Company shall promptly cause to be issued and delivered to the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)) representing the outstanding Principal which has not been redeemed. In the event that the Company does not pay the applicable Redemption Price to the Holder within the time period required, at any time thereafter and until the Company pays such unpaid Redemption Price in full, the Holder shall have the option, in lieu of redemption, to require the Company to promptly return to the Holder all or any portion of this Note representing the Outstanding Amount that was submitted for redemption and for which the applicable Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) has not been paid. Upon the Company’s receipt of such notice, (x) the applicable Redemption Notice shall be null and void with respect to such Outstanding Amount, and (y) the Company shall immediately return this Note, or issue a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)), to the Holder, and in each case the principal amount of this Note or such new Note (as the case may be) shall be increased by an amount equal to the difference between (1) the applicable Redemption Price (as the case may be, and as adjusted pursuant to this Section 9, if applicable) minus (2) the Principal portion of the Outstanding Amount submitted for redemption. The Holder’s delivery of a notice voiding a Redemption Notice and exercise of its rights following such notice shall not affect the Company’s obligations to make any payments of Late Charges which have accrued prior to the date of such notice with respect to the Outstanding Amount subject to such notice.
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10. VOTING RIGHTS. The Holder shall have no voting rights as the holder of this Note, except as required by law and as expressly provided in this Note.
11. COVENANTS. Until all of the Notes have been redeemed or otherwise satisfied in accordance with their terms:
(a) Rank. All payments due under this Note (a) shall rank pari passu with the Indebtedness described on Schedule 11(a) attached hereto (the “Existing Secured Note”)and (b) shall be senior to all other Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (c) will be secured by a first priority perfected security interest in all of the existing and future assets of the Company and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, including a pledge of all of the capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries, as evidenced by (i) a security agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Security Agreement”), and the other security documents and agreements entered into in connection with this Note and each of such other documents and agreements, as each may be amended or modified from time to time, collectively, the “Security Documents”), and (ii) a guaranty executed by each Subsidiary of the Company, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (collectively, the “Guaranties”) pursuant to which each of them guarantees the obligations of the Company under the Settlement Documents.
(b) Incurrence of Indebtedness. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, incur or guarantee, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness (other than (i) the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and the Existing Secured Notes and (ii) other Permitted Indebtedness).
(c) Existence of Liens. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, allow or suffer to exist any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, “Liens”) other than Permitted Liens.
(d) Restricted Payments. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, defease, repurchase, repay or make any payments in respect of, by the payment of cash or cash equivalents (in whole or in part, whether by way of open market purchases, tender offers, private transactions or otherwise), all or any portion of any Indebtedness (other than this Note) whether by way of payment in respect of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, such Indebtedness if at the time such payment is due or is otherwise made or, after giving effect to such payment, (i) an event constituting an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) an event that with the passage of time and without being cured would constitute an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
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(e) Restriction on Redemption and Cash Dividends. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, repurchase or declare or pay any cash dividend or distribution on any of its capital stock.
(f) Restriction on Transfer of Assets. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, spin-off, split-off, close, convey or otherwise dispose of any assets or rights of the Company or any Subsidiary owned or hereafter acquired whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (each, an “Asset Sale”), other than (i) sales, leases, licenses, assignments, transfers, conveyances and other dispositions of such assets or rights by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with its past practice, (ii) sales of inventory and product in the ordinary course of business and (iii) any Asset Sale in which the Company (x) deposits 50% of the gross proceeds either into a restricted account subject to a deposit account control agreement with the Collateral Agent with payments made therefrom in accordance with Section 7 above or (y) pays such amounts to the Holder within two (2) Business Days of the time of consummation of such Asset Sale.
(g) Maturity of Indebtedness. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, permit any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries except Permitted Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 11(g) attached hereto to mature or accelerate prior to the Maturity Date.
(h) Change in Nature of Business. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by or publicly contemplated to be conducted by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries on the Settlement Date or any business substantially related or incidental thereto. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, modify its or their corporate structure or purpose.
(i) Preservation of Existence, Etc. The Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, its existence, rights and privileges, and become or remain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to become or remain, duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(j) Maintenance of Properties, Etc. The Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its properties which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, at all times with the provisions of all leases to which it is a party as lessee or under which it occupies property, so as to prevent any loss or forfeiture thereof or thereunder.
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(k) Maintenance of Intellectual Property. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, take all action reasonably necessary or advisable to maintain all of the Intellectual Property Rights of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries that are necessary or material to the conduct of its business in full force and effect.
(l) Maintenance of Insurance. The Company shall maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations (including, without limitation, comprehensive general liability, hazard, rent and business interruption insurance) with respect to its properties (including all real properties leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and covering such risks as is required by any governmental authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto or as is carried generally in accordance with sound business practice by companies in similar businesses similarly situated.
(m) Transactions with Affiliates. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into, renew, extend or be a party to, any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease, transfer or exchange of property or assets of any kind or the rendering of services of any kind) with any Affiliate, except transactions in the ordinary course of business in a manner and to an extent consistent with past practice and necessary or desirable for the prudent operation of its business, for fair consideration and on terms no less favorable to it or its Subsidiaries than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate thereof.
(n) Restricted Issuances. The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, (i) issue any Notes (other than as contemplated by the Settlement Agreement and the Notes) or (ii) issue any other securities that would cause a breach or default under the Notes.
(o) New Subsidiaries. Simultaneously with the acquisition or formation of each New Subsidiary, the Company shall cause such New Subsidiary to execute, and deliver to each holder of Notes, all Security Documents and Guaranties as requested by the Collateral Agent or the Required Holders, as applicable. The Company shall also deliver to the Collateral Agent an opinion of counsel to such New Subsidiary that is reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Required Holders covering such legal matters with respect to such New Subsidiary becoming a guarantor of the Company’s obligations, executing and delivering the Security Document and the Guaranties and any other matters that the Collateral Agent or the Required Holders may reasonably request. The Company shall deliver, or cause the applicable Subsidiary to deliver to the Collateral Agent, each of the physical stock certificates of such New Subsidiary, along with undated stock powers for each such certificates, executed in blank (or, if any such shares of capital stock are uncertificated, confirmation and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Required Holders that the security interest in such uncertificated securities has been transferred to and perfected by the Collateral Agent, in accordance with Sections 8-313, 8-321 and 9-115 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any other similar or local or foreign law that may be applicable).
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(p) Change in Collateral; Collateral Records. The Company shall (i) give the Collateral Agent not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of any change in the location of any Collateral (as defined in the Security Documents), other than to locations set forth in Schedule 11(p) attached hereto and with respect to which the Collateral Agent has filed financing statements and otherwise fully perfected its Liens thereon, (ii) advise the Collateral Agent promptly, in sufficient detail, of any material adverse change relating to the type, quantity or quality of the Collateral or the Lien granted thereon and (iii) execute and deliver, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holder from time to time, solely for the Collateral Agent’s convenience in maintaining a record of Collateral, such written statements and schedules as the Collateral Agent or any Holder may reasonably require, designating, identifying or describing the Collateral.
(q) Independent Investigation. At the request of the Holder either (x) at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (y) upon the occurrence of an event that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute an Event of Default or (z) at any time the Holder reasonably believes an Event of Default may have occurred or be continuing, the Company shall hire an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder to investigate as to whether any breach of this Note has occurred (the “Independent Investigator”). If the Independent Investigator determines that such breach of this Note has occurred, the Independent Investigator shall notify the Company of such breach and the Company shall deliver written notice to each holder of a Note of such breach. In connection with such investigation, the Independent Investigator may, during normal business hours, inspect all contracts, books, records, personnel, offices and other facilities and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the extent available to the Company after the Company uses reasonable efforts to obtain them, the records of its legal advisors and accountants (including the accountants’ work papers) and any books of account, records, reports and other papers not contractually required of the Company to be confidential or secret, or subject to attorney-client or other evidentiary privilege, and the Independent Investigator may make such copies and inspections thereof as the Independent Investigator may reasonably request. The Company shall furnish the Independent Investigator with such financial and operating data and other information with respect to the business and properties of the Company as the Independent Investigator may reasonably request. The Company shall permit the Independent Investigator to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company with, and to make proposals and furnish advice with respect thereto to, the Company’s officers, directors, key employees and independent public accountants or any of them (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to discuss with such Independent Investigator the finances and affairs of the Company and any Subsidiaries), all at such reasonable times, upon reasonable notice, and as often as may be reasonably requested.
12. SECURITY. This Note is secured to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Settlement Documents (including, without limitation, the Security Agreement, the other Security Documents and the Guaranties).
13. AMENDING THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE. The prior written consent of the Holder shall be required for any change, waiver or amendment to this Note.
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14. TRANSFER. This Note may be offered, sold, assigned or transferred by the Holder without the consent of the Company (other than to a competitor of the Company), subject only to the provisions of Section 2(g) of the Settlement Agreement.
15. REISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE.
(a) Transfer. If this Note is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Note to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the outstanding Principal being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the entire outstanding Principal is being transferred, a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)) to the Holder representing the outstanding Principal not being transferred. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Note, acknowledge and agree that, following redemption of any portion of this Note, the outstanding Principal represented by this Note may be less than the Principal stated on the face of this Note.
(b) Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Note. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 15(d)) representing the outstanding Principal.
(c) Note Exchangeable for Different Denominations. This Note is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Note or Notes (in accordance with Section 15(d) and in principal amounts of at least $1,000) representing in the aggregate the outstanding Principal of this Note, and each such new Note will represent such portion of such outstanding Principal as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender.
(d) Issuance of New Notes. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Note pursuant to the terms of this Note, such new Note (i) shall be of like tenor with this Note, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Note, the Principal remaining outstanding (or in the case of a new Note being issued pursuant to Section 15(a) or Section 15(c), the Principal designated by the Holder which, when added to the principal represented by the other new Notes issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the Principal remaining outstanding under this Note immediately prior to such issuance of new Notes), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Note, which is the same as the Issuance Date of this Note, (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Note, and (v) shall represent accrued and unpaid Interest and Late Charges on the Principal, Make-Whole Amount and Interest of this Note, from the Issuance Date.
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16. REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATIONS, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note and any of the other Settlement Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Note. No failure on the part of the Holder to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Holder of any right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. In addition, the exercise of any right or remedy of the Holder at law or equity or under this Note or any of the documents shall not be deemed to be an election of Holder’s rights or remedies under such documents or at law or equity. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, redemptions and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Note.
17. PAYMENT OF COLLECTION, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COSTS. If (a) this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Holder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Note or to enforce the provisions of this Note or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Company or other proceedings affecting Company creditors’ rights and involving a claim under this Note, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Holder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that no amounts due under this Note shall be affected, or limited, by the fact that the purchase price paid for this Note was less than the original Principal amount hereof.
18. CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Note shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the initial Holder and shall not be construed against any such Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Note are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Note. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Note instead of just the provision in which they are found. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, all section references are to sections of this Note. Terms used in this Note and not otherwise defined herein, but defined in the other Settlement Documents, shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Settlement Date in such other Settlement Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.
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19. FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER. No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.
20. DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
(a) Submission to Dispute Resolution.
(i) In the case of a dispute relating to a fair market value or the arithmetic calculation of the applicable Redemption Price (as the case may be) (including, without limitation, a dispute relating to the determination of any of the foregoing), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the dispute to the other party via facsimile or electronic mail (A) if by the Company, within two (2) Business Days after the occurrence of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute or (B) if by the Holder at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute. If the Holder and the Company are unable to promptly resolve such dispute relating to such fair market value, or the arithmetic calculation of such applicable Redemption Price (as the case may be), at any time after the second (2nd) Business Day following such initial notice by the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) of such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Holder may, at its sole option, select an independent, reputable investment bank to resolve such dispute.
(ii) The Holder and the Company shall each deliver to such investment bank (A) a copy of the initial dispute submission so delivered in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 20 and (B) written documentation supporting its position with respect to such dispute, in each case, no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) by the fifth (5th) Business Day immediately following the date on which the Holder selected such investment bank (the “Dispute Submission Deadline”) (the documents referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (A) and (B) are collectively referred to herein as the “Required Dispute Documentation”) (it being understood and agreed that if either the Holder or the Company fails to so deliver all of the Required Dispute Documentation by the Dispute Submission Deadline, then the party who fails to so submit all of the Required Dispute Documentation shall no longer be entitled to (and hereby waives its right to) deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank with respect to such dispute and such investment bank shall resolve such dispute based solely on the Required Dispute Documentation that was delivered to such investment bank prior to the Dispute Submission Deadline). Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by both the Company and the Holder or otherwise requested by such investment bank, neither the Company nor the Holder shall be entitled to deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank in connection with such dispute (other than the Required Dispute Documentation).
(iii) The Company and the Holder shall cause such investment bank to determine the resolution of such dispute and notify the Company and the Holder of such resolution no later than ten (10) Business Days immediately following the Dispute Submission Deadline. The fees and expenses of such investment bank shall be borne solely by the Company, and such investment bank’s resolution of such dispute shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error.
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(b) Miscellaneous. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) this Section 20 constitutes an agreement to arbitrate between the Company and the Holder (and constitutes an arbitration agreement) under the Delaware Rapid Arbitration Act, (ii) the terms of this Note and each other applicable Settlement Document shall serve as the basis for the selected investment bank’s resolution of the applicable dispute, such investment bank shall be entitled (and is hereby expressly authorized) to make all findings, determinations and the like that such investment bank determines are required to be made by such investment bank in connection with its resolution of such dispute and in resolving such dispute such investment bank shall apply such findings, determinations and the like to the terms of this Note and any other applicable Settlement Documents, (iii) the Holder (and only the Holder), in its sole discretion, shall have the right to submit any dispute described in this Section 20 to any state or federal court sitting in Wilmington, Delaware in lieu of utilizing the procedures set forth in this Section 20 and (iv) nothing in this Section 20 shall limit the Holder from obtaining any injunctive relief or other equitable remedies (including, without limitation, with respect to any matters described in this Section 20).
21. NOTICES; CURRENCY; PAYMENTS.
(a) Notices. Whenever notice is required to be given under this Note, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 9(f) of the Settlement Agreement. The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Note, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefore.
(b) Currency. All dollar amounts referred to in this Note are in United States Dollars (“U.S. Dollars”), and all amounts owing under this Note shall be paid in U.S. Dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies (if any) shall be converted into the U.S. Dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the Exchange Rate on the date of calculation. “Exchange Rate” means, in relation to any amount of currency to be converted into U.S. Dollars pursuant to this Note, the U.S. Dollar exchange rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the relevant date of calculation (it being understood and agreed that where an amount is calculated with reference to, or over, a period of time, the date of calculation shall be the final date of such period of time).
(c) Payments. Whenever any payment of cash is to be made by the Company to any Person pursuant to this Note, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, such payment shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America by a certified check drawn on the account of the Company and sent via overnight courier service to such Person at such address as previously provided to the Company in writing (which address, in the case of each of the Buyers, shall initially be as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers attached to the Settlement Agreement), provided that the Holder may elect to receive a payment of cash via wire transfer of immediately available funds by providing the Company with prior written notice setting out such request and the Holder’s wire transfer instructions. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day. Any amount of Principal or other amounts due under the Settlement Documents which is not paid when due shall result in a late charge being incurred and payable by the Company in an amount equal to interest on such amount at a rate of fifteen (15) percent per annum until the same is paid in full (“Late Charge”).
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22. CANCELLATION. After all Principal, Make-Whole Amount, accrued Interest, Late Charges and other amounts at any time owed on this Note have been paid in full, this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled, shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation and shall not be reissued.
23. WAIVER OF NOTICE. To the extent permitted by law, the Company hereby irrevocably waives demand, notice, presentment, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note and the Settlement Agreement.
24. GOVERNING LAW. This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Note shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware. Except as otherwise required by Section 20 above, the Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of Wilmington, Delaware, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein (i) shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to the Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder or (ii) shall limit, or shall be deemed or construed to limit, any provision of Section 20. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS NOTE OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
25. JUDGMENT CURRENCY.
(a) If for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing judgment against the Company in any court in any jurisdiction it becomes necessary to convert into any other currency (such other currency being hereinafter in this Section 25 referred to as the “Judgment Currency”) an amount due in U.S. dollars under this Note, the conversion shall be made at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Business Day immediately preceding:
(i) the date actual payment of the amount due, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of Delaware or in the courts of any other jurisdiction that will give effect to such conversion being made on such date: or
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(ii) the date on which the foreign court determines, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of any other jurisdiction (the date as of which such conversion is made pursuant to this Section 25(a)(ii) being hereinafter referred to as the “Judgment Conversion Date”).
(b) If in the case of any proceeding in the court of any jurisdiction referred to in Section 25(a)(ii) above, there is a change in the Exchange Rate prevailing between the Judgment Conversion Date and the date of actual payment of the amount due, the applicable party shall pay such adjusted amount as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of US dollars which could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial order at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Judgment Conversion Date.
(c) Any amount due from the Company under this provision shall be due as a separate debt and shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other amounts due under or in respect of this Note.
26. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Note is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Note so long as this Note as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).
27. MAXIMUM PAYMENTS. Without limiting Section 9(d) of the Settlement Agreement, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to establish or require the payment of a rate of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum permitted by applicable law. In the event that the rate of interest required to be paid or other charges hereunder exceed the maximum permitted by such law, any payments in excess of such maximum shall be credited against amounts owed by the Company to the Holder and thus refunded to the Company.
28. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
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(b) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, it being understood for purposes of this definition that “control” of a Person means the power directly or indirectly either to vote 10% or more of the stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.
(c) “Approved Stock Plan” means any employee benefit plan which has been approved by the board of directors of the Company prior to or subsequent to the Settlement Date pursuant to which shares of Common Stock and standard options to purchase Common Stock may be issued to any employee, officer, consultants or director for services provided to the Company in their capacity as such.
(d) “Bridge Notes” means any one of more of the $1,500,000 original principal amount two-year Senior Subordinated Notes issued by the Company to purchasers thereof at or around the Settlement Date.
(e) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non- essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
(f) “Change of Control” means any Fundamental Transaction other than (i) any merger of the Company or any of its, direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiaries with or into any of the foregoing Persons, (ii) any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of the shares of Common Stock in which holders of the Company’s voting power immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification continue after such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification to hold publicly traded securities and, directly or indirectly, are, in all material respects, the holders of the voting power of the surviving entity (or entities with the authority or voting power to elect the members of the board of directors (or their equivalent if other than a corporation) of such entity or entities) after such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification, or (iii) pursuant to a migratory merger effected solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(g) “Common Stock” means (i) the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.
(h) “Contingent Obligation” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any Indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto.
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(i) “Convertible Securities” means any stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock.
(j) “Current Subsidiary” means any Person in which the Company on the Settlement Date, directly or indirectly, (i) owns any of the outstanding capital stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person or (ii) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and all of the foregoing, collectively, “Current Subsidiaries”.
