EXHIBIT 4.9
PLEDGE AGREEMENT
PLEDGE AGREEMENT (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time, this "Agreement"), dated as of March 6, 2002, made by each of the
undersigned pledgors (each a "Pledgor" and, together with any other entity that
becomes a pledgor hereunder pursuant to Section 25 hereof, the "Pledgors") to
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Collateral Agent together with any successor
Collateral Agent (the "Pledgee"), for the benefit of the Secured Creditors (as
defined below). Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used
herein and defined in the Credit Agreement (as defined below) shall be used
herein as therein defined.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, infoUSA Inc. (the "Borrower"), the lenders from time to
time party thereto (the "Lenders"), and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative
Agent (together with any successor Administrative Agent, the "Administrative
Agent"), have entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2002 (as
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"),
providing for the making of Loans to, and the issuance of Letters of Credit for
the account of, the Borrower as contemplated therein (the Lenders, the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Pledgee are herein called the
"Lender Creditors");
WHEREAS, the Borrower may at any time and from time to time enter
into one or more Interest Rate Protection Agreements or Other Hedging Agreements
with one or more Lenders or any affiliate thereof (each such Lender or
affiliate, even if the respective Lender subsequently ceases to be a Lender
under the Credit Agreement for any reason, together with such Lender's or
affiliate's successors and assigns, if any, collectively, the "Other Creditors,"
and together with the Lender Creditors, the "Secured Creditors");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Subsidiaries Guaranty, each Subsidiary
Guarantor has jointly and severally guaranteed to the Secured Creditors the
payment when due of all Guaranteed Obligations as described therein;
WHEREAS, it is a condition to the making of Loans to, and the
issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of, the Borrower under the Credit
Agreement that each Pledgor shall have executed and delivered to the Pledgee
this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, each Pledgor desires to enter into this Agreement in order
to satisfy the condition described in the preceding paragraph;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other benefits
accruing to each Pledgor, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, each Pledgor
hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the Pledgee for the
benefit of the Secured Creditors and hereby covenants and agrees with the
Pledgee for the benefit of the Secured Creditors as follows:
1. SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS. This Agreement is made by each Pledgor
for the benefit of the Secured Creditors to secure:
(i) the full and prompt payment when due (whether at the stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of all obligations and
indebtedness (including, without limitation, indemnities, Fees and
interest thereon) of such Pledgor to the Lender Creditors, whether now
existing or hereafter incurred under, arising out of, or in connection
with the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which such
Pledgor is a party (including, in the case of each Pledgor which is a
Subsidiary Guarantor, all such obligations and indebtedness of such
Pledgor under the Subsidiaries Guaranty) and the due performance and
compliance by such Pledgor with all of the terms, conditions and
agreements contained in the Credit Agreement and in such other Credit
Documents (all such obligations and liabilities under this clause (i),
except to the extent consisting of obligations or indebtedness with
respect to Interest Rate Protection Agreements or Other Hedging
Agreements, being herein collectively called the "Credit Document
Obligations");
(ii) the full and prompt payment when due (whether at the stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of all obligations and liabilities
owing by such Pledgor to the Other Creditors under, or with respect to
(including, in the case of each Pledgor which is a Subsidiary Guarantor,
by reason of the Subsidiaries Guaranty), any Interest Rate Protection
Agreement or Other Hedging Agreement, whether such Interest Rate
Protection Agreement or Other Hedging Agreement is now in existence or
hereafter arising, and the due performance and compliance by such Pledgor
with all of the terms, conditions and agreements contained therein (all
such obligations and liabilities described in this clause (ii) being
herein collectively called the "Other Obligations");
(iii) any and all sums advanced by the Pledgee in order to preserve
the Collateral (as hereinafter defined) or preserve its security interest
in the Collateral;
(iv) in the event of any proceeding for the collection or
enforcement of any indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of such
Pledgor referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above, after an Event of
Default (which term to mean and include any Event of Default under, and as
defined in, the Credit Agreement or any payment default by the Borrower
under any Interest Rate Protection Agreement or Other Hedging Agreement
and shall, in any event, include, without limitation, any payment default
on any of the Obligations (as hereinafter defined)) shall have occurred
and be continuing, the reasonable expenses of retaking, holding, preparing
for sale or lease, selling or otherwise disposing of or realizing on the
Collateral, or of any exercise by the Pledgee of its rights hereunder,
together with reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs; and
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(v) all amounts paid by any Secured Creditor as to which such
Secured Creditor has the right to reimbursement under Section 11 of this
Agreement;
all such obligations, liabilities, sums and expenses set forth in clauses (i)
through (v) of this Section 1 being herein collectively called the
"Obligations," it being acknowledged and agreed that the "Obligations" shall
include extensions of credit of the types described above, whether outstanding
on the date of this Agreement or extended from time to time after the date of
this Agreement.
