EXHIBIT 10.15
COMPANY PLEDGE AGREEMENT
This COMPANY PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is dated as of
October 23, 1997 and entered into by and between THE PANTRY, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("PLEDGOR"), and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as administrative agent
for and representative of (in such capacity herein called "SECURED PARTY") the
financial institutions ("LENDERS") party to the Credit Agreement referred to
below and any Interest Rate Exchangers (as hereinafter defined).
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
A. Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of (i) the shares of
stock (the "PLEDGED SHARES") described in Part A of Schedule I annexed hereto
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and issued by the corporations named therein and (ii) the indebtedness (the
"PLEDGED DEBT") described in Part B of said Schedule I and issued by the
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obligors named therein.
B. Secured Party, Syndication Agent and Lenders have entered into a
Credit Agreement dated as of October 23, 1997 (said Credit Agreement, as it may
hereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time,
being the "CREDIT AGREEMENT", the terms defined therein and not otherwise
defined herein being used herein as therein defined) with Pledgor pursuant to
which Lenders have made certain commitments, subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in the Credit Agreement, to extend certain credit facilities to
Pledgor.
C. Pledgor may from time to time enter into one or more Interest
Rate Agreements (collectively, the "LENDER INTEREST RATE AGREEMENTS") with one
or more Lenders (in such capacity, collectively, "INTEREST RATE EXCHANGERS") in
accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, and it is desired that the
obligations of Pledgor under the Lender Interest Rate Agreements, including the
obligation of Pledgor to make payments thereunder in the event of early
termination thereof, together with all obligations of Pledgor under the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, be secured hereunder.
D. It is a condition precedent to the initial extensions of credit
by Lenders under the Credit Agreement that Pledgor shall have granted the
security interests and undertaken the obligations contemplated by this
Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and in order to
induce Lenders to make Loans and other extensions of credit under the Credit
Agreement and to induce Interest Rate
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Exchangers to enter into the Lender Interest Rate Agreements, and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby
acknowledged, Pledgor hereby agrees with Secured Party as follows:
SECTION 1. PLEDGE OF SECURITY. Pledgor hereby pledges and assigns to
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Secured Party, and hereby grants to Secured Party a security interest in, all of
Pledgor's right, title and interest in and to the following (the "PLEDGED
COLLATERAL"):
(a) the Pledged Shares and the certificates representing the Pledged
Shares and any interest of Pledgor in the entries on the books of any financial
intermediary pertaining to the Pledged Shares, and all dividends, cash,
warrants, rights, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time
received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for
any or all of the Pledged Shares;
(b) the Pledged Debt and the instruments evidencing the Pledged Debt,
and all interest, cash, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to
time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange
for any or all of the Pledged Debt;
(c) all additional shares of, and all securities convertible into and
warrants, options and other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, stock of
any issuer of the Pledged Shares from time to time acquired by Pledgor in any
manner (which shares shall be deemed to be part of the Pledged Shares), the
certificates or other instruments representing such additional shares,
securities, warrants, options or other rights and any interest of Pledgor in the
entries on the books of any financial intermediary pertaining to such additional
shares, and all dividends, cash, warrants, rights, instruments and other
property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise
distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such additional
shares, securities, warrants, options or other rights;
(d) all additional indebtedness from time to time owed to Pledgor by
any obligor on the Pledged Debt and the instruments evidencing such
indebtedness, and all interest, cash, instruments and other property or proceeds
from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or
in exchange for any or all of such indebtedness;
(e) all shares of, and all securities convertible into and warrants,
options and other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, stock of any Person
that, after the date of this Agreement, becomes, as a result of any occurrence,
a direct Restricted Subsidiary of Pledgor (which shares shall be deemed to be
part of the Pledged Shares), the certificates or other instruments representing
such shares, securities, warrants, options or other rights and any interest of
Pledgor in the entries on the books of any financial intermediary pertaining to
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such shares, and all dividends, cash, warrants, rights, instru ments and other
property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise
distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such shares,
securities, warrants, options or other rights;
(f) all indebtedness from time to time owed to Pledgor by any Person
that, after the date of this Agreement, becomes, as a result of any occurrence,
a direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of Pledgor, and all interest, cash,
instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time received,
receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all
of such indebtedness; and
(g) to the extent not covered by clauses (a) through (f) above, all
proceeds of any or all of the foregoing Pledged Collateral. For purposes of
this Agreement, the term "PROCEEDS" includes whatever is receivable or received
when Pledged Collateral or proceeds are sold, exchanged, collected or otherwise
disposed of, whether such disposition is voluntary or involuntary, and includes
proceeds of any indemnity or guaranty payable to Pledgor or Secured Party from
time to time with respect to any of the Pledged Collateral.