(k) “Eligible Market” means The New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Capital Market.
(l) “Excluded Securities” means (i) shares of Common Stock or options to purchase Common Stock issued to directors, officers, consultants or employees of the Company for services rendered to the Company in their capacity as such pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan (as defined above), provided that (A) all such issuances (taking into account the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such options) after the Settlement Date pursuant to this clause (i) do not, in the aggregate, exceed more than 5% of the Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Settlement Date and (B) the exercise price of any such options is not lowered, none of such options are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such options are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects any of the Buyers; (ii) shares of Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exercise of Convertible Securities or Options (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) issued prior to the Settlement Date, provided that the conversion price of any such Convertible Securities (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) is not lowered, none of such Convertible Securities or Options (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such Convertible Securities or Options (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects any of the Buyers or (iii) up to an aggregate of $1,500,000 original principal amount of Bridge Notes and not more than 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection therewith.
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(m) “Fundamental Transaction” means (A) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) another Subject Entity, or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its “significant subsidiaries” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) to one or more Subject Entities, or (iii) make, or allow one or more Subject Entities to make, or allow the Company to be subject to or have its Common Stock be subject to or party to one or more Subject Entities making, a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of at least either (x) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entities making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer, become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iv) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin- off or scheme of arrangement) with one or more Subject Entities whereby all such Subject Entities, individually or in the aggregate, acquire, either (x) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all the Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that the Subject Entities become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify its Common Stock, (B) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, allow any Subject Entity individually or the Subject Entities in the aggregate to be or become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, whether through acquisition, purchase, assignment, conveyance, tender, tender offer, exchange, reduction in outstanding shares of Common Stock, merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, scheme of arrangement, reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification or otherwise in any manner whatsoever, of either (x) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Common Stock not held by all such Subject Entities as of the date of this Note calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all such Subject Entities were not outstanding, or (z) a percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company sufficient to allow such Subject Entities to effect a statutory short form merger or other transaction requiring other stockholders of the Company to surrender their shares of Common Stock without approval of the stockholders of the Company or (C) directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, the issuance of or the entering into any other instrument or transaction structured in a manner to circumvent, or that circumvents, the intent of this definition in which case this definition shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this definition to the extent necessary to correct this definition or any portion of this definition which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended treatment of such instrument or transaction.
(n) “GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
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(o) “Group” means a “group” as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and as defined in Rule 13d-5 thereunder.
(p) “Indebtedness” means of any Person means, without duplication (A) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, including, without limitation, “capital leases” in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied for the periods covered thereby (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), (C) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (D) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (E) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (F) all monetary obligations under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in connection with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied for the periods covered thereby, is classified as a capital lease, (G) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (A) through (F) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever in or upon any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) with respect to any asset or property owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and (H) all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (A) through (G) above.
(q) “Intellectual Property Rights” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, all of their rights or licenses to use all trademarks, trade names, service marks, service mark registrations, service names, original works of authorship, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses, approvals, governmental authorizations, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights and all applications and registrations therefor.
(r) “Interest Rate” means, as applicable, (x) during the period commencing on the date hereof through, but not including, the first anniversary of the date hereof ten percent (10%) per annum, or (y) during the period commencing on the first anniversary of the date hereof through, but not including, the second anniversary of the date hereof eleven percent (11%) per annum, as may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 2.
(s) “Make-Whole Amount” means, as of any given date in connection with any redemption or other repayment hereunder, an amount equal to the amount of additional Interest that would accrue under this Note at an interest rate of eleven percent (11%) per annum assuming for calculation purposes that the outstanding Principal of this Note as of such given date remained outstanding through and including six months after such given date) at an interest rate of eleven percent (11%) per annum (or, if an Event of Default exists on such given date, at the Default Rate).
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(t) “Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, liabilities, operations, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, individually or taken as a whole, or on the transactions contemplated hereby or on the other Settlement Documents (as defined below), or by the agreements and instruments to be entered into in connection therewith or on the authority or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Settlement Documents.
(u) “Maturity Date” shall mean [ ]1; provided, however, the Maturity Date may be extended at the option of the Holder (i) in the event that, and for so long as, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or any event shall have occurred and be continuing that with the passage of time and the failure to cure would result in an Event of Default or (ii) through the date that is twenty (20) Business Days after the consummation of a Fundamental Transaction in the event that a Fundamental Transaction is publicly announced or an Event of Default Redemption Notice is delivered prior to the Maturity Date.
(v) “New Subsidiary” means, as of any date of determination, any Person in which the Company after the Settlement Date, directly or indirectly, (i) owns or acquires any of the outstanding capital stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person or (ii) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and all of the foregoing, collectively, “New Subsidiaries”.
(w) “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.
(x) “Outstanding Amount” means the sum of (A) the portion of the Principal to be redeemed or otherwise with respect to which this determination is being made, (B) accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such Principal, (C) the Make-Whole Amount , if any, (D) accrued and unpaid Late Charges with respect to such Principal, Make-Whole Amount and Interest.
(y) “Parent Entity” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.
(z) “Permitted Indebtedness” means (i) Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and the Existing Secured Notes, (ii) Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 3(s) to the Settlement Agreement, as in effect as of the Settlement Date and (iii) Indebtedness secured by Permitted Liens or unsecured but as described in clauses (iv) and (v) of the definition of Permitted Liens.
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(aa) “Permitted Liens” means (i) any Lien for taxes not yet due or delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any statutory Lien arising in the ordinary course of business by operation of law with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent, (iii) any Lien created by operation of law, such as materialmen’s liens, mechanics’ liens and other similar liens, arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (iv) Liens (A) upon or in any equipment acquired or held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to secure the purchase price of such equipment or Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition or lease of such equipment, or (B) existing on such equipment at the time of its acquisition, provided that the Lien is confined solely to the property so acquired and improvements thereon, and the proceeds of such equipment, in either case, with respect to Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000, (v) Liens incurred in connection with the extension, renewal or refinancing of the Indebtedness secured by Liens of the type described in clause (iv) above, provided that any extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to the property encumbered by the existing Lien and the principal amount of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed or refinanced does not increase, (vi) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payments of custom duties in connection with the importation of goods, (vii) Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 3(a)(vii) and (viii) Liens with respect to this Note and the Existing Secured Notes.
(bb) “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.
(cc) “Redemption Notices” means, collectively, the Event of Default Redemption Notices, the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notices, the Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notices and the Company Optional Redemption Notices and each of the foregoing, individually, a “Redemption Notice.”
(dd) “Redemption Premium” means 125%.
(ee) “Redemption Prices” means, collectively, Event of Default Redemption Prices, the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Prices, the Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Prices and the Company Optional Redemption Prices, and each of the foregoing, individually, a “Redemption Price.”
(ff) “Settlement Agreement” means that certain securities purchase agreement, dated as of the Settlement Date, by and among the Company and the initial holders of the Notes pursuant to which the Company issued the Notes, as may be amended from time to time.
(gg) “Settlement Date” means December 15, 2024.
(hh) “Settlement Documents” means the Notes, the Settlement Agreement, the Security Agreement and the Guaranties.
(ii) “Subsidiaries” means, as of any date of determination, collectively, all Current Subsidiaries and all New Subsidiaries, and each of the foregoing, individually, a “Subsidiary.”
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(jj) “Subject Entity” means any Person, Persons or Group or any Affiliate or associate of any such Person, Persons or Group.
(kk) “Subsequent Placement” means any direct or indirect issuance, offer, sale, grant of any option or right to purchase, or otherwise dispose of (or announce any issuance, offer, sale, grant of any option or right to purchase or other disposition of) by the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries of any equity security and/or any equity-linked and/or related security (including, without limitation, any “equity security” (as that term is defined under Rule 405 promulgated under the 1933 Act), any Convertible Securities, any Options, any debt, any preferred stock and/or any purchase rights (other than, in each case, Excluded Securities) for gross cash proceeds to the Company and/or its Subsidiaries of not less than $1,000,000 or series of transactions aggregating $1,000,000 or more.
(ll) “Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.
29. DISCLOSURE. Upon delivery by the Company to the Holder (or receipt by the Company from the Holder) of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Note, unless the Company has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company shall on or prior to 9:00 am, New York city time on the Business Day immediately following such notice delivery date, publicly disclose such material, non-public information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that the Company believes that a notice contains material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company so shall indicate to the Holder explicitly in writing in such notice (or immediately upon receipt of notice from the Holder, as applicable), and in the absence of any such written indication in such notice (or notification from the Company immediately upon receipt of notice from the Holder), the Holder shall be entitled to presume that information contained in the notice does not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Nothing contained in this Section 29 shall limit any obligations of the Company, or any rights of the Holder, under the Settlement Agreement.
30. ABSENCE OF TRADING AND DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Holder is not a fiduciary or agent of the Company and that the Holder shall have no obligation to (a) maintain the confidentiality of any information provided by the Company or (b) refrain from trading any securities while in possession of such information in the absence of a written non-disclosure agreement signed by an officer of the Holder that explicitly provides for such confidentiality and trading restrictions. In the absence of such an executed, written non-disclosure agreement, the Company acknowledges that the Holder may freely trade in any securities issued by the Company, may possess and use any information provided by the Company in connection with such trading activity, and may disclose any such information to any third party.
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.
| AVENIR WELLNESS SOLUTIONS, INC., F/K/A CURE PHARMACEUTICAL HOLDING CORP. |
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| By: | /s/ Joel Bennett |
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| Name: Joel Bennett Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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SCHEDULE 11(a) – Existing Secured Note
| 1) | Amended And Restated Senior Secured Promissory Note And Security Agreement dated December 11, 2024 issued to Nancy Duitch. |
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SCHEDULE 11(g) – Permitted Indebtedness
| 1) | Amended And Restated Senior Secured Promissory Note dated December 11, 2024 issued to Nancy Duitch; |
| 2) | Bridge Financing (pending) – Senior Subordinated Notes in the principal amount of up to $1,500,000 to be issued as provided for in the Note; |
| 3) | Bridge Note dated June 28, 2024 issued to 1800 Diagonal Lending LLC (Note 1); |
| 4) | Bridge Note dated June 28, 2024 issued to 1800 Diagonal Lending LLC (Note 2); |
| 5) | Premium Finance Agreement dated November 11, 2024 with First Insurance Funding (Quote #[***] – Policy year 9/6/2024 - 9/6/2025) – annual premium financing agreement relating to the Company’s general liability insurance policy; renews each September; and |
| 6) | Premium Finance Agreement dated December 2, 2024 with First Insurance Funding (Quote #[***] – Policy year 11/30/2024 - 11/30/2025) – annual premium financing agreement relating to the Company’s directors & officers liability insurance policy; renews each November. |
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SCHEDULE 11(p) — Company Locations
| 1) | 15233 Ventura Blvd., Suite 400, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403; |
| 2) | 5805 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 801, Sherman Oaks, CA 91411; |
| 3) | The Sera Labs, Inc. c/o Jet Mail/Great Lakes Fulfillment, 41 Canal St., Lewiston, ME 04240; |
| 4) | The Sera Labs, Inc. c/o Concept Matrix Solutions, Inc., 3481 Old Conejo Road, Suite 103, Newbury Park, CA 91320; and |
| 5) | The Sera Labs, Inc. c/o KDC/One Socal Laboratories, LLC, 20501 Earlgate St., Walnut, CA 91789. |
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SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT
SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of December 15, 2024 (this “Agreement”), made by Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc., a company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, with offices located at 15233 Ventura Blvd., Suite 420, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 (the “Company”), and each of the undersigned direct and indirect and direct Subsidiaries (as defined below) of the Company from time to time, if any (each a “Grantor” and together with the Company, collectively, the “Grantors”), in favor of Ionic Ventures LLC, California limited liability company with its principal place of business at 3053 Fillmore Street in San Francisco, California, in its capacity as collateral agent (together with its successors and assignees, in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”) for the Holders (as defined below) party to the Settlement Agreement (as defined below).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company is party to that certain Settlement Agreement with Mutual Releases, dated as of December 15, 2024 (the “Settlement Agreement”), by and between the Company and Ionic Ventures LLC, as initial Holder, pursuant to which the Company shall be required to sell, and the Holders shall purchase or have the right to purchase, the “Notes” issued pursuant thereto (as such Notes may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated, exchanged or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, collectively, the “Notes”);
WHEREAS, certain Grantors (other than the Company) from time to time (each a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “Guarantors”) may execute and deliver one or more guarantees (each, a “Guaranty” and collectively, the “Guaranties”) in form and substance acceptable to and in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of itself and the Holders, with respect to the Company’s obligations under the Settlement Agreement, the Notes and the other Settlement Documents;
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the Holders’ obligation to purchase the Notes that the Grantors shall have executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent this Agreement providing for the grant to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of itself and the Holders, of a valid, enforceable, and perfected security interest in all personal property of each Grantor to secure all of the Company’s obligations under the Settlement Documents and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Guaranties, as applicable; and
WHEREAS, the Grantors are Affiliates that are part of a common enterprise such that each Grantor will derive substantial direct and indirect financial and other benefits from the consummation of the transactions contemplated under the Settlement Documents and, accordingly, the consummation of such transactions are in the best interests of each Grantor;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements herein and in order to induce the Holders to perform under the Settlement Agreement, each Grantor agrees with the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders, as follows:
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SECTION 1. Definitions.
(a) Reference is hereby made to the Settlement Agreement and the Notes for a statement of the terms thereof. All terms used in this Agreement and the recitals hereto which are defined in the Settlement Agreement, the Notes or in the Code, and which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as set forth therein; provided that terms used herein which are defined in the Code on the date hereof shall continue to have the same meaning notwithstanding any replacement or amendment of the Code except as the Collateral Agent may otherwise determine in its sole and absolute discretion.
(b) Without limiting the generality of, and subject to the proviso at the end of, Section 1(a) of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings provided for in the Code: “Accounts”, “Account Debtor”, “Cash Proceeds”, “Certificate of Title”, “Chattel Paper”, “Commercial Tort Claim”, “Commodity Account”, “Commodity Contracts”, “Deposit Account”, “Documents”, “Electronic Chattel Paper”, “Equipment”, “Fixtures”, “General Intangibles”, “Goods”, “Instruments”, “Inventory”, “Investment Property”, “Letter-of-Credit Rights”, “Noncash Proceeds”, “Payment Intangibles”, “Proceeds”, “Promissory Notes”, “Security”, “Record”, “Security Account”, “Software”, “Supporting Obligations” and “Uncertificated Securities”.
(c) As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings indicated below, such meanings to be applicable equally to both the singular and plural forms of such terms:
“Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person and any officer or director of such Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to be “controlled by” any other Person if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 10% or more of the securities (on a fully diluted basis) having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or managers or power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq. (or other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws).
“Bankruptcy Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in the Note.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any Governmental Authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
“Holder” or “Holders” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
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“Capital Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock (including, without limitation, any warrants, options, rights or other securities exercisable or convertible into equity interests or securities of such Person), and (ii) with respect to any Person that is not an individual or a corporation, any and all partnership, membership, trust or other equity interests of such Person.
“Closing Date” means the date the Company initially issues the Notes pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement.
“Code” means Articles 8 or 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non- perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.
“Collateral” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of this Agreement. “Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto. “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
“Controlled Account Agreement” means a deposit account control agreement or securities account control agreement with respect to a Pledged Account, pursuant to which the Collateral Agent is granted control over such Pledged Account in a manner that perfects its security interest in such Pledged Account under applicable law, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced from time to time.
“Controlled Account Bank” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(i) of this Agreement.
“Controlled Accounts” means the Deposit Accounts, Commodity Accounts, Securities Accounts, and/or Foreign Currency Controlled Account of the Grantors listed on Schedule IV attached hereto.
“Copyright Licenses” means all licenses, contracts or other agreements, whether written or oral, naming any Grantor as licensee or licensor and providing for the grant of any right to use or sell any works covered by any Copyright (including, without limitation, all Copyright Licenses set forth in Schedule II hereto).
“Copyrights” means all domestic and foreign copyrights, whether registered or not, including, without limitation, all copyright rights throughout the universe (whether now or hereafter arising) in any and all media (whether now or hereafter developed), in and to all original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, acquired or used by any Grantor (including, without limitation, all copyrights described in Schedule II hereto), all applications, registrations and recordings thereof (including, without limitation, applications, registrations and recordings in the United States Copyright Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof), and all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part and extensions or renewals thereof.
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“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than a Foreign Subsidiary.
“Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) of the Notes.
“Excluded Collateral” means such portion of the voting Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary in excess of 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Capital Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary at any time the pledging of more than 65% of the total outstanding voting Capital Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary would result in a material adverse tax consequence to a Grantor.
“Foreign Currency Controlled Accounts” means any Controlled Account of a Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries holding a deposit denominated in a currency other than United States dollar.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of a Grantor organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any of the states thereof, Puerto Rico or the District of Columbia.
“GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any Federal, state, city, town, municipality, county, local, foreign or other political subdivision thereof or thereto and any department, commission, board, bureau, court, tribunal, instrumentality, agency or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
“Guaranteed Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2 of each Guaranty.
“Guarantor” or “Guarantors” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Guaranty” or “Guaranties” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Insolvency Proceeding” means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under any provision of the Bankruptcy Code or under any other bankruptcy or insolvency law or law for the relief of debtors, any proceeding relating to assignments for the benefit of creditors, formal or informal moratoria, compositions, or extensions generally with creditors, or any proceeding seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other similar relief.
“Intellectual Property” means, collectively, all intellectual property rights and assets, and all rights, interests and protections that are associated with, similar to, or required for the exercise of, any of the foregoing, however arising, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world, whether registered or unregistered, including, without limitation, any and all: (a) Trademarks; (b) internet domain names, whether or not trademarks, registered in any top-level domain by any authorized private registrar or Governmental Authority, web addresses, web pages, websites and related content; (c) accounts with YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and other social media companies and the content found thereon (to the extent that such accounts and content are transferable pursuant to the terms, conditions, and policies of each applicable social media platform); (d) Copyrights; (e) Patents; and (f) business and technical information, databases, data collections and other confidential and proprietary information and all rights therein.
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“Intellectual Property Security Agreement” means the Intellectual Property Security Agreement required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6(h)(i) of this Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
“Licenses” means, collectively, the Copyright Licenses, the Trademark Licenses and the Patent Licenses.
“Lien” means any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, adverse claim or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets.
“Holders” means, at any time, the holders of the Notes at such time. “Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement.
“Paid in Full” or “Payment in Full” means the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all of the Obligations.
“Patent Licenses” means all licenses, contracts or other agreements, whether written or oral, naming any Grantor as licensee or licensor and providing for the grant of any right to manufacture, use or sell any invention covered by any Patent (including, without limitation, all Patent Licenses set forth in Schedule II hereto).