2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used
herein and defined in the Credit Agreement shall be used herein as therein
defined. Reference to singular terms shall include the plural and vice versa.
(b) The following capitalized terms used herein shall have the
definitions specified below:
"Administrative Agent" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals
hereto.
"Adverse Claim" has the meaning given such term in Section
8-102(a)(1) of the UCC.
"Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
"Certificated Security" has the meaning given such term in Section
8-102(a)(4) of the UCC.
"Class" has the meaning set forth in Section 22 hereof.
"Clearing Corporation" has the meaning given such term in Section
8-102(a)(5) of the UCC.
"Collateral" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 hereof.
"Collateral Accounts" means any and all accounts established and
maintained by the Pledgee in the name of any Pledgor to which Collateral may be
credited.
"Credit Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
"Credit Document Obligations" has the meaning set forth in Section 1
hereof.
"Domestic Corporation" has the meaning set forth in the definition
of "Stock."
"Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.
"Financial Asset" has the meaning given such term in Section
8-102(a)(9) of the UCC.
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"Foreign Corporation" has the meaning set forth in the definition of
"Stock."
"Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in Section 11 hereof.
"Instrument" has the meaning given such term in Section 9-102(a)(47)
of the UCC.
"Investment Property" has the meaning given such term in Section
9-102(a)(49) of the UCC.
"Lender Creditors" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
"Lenders" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
"Limited Liability Company Assets" means all assets, whether
tangible or intangible and whether real, personal or mixed (including, without
limitation, all limited liability company capital and interest in other limited
liability companies), at any time owned or represented by any Limited Liability
Company Interest.
"Limited Liability Company Interests" means the entire limited
liability company membership interest at any time owned by any Pledgor in any
limited liability company.
"Non-Voting Stock" means all capital stock which is not Voting
Stock.
"Notes" means all promissory notes from time to time issued to, or
held by, each Pledgor (including each Intercompany Note).
"Obligations" has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.
"Other Creditors" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
"Other Obligations" has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.
"Partnership Assets" means all assets, whether tangible or
intangible and whether real, personal or mixed (including, without limitation,
all partnership capital and interest in other partnerships), at any time owned
or represented by any Partnership Interest.
"Partnership Interest" means the entire general partnership interest
or limited partnership interest at any time owned by any Pledgor in any general
partnership or limited partnership.
"Pledged Notes" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5 hereof.
"Pledgee" has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
"Pledgor" has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
"Proceeds" has the meaning given such term in Section 9-102(a)(64)
of the UCC.
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"Required Lenders" has the meaning given such term in the Credit
Agreement.
"Requisite Creditors" has the meaning set forth in Section 22
hereof.
"Secured Creditors" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals
hereto.
"Secured Debt Agreements" has the meaning set forth in Section 5
hereof.
"Securities Account" has the meaning given such term in Section
8-501(a) of the UCC.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as in
effect from time to time.
"Security" and "Securities" has the meaning given such term in
Section 8-102(a)(15) of the UCC and shall in any event also include all Stock
and all Notes.
"Security Entitlement" has the meaning given such term in Section
8-102(a)(17) of the UCC.
"Stock" means (x) with respect to corporations incorporated under
the laws of the United States or any State or territory thereof (each a
"Domestic Corporation"), all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of any corporation at any time owned by any Pledgor of any Domestic
Corporation and (y) with respect to corporations not Domestic Corporations (each
a "Foreign Corporation"), all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock at any time owned by any Pledgor of any Foreign Corporation.
"Termination Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 20 hereof.
"UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of
Illinois from time to time; provided that all references herein to specific
sections or subsections of the UCC are references to such sections or
subsections, as the case may be, of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in
the State of Illinois on the date hereof.