SECTION 2. SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS. This Agreement secures, and the
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Pledged Collateral is collateral security for, the prompt payment or performance
in full when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment,
declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise (including the payment of amounts
that would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay under Section
362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. (S)362(a)), of all obligations and
liabilities of every nature of Pledgor now or hereafter existing under or
arising out of or in connection with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and the Lender Interest Rate Agreements and all extensions or renewals
thereof, whether for principal, interest (including interest that, but for the
filing of a petition in bankruptcy with respect to Pledgor, would accrue on such
obligations), reimbursement of amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, payments
for early termination of Lender Interest Rate Agreements, fees, expenses,
indemnities or otherwise, whether voluntary or involuntary, direct or indirect,
absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, whether or not jointly owed
with others, and whether or not from time to time decreased or extinguished and
later increased, created or incurred, and all or any portion of such obligations
or liabilities that are paid, to the extent all or any part of such payment is
avoided or recovered directly or indirectly from Secured Party, Syndication
Agent or any Lender or Interest Rate Exchanger as a preference, fraudulent
transfer or otherwise, and all obligations of every nature of Pledgor now or
hereafter existing under this Agreement (all such obligations of Pledgor being
the "SECURED OBLIGATIONS").
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SECTION 3. DELIVERY OF PLEDGED COLLATERAL. All certificates or
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instruments representing or evidencing the Pledged Collateral shall be delivered
to and held by or on behalf of Secured Party pursuant hereto and shall be in
suitable form for transfer by delivery or, as applicable, shall be accompanied
by Pledgor's endorsement, where necessary, or duly executed instruments of
transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to
Secured Party. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement), Secured Party shall have the
right, without notice to Pledgor, to transfer to or to register in the name of
Secured Party or any of its nominees any or all of the Pledged Collateral,
subject only to the revocable rights specified in Section 7(a). In addition,
Secured Party shall have the right at any time to exchange certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for certificates or
instruments of smaller or larger denominations.
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Pledgor represents and
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warrants as follows:
(a) Due Authorization, etc. of Pledged Collateral. All of the Pledged
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Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-
assessable. All of the Pledged Debt has been duly authorized, authenticated or
issued, and delivered and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
issuers thereof and is not in default.
(b) Description of Pledged Collateral. The Pledged Shares constitute
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all of the issued and outstanding shares of stock of each issuer thereof, and
there are no outstanding warrants, options or other rights to purchase, or other
agree ments outstanding with respect to, or property that is now or hereafter
convertible into, or that requires the issuance or sale of, any Pledged Shares.
The Pledged Debt constitutes all of the issued and outstanding intercompany
indebtedness evidenced by a promissory note of the respective issuers thereof
owing to Pledgor.
(c) Ownership of Pledged Collateral. Pledgor is the legal, record and
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beneficial owner of the Pledged Collateral free and clear of any Lien except for
the security interest created by this Agreement or any other Collateral Document
or Permitted Encumbrances.