“Patents” means all domestic and foreign letters patent, design patents, utility patents, industrial designs, inventions, trade secrets, ideas, concepts, methods, techniques, processes, proprietary information, technology, know-how, formulae, rights of publicity and other general intangibles of like nature, now existing or hereafter acquired (including, without limitation, all domestic and foreign letters patent, design patents, utility patents, industrial designs, inventions, trade secrets, ideas, concepts, methods, techniques, processes, proprietary information, technology, know-how and formulae described in Schedule II hereto), all applications, registrations and recordings thereof (including, without limitation, applications, registrations and recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or in any similar office or agency of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof), and all reissues, reexaminations, divisions, continuations, continuations in part and extensions or renewals thereof.
“Perfection Requirement” or “Perfection Requirements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(j) of this Agreement.
“Permitted Liens” shall have the meaning set forth in the Notes.
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“Person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture or other enterprise or entity or Governmental Authority.
“Pledged Accounts” means all of each Grantor’s right, title and interest in all of its Deposit Accounts, Commodity Accounts and Securities Accounts (in all cases, including, without limitation, all Controlled Accounts and Foreign Currency Control Accounts).
“Pledged Collateral” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Pledged Debt” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Pledged Entity” means, each Person listed from time to time on Schedule IV hereto as a “Pledged Entity,” together with each other Person, any right in or interest in or to all or a portion of whose Securities or Capital Stock is acquired or otherwise owned by a Grantor after the date hereof.
“Pledged Equity” means all of each Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to all of the Securities and Capital Stock now or hereafter owned by such Grantor (including, without limitation, those interests listed opposite the name of such Grantor on Schedule IV), regardless of class or designation, including all substitutions therefor and replacements thereof, all proceeds thereof and all rights relating thereto, also including, without limitation, any certificates representing such Securities and/or Capital Stock, the right to receive any certificates representing any of such Securities and/or Capital Stock, all warrants, options, subscription, 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.
“Pledged Operating Agreements” means all of each Grantor’s rights, powers and remedies under the limited liability company operating agreements of each of the Pledged Entities that is a limited liability company, as may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced from time to time.
“Pledged Partnership Agreements” means all of each Grantor’s rights, powers, and remedies under the general or limited partnership agreements of each of the Pledged Entities that is a general or limited partnership, as may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced from time to time.
“Pledged Securities” means any Promissory Notes, stock certificates, limited liability membership interests or other Securities, certificates or Instruments now or hereafter included in the Pledged Collateral, including all Pledged Equity, Pledged Debt and all other certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing any Pledged Collateral.
“Settlement Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
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“Subsidiary” means any Person in which a Grantor directly or indirectly, (i) owns any of the outstanding Capital Stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person or (ii) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and all of the foregoing, collectively, “Subsidiaries”.
“Trademark Licenses” means all licenses, contracts or other agreements, whether written or oral, naming any Grantor as licensor or licensee and providing for the grant of any right concerning any Trademark, together with any goodwill connected with and symbolized by any such licenses, contracts or agreements and the right to prepare for sale or lease and sell or lease any and all Inventory now or hereafter owned by any Grantor and now or hereafter covered by such licenses, contracts or agreements (including, without limitation, all Trademark Licenses described in Schedule II hereto).
“Trademarks” means all domestic and foreign trademarks, service marks, collective marks, certification marks, trade names, business names, d/b/a’s, assumed names, Internet domain names, trade styles, designs, logos and other source or business identifiers and all general intangibles of like nature, now or hereafter owned, adopted, acquired or used by any Grantor (including, without limitation, all domestic and foreign trademarks, service marks, collective marks, certification marks, trade names, business names, d/b/a’s, assumed names, Internet domain names, trade styles, designs, logos and other source or business identifiers described in Schedule II hereto), all applications, registrations and recordings thereof (including, without limitation, applications, registrations and recordings 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), and all reissues, extensions or renewals thereof, together with all goodwill of the business symbolized by such marks and all customer lists, formulae and other Records of any Grantor relating to the distribution of products and services in connection with which any of such marks are used.
SECTION 2. Pledge of Pledged Collateral.
(a) As collateral security for the due and punctual payment and performance in full of the Obligations, as and when due, each Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders, a continuing Lien on and security interest in, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all of the following, wherever located and whether now or hereafter existing and whether now owned or hereafter acquired: (i) the Pledged Equity; (ii) all Promissory Notes, Security and Instruments evidencing debt now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by it (including, without limitation, those listed opposite the name of such Grantor on Schedule IV) (the “Pledged Debt”); (iii) subject to Section 2(g) and 2(h), all payments of principal or interest, dividends, distributions, cash, Promissory Notes, Securities, Instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other Proceeds received in respect of, the Pledged Equity and the Pledged Debt; (iv) all rights and privileges of such Grantor with respect to the Securities and other property referred to in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) above; and (v) all Proceeds of, and Security Entitlements in respect of, any of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses (a) through (v) above being collectively referred to as the “Pledged Collateral”); provided that the Pledged Collateral shall not include any item referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above if, for so long as and to the extent such item constitutes Excluded Collateral.
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(b) On the Closing Date (in the case of any Grantor that grants a Lien on any of its assets hereunder on the Closing Date) or on the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6(m) (in the case of any other Grantor), each Grantor shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent any and all Pledged Securities (other than any Uncertificated Securities, but only for so long as such Securities remain uncertificated) to the extent such Pledged Securities, in the case of Promissory Notes and other Instruments evidencing debt, are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2(c). Thereafter, whenever such Grantor acquires any other Pledged Security (other than any Uncertificated Securities, but only for so long as such Uncertificated Securities remain uncertificated), such Grantor shall promptly, and in any event within 30 days (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree to in writing), deliver or cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent such Pledged Security as Collateral hereunder to the extent such Pledged Securities, in the case of Promissory Notes and Instruments evidencing debt, are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2(c).
(c) Each Grantor will cause all debt for borrowed money in an aggregate principal amount of $10,000 or more owed to such Grantor by any other Person to be evidenced by a duly executed Promissory Note, and shall cause each such Promissory Note to be pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent, (i) on the date hereof, in the case of any such debt existing on the date hereof (or, in the case of any Grantor that becomes a party hereto after the date hereof, on the date such Grantor becomes a party hereto, in the case of any such debt existing on such date) or (ii) promptly following the incurrence thereof, in the case of any such debt incurred after the date hereof (or such other date), in each case pursuant to the terms hereof.
(d) Upon delivery to the Collateral Agent, (i) any Pledged Securities required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2(b) and/or 2(c) shall be accompanied by undated stock or note powers duly executed by the applicable Grantor in blank or other instruments of transfer reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and by such other instruments and documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to effect the transfer of such Pledged Securities and (ii) all other property comprising part of the Pledged Collateral required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2(b) and/or 2(c) shall be accompanied by undated proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable Grantor and such other instruments or documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to effect transfer of such Pledged Collateral. Each delivery of Pledged Securities or other Pledged Collateral shall be accompanied by a schedule describing such Pledged Securities or Pledged Collateral, as the case may be, which schedule shall be deemed to supplement Schedule IV and be made a part hereof; provided that failure to attach any such schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of such pledge of such Pledged Securities. Each schedule so delivered shall supplement any prior schedules so delivered.
(e) The assignment, pledge, Lien and security interest granted in Section 2(a) are granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any Holder to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Pledged Collateral.
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(f) If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and, other than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower of its intent to exercise such rights, (a) the Collateral Agent, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to cause each of the Pledged Securities to be transferred of record into the name of the Collateral Agent or into the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Collateral Agent and (b) to the extent permitted by the documentation governing such Pledged Securities and applicable law, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement. Each Grantor will promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies of any material notices received by it with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of such Grantor. Each Grantor will take any and all actions reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to facilitate compliance with this Section 2(f).
(g) Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and, other than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Grantors that the rights of the Grantors under this Section 2(g) are being suspended:
(i) Each Grantor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the other Settlement Documents.
(ii) The Collateral Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to each Grantor, or cause to be executed and delivered to such Grantor, all such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as such Grantor may reasonably request in writing for the purpose of enabling such Grantor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 2(g)(i), in each case as shall be specified in such request.
(iii) Each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Collateral, to the extent (and only to the extent) that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, the other Settlement Documents and applicable laws; provided that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Equity or Pledged Debt, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding equity interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and, if received by any Grantor, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and shall, to the extent required by Section 2(b) and/or 2(c) be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement or documents set forth in Section 2(d) or as otherwise reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent). So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver to each Grantor any Pledged Securities in its possession if requested to be delivered to the issuer thereof in connection with any exchange or redemption of such Pledged Securities.
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(h) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and, other than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, after the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Grantors of the suspension of the rights of the Grantors under Section 2(g)(iii), all rights of any Grantor to dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor is authorized to receive pursuant to Section 2(g)(iii) shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions as part of the Pledged Collateral, subject to Section 2(k) and the last sentence of this Section 2(h). All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by any Grantor contrary to the provisions of Section 2(g) or this Section 2(h) shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent upon demand in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(g) and/or this Section 2(h) shall be retained by the Collateral Agent in an account to be established by the Collateral Agent upon receipt of such money or other property, shall be held as security for the payment and performance of the Obligations and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 8. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, and the Grantors have delivered to the Collateral Agent a certificate of an executive officer to such effect, the Collateral Agent shall promptly repay to each Grantor (without interest) all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor would otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of Section 2(g)(iii) in the absence of an Event of Default and that remain in such account.
(i) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and, other than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, after the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Grantors of the suspension of the rights of the Grantors under Section 2(g)(i), all rights of any Grantor to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 2(g)(i), and the obligations of the Collateral Agent under Section 2(g)(ii), shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers subject to Section 2(k) and the last sentence of this Section 2(i); provided that, the Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, and the Grantors have delivered to the Collateral Agent a certificate of an executive officer to such effect, each Grantor shall have the exclusive right to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Grantor would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of Section 2(g)(i), and the obligations of the Collateral Agent under Section 2(g)(ii) shall be reinstated.
(j) Any notice given by the Collateral Agent to the Grantors under Section 2(f) or Section 2(g) (i) may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing, (ii) may be given with respect to one or more of the Grantors at the same or different times and (iii) may suspend the rights of the Grantors under Section 2(g)(i) or 2(g)(iii) in part without suspending all such rights (as specified by the Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the Collateral Agent’s rights to give additional notices from time to time suspending other rights so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
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(k) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to make the Collateral Agent or any Holder liable as a member of any limited liability company or as a partner of any partnership, and neither the Collateral Agent nor any Holder by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise (except as referred to in the following sentence) shall have any of the duties, obligations or liabilities of a member of any limited liability company or as a partner in any partnership. The parties hereto expressly agree that, unless the Collateral Agent shall become the absolute owner of Pledged Equity consisting of a limited liability company interest or a partnership interest pursuant hereto, this Agreement shall not be construed as creating a partnership or joint venture among the Collateral Agent, any Holder, any Grantor and/or any other Person.
SECTION 3. Grant of Security Interest
(a) As collateral security for the due and punctual payment and performance in full of the Obligations, as and when due, each Grantor hereby pledges and assigns to the Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders, a continuing Lien on and security interest in, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all personal property and assets of such Grantor, wherever located and whether now or hereafter existing and whether now owned or hereafter acquired, of every kind, nature and description, whether tangible or intangible (together with the Pledged Collateral, the “Collateral”), including, without limitation, the following:
(i) all Accounts;
(ii) all Chattel Paper (whether tangible or Electronic Chattel Paper);
(iii) all Commercial Tort Claims, including, without limitation, those specified on Schedule VI hereto;
(iv) all Documents;
(v) all Equipment;
(vi) all Fixtures;
(vii) all General Intangibles (including, without limitation, all Payment Intangibles);
(viii) all Goods;
(ix) all Instruments;
(x) all Inventory;
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(xi) all Investment Property (and, regardless of whether classified as Investment Property under the Code, all Pledged Equity, Pledged Operating Agreements and Pledged Partnership Agreements);
(xii) all Intellectual Property and all Licenses;
(xiii) all Letter-of-Credit Rights;
(xiv) all Pledged Accounts, all cash and other property from time to time deposited therein, and all monies and property in the possession or under the control of the Collateral Agent or any Holder or any Affiliate, representative, agent or correspondent of the Collateral Agent or any such Holder;
(xv) all Supporting Obligations;
(xvi) all other tangible and intangible personal property of each Grantor (whether or not subject to the Code), including, without limitation, all Deposit Accounts and other accounts and all cash and all investments therein, all proceeds, products, offspring, accessions, rents, profits, income, benefits, substitutions and replacements of and to any of the property of any Grantor described in the preceding clauses of this Section 3(a) (including, without limitation, any proceeds of insurance thereon and all causes of action, claims and warranties now or hereafter held by each Grantor in respect of any of the items listed above), and all books, correspondence, files and other Records, including, without limitation, all tapes, desks, cards, Software, data and computer programs in the possession or under the control of any Grantor or any other Person from time to time acting for any Grantor, in each case, to the extent of such Grantor’s rights therein, that at any time evidence or contain information relating to any of the property described in the preceding clauses of this Section 3(a) or are otherwise necessary or helpful in the collection or realization thereof; and
(xvii) all Proceeds, including all Cash Proceeds and Noncash Proceeds, and products of any and all of the foregoing Collateral;
in each case howsoever any Grantor’s interest therein may arise or appear (whether by ownership, security interest, claim or otherwise).
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the term “Collateral” shall not include any Excluded Collateral.
(c) Except for the Permitted Liens existing as of the date hereof, each Grantor agrees not to further encumber, or permit any other Lien to exist that encumbers, any of its Intellectual Property, including, without limitation, any of its Copyrights, Copyright applications, Copyright registrations and like protections in each work of authorship and derivative work, whether published or unpublished, Licenses, Patents, Patent applications and like protections, including, without limitation, improvements, divisions, continuations, renewals, reissues, extensions, and continuations-in-part of the same, Trademarks, service marks and, to the extent permitted under applicable law, any applications therefor, whether registered or not, and the goodwill of the business of such Grantor connected with and symbolized thereby, know-how, operating manuals, trade secret rights, rights to unpatented inventions, and any claims for damage by way of any past, present, or future infringement of any of the foregoing, in each case without the Collateral Agent’s prior written consent (which consent may be withheld or given in the Collateral Agent’s sole and absolute discretion).
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(d) Each Grantor agrees that the pledge of the shares of Capital Stock acquired by such Grantor of any and all Persons now or hereafter existing that is a Foreign Subsidiary may be supplemented by one or more separate pledge agreements, deeds of pledge, share charges or other similar agreements or instruments, executed and delivered by such Grantor in favor of the Collateral Agent, which agreements or instruments will provide for the pledge of such shares of Capital Stock and perfection of the Lien on such shares in accordance with the laws of the applicable foreign jurisdiction. With respect to such shares of Capital Stock, the Collateral Agent may, at any time and from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion, take such actions in such foreign jurisdictions that will result in the perfection of the Lien created in such shares of Capital Stock.
(e) In addition, to secure the due and punctual payment and performance in full of the Obligations, as and when due, and in order to induce the Holders as aforesaid, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders, a right of set-off against the property of such Grantor held by the Collateral Agent, for itself and for the ratable benefit of the Holders, consisting of property described above in Section 2(a) and/or Section 3(a) now or hereafter in the possession or custody of or in transit to the Collateral Agent, for any purpose, including safekeeping, collection or pledge, for the account of such Grantor, or as to which such Grantor may have any right or power; provided that such right shall only to be exercised after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 4. Security for Obligations. The Lien and security interest created hereby in the Collateral constitutes continuing collateral security for all of the following obligations, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, and whether now existing or hereafter incurred (collectively, the “Obligations”):
(a) (i) the payment by the Company and each other Grantor, as and when due and payable (by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), of all amounts from time to time owing by it in respect of the Settlement Agreement, this Agreement, the Notes and the other Settlement Documents, and (ii) in the case of the Guarantors, the payment by such Guarantors, as and when due and payable of all Guaranteed Obligations under the Guaranties, including, without limitation, in both cases, (A) all principal of, interest, make-whole and other amounts on the Notes (including, without limitation, all interest, make-whole and other amounts that accrues after the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding of any Grantor, whether or not the payment of such interest is enforceable or is allowable in such Insolvency Proceeding), and (B) all fees, interest, premiums, penalties, contract causes of action, costs, commissions, expense reimbursements, indemnifications and all other amounts due or to become due under this Agreement or any of the other Settlement Documents; and
(b) the due and punctual performance and observance by each Grantor of all of its other obligations from time to time existing in respect of any of the other Settlement Documents, including without limitation, with respect to any conversion or redemption rights of the Holders under the Notes.
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SECTION 5. Representations and Warranties. Each Grantor represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Schedule I hereto sets forth (i) the exact legal name of each Grantor, and (ii) the state of incorporation, organization or formation and the organizational identification number of each Grantor in such state. The information set forth in Schedule I hereto with respect to such Grantor is true and accurate in all respects. Such Grantor has not previously changed its name (or operated under any other name), jurisdiction of organization or organizational identification number from those set forth in Schedule I hereto except as disclosed in Schedule I hereto.
(b) There is no pending or, to its knowledge, written notice threatening any action, suit, proceeding or claim affecting any Grantor before any Governmental Authority or any arbitrator, or any order, judgment or award issued by any Governmental Authority or arbitrator, in each case, that may adversely affect the grant by any Grantor, or the perfection, of the Lien and security interest purported to be created hereby in the Collateral, or the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights or remedies hereunder.
(c) All Federal, state and local tax returns and other reports required by applicable law to be filed by any Grantor have been filed, or extensions have been obtained, and all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies imposed upon any Grantor or any property of any Grantor (including, without limitation, all federal income and social security taxes on employees’ wages) and which have become due and payable on or prior to the date hereof have been paid, except to the extent contested in good faith by proper proceedings which stay the imposition of any penalty, fine or Lien resulting from the non-payment thereof and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof in accordance with GAAP.
(d) All Equipment, Fixtures, Goods and Inventory of each Grantor now existing are, and all Equipment, Fixtures, Goods and Inventory of each Grantor hereafter existing will be, located and/or based at the addresses specified therefor in Schedule III hereto, except that each Grantor will give the Collateral Agent written notice of any change in the location of any such Collateral within 20 days of such change, other than to locations set forth on Schedule III hereto (and with respect to which the Collateral Agent has filed financing statements and otherwise fully perfected its Liens thereon). Each Grantor’s principal place of business and chief executive office, the place where each Grantor keeps its Records concerning the Collateral and all originals of all Chattel Paper in which any Grantor has any right, title or interest are located and will continue to be located at the addresses specified therefor in Schedule III hereto. None of the Accounts in which any Grantor has any right, title or interest is or will be evidenced by Promissory Notes or other Instruments.