"Uncertificated Security" has the meaning given such term in Section
8-102(a)(18) of the UCC.
"Voting Stock" means all classes of capital stock of any Foreign
Corporation entitled to vote.
3. PLEDGE OF SECURITIES, ETC.
3.1 Pledge. To secure the Obligations now or hereafter owed or to be
performed by such Pledgor, each Pledgor does hereby grant, pledge and assign to
the Pledgee for the benefit of the Secured Creditors, and does hereby create a
continuing security interest in favor of the Pledgee for the benefit of the
Secured Creditors in, all of the right, title and interest in and to the
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following, whether now existing or hereafter from time to time acquired
(collectively, the "Collateral"):
(a) each of the Collateral Accounts, including any and all assets of
whatever type or kind deposited by such Pledgor in such Collateral Account,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, existing or arising, including, without
limitation, all Financial Assets, Investment Property, moneys, checks, drafts,
Instruments, Securities or interests therein of any type or nature deposited or
required by the Credit Agreement or any other Secured Debt Agreement to be
deposited in such Collateral Account, and all investments and all certificates
and other Instruments (including depository receipts, if any) from time to time
representing or evidencing the same, and all dividends, interest, distributions,
cash and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise
distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the foregoing;
(b) all Securities owned by such Pledgor from time to time and all
options or warrants owned by such Pledgor from time to time to purchase
Securities;
(c) all Limited Liability Company Interests owned by such Pledgor
from time to time and all of its right, title and interest in each limited
liability company to which each such interest relates, whether now existing or
hereafter acquired, including, without limitation:
(A) all the capital thereof and its interest in all profits,
losses, Limited Liability Company Assets and other distributions to
which such Pledgor shall at any time be entitled in respect of such
Limited Liability Company Interests;
(B) all other payments due or to become due to such Pledgor in
respect of Limited Liability Company Interests, whether under any
limited liability company agreement or otherwise, whether as
contractual obligations, damages, insurance proceeds or otherwise;
(C) all of its claims, rights, powers, privileges, authority,
options, security interests, liens and remedies, if any, under any
limited liability company agreement or operating agreement, or at
law or otherwise in respect of such Limited Liability Company
Interests;
(D) all present and future claims, if any, of such Pledgor
against any such limited liability company for moneys loaned or
advanced, for services rendered or otherwise;
(E) all of such Pledgor's rights under any limited liability
company agreement or operating agreement or at law to exercise and
enforce every right, power, remedy, authority, option and privilege
of such Pledgor relating to such Limited Liability Company
Interests, including any power to terminate, cancel or modify any
limited liability company agreement or operating agreement, to
execute any instruments and to take any and all other action on
behalf of and in the name of any of such Pledgor in respect of such
Limited Liability Company Interests and
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any such limited liability company, to make determinations, to
exercise any election (including, but not limited to, election of
remedies) or option or to give or receive any notice, consent,
amendment, waiver or approval, together with full power and
authority to demand, receive, enforce, collect or receipt for any of
the foregoing or for any Limited Liability Company Asset, to enforce
or execute any checks, or other instruments or orders, to file any
claims and to take any action in connection with any of the
foregoing; and
(F) all other property hereafter delivered in substitution for
or in addition to any of the foregoing, all certificates and
instruments representing or evidencing such other property and all
cash, securities, interest, dividends, rights and other property at
any time and from time to time received, receivable or otherwise
distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all thereof;
(d) all Partnership Interests owned by such Pledgor from time to
time and all of its right, title and interest in each partnership to which each
such interest relates, whether now existing or hereafter acquired, including,
without limitation:
(A) all the capital thereof and its interest in all profits,
losses, Partnership Assets and other distributions to which such
Pledgor shall at any time be entitled in respect of such Partnership
Interests;
(B) all other payments due or to become due to such Pledgor in
respect of Partnership Interests, whether under any partnership
agreement or otherwise, whether as contractual obligations, damages,
insurance proceeds or otherwise;
(C) all of its claims, rights, powers, privileges, authority,
options, security interests, liens and remedies, if any, under any
partnership agreement or operating agreement, or at law or otherwise
in respect of such Partnership Interests;
(D) all present and future claims, if any, of such Pledgor
against any such partnership for moneys loaned or advanced, for
services rendered or otherwise;
(E) all of such Pledgor's rights under any partnership
agreement or operating agreement or at law to exercise and enforce
every right, power, remedy, authority, option and privilege of such
Pledgor relating to such Partnership Interests, including any power
to terminate, cancel or modify any partnership agreement or
operating agreement, to execute any instruments and to take any and
all other action on behalf of and in the name of any of such Pledgor
in respect of such Partnership Interests and any such partnership,