SECTION 5. TRANSFERS AND OTHER LIENS; ADDITIONAL PLEDGED COLLATERAL;
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ETC. Pledgor shall:
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(a) not, except as expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement, (i)
sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of, or
grant any option with respect to, any of the Pledged Collateral, (ii) create or
suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of the Pledged Collateral,
except for the security interest under this Agreement, or (iii) permit any
issuer of Pledged Shares to merge or consolidate unless all the
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outstanding capital stock of the surviving or resulting corporation is, upon
such merger or consolidation, pledged hereunder and no cash, securities or other
property is distributed in respect of the outstanding shares of any other
constituent corporation; provided that in the event Pledgor makes an Asset Sale
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permitted by the Credit Agreement and the assets subject to such Asset Sale are
Pledged Collateral, Secured Party shall release the Pledged Collateral that is
the subject of such Asset Sale to Pledgor free and clear of any Lien and
security interest under this Agreement or any other Collateral Document
concurrently with the consummation of such Asset Sale; provided, further that,
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as a condition precedent to such release, Secured Party shall have received
evidence satisfactory to it that arrangements satisfactory to it have been made
for delivery to Secured Party of the Net Asset Sale Proceeds of such Asset Sale
to the extent required under the Credit Agreement;
(b) (i) cause each issuer of Pledged Shares not to issue any stock or
other securities in addition to or in substitution for the Pledged Shares issued
by such issuer, except to Pledgor, (ii) pledge hereunder, immediately upon its
acquisition (directly or indirectly) thereof, any and all additional shares of
stock or other securities of each issuer of Pledged Shares, and (iii) pledge
hereunder, immediately upon its acquisition (directly or indirectly) thereof,
any and all shares of stock of any Person that, after the date of this
Agreement, becomes, as a result of any occurrence, a direct Restricted
Subsidiary of Pledgor;
(c) (i) pledge hereunder, immediately upon their issuance, any and all
instruments or other evidences of additional indebtedness from time to time owed
to Pledgor by any obligor on the Pledged Debt, and (ii) pledge hereunder,
immediately upon their issuance, any and all instruments or other evidences of
indebtedness from time to time owed to Pledgor by any Person that after the date
of this Agreement becomes, as a result of any occurrence, a direct or indirect
Restricted Subsidiary of Pledgor;
(d) promptly notify Secured Party of any event of which Pledgor
becomes aware causing loss of the Pledged Collateral;
(e) promptly deliver to Secured Party all written notices received by
it with respect to the Pledged Collateral; and
(f) pay promptly when due all taxes, assessments and governmental
charges or levies imposed upon, and all claims against, the Pledged Collateral,
except to the extent the validity thereof is being contested in good faith;
provided that Pledgor shall in any event pay such taxes, assessments, charges,
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levies or claims not later than five days prior to the date of any proposed sale
under any judgement, writ or warrant of
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attachment entered or filed against Pledgor or any of the Pledged Collateral as
a result of the failure to make such payment.
SECTION 6. FURTHER ASSURANCES; PLEDGE AMENDMENTS.
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(a) Pledgor agrees that from time to time, at the expense of Pledgor,
Pledgor will promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents,
and take all further action, that may be necessary or desirable, or that Secured
Party may request, in order to perfect and protect any security interest granted
or purported to be granted hereby or to enable Secured Party to exercise and
enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Pledged
Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Pledgor will:
(i) execute and file such financing or continuation statements, or amendments
thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or
desirable, or as Secured Party may request, in order to perfect and preserve the
security interests granted or purported to be granted hereby and (ii) at Secured
Party's request, appear in and defend any action or proceeding that may affect
Pledgor's title to or Secured Party's security interest in all or any part of
the Pledged Collateral.