(e) Set forth in Schedule IV hereto is a complete and accurate list, as of the date of this Agreement, of (i) all Pledged Debt, specifying the debtor thereof and the outstanding principal amount thereof as of the Closing Date, Securities and other Instruments in which any Grantor has any right, title or interest, (ii) each Pledged Account of each Grantor, together with the name and address of each institution at which each such Pledged Account is maintained, the account number for each such Pledged Account and a description of the purpose of each such Pledged Account and (iii) the name of each Foreign Currency Controlled Account of each Grantor, together with the name and address of each institution at which each such Foreign Currency Controlled Account is maintained and the amount of cash or cash equivalents held in each such Foreign Currency Controlled Account. Set forth in Schedule II hereto is a complete and correct list of each trade name used by each Grantor and the name of, and each trade name used by, each Person from which each Grantor has acquired any substantial part of the Collateral. All of the Pledged Debt, to the best of the Grantors’ knowledge (provided that no such knowledge qualification applies to Pledged Debt issued by a Grantor or a Subsidiary), is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the issuer thereof, enforceable against such issuer in accordance with its terms.
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(f) Each Grantor has delivered to the Collateral Agent complete and correct copies of each License described in Schedule II hereto, including all schedules and exhibits thereto, which represent all of the Licenses of the Grantors existing on the date of this Agreement. Each such License sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties thereto relating to the subject matter thereof, and there are no other agreements, arrangements or understandings, written or oral, relating to the matters covered thereby or the rights of such Grantor or any of its Affiliates in respect thereof. Each material License now existing is, and any material License entered into in the future will be, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the parties thereto, enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms. No default under any material License by any such party has occurred, nor does any defense, offset, deduction or counterclaim exist thereunder in favor of any such party.
(g) Each Grantor owns and controls, or otherwise possesses adequate rights to use, all of its Intellectual Property, which is the only Intellectual Property necessary to conduct its business in substantially the same manner as conducted as of the date hereof. Schedule II hereto sets forth a true and complete list of all Intellectual Property and Licenses owned or used by each Grantor as of the date hereof, and applications for grant or registration of Intellectual Property. To the knowledge of each Grantor, all such Intellectual Property of such Grantor is subsisting and in full force and effect, has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, is valid and enforceable and has not been abandoned in whole or in part. Except as set forth in Schedule II, no such Intellectual Property is the subject of any licensing or franchising agreement. Except as set forth in Schedule II, no Grantor has any knowledge of any infringement upon or conflict with the Patent, Trademark, Copyright, trade secret rights of others and, each Grantor is not now infringing or in conflict with any Patent, Trademark, Copyright, trade secret or similar rights of others, and to the knowledge of each Grantor, no other Person is now infringing or in conflict in any material respect with any such properties, assets and rights owned or used by each Grantor. No Grantor has received any notice that it is violating or has violated the Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, inventions, trade secrets, proprietary information and technology, know-how, formulae, rights of publicity or other intellectual property rights of any third party.
(h) Each Grantor is and will be at all times the sole and exclusive owner of the Collateral in which such Grantor has granted a Lien and security interest hereunder free and clear of any Liens, except for (i) Permitted Liens thereon and (ii) certain Intellectual Property rights of the Company which is jointly owned by the Company with certain third parties as described in Schedule II hereto. No effective financing statement or other instrument similar in effect covering all or any part of the Collateral is on file in any recording or filing office except such as (i) may have been filed in favor of the Collateral Agent and/or the Holders relating to this Agreement or the other Settlement Documents, or (ii) are intended to perfect Permitted Liens existing as of the date hereof and disclosed on Schedule VII hereto.
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(i) The exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights and remedies hereunder will not contravene any law or any contractual restriction binding on or otherwise affecting any Grantor or any of its properties and will not result in or require the creation of any Lien, upon or with respect to any of its properties other than as granted pursuant to this Agreement.
(j) No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority, is required for (i) the grant by each Grantor, or the perfection, of the Lien and security interest purported to be created hereby in the Collateral, or (ii) the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights and remedies hereunder, except for (A) the filing under the Code as in effect in the applicable jurisdiction of the financing statements described in Schedule V hereto, all of which financing statements have been duly filed and are in full force and effect, (B) with respect to all Pledged Accounts, and all cash and other property from time to time deposited therein, the execution of a Controlled Account Agreement with the depository or other institution with which the applicable Pledged Accounts are maintained, as provided in Section 6(h)(i), (C) with respect to Commodity Contracts, the execution of a control agreement with the commodity intermediary with which such Commodity Contract is carried, as provided in Section 6(h)(i), (D) with respect to the perfection of the security interest created hereby in the United States Intellectual Property and Licenses, the recording of the appropriate Intellectual Property Security Agreement in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, (E) with respect to the perfection of the security interest created hereby in foreign Intellectual Property and Licenses, registrations and filings in jurisdictions located outside of the United States and covering rights in such jurisdictions relating to such foreign Intellectual Property and Licenses, (F) with respect to the perfection of the security interest created hereby in any Letter-of-Credit Rights, the consent of the issuer of the applicable letter of credit to the assignment of proceeds as provided in the Code as in effect in the applicable jurisdiction, (G) with respect to Investment Property constituting uncertificated securities, the applicable Grantor causing the issuer thereof either (i) to register the Collateral Agent as the registered owner of such securities or (ii) to agree in an authenticated record with such Grantor and the Collateral Agent that such issuer will comply with instructions with respect to such securities originated by the Collateral Agent without further consent of such Grantor, such authenticated record to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, (H) with respect to Investment Property constituting certificated securities or instruments, such items to be delivered to and held by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent pursuant hereto in suitable form for transfer by delivery or accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, (I) with respect to any action that may be necessary to obtain control of Collateral constituting Commodity Contracts, Electronic Chattel Paper or Letter of Credit Rights, the taking of such actions, and (J) the Collateral Agent having possession of all Documents, Chattel Paper, Instruments and cash constituting Collateral (subclauses (A) through (J) each a “Perfection Requirement” and collectively, the “Perfection Requirements”).
(k) This Agreement creates in favor of the Collateral Agent a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on and security interest in the Collateral, as security for the Obligations. The performance of the Perfection Requirements results in the perfection of such Lien on and security interest in the Collateral. Such Lien and security interest is (or in the case of Collateral in which any Grantor obtains any right, title or interest after the date hereof, will be), subject only to Permitted Liens and the Perfection Requirements, a first priority, valid, enforceable and perfected Lien on and security interest in all personal property of each Grantor (other than Excluded Collateral). Such recordings and filings and all other action necessary to perfect and protect such Lien and security interest have been duly taken (and, in the case of Collateral in which any Grantor obtains right, title or interest after the date hereof, will be duly taken), except for the Collateral Agent’s having possession of all Documents, Chattel Paper, Instruments and cash constituting Collateral after the date hereof and the other actions, filings and recordations described above, including the Perfection Requirements.
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(l) As of the date hereof, no Grantor holds any Commercial Tort Claims or has knowledge of any pending Commercial Tort Claims, except for the Commercial Tort Claims described in Schedule VI.
(m) All of the Pledged Equity is presently owned by the applicable Grantor as set forth in Schedule IV free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, and is presently represented by the certificates listed on Schedule IV hereto (if applicable). As of the date hereof, there are no existing options, warrants, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to the Pledged Equity other than as contemplated and permitted by the Settlement Documents. Each Grantor is the sole holder of record and the sole beneficial owner of the Pledged Equity, as applicable. None of the Pledged Equity has been issued or transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject. The Pledged Equity constitutes 100% or such other percentage as set forth on Schedule IV of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the applicable Pledged Entity. All of the Pledged Equity has been duly and validly authorized and issued by the issuer thereof and (i) in the case of Pledged Equity (other than Pledged Equity consisting of limited liability company interests or partnership interests which, pursuant to the relevant organizational or formation documents, cannot be fully paid and non-assessable), is fully paid and non-assessable.
(n) Such Grantor (i) is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership, as applicable, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation, (ii) has all requisite corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership power and authority to conduct its business as now conducted and as presently contemplated and to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other Settlement Document to which such Grantor is a party, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (iii) is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(o) The execution, delivery and performance by each Grantor of this Agreement and each other Settlement Document to which such Grantor is a party (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership action, (ii) do not and will not contravene its charter or by-laws, limited liability company or operating agreement, certificate of partnership or partnership agreement, as applicable, or any applicable law or any contractual restriction binding on such Grantor or its properties, (iii) do not and will not result in or require the creation of any Lien (other than pursuant to any Settlement Document) upon or with respect to any of its assets or properties, and (iv) do not and will not result in any default, noncompliance, suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal of any material permit, license, authorization or approval applicable to it or its operations or any of its assets or properties.
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(p) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Grantor and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Grantor, enforceable against such Grantor in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, suretyship or other similar laws and equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law). Each of the other Settlement Documents to which any Grantor is or will be a party, when delivered, duly executed and delivered by such Grantor and the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Grantor, enforceable against such Grantor in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, suretyship or other similar laws and equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).
(q) There are no conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement that have not been satisfied or waived.
SECTION 6. Covenants as to the Collateral. Until all of the Obligations shall have been fully performed and Paid in Full, unless the Collateral Agent shall otherwise consent in writing (in its sole and absolute discretion):
(a) Further Assurances. Each Grantor will, at its expense, at any time and from time to time, promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents and take all further action that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to: (i) perfect and protect the Lien and security interest of the Collateral Agent created hereby; (ii) enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder in respect of the Collateral, including, without limitation, the Controlled Accounts; or (iii) otherwise effect the purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation: (A) marking conspicuously all Chattel Paper and each License and, at the request of the Collateral Agent, each of its Records pertaining to the Collateral with a legend, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, indicating that such Chattel Paper, License or Collateral is subject to the Lien and security interest created hereby, (B) delivering and pledging to the Collateral Agent each Promissory Note, Security (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3), Chattel Paper or other Instrument, now or hereafter owned by any Grantor, duly endorsed and accompanied by executed instruments of transfer or assignment, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, (C) executing and filing (to the extent, if any, that any Grantor’s signature is required thereon) or authenticating the filing of, such financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto, as may be necessary or that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to perfect and preserve the security interest created hereby, (D) furnishing to the Collateral Agent from time to time statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other reports in connection with the Collateral in each case as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail, (E) if any Collateral shall be in the possession of a third party, notifying such Person of the Collateral Agent’s security interest created hereby and obtaining a written acknowledgment from such Person, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, that such Person holds possession of the Collateral for the benefit of the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders), (F) if at any time after the date hereof, any Grantor acquires or holds any Commercial Tort Claim, promptly notifying the Collateral Agent in a writing signed by such Grantor setting forth a brief description of such Commercial Tort Claim and granting to the Collateral Agent a Lien and security interest therein and in the Proceeds thereof, which writing shall incorporate the provisions hereof and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, (G) upon the acquisition after the date hereof by any Grantor of any motor vehicle or other Equipment subject to a certificate of title or ownership (other than a motor vehicle or Equipment that is subject to a purchase money security interest), causing the Collateral Agent to be listed as the lienholder on such certificate of title or ownership and delivering evidence of the same to the Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 6(j) hereof; and (H) taking all actions required by the Code or by other law, as applicable, in any relevant Code jurisdiction, or by other law as applicable in any foreign jurisdiction.
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(b) Location of Collateral. Each Grantor will keep the Collateral (i) at the locations specified therefor on Schedule III hereto, or (ii) at such other locations set forth on Schedule III and with respect to which the Collateral Agent has filed financing statements and otherwise fully perfected its Liens thereon, or (iii) at such other locations in the United States, provided that thirty (30) days prior to any change in the location of any Collateral to such other location, or upon the acquisition of any Collateral to be kept at such other locations, the Grantors shall give the Collateral Agent written notice thereof and deliver to the Collateral Agent a new Schedule III indicating such new locations and such other written statements and schedules as the Collateral Agent may require.
(c) Condition of Equipment. Each Grantor will maintain or cause to be maintained and preserved in good condition, repair and working order, ordinary wear and tear excepted, the Equipment (necessary or useful to its business) and will forthwith, or in the case of any loss or damage to any Equipment of any Grantor within a commercially reasonable time after the occurrence thereof, make or cause to be made all repairs, replacements and other improvements in connection therewith which are necessary or desirable, consistent with past practice, or which the Collateral Agent may request to such end. Any Grantor will promptly furnish to the Collateral Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail any such loss or damage in excess of $25,000 per occurrence to any Equipment.
(d) Taxes, Etc. Each Grantor agrees to pay promptly when due all property and other taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon, and all claims (including claims for labor, materials and supplies) against, the Equipment and Inventory, except to the extent the validity thereof is being contested in good faith by proper proceedings which stay the imposition of any penalty, fine or Lien resulting from the non-payment thereof and with respect to which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP have been set aside for the payment thereof.
(e) Insurance.
(i) Each Grantor will, at its own expense, maintain insurance (including, without limitation, comprehensive general liability, hazard, rent and business interruption insurance) with respect to its properties (including all real properties leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and covering such risks, in such form and with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations as is required by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto or as is carried generally in accordance with sound business practice by companies in similar businesses similarly situated and in any event, in amount, adequacy and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.
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(ii) To the extent requested by the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time, each such policy for liability insurance shall provide for all losses to be paid on behalf of the Collateral Agent and any Grantor as their respective interests may appear, and each policy for property damage insurance shall provide for all losses to be adjusted with, and paid directly to, the Collateral Agent. In addition to and without limiting the foregoing, to the extent requested by the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time, each such policy shall in addition (A) name the Collateral Agent as an additional insured party and/or loss payee, as applicable, thereunder (without any representation or warranty by or obligation upon the Collateral Agent) as its interests may appear, (B) contain an agreement by the insurer that any loss thereunder shall be payable to the Collateral Agent on its own account notwithstanding any action, inaction or breach of representation or warranty by any Grantor, (C) provide that there shall be no recourse against the Collateral Agent for payment of premiums or other amounts with respect thereto, and (D) provide that at least 30 days’ prior written notice of cancellation, lapse, expiration or other adverse change shall be given to the Collateral Agent by the insurer. Any Grantor will, if so requested by the Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent original or duplicate policies of such insurance (including certificates demonstrating compliance with this Section 6(e)) and, as often as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, a report of a reputable insurance broker with respect to such insurance. Any Grantor will also, at the request of the Collateral Agent, execute and deliver instruments of assignment of such insurance policies and cause the respective insurers to acknowledge notice of such assignment.
(iii) Reimbursement under any liability insurance maintained by any Grantor pursuant to this Section 6(e) may be paid directly to the Person who shall have incurred liability covered by such insurance. In the case of any loss involving damage to Equipment or Inventory, to the extent paragraph (iv) of this Section 6(e) is not applicable, any proceeds of insurance involving such damage shall be paid to the Collateral Agent, and any Grantor will make or cause to be made the necessary repairs to or replacements of such Equipment or Inventory, and any proceeds of insurance maintained by any Grantor pursuant to this Section 6(e) (except as otherwise provided in paragraph (iv) in this Section 6(e)) shall be paid by the Collateral Agent to any Grantor as reimbursement for the reasonable costs of such repairs or replacements.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in subsection 6(e)(iii) above, following and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all insurance payments in respect of each Grantor’s properties and business shall be paid to the Collateral Agent and applied as specified in Section 8(b) hereof.
(f) Provisions Concerning Name, Organization, Location, Accounts and Licenses.
(i) Each Grantor will (A) give the Collateral Agent at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of any change in such Grantor’s name, identity or organizational structure, (B) maintain its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation as set forth in Schedule I hereto, (C) immediately notify the Collateral Agent upon obtaining an organizational identification number, if on the date hereof such Grantor did not have such identification number, and (D) keep adequate records concerning the Collateral and permit representatives of the Collateral Agent during normal business hours on reasonable notice to such Grantor, to inspect and make abstracts from such records.
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(ii) Each Grantor will (except as otherwise provided in this subsection (f)), continue to collect, at its own expense, all amounts due or to become due under the Accounts. In connection with such collections, any Grantor may (and, at the Collateral Agent’s direction, will) take such action as any Grantor or the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or advisable to enforce collection or performance of the Accounts; provided, however, that the Collateral Agent shall have the right at any time following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default to notify the Account Debtors or obligors under any Accounts of the assignment of such Accounts to the Collateral Agent and to direct such Account Debtors or obligors to make payment of all amounts due or to become due to any Grantor thereunder directly to the Collateral Agent or its designated agent and, upon such notification and at the expense of any Grantor and to the extent permitted by applicable law, to enforce collection of any such Accounts and to adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as any Grantor might have done. After receipt by any Grantor of a notice from the Collateral Agent that the Collateral Agent has notified, intends to notify, or has enforced or intends to enforce any Grantor’s rights against the Account Debtors or obligors under any Accounts as referred to in the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence, (A) all amounts and proceeds (including, without limitation, Instruments) received by any Grantor in respect of the Accounts shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent hereunder (for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders), shall be segregated from other funds of any Grantor and shall be forthwith paid over to the Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement) to be applied as specified in Section 8(b) hereof, and (B) no Grantor will adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment of any Account or release wholly or partly any Account Debtor or obligor thereof or allow any credit or discount thereon. In addition, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) direct any or all of the banks and financial institutions with which any Grantor either maintains a Deposit Account or a lockbox (including, without limitation, any Controlled Account) or deposits the proceeds of any Accounts to send immediately to the Collateral Agent by wire transfer (to such deposit account as the Collateral Agent shall specify, or in such other manner as the Collateral Agent shall direct) all or a portion of such Securities, cash, investments and other items held by such institution. Any such Securities, cash, investments and other items so received by the Collateral Agent shall be applied as specified in accordance with Section 8(b) hereof.
(iii) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any breach or default under any material License referred to in Schedule II hereto by any party thereto other than any Grantor, each Grantor party thereto will, promptly after obtaining knowledge thereof, give the Collateral Agent written notice of the nature and duration thereof, specifying what action, if any, it has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto and thereafter will take reasonable steps to protect and preserve its rights and remedies in respect of such breach or default, or will obtain or acquire an appropriate substitute License.
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(iv) Each Grantor will, at its expense, promptly deliver to the Collateral Agent a copy of each notice or other communication received by it by which any other party to any material License referred to in Schedule II hereto purports to exercise any of its rights or affect any of its obligations thereunder, together with a copy of any reply by such Grantor thereto.
(v) Each Grantor will exercise promptly and diligently each and every right which it may have under each material License (other than any right of termination) and will duly perform and observe in all respects all of its obligations under each material License and will take all action necessary or reasonable to maintain such Licenses in full force and effect. No Grantor will, without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent (in its sole and absolute discretion), cancel, terminate, amend or otherwise modify in any respect, or waive any provision of, any material License referred to in Schedule II hereto.
(g) Transfers and Other Liens.
(i) Except as otherwise expressly permitted in the other Settlement Documents, no Grantor shall, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, spin-off, split-off, close, convey or otherwise dispose of any Collateral whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, other than (A) sales, leases, licenses, assignments, transfers, conveyances and other dispositions of such assets or rights by such Grantor for fair value in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and (B) sales of Inventory and product in the ordinary course of business.