to make determinations, to exercise any election (including, but not
limited to, election of remedies) or option or to give or receive
any notice, consent, amendment, waiver or approval, together with
full power and authority to demand, receive, enforce, collect or
receipt for any of the foregoing or for any Partnership Asset, to
enforce or execute any checks, or other instruments or orders, to
file any claims and to take any action in connection with any of the
foregoing and
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(F) all other property hereafter delivered in substitution for
or in addition to any of the foregoing, all certificates and
instruments representing or evidencing such other property and all
cash, securities, interest, dividends, rights and other property at
any time and from time to time received, receivable or otherwise
distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all thereof;
(e) all Security Entitlements owned by such Pledgor from time to
time in any and all of the foregoing;
(f) all Financial Assets and Investment Property owned by such
Pledgor from time to time; and
(g) all Proceeds of any and all of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section
3.1, (x) except as otherwise provided in Section 8.13 of the Credit Agreement,
no Pledgor (to the extent that it is the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary of
the Borrower) shall be required at any time to pledge hereunder more than 65% of
the Voting Stock of any Foreign Corporation and (y) each Pledgor shall be
required to pledge hereunder 100% of any Non-Voting Stock at any time and from
time to time acquired by such Pledgor of any Foreign Corporation.
3.2 Procedures.
(a) To the extent that any Pledgor at any time or from time to time
owns, acquires or obtains any right, title or interest in any Collateral, such
Collateral shall automatically (and without the taking of any action by the
respective Pledgor) be pledged pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement and, in
addition thereto, such Pledgor shall (to the extent provided below) take the
following actions as set forth below (as promptly as practicable and, in any
event, within 10 days after it obtains such Collateral) for the benefit of the
Pledgee and the Secured Creditors:
(i) with respect to a Certificated Security (other than a
Certificated Security credited on the books of a Clearing Corporation),
the respective Pledgor shall deliver such Certificated Security to the
Pledgee, indorsed to the Pledgee or indorsed in blank;
(ii) with respect to an Uncertificated Security (other than an
Uncertificated Security credited on the books of a Clearing Corporation),
the respective Pledgor shall cause the issuer of such Uncertificated
Security (or, in the case of an issuer that is not a Subsidiary of such
Pledgor, will use its best efforts to cause such issuer) to duly authorize
and execute, and deliver to the Pledgee, an agreement for the benefit of
the Pledgee and the Secured Creditors substantially in the form of Annex G
hereto (appropriately completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Pledgee and with such modifications, if any, as shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Pledgee) pursuant to which such issuer agrees to
comply with any and all instructions originated by the Pledgee without
further consent by the registered owner and not to comply with
instructions regarding such Uncertificated Security (and any Partnership
Interests and Limited Liability Company
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Interests issued by such issuer) originated by any other Person other than
a court of competent jurisdiction;
(iii) with respect to a Certificated Security, Uncertificated
Security, Partnership Interest or Limited Liability Company Interest
credited on the books of a Clearing Corporation (including a Federal
Reserve Bank, Participants Trust Company or The Depository Trust Company),
the respective Pledgor shall promptly notify the Pledgee thereof and shall
promptly take all actions required (i) to comply with the applicable rules
of such Clearing Corporation and (ii) to perfect the security interest of
the Pledgee under applicable law (including, in any event, under Sections
9-106(a) and (b), 9-312(a), 9-314(c) and 8-106 (d) of the UCC). The
Pledgor further agrees to take such actions as the Pledgee deems
reasonably necessary or desirable to effect the foregoing;
(iv) with respect to a Partnership Interest or a Limited Liability
Company Interest (other than (x) a Partnership Interest or Limited
Liability Interest credited on the books of a Clearing Corporation or (y)
a Limited Liability Company Interest of an Inactive Subsidiary to the
extent that same remains an "Inactive Subsidiary"), (1) if such
Partnership Interest or Limited Liability Company Interest is represented
by a certificate, the procedure set forth in Section 3.2(a)(i) hereof, and
(2) if such Partnership Interest or Limited Liability Company Interest is
not represented by a certificate, the procedure set forth in Section
3.2(a)(ii) hereof;
(v) with respect to any Note, delivery of such Note to the Pledgee,
indorsed to the Pledgee or indorsed in blank;
(vi) with respect to cash, (i) establishment by the Pledgee of a
cash account in the name of such Pledgor over which the Pledgee shall have
exclusive and absolute control and dominion (and no withdrawals or
transfers may be made therefrom by any Person except with the prior
written consent of the Pledgee) and (ii) deposit of such cash in such cash
account;
(vii) with respect to Collateral Accounts, the respective Pledgor
shall cause each securities intermediary or deposit account bank to duly
execute and deliver to the Pledgee an agreement for the benefit of the
Pledgee and the Secured Creditors, substantially in the form of Annex H or
I, as applicable (appropriately completed to the reasonable satisfaction
of the Pledgee and with such modifications, if any, as shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Pledgee).