(b) Pledgor further agrees that it will, upon obtaining any additional
shares of stock or other securities required to be pledged hereunder as provided
in Section 5(b) or (c), promptly (and in any event within five Business Days)
deliver to Secured Party a Pledge Amendment, duly executed by Pledgor, in
substantially the form of Schedule II annexed hereto (a "PLEDGE AMENDMENT"), in
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respect of the additional Pledged Shares or Pledged Debt to be pledged pursuant
to this Agreement. Pledgor hereby authorizes Secured Party to attach each
Pledge Amendment to this Agreement and agrees that all Pledged Shares or Pledged
Debt listed on any Pledge Amendment delivered to Secured Party shall for all
purposes hereunder be considered Pledged Collateral; provided that the failure
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of Pledgor to execute a Pledge Amendment with respect to any additional Pledged
Shares or Pledged Debt pledged pursuant to this Agreement shall not impair the
security interest of Secured Party therein or otherwise adversely affect the
rights and remedies of Secured Party hereunder with respect thereto.
SECTION 7. VOTING RIGHTS; DIVIDENDS; ETC.
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(a) So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing:
(i) Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and other
consensual rights pertaining to the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof
for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or the
Credit Agreement; provided, however, that Pledgor shall not exercise or
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refrain from exercising any such right if Secured Party shall have notified
Pledgor that, in Secured Party's judgment, such action would have a
material adverse
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effect on the value of the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof; and
provided, further, that Pledgor shall give Secured Party at least five
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Business Days' prior written notice of the manner in which it intends to
exercise, or the reasons for refraining from exercising, any such right.
It is understood, however, that neither (A) the voting by Pledgor of any
Pledged Shares for or Pledgor's consent to the election of directors at a
regularly scheduled annual or other meeting of stockholders or with respect
to incidental matters at any such meeting nor (B) Pledgor's consent to or
approval of any action otherwise permitted under this Agreement and the
Credit Agreement shall be deemed inconsistent with the terms of this
Agreement or the Credit Agreement within the meaning of this Section
7(a)(i), and no notice of any such voting or consent need be given to
Secured Party;
(ii) Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain, and to utilize
free and clear of the lien of this Agreement, any and all dividends and
interest paid in respect of the Pledged Collateral; provided, however, that
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any and all
(A) dividends and interest paid or payable other than in cash in
respect of, and instruments and other property received, receivable or
otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Pledged
Collateral,
(B) dividends and other distributions paid or payable in cash in
respect of any Pledged Collateral in connection with a partial or
total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of
capital, capital surplus or paid-in-surplus, and
(C) cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed in respect of
principal or in redemption of or in exchange for any Pledged
Collateral,
shall be, and shall forthwith be delivered to Secured Party to hold as,
Pledged Collateral and shall, if received by Pledgor, be received in trust
for the benefit of Secured Party, be segregated from the other property or
funds of Pledgor and be forthwith delivered to Secured Party as Pledged
Collateral in the same form as so received (with all necessary
indorsements); and
(iii) Secured Party shall promptly execute and deliver (or cause to
be executed and delivered) to Pledgor all such proxies, dividend payment
orders and other instruments as Pledgor may from time to time reasonably
request for the purpose of enabling Pledgor to exercise the voting and
other consensual rights which it is entitled to exercise pursuant to
paragraph (i) above and to receive the dividends, principal or interest
payments which it is
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authorized to receive and retain pursuant to paragraph (ii) above.
(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of
Default:
(i) upon written notice from Secured Party to Pledgor, all rights of
Pledgor to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which it would
otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 7(a)(i) shall cease,
and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in Secured Party who
shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise such voting and other
consensual rights;
(ii) all rights of Pledgor to receive the dividends and interest
payments which it would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain
pursuant to Section 7(a)(ii) shall cease, and all such rights shall
thereupon become vested in Secured Party who shall thereupon have the sole
right to receive and hold as Pledged Collateral such dividends and interest
payments; and
(iii) all dividends, principal and interest pay ments which are
received by Pledgor contrary to the provi sions of paragraph (ii) of this
Section 7(b) shall be received in trust for the benefit of Secured Party,
shall be segregated from other funds of Pledgor and shall forthwith be paid
over to Secured Party as Pledged Collateral in the same form as so received
(with any necessary indorsements).