(ii) Except as expressly provided in the Notes, no Grantor shall, directly or indirectly, redeem, repurchase or declare or pay any cash dividend or distribution on any of its Capital Stock.
(iii) No Grantor shall, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Required Holders, (A) issue any Notes (other than as contemplated by the Settlement Agreement and the Notes) or (B) issue any other Securities that would cause a breach or default under the Notes.
(iv) No Grantor shall enter into, renew, extend or be a party to, any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease, transfer or exchange of property or assets of any kind or the rendering of services of any kind) with any Affiliate, except in the ordinary course of business in a manner and to an extent consistent with past practice and necessary or desirable for the prudent operation of its business, for fair consideration and on terms no less favorable to it than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate thereof.
(v) No Grantor will create, suffer to exist or grant any Lien upon or with respect to any Collateral other than a Permitted Lien.
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(h) Intellectual Property.
(i) If applicable, each Grantor shall duly execute and deliver the applicable Intellectual Property Security Agreement. Each Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will, and will cause each licensee thereof to, take all action necessary to maintain all of the Intellectual Property in full force and effect, including, without limitation, using the proper statutory notices, numbers and markings (relating to patent, trademark and copyright rights) and using the Trademarks on each applicable trademark class of goods in order to so maintain the Trademarks in full force and free from any claim of abandonment for non-use, and each Grantor will not (nor permit any licensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby any Intellectual Property may become abandoned, cancelled or invalidated; provided, however, that so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Grantor shall have an obligation to use or to maintain any Intellectual Property (A) that relates solely to any product or work, that is no longer necessary or material and has been, or is in the process of being, discontinued, abandoned or terminated in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the exercise of reasonable business judgment, (B) that is being replaced with Intellectual Property substantially similar to the Intellectual Property that may be abandoned or otherwise become invalid, so long as the failure to use or maintain such Intellectual Property does not materially adversely affect the validity of such replacement Intellectual Property and so long as such replacement Intellectual Property is subject to the Lien created by this Agreement and does not have a material adverse effect on the business of any Grantor or (C) that is substantially the same as other Intellectual Property that is in full force, so long the failure to use or maintain such Intellectual Property does not materially adversely affect the validity of such replacement Intellectual Property and so long as such other Intellectual Property is subject to the Lien and security interest created by this Agreement and does not have a material adverse effect on the business of any Grantor. Each Grantor will cause to be taken all necessary steps in any proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency in any other country or political subdivision thereof to maintain each registration of the Intellectual Property and application for registration of Intellectual Property (other than the Intellectual Property described in the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence), including, without limitation, filing of renewals, affidavits of use, affidavits of incontestability and opposition, interference and cancellation proceedings and payment of maintenance fees, filing fees, taxes or other governmental charges or fees. If any Intellectual Property (other than Intellectual Property described in the proviso to the second sentence of subsection (i) of this clause (h)) is infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated in any material respect by a third party, each Grantor shall (x) upon learning of such infringement, misappropriation, dilution or other violation, promptly notify the Collateral Agent and (y) promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation, dilution or other violation, seek injunctive relief where appropriate and recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation, dilution or other violation, or take such other actions as such Grantor shall deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Intellectual Property. Each Grantor shall furnish to the Collateral Agent from time to time upon its request statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Intellectual Property and Licenses and such other reports in connection with the Intellectual Property and Licenses as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail and promptly upon request of the Collateral Agent, following receipt by the Collateral Agent of any such statements, schedules or reports, each Grantor shall modify this Agreement by amending Schedule II hereto, as the case may be, to include any Intellectual Property and License, as the case may be, which is or hereafter becomes part of the Collateral under this Agreement and shall execute and authenticate such documents and do such acts as shall be necessary or, in the reasonable judgment of the Collateral Agent, desirable to subject such Intellectual Property and Licenses to the Lien and security interest created by this Agreement.
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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, no Grantor may abandon, surrender or cancel or otherwise permit any Intellectual Property to become abandoned, surrendered, cancelled or invalid without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent (in its sole and absolute discretion), and if any Intellectual Property is infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated in any material respect by a third party, each Grantor will take such reasonable action as the Collateral Agent shall deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Intellectual Property.
(ii) 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 or the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as applicable, or in any similar office or agency of the United States or any country or any political subdivision thereof unless it gives the Collateral Agent prior written notice thereof. Upon request of the Collateral Agent, any Grantor shall execute, authenticate and deliver any and all assignments, agreements, instruments, documents and papers as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to evidence the Collateral Agent’s security interest hereunder in such Intellectual Property and the General Intangibles of any Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby, and each Grantor hereby appoints the Collateral Agent its attorney-in-fact to execute and/or authenticate and file all such writings for the foregoing purposes, all acts of such attorney being hereby ratified and confirmed, and such power (being coupled with an interest) shall be irrevocable until all Obligations are fully performed and Paid in Full.
(i) Pledged Accounts.
(A) Each Grantor shall cause each bank and other financial institution which maintains a Controlled Account (each a “Controlled Account Bank”) to execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, a Controlled Account Agreement with respect to such Controlled Account, duly executed by each Grantor and such Controlled Account Bank, pursuant to which such Controlled Account Bank among other things shall irrevocably agree, with respect to such Controlled Account, that (i) at any time after any Grantor, the Collateral Agent or any Holder shall have notified such Controlled Account Bank that an Event of Default has occurred or is continuing, such Controlled Account Bank will comply with any and all instructions originated by the Collateral Agent directing the disposition of the funds in such Controlled Account without further consent by such Grantor, (ii) such Controlled Account Bank shall waive, subordinate or agree not to exercise any rights of setoff or recoupment or any other claim against the applicable Controlled Account other than for payment of its service fees and other charges directly related to the administration of such Controlled Account and for returned checks or other items of payment, (iii) at any time after any Grantor, the Collateral Agent or any Holder shall have notified such Controlled Account Bank that an Event of Default has occurred or is continuing, with respect to each such Controlled Account, such Controlled Account Bank shall not comply with any instructions, directions or orders of any form with respect to such Controlled Accounts other than instructions, directions or orders originated by the Collateral Agent, (iv) all funds deposited by any Grantor with such Controlled Account Bank shall be subject to a perfected, first priority security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent, subject to the Permitted Liens, and (v) upon receipt of written notice from the Collateral Agent during the continuance of an Event of Default, such Controlled Account Bank shall immediately send to the Collateral Agent by wire transfer (to such account as the Collateral Agent shall specify, or in such other manner as the Collateral Agent shall direct) all such funds and other items held by it. No Grantor shall create or maintain any Pledged Account without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent (in its sole and absolute discretion) and complying with the terms of this Agreement.
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(B) If at any time after the date of this Agreement, the average daily balance of any Account that is not subject to a Controlled Account Agreement exceeds $10,000 during any calendar month (including the calendar month in which the date of this Agreement occurs), the Company shall, either (x) within two (2) Business Days following such date, transfer to a Controlled Account an amount sufficient to reduce the total aggregate amount of the cash in such Account to an amount not in excess of $10,000 or (y) within twenty-one (21) calendar days following the last day of such calendar month, deliver to the Collateral Agent a Controlled Account Agreement with respect to such Account, duly executed by such Grantor and the depositary bank in which such Account is maintained.
(C) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 6(i)(B) above, and without limiting any of the foregoing, if at any time on or after the date that is twenty- one (21) calendar days following the Closing Date, the total aggregate amount of the cash of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, that is not held in a Controlled Account exceeds $100,000 (the “Maximum Free Cash Amount”), the Company shall within two (2) Business Days following such date, either (x) transfer to a Controlled Account an amount sufficient to reduce the total aggregate amount of the cash that is not held in a Controlled Account to an amount not in excess of the Maximum Free Cash Amount or (y) deliver to the Collateral Agent a Controlled Account Agreement with respect to such Account (or Accounts), duly executed by such Grantor and the depositary bank in which such Account (or Accounts) is maintained, as necessary to reduce the total aggregate amount of the cash that is not held in a Controlled Account to an amount not in excess of the Maximum Free Cash Amount.
(j) Motor Vehicles.
(i) Upon the Collateral Agent’s written request, each Grantor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent originals of the certificates of title or ownership for each motor vehicle with a value in excess of $10,000 owned by it, with the Collateral Agent listed as lienholder, for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders.
(ii) Each Grantor hereby appoints the Collateral Agent as its attorney- in-fact for the purpose of (A) executing on behalf of such Grantor title or ownership applications for filing with appropriate Governmental Authorities to enable motor vehicles now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor to be retitled and the Collateral Agent listed as lienholder thereof, (B) filing such applications with such Governmental Authorities, and (C) executing such other agreements, documents and instruments on behalf of, and taking such other action in the name of, such Grantor as the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof (including, without limitation, for the purpose of creating in favor of the Collateral Agent a perfected Lien on the motor vehicles and exercising the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder). This appointment as attorney-in-fact is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable until all of the Obligations are fully performed and Paid in Full.
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(iii) Any certificates of title or ownership delivered pursuant to the terms hereof shall be accompanied by accurate odometer statements for each motor vehicle covered thereby.
(iv) So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon the request of any Grantor, the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Grantor such instruments as such Grantor shall reasonably request to remove the notation of the Collateral Agent as lienholder on any certificate of title for any motor vehicle; provided, however, that any such instruments shall be delivered, and the release effective, only upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of a certificate from any Grantor stating that such motor vehicle is to be sold or has suffered a casualty loss (with title thereto in such case passing to the casualty insurance company therefor in settlement of the claim for such loss) and the amount that any Grantor will receive as sale proceeds or insurance proceeds. Any proceeds of such sale or casualty loss shall be paid to the Collateral Agent hereunder immediately upon receipt, to be applied to the Obligations then outstanding.
(k) Control. Each Grantor hereby agrees to take any or all action that may be necessary or that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order for the Collateral Agent to obtain “control” in accordance with Sections 9-105 through 9-107 of the Code with respect to the following Collateral: (i) Electronic Chattel Paper, (ii) Investment Property, and (iii) Letter-of- Credit Rights.
(l) Inspection and Reporting. Each Grantor shall permit the Collateral Agent, or any agent or representatives thereof or such attorneys, accountant or other professionals or other Persons as the Collateral Agent may designate (at Grantors’ sole cost and expense) (i) to examine and make copies of and abstracts from any Grantor’s Records and books of account, (ii) to visit and inspect its properties, (iii) to verify materials, leases, Instruments, Accounts, Inventory and other assets of any Grantor from time to time, and (iv) to conduct audits, physical counts, appraisals, valuations and/or examinations at the locations of any Grantor. Each Grantor shall also permit the Collateral Agent, or any agent or representatives thereof or such attorneys, accountants or other professionals or other Persons as the Collateral Agent may designate to discuss such Grantor’s affairs, finances and accounts with any of its directors, officers, managerial employees, attorneys, independent accountants or any of its other representatives. Without limiting the foregoing, the Collateral Agent may, at any time, in the Collateral Agent’s own name, in the name of a nominee of the Collateral Agent, or in the name of any Grantor communicate (by mail, telephone, facsimile or otherwise) with the Account Debtors of such Grantor, parties to contracts with such Grantor and/or obligors in respect of Instruments or Pledged Debt of such Grantor to verify with such Persons, to the Collateral Agent’s satisfaction, the existence, amount, terms of, and any other matter relating to, Accounts, Instruments, Pledged Debt, Chattel Paper, payment intangibles and/or other receivables.
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(m) Future Subsidiaries. If any Grantor hereafter creates or acquires any Subsidiary, simultaneously with the creation or acquisition of such Subsidiary, such Grantor shall (i) if such Subsidiary is a Domestic Subsidiary, cause such Subsidiary to become a party to this Agreement as an additional “Grantor” hereunder, (ii) deliver to the Collateral Agent updated Schedules to this Agreement, as appropriate (including, without limitation, an updated Schedule IV to reflect the grant by such Grantor of a Lien on and security interest in all Pledged Debt and Pledged Equity now or hereafter owned by such Grantor), (iii) if such Subsidiary is a Domestic Subsidiary, cause such Subsidiary to duly execute and deliver a guaranty of the Obligations in favor of the Collateral Agent in form and substance acceptable to the Collateral Agent, (iv) deliver to the Collateral Agent the stock certificates representing all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary, along with undated stock powers for each such certificates, executed in blank (or, if any such shares of Capital Stock are uncertificated, confirmation and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent that the security interest in such uncertificated securities has been transferred to and perfected by the Collateral Agent, in accordance with Section 8-106 of the Code or any other similar or local or foreign law that may be applicable), and (v) duly execute and/or cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent, in form and substance acceptable to the Collateral Agent, such opinions of counsel and other documents as the Collateral Agent shall request with respect thereto; provided, however, that no Grantor shall be required to pledge any Excluded Collateral. Each Grantor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to attach such updated Schedules to this Agreement and agrees that all Pledged Equity and Pledged Debt listed on any updated Schedule delivered to the Collateral Agent shall for all purposes hereunder be considered Collateral. The Grantors agree that the pledge of the shares of Capital Stock acquired by a Grantor of Foreign Subsidiary may be supplemented by one or more separate pledge agreements, deeds of pledge, share charges, or other similar agreements or instruments, executed and delivered by the relevant Grantor in favor of the Collateral Agent, which pledge agreements will provide for the pledge of such shares of Capital Stock in accordance with the laws of the applicable foreign jurisdiction. With respect to such shares of Capital Stock, the Collateral Agent may, at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion, take actions in such foreign jurisdictions that will result in the perfection of the Lien created in such shares of Capital Stock.
SECTION 7. Additional Provisions Concerning the Collateral.
(a) To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and for the purpose of taking any action that the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, each Grantor hereby (i) authorizes the Collateral Agent to execute any such agreements, instruments or other documents in such Grantor’s name and to file such agreements, instruments or other documents in such Grantor’s name and in any appropriate filing office, (ii) authorizes the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time to file, one or more financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relating to the Collateral (including, without limitation, any such financing statements that (A) describe the Collateral as “all assets” or “all personal property” (or words of similar effect) or that describe or identify the Collateral by type or in any other manner as the Collateral Agent may determine regardless of whether any particular asset of such Grantor falls within the scope of Article 9 of the Code or whether any particular asset of such Grantor constitutes part of the Collateral, and (B) contain any other information required by Part 5 of Article 9 of the Code for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement, continuation statement or amendment, including, without limitation, whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to such Grantor) and (iii) ratifies such authorization to the extent that the Collateral Agent has filed any such financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto, prior to the date hereof. A photocopy or other reproduction of this Agreement or any financing statement covering the Collateral or any part thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by law.
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(b) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent as its attorney-in-fact and proxy, with full authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or otherwise, from time to time in the Collateral Agent’s discretion, to take any action and to execute any instrument which the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation, (i) to obtain and adjust insurance required to be paid to the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 6(e) hereof, (ii) to ask, demand, collect, sue for, recover, compound, receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in respect of any Collateral, (iii) to receive, endorse, and collect any drafts or other Instruments, Documents and Chattel Paper in connection with clause (i) or (ii) above, (iv) to file any claims or take any action or institute any action, suit or proceedings which the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or desirable for the collection of any Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights of the Collateral Agent and the Holders with respect to any Collateral, (v) to execute assignments, licenses and other documents to enforce the rights of the Collateral Agent and the Holders with respect to any Collateral, and (vi) to verify any and all information with respect to any and all Accounts. This power is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable until all of the Obligations are fully performed and Paid in Full.
(c) For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies hereunder, at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, and for no other purpose, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, to the extent assignable, an irrevocable, non-exclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to any Grantor) to use, assign, license or sublicense any Intellectual Property in which such Grantor now or hereafter has any right, title or interest, wherever the same may be located, including, without limitation, in such license reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer programs used for the compilation or printout thereof. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, but subject to the provisions of any other Settlement Documents that limit the right of any Grantor to dispose of its property, and Section 6(g) and Section 6(h) hereof, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any Grantor may exploit, use, enjoy, protect, license, sublicense, assign, sell, dispose of or take other actions with respect to the Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of its business and as otherwise expressly permitted by any of the other Settlement Documents. In furtherance of the foregoing, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent shall from time to time, upon the request of any Grantor, execute and deliver any instruments, certificates or other documents, in the form so requested, which such Grantor shall have certified are appropriate (in such Grantor’s judgment) to allow it to take any action permitted above (including relinquishment of the license provided pursuant to this clause (c) as to any Intellectual Property). Further, upon the full performance and Payment in Full of all of the Obligations, the Collateral Agent (subject to Section 11(e) hereof) shall release and reassign to any Grantor all of the Collateral Agent’s right, title and interest in and to the Intellectual Property, and the Licenses, all without recourse, representation or warranty whatsoever. The exercise of rights and remedies hereunder by the Collateral Agent shall not terminate the rights of the holders of any licenses or sublicenses theretofore granted by each Grantor in accordance with the second sentence of this clause (c). Each Grantor hereby releases the Collateral Agent from any claims, causes of action and demands at any time arising out of or with respect to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by the Collateral Agent under the powers of attorney granted herein other than actions taken or omitted to be taken through the Collateral Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction no longer subject to appeal.
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(d) If any Grantor fails to perform any agreement or obligation contained herein, the Collateral Agent may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement or obligation, in the name of such Grantor or the Collateral Agent, and the expenses of the Collateral Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by such Grantor pursuant to Section 9 hereof and such obligation shall be secured by the Collateral.
(e) The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Collateral Agent 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.
(f) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding (i) each Grantor shall remain liable under the Licenses and otherwise with respect to any of the Collateral to the extent set forth therein to perform all of its obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed, (ii) the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights or remedies hereunder shall not release any Grantor from any of its obligations under the Licenses or otherwise in respect of the Collateral, and (iii) the Collateral Agent shall not have any obligation or liability by reason of this Agreement under the Licenses or with respect to any of the other Collateral, nor shall the Collateral Agent be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of any Grantor thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned hereunder.
(g) As long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and, other than in the case of a Bankruptcy Event of Default, until written notice shall be given to the applicable Grantor:
(i) Each Grantor shall have the right, from time to time, to vote and give consents with respect to the Pledged Equity, or any part thereof for all purposes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, the Settlement Agreement or any other Settlement Document; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast, and no consent shall be given or action taken, which would have the effect of impairing the position or interest of the Collateral Agent in respect of the Pledged Equity or which would authorize, effect or consent to (unless and to the extent expressly permitted by the Settlement Agreement):
(A) the dissolution or liquidation, in whole or in part, of a Pledged Entity;
(B) the consolidation or merger of a Pledged Entity with any other Person;
(C) the sale, disposition or encumbrance of all or substantially all of the assets of a Pledged Entity, except for Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent;
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(D) any change in the authorized number of shares, the stated capital or the authorized share capital of a Pledged Entity or the issuance of any additional shares of its Capital Stock; or
(E) the alteration of the voting rights with respect to the Capital Stock of a Pledged Entity.