(b) In addition to the actions required to be taken pursuant to
proceeding Section 3.2(a) hereof, each Pledgor shall take the following
additional actions with respect to the Securities and Collateral :
(i) with respect to all Collateral of such Pledgor whereby or with
respect to which the Pledgee may obtain "control" thereof within the
meaning of Section 8-106 of the UCC (or under any provision of the UCC as
same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or under the laws
of any relevant State other than the State of Illinois),
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the respective Pledgor shall take all actions as may be reasonably
requested from time to time by the Pledgee so that "control" of such
Collateral is obtained and at all times held by the Pledgee; and
(ii) each Pledgor shall from time to time cause appropriate
financing statements (on Form UCC-1 or other appropriate form) under the
Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the various relevant States, on
form covering all Collateral hereunder (with the form of such financing
statements to be satisfactory to the Pledgee), to be filed in the relevant
filing offices so that at all times the Pledgee has a security interest in
all Investment Property and other Collateral which is perfected by the
filing of such financing statements (in each case to the maximum extent
perfection by filing may be obtained under the laws of the relevant
States, including, without limitation, Section 9-312(a) of the UCC).
3.3 Subsequently Acquired Collateral. If any Pledgor shall acquire
(by purchase, stock dividend or otherwise) any additional Collateral at any time
or from time to time after the date hereof, such Collateral shall automatically
(and without any further action being required to be taken) be subject to the
pledge and security interests created pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof and,
furthermore, the Pledgor will promptly thereafter take (or cause to be taken)
all action with respect to such Collateral in accordance with the procedures set
forth in Section 3.2 hereof, and will promptly thereafter deliver to the Pledgee
(i) a certificate executed by a principal executive officer of such Pledgor
describing such Collateral and certifying that the same has been duly pledged in
favor of the Pledgee (for the benefit of the Secured Creditors) hereunder and
(ii) supplements to Annexes A through F hereto as are reasonably necessary to
cause such annexes to be complete and accurate at such time. Without limiting
the foregoing, each Pledgor shall be required to pledge hereunder any shares of
stock at any time and from time to time after the date hereof acquired by such
Pledgor of any Foreign Corporation, provided that (x) except as provided in
Section 8.15 of the Credit Agreement, no Pledgor (to the extent that it is the
Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower) shall be required at any time
to pledge hereunder more than 65% of the Voting Stock of any Foreign Corporation
and (y) each Pledgor shall be required to pledge hereunder 100% of any
Non-Voting Stock at any time and from time to time acquired by such Pledgor of
any Foreign Corporation.
3.4 Transfer Taxes. Each pledge of Collateral under Section 3.1 or
Section 3.3 hereof shall be accompanied by any transfer tax stamps required in
connection with the pledge of such Collateral.
3.5 Definition of Pledged Notes. All Notes at any time pledged or
required to be pledged hereunder are hereinafter called the "Pledged Notes".