(c) In order to permit Secured Party to exercise the voting and other
consensual rights which it may be entitled to exercise pursuant to Section
7(b)(i) and to receive all dividends and other distributions which it may be
entitled to receive under Section 7(a)(ii) or Section 7(b)(ii), (i) Pledgor
shall promptly execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) to
Secured Party all such proxies, dividend payment orders and other instruments as
Secured Party may from time to time reasonably request and (ii) without limiting
the effect of the immediately preceding clause (i), Pledgor hereby grants to
Secured Party an irrevocable proxy to vote the Pledged Shares and to exercise
all other rights, powers, privileges and remedies to which a holder of the
Pledged Shares would be entitled (including giving or withholding written
consents of shareholders, calling special meetings of shareholders and voting at
such meetings), which proxy shall be effective, automatically and without the
necessity of any action (including any transfer of any Pledged Shares on the
record books of the issuer thereof) by any other Person (including the issuer of
the Pledged Shares or any officer or agent thereof), upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default and which proxy shall only terminate upon the payment in full
of the Secured Obligations.
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SECTION 8. SECURED PARTY APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT. Pledgor hereby
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irrevocably appoints Secured Party as Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with full
authority in the place and stead of Pledgor and in the name of Pledgor, Secured
Party or otherwise, from time to time in Secured Party's discretion to take any
action and to execute any instrument that Secured Party may deem necessary or
advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including:
(a) to file one or more financing or continuation statements, or
amendments thereto, relative to all or any part of the Pledged Collateral
without the signature of Pledgor; and
(b) upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of
Default;
(i) 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 of the Pledged Collateral;
(ii) to receive, endorse and collect any instruments made payable
to Pledgor representing any divi dend, principal or interest payment or
other distribution in respect of the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof
and to give full discharge for the same; and
(iii) to file any claims or take any action or institute any
proceedings that Secured Party may deem necessary or desirable for the
collection of any of the Pledged Collateral or otherwise to enforce the
rights of Secured Party with respect to any of the Pledged Collateral.
SECTION 9. SECURED PARTY MAY PERFORM. If Pledgor fails to perform
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any agreement contained herein after the period in which such performance is
required, and after reasonable notice, Secured Party may itself perform, or
cause performance of, such agreement, and the expenses of Secured Party incurred
in connection therewith shall be payable by Pledgor under Section 14.
SECTION 10. STANDARD OF CARE. The powers conferred on Secured Party
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hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Pledged Collateral and shall
not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the
exercise of reasonable care in the custody of any Pledged Collateral in its
possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder,
Secured Party shall have no duty as to any Pledged Collateral, it being
understood that Secured Party shall have no responsibility for (a) ascertaining
or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities,
tenders or other matters relating to any Pledged Collateral, whether or not
Secured Party has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, (b) taking any
necessary steps (other than steps taken in accordance with the standard of care
set forth above to maintain possession of
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the Pledged Collateral) to preserve rights against any parties with respect to
any Pledged Collateral, (c) taking any necessary steps to collect or realize
upon the Secured Obligations or any guarantee therefor, or any part thereof, or
any of the Pledged Collateral, or (d) initiating any action to protect the
Pledged Collateral against the possibility of a decline in market value.
Secured Party shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody
and preservation of Pledged Collateral in its possession if such Pledged
Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which Secured Party
accords its own property consisting of negotiable securities.
SECTION 11. REMEDIES.
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(a) If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
Secured Party may exercise in respect of the Pledged Collateral, in addition to
all other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it,
all the rights and remedies of a secured party on default under the Uniform
Commercial Code as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction (the "CODE") (whether
or not the Code applies to the affected Pledged Collateral), and Secured Party
may also in its sole discretion, without notice except as specified below, sell
the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or
private sale, at any exchange or broker's board or at any of Secured Party's
offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such time
or times and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as Secured Party
may deem commercially reasonable, irrespective of the impact of any such sales
on the market price of the Pledged Collateral. Secured Party or any Lender or
Interest Rate Exchanger may be the purchaser of any or all of the Pledged
Collateral at any such public sale and, to the extent permitted by law, private
sale, and Secured Party, as agent for and representative of Lenders and Interest
Rate Exchangers (but not any Lender or Lenders or Interest Rate Exchanger or
Interest Rate Exchangers in its or their respective individual capacities unless
Requisite Obligees (as defined in Section 16(a)) shall otherwise agree in
writing), shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or
payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Pledged Collateral
sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Secured Obligations as
a credit on account of the purchase price for any Pledged Collateral payable by
Secured Party at such sale. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the
property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of Pledgor,
and Pledgor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by applicable law) all rights
of redemption, stay and/or appraisal which it now has or may at any time in the
future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.
Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at
least ten days' notice to Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale or
the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable
notification. Secured Party shall not be obligated to make any sale of Pledged
Collateral regardless of notice of sale
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having been given. Secured Party may adjourn any public or private sale from
time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale
may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so
adjourned. Pledgor hereby waives any claims against Secured Party arising by
reason of the fact that the price at which any Pledged Collateral may have been
sold at such a private sale was less than the price which might have been
obtained at a public sale, even if Secured Party accepts the first offer
received and does not offer such Pledged Collateral to more than one offeree.
If the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Pledged Collateral are
insufficient to pay all the Secured Obligations, Pledgor shall be liable for the
deficiency and the fees of any attorneys employed by Secured Party to collect
such deficiency.
(b) Pledgor recognizes that, by reason of certain prohibitions
contained in the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, Secured
Party may be compelled, with respect to any sale of all or any part of the
Pledged Collateral conducted without prior registration or qualification of such
Pledged Collateral under the Securities Act and/or such state securities laws,
to limit purchasers to those who will agree, among other things, to acquire the
Pledged Collateral for their own account, for investment and not with a view to
the distribution or resale thereof. Pledgor acknowledges that any such private
sales may be at prices and on terms less favorable than those obtainable through
a public sale without such restrictions (including a public offering made
pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act) and,
notwithstanding such circumstances and the registration rights granted to
Secured Party by Pledgor pursuant to Section 12, Pledgor agrees that the effect
of the foregoing in respect of any such private sale shall not be deemed per se
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to cause such private sale to have not been made in a commercially reasonable
manner and that Secured Party shall have no obligation to engage in public sales
and no obligation to delay the sale of any Pledged Collateral for the period of
time necessary to permit the issuer thereof to register it for a form of public
sale requiring registration under the Securities Act or under applicable state
securities laws, even if such issuer would, or should, agree to so register it.
(c) If Secured Party determines to exercise its right to sell any or
all of the Pledged Collateral, upon written request, Pledgor shall and shall
cause each issuer of any Pledged Shares to be sold hereunder from time to time
to furnish to Secured Party all such information as Secured Party may request in
order to determine the number of shares and other instruments included in the
Pledged Collateral which may be sold by Secured Party in exempt transactions
under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder, as the same are from time to time in effect.
SECTION 12. REGISTRATION RIGHTS. If Secured Party shall determine to
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exercise its right to sell all or any of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to
Section 11, Pledgor agrees that,
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upon request of Secured Party (which request may be made by Secured Party in its
sole discretion), Pledgor will, at its own expense:
(a) execute and deliver, and use its best efforts to cause each issuer
of the Pledged Collateral contemplated to be sold and the directors and officers
thereof to execute and deliver, all such instruments and documents, and do or
cause to be done all such other acts and things, as may be necessary or, in the
opinion of Secured Party, advisable to file a registration statement covering
such Pledged Collateral under the provisions of the Securities Act and to use
its best efforts to cause the registration statement relating thereto to become
effective and to remain effective for such period as prospectuses are required
by law to be furnished, and to make all amendments and supplements thereto and
to the related prospectus which, in the opinion of Secured Party, are necessary
or advisable, all in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and
the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable
thereto;
(b) use its best efforts to qualify the Pledged Collateral under all
applicable state securities or "Blue Sky" laws and to obtain all necessary
governmental approvals for the sale of the Pledged Collateral, as requested by
Secured Party;
(c) cause each such issuer to make available to its security holders,
as soon as practicable, an earnings statement which will satisfy the provisions
of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act;
(d) use its best efforts to do or cause to be done all such other acts
and things as may be necessary to make such sale of the Pledged Collateral or
any part thereof valid and binding and in compliance with applicable law; and
(e) bear all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
of carrying out its obligations under this Section 12.