(h) (i) Each Grantor shall be entitled, from time to time, to collect and receive for its own use all cash dividends and interest paid in respect of the Pledged Equity to the extent not in violation of the Settlement Agreement or the Note other than any and all: (A) dividends and interest paid or payable other than in cash in respect of any Pledged Equity, and instruments and other property received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Equity; (B) dividends and other distributions paid or payable in cash in respect of any Pledged Equity in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid-in capital of a Pledged Entity; and (C) cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed, in respect of principal of, or in redemption of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Equity; provided, however, that until actually paid all rights to such distributions shall remain subject to the Lien created by this Agreement; and
(ii) all dividends and interest (other than such cash dividends and interest as are permitted to be paid to any Grantor in accordance with clause (i) above) and all other distributions in respect of any of the Pledged Equity, whenever paid or made, shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent to hold as Pledged Equity and shall, if received by any Grantor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders), be segregated from the other property or funds of such Grantor, and be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent as Pledged Equity in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).
SECTION 8. Remedies Upon Event of Default; Application of Proceeds. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:
(a) The Collateral Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to any other rights and remedies provided for herein, in any other Settlement Document or otherwise available to it, all of the rights and remedies of a secured party upon default under the Code (whether or not the Code applies to the affected Collateral), and also may (i) take absolute control of the Collateral, including, without limitation, transfer into the Collateral Agent’s name or into the name of its nominee or nominees (to the extent the Collateral Agent has not theretofore done so) and thereafter receive, for the ratable benefit of itself and the Holders, all payments made thereon, give all consents, waivers and ratifications in respect thereof and otherwise act with respect thereto as though it were the outright owner thereof, (ii) require each Grantor to, and each Grantor hereby agrees that it will at its expense and upon request of the Collateral Agent forthwith, assemble all or part of its respective Collateral as directed by the Collateral Agent and make it available to the Collateral Agent at a place or places to be designated by the Collateral Agent that is reasonably convenient to both parties, and the Collateral Agent may enter into and occupy any premises owned or leased by any Grantor where the Collateral or any part thereof is located or assembled for a reasonable period in order to effectuate the Collateral Agent’s rights and remedies hereunder or under law, without obligation to any Grantor in respect of such occupation, and (iii) without notice except as specified below and without any obligation to prepare or process the Collateral for sale, (A) sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale (including, without limitation, by credit bid), at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable and/or (B) lease, license or dispose of the Collateral or any part thereof upon such terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable. Each Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale or any other disposition of its respective Collateral shall be required by law, at least ten (10) days’ notice to any Grantor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other disposition of its respective Collateral is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale or other disposition of any Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Collateral Agent 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. Each Grantor hereby waives any claims against the Collateral Agent and the Holders arising by reason of the fact that the price at which its respective Collateral may have been sold at a private sale was less than the price which might have been obtained at a public sale or was less than the aggregate amount of the Obligations, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree, and waives all rights that any Grantor may have to require that all or any part of such Collateral be marshaled upon any sale (public or private) thereof. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that (i) any such sale of its respective Collateral by the Collateral Agent shall be made without warranty, (ii) the Collateral Agent may specifically disclaim any warranties of title, possession, quiet enjoyment or the like, and (iii) such actions set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above shall not adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any such sale of Collateral. In addition to the foregoing, (1) upon written notice to any Grantor from the Collateral Agent after and during the continuance of an Event of Default, such Grantor shall cease any use of the Intellectual Property or any trademark, patent or copyright similar thereto for any purpose described in such notice; (2) the Collateral Agent may, at any time and from time to time after and during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon 10 days’ prior notice to such Grantor, license, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or non- exclusive basis, any of the Intellectual Property, throughout the universe for such term or terms, on such conditions, and in such manner, as the Collateral Agent shall in its sole discretion determine; and (3) the Collateral Agent may, at any time, pursuant to the authority granted in Section 7 hereof or otherwise (such authority being effective upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default), execute and deliver on behalf of such Grantor, one or more instruments of assignment of the Intellectual Property (or any application or registration thereof), in form suitable for filing, recording or registration in any country.
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(b) Any cash held by the Collateral Agent as Collateral and all Cash Proceeds received by the Collateral Agent in respect of any sale or disposition of or collection from, or other realization upon, all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied as follows (subject to the provisions of the other Settlement Documents): first, to pay any fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due to the Collateral Agent (including, without limitation, those described in Section 9 hereof); second, to pay any fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due to the Holders, on a pro rata basis; third to pay interest due under the Notes owing to the Holders, on a pro rata basis; fourth, to pay or prepay principal in respect of the Notes, whether or not then due, owing to the Holders, on a pro rata basis; fifth, to pay or prepay any other Obligations, whether or not then due, in such order and manner as the Collateral Agent shall elect, consistent with the provisions of the other Settlement Documents. Any surplus of such cash or Cash Proceeds held by the Collateral Agent and remaining after the full performance and Payment in Full of all of the Obligations shall be paid over to whomsoever shall be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.
(c) In the event that the proceeds of any such sale, disposition, collection or realization are insufficient to pay all amounts to which the Collateral Agent and the Holders are legally entitled, each Grantor shall be, jointly and severally, liable for the deficiency, together with interest thereon at the highest rate specified in the Notes for interest on overdue principal thereof or such other rate as shall be fixed by applicable law, together with the costs of collection and the reasonable fees, costs, expenses and other charges of any attorneys employed by the Collateral Agent to collect such deficiency.
(d) To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that it is commercially reasonable for the Collateral Agent (i) to fail to incur expenses deemed significant by the Collateral Agent to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to transform raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (ii) to fail to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of, or to obtain or, if not required by other law, to fail to obtain governmental or third party consents for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (iii) to fail to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors or other Persons obligated on Collateral or to remove Liens on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (iv) to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (v) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (vi) to contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as any Grantor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of such Collateral, (vii) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (viii) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capacity of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (ix) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (x) to disclaim disposition warranties, such as title, possession or quiet enjoyment, (xi) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Collateral Agent against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Collateral Agent a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (xii) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent, to obtain the services of brokers, investment bankers, consultants, attorneys and other professionals to assist the Collateral Agent in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. Each Grantor acknowledges that the purpose of this section is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by the Collateral Agent would be commercially reasonable in the Collateral Agent’s exercise of rights and remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by the Collateral Agent shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this section. Without limitation of the foregoing, nothing contained in this section shall be construed to grant any rights to any Grantor or to impose any duties on the Collateral Agent that would not have been granted or imposed by this Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this section.
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(e) The Collateral Agent shall not be required to marshal any present or future collateral security (including, but not limited to, this Agreement and the Collateral) for, or other assurances of payment of, the Obligations or any of them or to resort to such collateral security or other assurances of payment in any particular order, and all of the Collateral Agent’s 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 any Grantor 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 the Collateral Agent’s rights and remedies under this Agreement or under any other instrument creating or evidencing any of the Obligations or under which any of the Obligations is outstanding or by which any of the 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.
SECTION 9. Indemnity and Expenses.
(a) Each Grantor agrees, jointly and severally, to defend, protect, indemnify and hold the Collateral Agent and each of the Holders harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, obligations, penalties, fees, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees, costs, expenses, and disbursements of such Person’s counsel) to the extent that they arise out of or otherwise result from this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement of this Agreement), except to the extent resulting from such Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction no longer subject to appeal.
(b) Each Grantor agrees, jointly and severally, to pay to the Collateral Agent upon demand the amount of any and all costs and expenses, including the reasonable fees, costs, expenses and disbursements of counsel for the Collateral Agent and of any experts and agents (including, without limitation, any collateral trustee which may act as agent of the Collateral Agent), which the Collateral Agent may incur in connection with (i) the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery, recordation, administration, amendment, waiver or other modification or termination of this Agreement, (ii) the custody, preservation, use or operation of, or the sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, any Collateral, (iii) the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights or remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder, or (iv) the failure by any Grantor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.
SECTION 10. Notices, Etc. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed (by certified mail, first-class postage prepaid and return receipt requested), telecopied, e-mailed or delivered, if to any Grantor, to the Company’s address, or if to the Collateral Agent or any Holder, at such other address as set forth in Section 5.9 of the Settlement Agreement or as shall be designated by such Person in a written notice to all other parties hereto complying as to delivery with the terms of this Section 10. All such notices and other communications shall be effective (a) if sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, when received or five Business Days after deposited in the mails, whichever occurs first, (b) if telecopied or e-mailed, when transmitted (during normal business hours) and confirmation is received, and otherwise, the day after the notice or communication was transmitted and confirmation is received, or (c) if delivered in person, upon delivery. For the avoidance of doubt, all Foreign Subsidiaries, as Grantors, hereby appoint the Company as its agent for receipt of service of process and all notices and other communications in the United States at the address specified below.
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SECTION 11. Miscellaneous.
(a) No amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by each Grantor and the Collateral Agent (and approved by the Required Holders), and no waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by each Grantor therefrom, shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by each Grantor and the Collateral Agent (and approved by the Required Holders), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement shall be effective to the extent that it (1) applies to fewer than all of the holders of Notes or (2) imposes any obligation or liability on any holder of Notes without such holder’s prior written consent (which may be granted or withheld in such holder’s sole and absolute discretion).
(b) No failure on the part of the Collateral Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right or remedy hereunder or under any of the other Settlement Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent or any Holder provided herein and in the other Settlement Documents are cumulative and are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies provided by law. The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent or any Holder under any of the other Settlement Documents against any party thereto are not conditional or contingent on any attempt by such Person to exercise any of its rights or remedies under any of the other Settlement Documents against such party or against any other Person, including but not limited to, any Grantor.
(c) Any provision of this Agreement that 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 portions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
(d) This Agreement shall create a continuing Lien on and security interest in the Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the full performance and Payment in Full of the Obligations, and (ii) be binding on each Grantor and all other Persons who become bound as debtor to this Agreement in accordance with Section 9-203(d) of the Code and shall inure, together with all rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent and the Holders hereunder, to the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders and their respective permitted successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence, without notice to any Grantor, the Collateral Agent and the Holders may assign or otherwise transfer their rights and obligations under this Agreement and any of the other Settlement Documents, to any other Person and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all of the benefits in respect thereof granted to the Collateral Agent and the Holders herein or otherwise. Upon any such assignment or transfer, all references in this Agreement to the Collateral Agent or any such Holder shall mean the assignee of the Collateral Agent or such Holder. None of the rights or obligations of any Grantor hereunder may be assigned, delegated or otherwise transferred without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion, and any such assignment, delegation or transfer without such consent of the Collateral Agent shall be null and void.
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(e) Upon the full performance and Payment in Full of the Obligations, (i) this Agreement and the security interests created hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the respective Grantor that granted such security interests hereunder, and (ii) the Collateral Agent will, upon any Grantor’s request and at such Grantor’s expense, (A) return to such Grantor such of the Collateral as shall not have been sold or otherwise disposed of or applied pursuant to the terms hereof and (B) execute and deliver to such Grantor such documents as such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination, all without any representation, warranty or recourse whatsoever.
(f) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial.
(i) All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any provision or rule of law (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
(ii) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or under any of the other Settlement Documents or with any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim, defense or objection that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices in accordance with Section 10 and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Collateral Agent or the Holders from bringing suit or taking other legal action against any Grantor in any other jurisdiction to collect on a Grantor’s obligations or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Collateral Agent or a Holder.
(iii) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, ETC. EACH GRANTOR IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
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(iv) Each Grantor irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action, suit or proceeding referred to in this Section any special, exemplary, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential damages.
(g) Section headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose.
(h) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together constitute one and the same Agreement. Delivery of any executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by pdf, facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
(i) This Agreement shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Collateral Agent, any Holder or any other Person (upon (i) the occurrence of any Insolvency Proceeding of any of the Company or any Grantor or (ii) otherwise, in all cases as though such payment had not been made).
SECTION 12. Material Non-Public Information. Upon receipt or delivery by any Grantor of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, unless such Grantor has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries, such Grantor shall within one (1) Business Day after any such receipt or delivery publicly disclose such material, non-public information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that such Grantor believes that a notice contains material, non-public information relating to such Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries, such Grantor so shall indicate to the Collateral Agent and any applicable Holder contemporaneously with delivery of such notice, and in the absence of any such indication, the Collateral Agent and each Holder shall be allowed to presume that all matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to such Grantor or its Subsidiaries. Nothing contained in this Section 12 shall limit any obligations of any Grantor, or any rights or remedies of the Collateral Agent or any Holder, under Section 29 of the Note.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.
| AVENIR WELLNESS SOLUTIONS, INC., F/K/A CURE PHARMACEUTICAL HOLDING CORP. |
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| By: | ||
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| Name: Joel Bennett |
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| Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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ACCEPTED BY: |
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IONIC VENTURES LLC, |
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as Collateral Agent |
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By: | ||
| Name: Brendan T. O’Neill |
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Title: Manager |
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT
This INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (as amended, modified, supplemented, renewed, restated or replaced from time to time, this “IP Security Agreement”), dated December, 2024, is made by the Persons listed on the signature pages hereof (collectively, the “Grantors”) in favor of Ionic Ventures LLC, in its capacity as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) for the Holders. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings respectively ascribed thereto in the Security Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc., a company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”) and each party listed as a “Holder” therein (collectively, the “Holders”) are parties to that certain Settlement Agreement, dated December , 2024, pursuant to which the Company shall be required to sell, and the Holders shall purchase or have the right to purchase, the “Notes” (as defined therein) issued pursuant thereto (as such Notes may be amended, modified, supplemented, renewed, restated or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, collectively, the “Notes”);
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the purchase of the Notes under the Settlement Agreement that each Grantor has executed and delivered that certain Security and Pledge Agreement, dated December , 2024, made by the Grantors to the Collateral Agent (as amended, modified, supplemented, renewed, restated or replaced from time to time, the “Security Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, under the terms of the Security Agreement, the Grantors have granted to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders, a Lien on and security interest in, among other property, certain intellectual property of the Grantors, and have agreed as a condition thereof to execute this IP Security Agreement for recording with the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and other governmental authorities.
WHEREAS, the Grantors have determined that the execution, delivery and performance of this IP Security Agreement directly benefits, and is in the best interest of, the Grantors.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements herein and in order to induce the Holders to perform under the Settlement Agreement, each Grantor agrees with the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders, as follows
SECTION 1. Grant of Security. As collateral security for the due and punctual payment and performance in full of the Obligations, as and when due, each Grantor hereby pledges and assigns to the Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders, a continuing Lien on and security interest in, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the following (the “Collateral”):
(i) the Patents and Patent applications set forth in Schedule A hereto;
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(ii) the Trademark and service mark registrations and applications set forth in Schedule B hereto (provided that no security interest shall be granted in United States intent-to-use trademark applications to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark applications under applicable federal law), together with the goodwill symbolized thereby;
(iii) all Copyrights, whether registered or unregistered, now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, including, without limitation, the copyright registrations and applications and exclusive copyright licenses set forth in Schedule C hereto;
(iv) all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions, renewals and reexaminations of any of the foregoing, all rights in the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and all other rights of any kind whatsoever of such Grantor accruing thereunder or pertaining thereto;
(v) any and all claims for damages and injunctive relief for past, present and future infringement, dilution, misappropriation, violation, misuse or breach with respect to any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect, or otherwise recover, such damages; and
(vi) any and all Proceeds, including without limitation Cash and Noncash Proceeds of, collateral for, income, royalties and other payments now or hereafter due and payable with respect to, and Supporting Obligations relating to, any and all of the collateral of or arising from any of the foregoing.
SECTION 2. Security for Obligations. The grant of a Lien on and security interest in, the Collateral by each Grantor under this IP Security Agreement constitutes continuing collateral security for the payment and performance of all Obligations of such Grantor now or hereafter existing under or in respect of the Notes and the Settlement Documents, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, and whether for principal, reimbursement obligations, interest, premiums, penalties, fees, indemnifications, contract causes of action, costs, expenses or otherwise.
SECTION 3. Recordation. Each Grantor authorizes and requests that the Register of Copyrights, the Commissioner for Patents and the Commissioner for Trademarks and any other applicable government officer record this IP Security Agreement.
SECTION 4. Execution in Counterparts. This IP Security Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together constitute one and the same Agreement.
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SECTION 5. Grants, Rights and Remedies. This IP Security Agreement has been entered into in conjunction with the provisions of the Security Agreement. Each Grantor does hereby acknowledge and confirm that the grant of the Lien and security interest hereunder to, and the rights and remedies of, the Collateral Agent with respect to the Collateral are more fully set forth in the Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 6. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial.
(i) All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any provision or rule of law (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
(ii) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or under any of the other Settlement Documents or with any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim, defense or objection that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under Section 10 of the Security Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Collateral Agent or the Holders from bringing suit or taking other legal action against any Grantor in any other jurisdiction to collect on a Grantor’s obligations or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Collateral Agent or a Holder.
(iii) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, ETC. EACH GRANTOR IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
(iv) Each Grantor irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action, suit or proceeding referred to in this Section any special, exemplary, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential damages.
[The remainder of the page is intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
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Schedule A
Patents
Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc.
Avenir Consolidated Patent Summary | ||||
PATENT FAMILY #1: |
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Issued U.S. Patents |
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Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Patent No. | Issue Date | Remarks |
14/694,303 | 04/23/2015 | US 9,980,996 | 05/29/2018 | Owner: Avenir
Title: Pharmaceutical composition and method of manufacturing
Summary:
The patents are directed to the extraction of cannabis by supercritical extraction, employing a solvent (e.g., carbon dioxide (CO2)) at a specified temperature range and pressure range. The supercritical extraction is a fractional supercritical fluid extraction, meaning the extraction of the plant matter is carried out multiple (two or more) times, to remove select products with each extraction. With the multiple extractions, the solvent, temperature, and/or pressure will vary.
Based on the U.S. Patent Office’s examination of the above matters and the prior art identified therein, a key point of novelty across the portfolio resides in the fractional supercritical fluid extraction carried out on the cannabis plant matter, employing carbon dioxide (CO2) as the sole solvent, at the specified extraction parameters (e.g., time, temperature, and pressure) used to obtain each of the desired constituents present in the cannabis (e.g., CBD and THC).
As generally known and accepted in the marketplace, the benefits of supercritical fluid extraction include its selectivity and speed. The extraction parameters (e.g., time, temperature, and pressure) can readily be optimized to obtain each of the desired constituents present in the cannabis. Additionally, supercritical fluid extraction can often be carried out in a much shorter time compared to organic liquid extractions. Moreover, carbon dioxide is the most used supercritical fluid solvent, based in part upon its ability to completely evaporate after the extraction, leaving no residue.
The initial patent filing has an early priority date (2014), which would limit the scope of available prior art, thereby providing strong patents. One feature of the patents believed to be significant is the “fractional” aspect of the supercritical extraction, as applied to the cannabis plant. The fractional supercritical extraction of the cannabis plant allows the user to readily obtain a desired extract (carried out with a solvent system, over a period of time, at a temperature, and at a pressure). Utilizing the same supercritical extraction system and the cannabis plant, the user can readily obtain another desired extract (carried out with a different combination of solvent system, period of time, temperature, and pressure).
The family currently has eleven (11) issued patents, with claims varying with respect to the process parameters (e.g., solvent system, time, temperature, and pressure). Different process parameters described therein can be used to obtain multiple constituents present in the cannabis. The family currently has three (3) pending applications, with claims further varying with respect to the process parameters. The existence of pending applications allows the owner to pursue additional, unclaimed subject matter disclosed in the specification (this is often referred to as “life cycle management”). Across the patent family, there have been relatively few substantive rejections from the Patent Office, with relatively few prior art references having been cited. Absent any patent term adjustments and/or extensions, the patents are set to expire 20 years from the initial filing, in 2034. |
14/934,940 | 11/06/2015 | US 10,238,705 | 03/26/2019 | |
15/988,484 | 05/24/2018 | US 10,092,611 | 10/09/2018 | |
14/255,296 | 04/17/2014 | US 9,044,390 | 06/02/2015 | |
14/723,980 | 05/28/2015 | US 9,186,386 | 11/17/2015 | |
16/151,436 | 10/04/2018 | US 10,639,339 | 05/05/2020 | |
16/359,579 | 03/20/2019 | US 10,624,940 | 04/21/2020 | |
16/809,958 | 03/05/2020 | US 11,266,702 | 03/08/2022 | |
16/809,700 | 03/05/2020 | US 11,478,520 | 10/25/2022 | |
16/856,492 | 04/23/2020 | US 11,344,591 | 05/31/2022 | |
16/856,609 | 04/23/2020 | US 11,331,358 | 05/17/2022 | |
17/663,164 | 05/12/2022 | US 11,890,310 | 02/06/2024 | |
18/048,954 | 10/24/2022 | US 11,938,160 | 03/26/2024 | |
17,663,065 | 05/12/2022 | US 11,844763 | 12/19/2023 | |
Published U.S. Patent Applications | ||||
Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Publication No. | Publication Date | |
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PATENT FAMILY #2: |
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Issued U.S. Patents |
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Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Patent No. | Issue Date | Remarks |
14/810,595 | 07/28/2015 | US 10,307,397 | 06/04/2019 | Owner: Avenir and CMS
Title: Oral dissolvable film that includes plant extract
Summary: The patents are directed to oral dissolvable films (ODFs) containing a botanical extract, e.g., extract of cannabis. The cannabis extract includes, e.g., CBD, THC, etc. The ODF includes other excipients used in the manufacture of ODFs (e.g., binder). The ODF has a relatively high load of active ingredient (e.g., cannabis extract) due to the encapsulation of the active ingredient by the excipient lipid. |
16/394,413 | 04/25/2019 | US 11,266,625 | 03/08/2022 | |
Published U.S. Patent Applications | ||||
Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Publication No. | Publication Date | |
17/653,534 | 03/04/2022 | US 2022/0296567 | 09/22/2022 | |
Status: A notice of allowance was issued 05/03/2023. The issue fee will be timely paid, a continuation will be timely filed, and a preliminary amendment (to file additional claims of desired subject matter) will be docketed. |
The initial patent filing has an early priority date (2014), which would limit the scope of available prior art, thereby providing strong patents. The family currently has two (2) issued patents, with claims varying with respect to the product. The family currently has one (1) pending application, with claims further varying with respect to the product. The existence of a pending application allows the owner to pursue additional, unclaimed subject matter disclosed in the specification (this is often referred to as “life cycle management”). Across the patent family, there have been relatively few substantive rejections from the Patent Office, with relatively few prior art references having been cited. Absent any patent term adjustments and/or extensions, the patents are set to expire 20 years from the initial filing, in 2035.
One feature of the patents believed to be significant is the combination of a botanical extract (e.g., extract of cannabis) that is directly formulated into an ODF utilizing Cure Pharmaceutical technology and know-how. This includes the encapsulation of the active ingredient (e.g., cannabis extract) by an excipient lipid, to provide a relatively high load of active ingredient. High drug loads in excess of 35 wt.% were achieved by the inventors. | |||
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PATENT FAMILY #3: |
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Issued U.S. Patents |
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Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Patent No. | Issue Date | Remarks |
16/647,003 | 07/14/2020 | US 11,766,445 | 09/26/2023 | Oral Soft Gel Capsule |
Published U.S. Patent Applications |
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Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Publication No. | Publication Date |
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16/947,005 | 07/14/2020 | US 2021/0015738 | 01/21/2021 | Owner: Avenir and CMS
Titles: Oral dissolvable film containing psychedelic compound Oral soft gel capsule containing psychedelic compound |
Status: An office action response was filed 05/19/2023 and currently no notice of allowance is expected within the next 30-60 days. | ||||
18/467,857 | 09/15/2023 | US 2024/0000817 | 01/04/2024 | |
Status: | Summary: The patents are directed to an oral dissolvable film, as well as a soft gel capsule, respectively, that include a psychedelic compound and a method of treating a disease or disorder ameliorated by a psychedelic compound, by orally administering to a subject the oral dissolvable film (ODF) (or soft gel capsule). One significant aspect of the patents is an oral thin film (or soft gel capsule) that includes a low dose (e.g., microdose or sub-therapeutic dose) of the psychedelic compound. The diseases/disorders include. e.g., treating at least one of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), pain, irritability, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cluster headaches, paranoia, psychosis, anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks, smoking addiction, alcohol addiction, and cocaine addiction as well as improving creativity, boosting physical energy level, attaining emotional balance, increasing performance on problem- solving tasks, treating anxiety, treating depression, treating addiction, or any combination thereof.
The initial patent filing has a priority date of 2019. The family currently has two (2) pending applications. The existence of a pending application allows the owner to pursue additional, unclaimed subject matter disclosed in the specification (this is often referred to as “life cycle management”). Absent any patent term adjustments and/or extensions, the patents are set to expire 20 years from the initial filing, in 2040.
One feature of the patents believed to be significant is the low dose (e.g., microdose or sub-therapeutic dose) of the psychedelic compound for the numerous indications specified therein. This is consistent with the scientific literature showing researchers pursuing the psychedelic compounds for these indications, at sub- therapeutic doses. It is also believed that dosage forms (ODF and soft gel capsule) are suitable for the psychedelic compounds and are convenient to the patients. | |||
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Schedule B
Trademarks
N/A
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Schedule C
Copyrights
N/A
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SCHEDULE I
Legal Names; Organizational Identification Numbers;
States or Jurisdiction of Organization
Grantor’s Name | State of Organization | Federal Employer I.D. |
Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc. | DE | 90-1504639 |
The Sera Labs, Inc. | DE | 83 ###-###-#### |
Avenir Wellness Solutions of California, Inc. | CA | 45 ###-###-#### |
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SCHEDULE II
Intellectual Property
Patents
See Attached
Trademarks
None
Copyrights
None
Licenses
None
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Avenir Consolidated Patent Summary | ||||
PATENT FAMILY #1: |
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Issued U.S. Patents |
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Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Patent No. | Issue Date | Remarks |
14/694,303 | 04/23/2015 | US 9,980,996 | 05/29/2018 | Owner: Avenir
Title: Pharmaceutical composition and method of manufacturing
Summary: The patents are directed to the extraction of cannabis by supercritical extraction, employing a solvent (e.g., carbon dioxide (CO2)) at a specified temperature range and pressure range. The supercritical extraction is a fractional supercritical fluid extraction, meaning the extraction of the plant matter is carried out multiple (two or more) times, to remove select products with each extraction. With the multiple extractions, the solvent, temperature, and/or pressure will vary.
Based on the U.S. Patent Office’s examination of the above matters and the prior art identified therein, a key point of novelty across the portfolio resides in the fractional supercritical fluid extraction carried out on the cannabis plant matter, employing carbon dioxide (CO2) as the sole solvent, at the specified extraction parameters (e.g., time, temperature, and pressure) used to obtain each of the desired constituents present in the cannabis (e.g., CBD and THC).
As generally known and accepted in the marketplace, the benefits of supercritical fluid extraction include its selectivity and speed. The extraction parameters (e.g., time, temperature, and pressure) can readily be optimized to obtain each of the desired constituents present in the cannabis. Additionally, supercritical fluid extraction can often be carried out in a much shorter time compared to organic liquid extractions. Moreover, carbon dioxide is the most used supercritical fluid solvent, based in part upon its ability to completely evaporate after the extraction, leaving no residue.
The initial patent filing has an early priority date (2014), which would limit the scope of available prior art, thereby providing strong patents. One feature of the patents believed to be significant is the “fractional” aspect of the supercritical extraction, as applied to the cannabis plant. The fractional supercritical extraction of the cannabis plant allows the user to readily obtain a desired extract (carried out with a solvent system, over a period of time, at a temperature, and at a pressure). Utilizing the same supercritical extraction system and the cannabis plant, the user can readily obtain another desired extract (carried out with a different combination of solvent system, period of time, temperature, and pressure).
The family currently has eleven (11) issued patents, with claims varying with respect to the process parameters (e.g., solvent system, time, temperature, and pressure). Different process parameters described therein can be used to obtain multiple constituents present in the cannabis. The family currently has three (3) pending applications, with claims further varying with respect to the process parameters. The existence of pending applications allows the owner to pursue additional, unclaimed subject matter disclosed in the specification (this is often referred to as “life cycle management”). Across the patent family, there have been relatively few substantive rejections from the Patent Office, with relatively few prior art references having been cited. Absent any patent term adjustments and/or extensions, the patents are set to expire 20 years from the initial filing, in 2034. |
14/934,940 | 11/06/2015 | US 10,238,705 | 03/26/2019 | |
15/988,484 | 05/24/2018 | US 10,092,611 | 10/09/2018 | |
14/255,296 | 04/17/2014 | US 9,044,390 | 06/02/2015 | |
14/723,980 | 05/28/2015 | US 9,186,386 | 11/17/2015 | |
16/151,436 | 10/04/2018 | US 10,639,339 | 05/05/2020 | |
16/359,579 | 03/20/2019 | US 10,624,940 | 04/21/2020 | |
16/809,958 | 03/05/2020 | US 11,266,702 | 03/08/2022 | |
16/809,700 | 03/05/2020 | US 11,478,520 | 10/25/2022 | |
16/856,492 | 04/23/2020 | US 11,344,591 | 05/31/2022 | |
16/856,609 | 04/23/2020 | US 11,331,358 | 05/17/2022 | |
17/663,164 | 05/12/2022 | US 11,890,310 | 02/06/2024 | |
18/048,954 | 10/24/2022 | US 11,938,160 | 03/26/2024 | |
17,663,065 | 05/12/2022 | US 11,844763 | 12/19/2023 | |
Published U.S. Patent Applications | ||||
Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Publication No. | Publication Date | |
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PATENT FAMILY #2: |
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Issued U.S. Patents |
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Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Patent No. | Issue Date | Remarks |
14/810,595 | 07/28/2015 | US 10,307,397 | 06/04/2019 | Owner: Avenir and CMS
Title: Oral dissolvable film that includes plant extract
Summary: The patents are directed to oral dissolvable films (ODFs) containing a botanical extract, e.g., extract of cannabis. The cannabis extract includes, e.g., CBD, THC, etc. The ODF includes other excipients used in the manufacture of ODFs (e.g., binder). The ODF has a relatively high load of active ingredient (e.g., cannabis extract) due to the encapsulation of the active ingredient by the excipient lipid.
The initial patent filing has an early priority date (2014), which would limit the scope of available prior art, thereby providing strong patents. The family currently has two (2) issued patents, with claims varying with respect to the product. The family currently has one (1) pending application, with claims further varying with respect to the product. The existence of a pending application allows the owner to pursue additional, unclaimed subject matter disclosed in the specification (this is often referred to as “life cycle management”). Across the patent family, there have been relatively few substantive rejections from the Patent Office, with relatively few prior art references having been cited. Absent any patent term adjustments and/or extensions, the patents are set to expire 20 years from the initial filing, in 2035.
One feature of the patents believed to be significant is the combination of a botanical extract (e.g., extract of cannabis) that is directly formulated into an ODF utilizing Cure Pharmaceutical technology and know-how. This includes the encapsulation of the active ingredient (e.g., cannabis extract) by an excipient lipid, to provide a relatively high load of active ingredient. High drug loads in excess of 35 wt.% were achieved by the inventors.
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16/394,413 | 04/25/2019 | US 11,266,625 | 03/08/2022 | |
Published U.S. Patent Applications | ||||
Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Publication No. | Publication Date | |
17/653,534 | 03/04/2022 | US 2022/0296567 | 09/22/2022 | |
Status: A notice of allowance was issued 05/03/2023. The issue fee will be timely paid, a continuation will be timely filed, and a preliminary amendment (to file additional claims of desired subject matter) will be docketed.
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PATENT FAMILY #3: |
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Issued U.S. Patents |
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Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Patent No. | Issue Date | Remarks |
16/647,003 | 07/14/2020 | US 11,766,445 | 09/26/2023 | Oral Soft Gel Capsule |
Published U.S. Patent Applications |
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Application No. | Filing Date | U.S. Publication No. | Publication Date |
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16/947,005 | 07/14/2020 | US 2021/0015738 | 01/21/2021 | Owner: Avenir and CMS
Titles: Oral dissolvable film containing psychedelic compound Oral soft gel capsule containing psychedelic compound
Summary: The patents are directed to an oral dissolvable film, as well as a soft gel capsule, respectively, that include a psychedelic compound and a method of treating a disease or disorder ameliorated by a psychedelic compound, by orally administering to a subject the oral dissolvable film (ODF) (or soft gel capsule). One significant aspect of the patents is an oral thin film (or soft gel capsule) that includes a low dose (e.g., microdose or sub-therapeutic dose) of the psychedelic compound. The diseases/disorders include. e.g., treating at least one of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), pain, irritability, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cluster headaches, paranoia, psychosis, anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks, smoking addiction, alcohol addiction, and cocaine addiction as well as improving creativity, boosting physical energy level, attaining emotional balance, increasing performance on problem- solving tasks, treating anxiety, treating depression, treating addiction, or any combination thereof.
The initial patent filing has a priority date of 2019. The family currently has two (2) pending applications. The existence of a pending application allows the owner to pursue additional, unclaimed subject matter disclosed in the specification (this is often referred to as “life cycle management”). Absent any patent term adjustments and/or extensions, the patents are set to expire 20 years from the initial filing, in 2040.
One feature of the patents believed to be significant is the low dose (e.g., microdose or sub-therapeutic dose) of the psychedelic compound for the numerous indications specified therein. This is consistent with the scientific literature showing researchers pursuing the psychedelic compounds for these indications, at sub- therapeutic doses. It is also believed that dosage forms (ODF and soft gel capsule) are suitable for the psychedelic compounds and are convenient to the patients. |
Status: An office action response was filed 05/19/2023 and currently no notice of allowance is expected within the next 30-60 days. | ||||
18/467,857 | 09/15/2023 | US 2024/0000817 | 01/04/2024 | |
Status: | ||||
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SCHEDULE III
Locations
Grantor’s Name | Chief Executive Office | Chief Place of Business | Books and Records | Inventory, Equipment, Etc. |
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Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc. | 15233 Ventura Blvd., Suite 420 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 | 15233 Ventura Blvd., Suite 420 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 | 15233 Ventura Blvd., Suite 420 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 | 15233 Ventura Blvd., Suite 420 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403,
Office Furniture – 5805 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 801 Sherman Oaks, CA 91411 (Previously maintained location – lease terminated 9/6/2024) |
The Sera Labs, Inc. |
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Avenir Wellness Solutions of California, Inc. |
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| Jet Mail/Great Lakes Fulfillment 41 Canal Street Lewiston, ME 04240
KDC/One Socal Laboratories, LLC 20501 Earlgate Street Walnut, CA 91789
Concept Matrix Solutions, Inc. 3481 Old Conejo Road, Suite 103 Newbury Park, CA 91320 |
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SCHEDULE IV
Promissory Notes, Securities, Deposit Accounts,
Securities Accounts and Commodities Accounts
Securities
Grantor | Name of Issuer / Pledged Entity | % Granted | Certificate No.(s) |
Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc. | The Sera Labs, Inc. | 100% | 11 |
Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc. | Avenir Wellness Solutions of California, Inc. | 100% | N/A |
Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodities Accounts
Grantor | Name and Address of Institution | Purpose of the Account | Account No. |
Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc. | City National Bank 1315 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401 | Operating | [***] / [***] |
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The Sera Labs, Inc. | City National Bank 1315 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401 | Operating | [***] |
Foreign Currency Controlled Accounts
N/A
Pledged Equity
Pledged Equity | Holder |
The Sera Labs, Inc. | Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc. |
Avenir Wellness Solutions of California, Inc. | Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc. |
____________________
1 Original Certificate to be delivered to Collateral Agent at closing.
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SCHEDULE V
Financing Statements
Grantor | Jurisdiction for Filing Financing Statement |
Avenir Wellness Solutions, Inc. | DE |
The Sera Labs, Inc. | DE |
Avenir Wellness Solutions of California, Inc. | CA |
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SCHEDULE VI
Commercial Tort Claims
The lawsuit captioned Cure Pharmaceutical Holding Corp. v. Ionic Ventures, LLC, Index No. 653827/2022, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York for New York County.
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SCHEDULE VII
Permitted Liens
Liens related to the Amended And Restated Senior Secured Promissory Note And Security Agreement dated August 8, 2024 issued to Nancy Duitch.
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GUARANTY
This GUARANTY, dated as of December 15, 2024 (this “Guaranty”), is made by each of the undersigned (each a “Guarantor”, and collectively, the “Guarantors”), in favor of Ionic Ventures LLC, in its capacity as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent” as hereinafter further defined) for the “Holders” party to the Settlement Agreement (each as defined below).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company is party to that certain Settlement Agreement with Mutual Releases, dated as of December 15, 2024 (the “Settlement Agreement”), by and between the Company and Ionic Ventures LLC, as initial Holder, pursuant to which the Company shall be required to sell, and the Holders shall purchase or have the right to purchase, the “Notes” issued pursuant thereto (as such Notes may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated, exchanged or replaced from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, collectively, the “Notes”);
WHEREAS, the Settlement Agreement requires that the Guarantors execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent, (i) a guaranty guaranteeing all of the obligations of the Company under the Settlement Agreement, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents (as defined below); and (ii) a Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, granting the Collateral Agent a lien on and security interest in all of their assets and properties (the “Security Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, each Guarantor has determined that the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty directly benefits, and is in the best interest of, such Guarantor.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements herein and in order to induce the Holders to perform under the Settlement Agreement, each Guarantor hereby agrees with each Holder as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions. Reference is hereby made to the Settlement Agreement and the Notes for a statement of the terms thereof. All terms used in this Guaranty and the recitals hereto which are defined in the Settlement Agreement or the Notes, and which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as set forth therein. In addition, the following terms when used in the Guaranty shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Bankruptcy Code” means Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq. (or other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws).