Pledgor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained
in this Section 12 will cause irreparable injury to Secured Party, that Secured
Party has no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a
consequence, that each and every covenant contained in this Section 12 shall be
specifically enforceable against Pledgor, and Pledgor hereby waives and agrees
not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such
covenants except for a defense that no default has occurred giving rise to the
Secured Obligations becoming due and payable prior to their stated maturities.
Nothing in this Section 12 shall in any way alter the rights of Secured Party
under Section 11.
SECTION 13. APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS. All proceeds received by
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Secured Party in respect of any sale of, collection
12
from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Pledged Collateral shall
be applied as provided in subsection 2.4D of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 14. INDEMNITY AND EXPENSES. Without limiting the generality
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of subsections 10.2 and 10.3 of the Credit Agreement, in the event of any public
sale described in Section 12, Pledgor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
Secured Party, Syndication Agent, each Lender and each Interest Rate Exchanger
and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from and
against any loss, fee, cost, expense, damage, liability or claim, joint or
several, to which any such Persons may become subject or for which any of them
may be liable, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
fees, costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims (or any litigation
commenced or threatened in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus, registration statement, prospectus or other such
document published or filed in connection with such public sale, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will
reimburse Secured Party and such other Persons for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by Secured Party and such other Persons in connection with
any litigation, of any nature whatsoever, com menced or threatened in respect
thereof (including any and all fees, costs and expenses whatsoever reasonably
incurred by Secured Party and such other Persons and counsel for Secured Party
and such other Persons in investigating, preparing for, defending against or
providing evidence, producing documents or taking any other action in respect
of, any such commenced or threatened litigation or any claims asserted). This
indemnity shall be in addition to any liability which Pledgor may otherwise have
and shall extend upon the same terms and conditions to each Person, if any, that
controls Secured Party or such Persons within the meaning of the Securities Act.
SECTION 15. CONTINUING SECURITY INTEREST; TRANSFER OF LOANS. This
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Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Pledged Collateral
and shall (a) remain in full force and effect until the payment in full of all
Secured Obligations, the cancellation or termination of the Commitments and the
cancellation or expiration of all outstanding Letters of Credit, (b) be binding
upon Pledgor, its successors and assigns, and (c) inure, together with the
rights and remedies of Secured Party hereunder, to the benefit of Secured Party
and its succes sors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing clause (c), but subject to the provisions of subsection 10.1 of
the Credit Agreement, any Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any Loans held
by it to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested
with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to Lenders herein or other
wise. Upon the payment in full of all Secured Obligations, the
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cancellation or termination of the Commitments and the cancellation or
expiration of all outstanding Letters of Credit, the security interest granted
hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Pledged Collateral shall revert to
Pledgor. Upon any such termination Secured Party will, at Pledgor's expense,
execute and deliver to Pledgor such documents as Pledgor shall reasonably
request to evidence such termination and Pledgor shall be entitled to the
return, upon its request and at its expense, against receipt and without
recourse to Secured Party, of such of the Pledged Collateral as shall not have
been sold or otherwise applied pursuant to the terms hereof.
SECTION 16. SECURED PARTY AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.