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
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“Capital Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock (including, without limitation, any warrants, options, rights or other securities exercisable or convertible into equity interests or securities of such Person), and (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person.
“Collateral” means all assets and properties of the Company and each Guarantor, wherever located and whether now or hereafter existing and whether now owned or hereafter acquired, of every kind and description, tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, the collateral described in Section 3(a) of the Security Agreement.
“Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto. “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Holder” or “Holders” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Governmental Authority” means any nation, state, county, city, town, village, district, or other political jurisdiction of any nature, federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, or other government, governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official, or entity and any court or other tribunal), multi-national organization or body; or body exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory, or taxing authority or power of any nature or instrumentality of any of the foregoing, including any entity or enterprise owned or controlled by a government or a public international organization or any of the foregoing.
“Guaranteed Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2 of this Guaranty.
“Guarantor” or “Guarantors” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(a) of this Guaranty.
“Insolvency Proceeding” means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under any provision of the Bankruptcy Code or under any other bankruptcy or insolvency law, assignments for the benefit of creditors, formal or informal moratoria, compositions, or extensions generally with creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other similar relief.
“Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4 of the Security Agreement.
“Other Taxes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12(a)(iv) of this Guaranty.
“Paid in Full” or “Payment in Full” means the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all of the Guaranteed Obligations.
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“Person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture or other enterprise or entity or Governmental Authority.
“Security Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Settlement Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Settlement Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in the Settlement Agreement.
“Subsidiary” means any Person in which a Guarantor directly or indirectly, (i) owns any of the outstanding Capital Stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person or (ii) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and all of the foregoing, collectively, “Subsidiaries”.
“Taxes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12(a) of this Guaranty.
“Transaction Party” means the Company and each Guarantor, collectively, “Transaction Parties”.
SECTION 2. Guaranty.
(a) The Guarantors, jointly and severally, hereby unconditionally and irrevocably, guaranty to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders, the punctual payment, as and when due and payable, by stated maturity or otherwise, of all Obligations, including, without limitation, all interest, make-whole and other amounts that accrue after the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding of the Company or any Guarantor, whether or not the payment of such interest, make-whole and/or other amounts are enforceable or are allowable in such Insolvency Proceeding, and all fees, interest, premiums, penalties, causes of actions, costs, commissions, expense reimbursements, indemnifications and all other amounts due or to become due under any of the Transaction Documents (all of the foregoing collectively being the “Guaranteed Obligations”), and agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Collateral Agent in enforcing any rights under this Guaranty or any other Transaction Document. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor’s liability hereunder shall extend to all amounts that constitute part of the Guaranteed Obligations and would be owed by the Company to the Collateral Agent or any Holder under the Settlement Agreement and the Notes but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of an Insolvency Proceeding involving any Transaction Party.
(b) Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of this Guaranty, the Collateral Agent and each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such Persons that this Guaranty and the Guaranteed Obligations of each Guarantor hereunder not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar foreign, federal, provincial, state, or other applicable law to the extent applicable to this Guaranty and the Guaranteed Obligations of each Guarantor hereunder. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Collateral Agent, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the Guaranteed Obligations of each Guarantor under this Guaranty at any time shall be limited to the maximum amount as will result in the Guaranteed Obligations of such Guarantor under this Guaranty not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
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SECTION 3. Guaranty Absolute; Continuing Guaranty; Assignments.
(a) The Guarantors, jointly and severally, guaranty that the Guaranteed Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of the Collateral Agent or any Holder with respect thereto. The obligations of each Guarantor under this Guaranty are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against any Guarantor to enforce such obligations, irrespective of whether any action is brought against any Transaction Party or whether any Transaction Party is joined in any such action or actions. The liability of any Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be as a primary obligor (and not merely as a surety) and shall be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional irrespective of, and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by law, any defenses it may now or hereafter have in any way relating to, any or all of the following:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document;
(ii) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any Transaction Document, including, without limitation, any increase in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from the extension of additional credit to any Transaction Party or extension of the maturity of any Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise;
(iii) any taking, exchange, release or non-perfection of any Collateral;
(iv) any taking, release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other guaranty, for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(v) any change, restructuring or termination of the corporate, limited liability company or partnership structure or existence of any Transaction Party;
(vi) any manner of application of Collateral or any other collateral, or proceeds thereof, to all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any manner of sale or other disposition of any Collateral or any other collateral for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Obligations of any Transaction Party under the Transaction Documents or any other assets of any Transaction Party or any of its Subsidiaries;
(vii) any failure of the Collateral Agent or any Holder to disclose to any Transaction Party any information relating to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of any other Transaction Party now or hereafter known to the Collateral Agent or any Holder (each Guarantor waiving any duty on the part of the Collateral Agent or any Holder to disclose such information);
(viii) taking any action in furtherance of the release of any Guarantor or any other Person that is liable for the Obligations from all or any part of any liability arising under or in connection with any Transaction Document without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent; or
(ix) any other circumstance (including, without limitation, any statute of limitations) or any existence of or reliance on any representation by the Collateral Agent or any Holder that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Transaction Party or any other guarantor or surety.
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(b) This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Collateral Agent, any Holder, or any other Person upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Transaction Party or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.
(c) This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than inchoate indemnity obligations) and shall not terminate for any reason prior to the respective Maturity Date of each Note (other than Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations) and (ii) be binding upon each Guarantor and its respective successors and assigns. This Guaranty shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Collateral Agent, the Holders, and their respective successors, and permitted pledgees, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Collateral Agent or any Holder may pledge, assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its rights and obligations under and subject to the terms of any Transaction Document to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to the Collateral Agent or such Holder (as applicable) herein or otherwise, in each case as provided in the Settlement Agreement or such Transaction Document.
SECTION 4. Waivers. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives promptness, diligence, protest, notice of acceptance and any other notice or formality of any kind with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations and this Guaranty and any requirement that the Collateral Agent exhaust any right or take any action against any Transaction Party or any other Person or any Collateral. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated herein and that the waiver set forth in this Section 4 is knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits. The Guarantors hereby waive any right to revoke this Guaranty, and acknowledge that this Guaranty is continuing in nature and applies to all Guaranteed Obligations, whether existing now or in the future. Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives (a) any defense arising by reason of any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by the Collateral Agent or any Holder that in any manner impairs, reduces, releases or otherwise adversely affects the subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification rights of such Guarantor or other rights of such Guarantor to proceed against any of the other Transaction Parties, any other guarantor or any other Person or any Collateral, and (b) any defense based on any right of set-off or counterclaim against or in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations of such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any duty on the part of the Collateral Agent or any Holder to disclose to such Guarantor any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of any other Transaction Party or any of its Subsidiaries now or hereafter known by the Collateral Agent or a Holder.
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SECTION 5. Subrogation. No Guarantor may exercise any rights that it may now or hereafter acquire against any Transaction Party or any other guarantor that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of any Guarantor’s obligations under this Guaranty, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of the Collateral Agent or any Holder against any Transaction Party or any other guarantor or any Collateral, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from any Transaction Party or any other guarantor, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security solely on account of such claim, remedy or right, unless and until there has been Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations. If any amount shall be paid to a Guarantor in violation of the immediately preceding sentence at any time prior to Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and shall forthwith be paid to the Collateral Agent to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Document, or to be held as Collateral for any Guaranteed Obligations or other amounts payable under this Guaranty thereafter arising. If (a) any Guarantor shall make payment to the Collateral Agent of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, and (b) there has been Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Collateral Agent will, at such Guarantor’s request and expense, execute and deliver to such Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor of an interest in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from such payment by such Guarantor.
SECTION 6. Representations, Warranties and Covenants.
(a) Each Guarantor hereby represents and warrants as of the date first written above as follows:
(i) such Guarantor (A) is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization as set forth on the signature pages hereto, (B) has all requisite corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership power and authority to conduct its business as now conducted and as presently contemplated and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Guaranty and each other Transaction Document to which such Guarantor is a party, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (C) is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary except where the failure to be so qualified (individually or in the aggregate) would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) The execution, delivery and performance by such Guarantor of this Guaranty and each other Transaction Document to which such Guarantor is a party (A) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership action, (B) do not and will not contravene its charter, articles, certificate of formation or by-laws, its limited liability company or operating agreement or its certificate of partnership or partnership agreement, as applicable, or any applicable law or any contractual restriction binding on such Guarantor or its properties do not and will not result in or require the creation of any lien, security interest or encumbrance (other than pursuant to any Transaction Document) upon or with respect to any of its properties, and (C) do not and will not result in any default, noncompliance, suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal of any material permit, license, authorization or approval applicable to it or its operations or any of its properties.
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(iii) No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority or other Person is required in connection with the due execution, delivery and performance by such Guarantor of this Guaranty or any of the other Transaction Documents to which such Guarantor is a party (other than expressly provided for in any of the Transaction Documents).
(iv) This Guaranty has been duly executed and delivered by each Guarantor and is, and each of the other Transaction Documents to which such Guarantor is or will be a party, when executed and delivered, will be, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, suretyship or similar laws and equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).
(v) There is no pending or, to the best knowledge of such Guarantor, threatened action, suit or proceeding against such Guarantor or to which any of the properties of such Guarantor is subject, before any court or other Governmental Authority or any arbitrator that (A) if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (B) relates to this Guaranty or any of the other Transaction Documents to which such Guarantor is a party or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby.
(vi) Such Guarantor (A) has read and understands the terms and conditions of the Settlement Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, and (B) now has and will continue to have independent means of obtaining information concerning the affairs, financial condition and business of the Company and the other Transaction Parties, and has no need of, or right to obtain from the Collateral Agent or any Holder, any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of the Company or the other Transaction Parties.
(vii) There are no conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Guaranty that have not been satisfied or waived.
(b) Each Guarantor covenants and agrees that until Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations, it will comply with each of the covenants (except to the extent applicable only to a public company) which are set forth in Section 4 of the Settlement Agreement as if such Guarantor were a party thereto.
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SECTION 7. Right of Set-off. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Collateral Agent and any Holder may, and is hereby authorized to, at any time and from time to time, without notice to the Guarantors (any such notice being expressly waived by each Guarantor) and to the fullest extent permitted by law, set-off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by the Collateral Agent or any Holder to or for the credit or the account of any Guarantor against any and all obligations of the Guarantors now or hereafter existing under this Guaranty or any other Transaction Document, irrespective of whether or not the Collateral Agent or any Holder shall have made any demand under this Guaranty or any other Transaction Document and although such obligations may be contingent or unmatured. The Collateral Agent and each Holder agrees to notify the relevant Guarantor promptly after any such set-off and application made by the Collateral Agent or such Holder, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of the Collateral Agent or any Holder under this Section 7 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which the Collateral Agent or such Holder may have under this Guaranty or any other Transaction Document in law or otherwise.
SECTION 8. Limitation on Guaranteed Obligations.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision herein contained to the contrary, each Guarantor’s liability hereunder shall be limited to an amount not to exceed as of any date of determination the greater of:
(i) the amount of all Guaranteed Obligations, plus interest thereon at the applicable Interest Rate as specified in the Note; and
(ii) the amount which could be claimed by the Collateral Agent from any Guarantor under this Guaranty without rendering such claim voidable or avoidable under the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law after taking into account, among other things, Guarantor’s right of contribution and indemnification.
(b) Each Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the amount of the liability of such Guarantor hereunder without impairing the guaranty hereunder or affecting the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent or any Holder hereunder or under applicable law.
(c) No payment made by the Company, any Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Collateral Agent or any other Holder from the Company, 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 Guaranteed 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 Guaranteed Obligations or any payment received or collected from such Guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations), remain liable for the Guaranteed Obligations up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder until after all of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty shall have been Paid in Full.
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SECTION 9. Notices, Etc. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Guaranty must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an nationally recognized overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be sent, if to any Guarantor, to the Company’s address and/or facsimile number, or if to the Collateral Agent or any Holder, to it at its respective address and/or facsimile number, each as set forth in Section 10 of the Security Agreement.
SECTION 10. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Guaranty shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or under any of the other Transaction Documents or with any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim, obligation or defense that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under Section 10 of the Security Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Collateral Agent or the Holders from bringing suit or taking other legal action against any Guarantor in any other jurisdiction to collect on a Guarantor’s obligations or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Collateral Agent or a Holder.
SECTION 11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, ETC. EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS GUARANTY, ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
SECTION 12. Taxes.
(a) All payments made by any Guarantor hereunder or under any other Transaction Document shall be made in accordance with the terms of the respective Transaction Document and shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, withholding, deduction or other defense. Without limiting the foregoing, all such payments shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding taxes imposed on the net income of the Collateral Agent or any Holder by the jurisdiction in which the Collateral Agent or such Holder is organized or where it has its principal lending office (all such nonexcluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities, collectively or individually, “Taxes”). If any Guarantor shall be required to deduct or to withhold any Taxes from or in respect of any amount payable hereunder or under any other Transaction Document:
(i) the amount so payable shall be increased to the extent necessary so that after making all required deductions and withholdings (including Taxes on amounts payable to the Collateral Agent or any Holder pursuant to this sentence) the Collateral Agent or each Holder receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made,
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(ii) such Guarantor shall make such deduction or withholding,
(iii) such Guarantor shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, and
(iv) as promptly as possible thereafter, such Guarantor shall send the Collateral Agent or each Holder an official receipt (or, if an official receipt is not available, such other documentation as shall be satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, as the case may be) showing payment. In addition, each Guarantor agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery, registration or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Guaranty or any other Transaction Document (collectively, “Other Taxes”).
(b) Each Guarantor hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold each Indemnified Party harmless from and against Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 12) paid by any Indemnified Party as a result of any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery, registration or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Guaranty or any other Transaction Document, and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses for nonpayment, late payment or otherwise) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. This indemnification shall be paid within thirty (30) days from the date on which the Collateral Agent or such Holder makes written demand therefor, which demand shall identify the nature and amount of such Taxes or Other Taxes.
(c) If any Guarantor fails to perform any of its obligations under this Section 12, such Guarantor shall indemnify the Collateral Agent and each Holder for any taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable as a result of any such failure. The obligations of the Guarantors under this Section 12 shall survive the termination of this Guaranty and the payment of the Obligations and all other amounts payable hereunder.
SECTION 13. Indemnification.
(a) Without limitation of any other obligations of any Guarantor or remedies of the Collateral Agent or the Holders under this Guaranty or applicable law, except to the extent resulting from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction no longer subject to appeal, each Guarantor shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify, defend and save and hold harmless the Collateral Agent and each Holder and each of their affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against, and shall pay on demand, any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party in connection with or as a result of any failure of any Guaranteed Obligations to be the legal, valid and binding obligations of any Transaction Party enforceable against such Transaction Party in accordance with their terms.
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(b) Each Guarantor hereby also agrees that none of the Indemnified Parties shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) or any fiduciary duty or obligation to any of the Guarantors or any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors, and each Guarantor hereby agrees not to assert any claim against any Indemnified Party on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential, incidental or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to the facilities, the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the advances, the Transaction Documents or any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
SECTION 14. Miscellaneous.
(a) Each Guarantor will make each payment hereunder in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds to the Collateral Agent or each Holder, at such address specified by the Collateral Agent or such Holder from time to time by notice to the Guarantors.
(b) No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty and no consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by each Guarantor, the Collateral Agent and each Holder, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
(c) No failure on the part of the Collateral Agent or any Holder to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Transaction Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder or under any Transaction Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent and the Holders provided herein and in the other Transaction Documents are cumulative and are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies provided by law. The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent and the Holders under any Transaction Document against any party thereto are not conditional or contingent on any attempt by the Collateral Agent or any Holder to exercise any of their respective rights or remedies under any other Transaction Document against such party or against any other Person.
(d) Any provision of this Guaranty that 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 portions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
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(e) This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than inchoate indemnity obligations) and shall not terminate for any reason prior to the respective Maturity Date of each Note (other than Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations) and (ii) be binding upon each Guarantor and its respective successors and assigns. This Guaranty shall inure, together with all rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder, to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Collateral Agent, the Holders, and their respective successors, and permitted pledgees, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Collateral Agent or any Holder may pledge, assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its rights and obligations under and subject to the terms of the Settlement Agreement or any other Transaction Document to any other Person in accordance with the terms thereof, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to the Collateral Agent or such Holder (as applicable) herein or otherwise, in each case as provided in the Settlement Agreement or such Transaction Document. None of the rights or obligations of any Guarantor hereunder may be assigned or otherwise transferred without the prior written consent of each Holder.
(f) For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, upon any entity becoming a direct, or indirect, Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall cause each such Subsidiary to become party to the Guaranty by executing a joinder to the Guaranty reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Required Holders.
(g) This Guaranty and the other Transaction Documents reflect the entire understanding of the transaction contemplated hereby and shall not be contradicted or qualified by any other agreement, oral or written, entered into before the date hereof.
(h) Section headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Guaranty for any other purpose.
SECTION 15. Currency Indemnity.
If, for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing judgment against Guarantor in any court in any jurisdiction, it becomes necessary to convert into any other currency (such other currency being hereinafter in this Section 15 referred to as the “Judgment Currency”) an amount due under this Guaranty in any currency (the “Obligation Currency”) other than the Judgment Currency, the conversion shall be made at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Business Day immediately preceding (a) the date of actual payment of the amount due, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of courts of the jurisdiction that will give effect to such conversion being made on such date, or (b) the date on which the judgment is given, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of any other jurisdiction (the applicable date as of which such conversion is made pursuant to this Section 15 being hereinafter in this Section 15 referred to as the “Judgment Conversion Date”).
If, in the case of any proceeding in the court of any jurisdiction referred to in the preceding paragraph, there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the Judgment Conversion Date and the date of actual receipt of the amount due in immediately available funds, the Guarantors shall pay such additional amount (if any, but in any event not a lesser amount) as may be necessary to ensure that the amount actually received in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of the Obligation Currency which could have been purchased with the amount of the Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial order at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Judgment Conversion Date. Any amount due from the Guarantors under this Section 15 shall be due as a separate debt and shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other amounts due under or in respect of this Guaranty.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be executed by its respective duly authorized officer, as of the date first above written.
| GUARANTORS: |
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| THE SERA LABS, INC. |
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| By: |
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| Name: | Joel Bennett |
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| Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
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| AVENIR WELLNESS SOLUTIONS OF CALIFORNIA, INC. |
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| By: | ||
| Name: | Joel Bennett |
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| Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
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ACCEPTED BY: |
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IONIC VENTURES LLC, |
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as Collateral Agent |
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By: |
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| Name: Brendan T. O’Neil |
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Title: Manager |
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