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(a) Secured Party has been appointed to act as Secured Party hereunder
by Lenders and, by their acceptance of the benefits hereof, Interest Rate
Exchangers. Secured Party shall be obligated, and shall have the right
hereunder, to make demands, to give notices, to exercise or refrain from
exercising any rights, and to take or refrain from taking any action (including
the release or substitution of Pledged Collateral), solely in accordance with
this Agreement and the Credit Agreement; provided that Secured Party shall
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exercise, or refrain from exercising, any remedies provided for in Section 11 in
accordance with the instructions of (i) Requisite Lenders or (ii) after payment
in full of all Obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, the holders of a majority of the aggregate notional amount (or, with
respect to any Lender Interest Rate Agreement that has been terminated in
accordance with its terms, the amount then due and payable (exclusive of
expenses and similar payments but including any early termination payments then
due) under such Lender Interest Rate Agreement) under all Lender Interest Rate
Agreements (Requisite Lenders or, if applicable, such holders being referred to
herein as "REQUISITE OBLIGEES"). In furtherance of the foregoing provisions of
this Section 16(a), each Interest Rate Exchanger, by its acceptance of the
benefits hereof, agrees that it shall have no right individually to realize upon
any of the Pledged Collateral hereunder, it being understood and agreed by such
Interest Rate Exchanger that all rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised
solely by Secured Party for the benefit of Lenders and Interest Rate Exchangers
in accordance with the terms of this Section 16(a).
(b) Secured Party shall at all times be the same Person that is
Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement. Written notice of resignation
by Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection 9.5 of the Credit Agreement shall
also constitute notice of resignation as Secured Party under this Agreement;
removal of Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection 9.5 of the Credit
Agreement shall also constitute removal as Secured Party under this Agreement;
and appointment of a successor Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection 9.5
of the Credit Agreement shall also constitute appointment of a successor Secured
Party under this Agreement. Upon the acceptance of any
14
appointment as Administrative Agent under subsection 9.5 of the Credit Agreement
by a successor Administrative Agent, that successor Administrative Agent shall
thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges
and duties of the retiring or removed Secured Party under this Agreement, and
the retiring or removed Secured Party under this Agreement shall promptly (i)
transfer to such successor Secured Party all sums, securities and other items of
Collateral held hereunder, together with all records and other documents
necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance of the duties of the
successor Secured Party under this Agreement, and (ii) execute and deliver to
such successor Secured Party such amendments to financing statements, and take
such other actions, as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the
assignment to such successor Secured Party of the security interests created
hereunder, whereupon such retiring or removed Secured Party shall be discharged
from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any retiring or
removed Administrative Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as Secured
Party, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to its benefit as to any
actions taken or omitted to be taken by it under this Agreement while it was
Secured Party hereunder.
SECTION 17. AMENDMENTS; ETC. No amendment, modification, termination
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or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by
Pledgor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in
writing and signed by Secured Party and, in the case of any such amendment or
modification, by Pledgor. Any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in
the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given.
SECTION 18. NOTICES. Any notice or other communication herein
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required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and may be personally
served, telexed or sent by telefacsimile or United States mail or courier
service and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by
courier service, upon receipt of telefacsimile or telex, or three Business Days
after depositing it in the United States mail with postage prepaid and properly
addressed. For the purposes hereof, the address of each party hereto shall be
as provided in subsection 10.8 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 19. SEVERABILITY. In case any provision in or obligation
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under this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 20. HEADINGS. Section and subsection headings in this
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Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not
constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose or be given any
substantive effect.
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SECTION 21. GOVERNING LAW; TERMS. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
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OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK (INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK), WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT
THAT THE CODE PROVIDES THAT THE PERFECTION OF THE SECURITY INTEREST HEREUNDER,
OR REMEDIES HEREUNDER, IN RESPECT OF ANY PARTICULAR PLEDGED COLLATERAL ARE
GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Unless
otherwise defined herein or in the Credit Agreement, terms used in Articles 8
and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code in the State of New York are used herein as
therein defined.
SECTION 22. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or
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more counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each
of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all
such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument;
signature pages may be detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached
to a single counterpart so that all signature pages are physically attached to
the same document.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor and Secured Party have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers
thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.
THE PANTRY, INC., as Pledgor
By: /s/ WILLIAM T. FLYG
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Title: Senior V.P.
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as Secured Party
By: /s/ MARK FELKER
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Title: Senior V.P.
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