3.6 Certain Representations and Warranties Regarding the Collateral.
Each Pledgor represents and warrants that on the date hereof (i) each Subsidiary
of such Pledgor, and the direct ownership thereof, is listed in Annex A hereto;
(ii) the Stock (and any warrants or options to purchase Stock) held by such
Pledgor consists of the number and type of shares of the stock (or warrants or
options to purchase any stock) of the corporations as described in Annex B
hereto; (iii) such Stock constitutes that percentage of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of
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the issuing corporation as is set forth in Annex B hereto; (iv) the Notes held
by such Pledgor consist of the promissory notes described in Annex C hereto
where such Pledgor is listed as the lender; (v) the Limited Liability Company
Interests held by such Pledgor consist of the number and type of interests of
the Persons described in Annex D hereto; (vi) each such Limited Liability
Company Interest constitutes that percentage of the issued and outstanding
equity interest of the issuing Person as set forth in Annex D hereto; (vii) the
Partnership Interests held by such Pledgor consist of the number and type of
interests of the Persons described in Annex E hereto; (viii) each such
Partnership Interest constitutes that percentage or portion of the entire
partnership interest of the Partnership as set forth in Annex E hereto; (ix) the
Pledgor has complied with the respective procedure set forth in Section 3.2(a)
hereof with respect to each item of Collateral described in Annexes A through E
hereto; and (x) on the date hereof, such Pledgor owns no other Securities,
Limited Liability Company Interests or Partnership Interests.
4. APPOINTMENT OF SUB-AGENTS; ENDORSEMENTS, ETC. If and to the
extent necessary to enable the Pledgee to perfect its security interest in any
of the Collateral or to exercise any of its remedies hereunder, the Pledgee
shall have the right to appoint one or more sub-agents for the purpose of
retaining physical possession of the Collateral, which may be held (in the
discretion of the Pledgee) in the name of the relevant Pledgor, endorsed or
assigned in blank or in favor of the Pledgee or any nominee or nominees of the
Pledgee or a sub-agent appointed by the Pledgee.
5. VOTING, ETC., WHILE NO EVENT OF DEFAULT. Unless and until there
shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, each Pledgor shall be
entitled to exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining
to the Collateral owned by it, and to give consents, waivers or ratifications in
respect thereof; provided, that, in each case, no vote shall be cast or any
consent, waiver or ratification given or any action taken or omitted to be taken
which would violate or be inconsistent with any of the terms of this Agreement,
the Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document or any Interest Rate Protection
Agreement or Other Hedging Agreement (collectively, the "Secured Debt
Agreements"), or which would have the effect of impairing the value of the
Collateral or any part thereof or the position or interests of the Pledgee or
any other Secured Creditor in the Collateral. All such rights of each Pledgor to
vote and to give consents, waivers and ratifications shall cease in case an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and Section 7 hereof shall
become applicable.
6. DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS. Unless and until there shall
have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, all cash dividends, cash
distributions, cash Proceeds and other cash amounts payable in respect of the
Collateral shall be paid to the respective Pledgor. The Pledgee shall be
entitled to receive directly, and to retain as part of the Collateral:
(i) all other or additional stock, notes, limited liability company
interests, partnership interests, instruments or other securities or
property (including, but not limited to, cash dividends other than as set
forth above) paid or distributed by way of dividend or otherwise in
respect of the Collateral;
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(ii) all other or additional stock, notes, limited liability company
interests, partnership interests, instruments or other securities or
property (including, but not limited to, cash) paid or distributed in
respect of the Collateral by way of stock-split, spin-off, split-up,
reclassification, combination of shares or similar rearrangement; and
(iii) all other or additional stock, notes, limited liability
company interests, partnership interests, instruments or other securities
or property (including, but not limited to, cash) which may be paid in
respect of the Collateral by reason of any consolidation, merger, exchange
of stock, conveyance of assets, liquidation or similar corporate
reorganization.
Nothing contained in this Section 6 shall limit or restrict in any way the
Pledgee's right to receive proceeds of the Collateral in any form in accordance
with Section 3 of this Agreement. All dividends, distributions or other payments
which are received by any Pledgor contrary to the provisions of this Section 6
and Section 7 hereof shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Pledgee,
shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Pledgor and shall be
forthwith paid over to the Pledgee as Collateral in the same form as so received
(with any necessary endorsement).
7. REMEDIES IN CASE OF DEFAULT OR EVENT OF DEFAULT. If there shall
have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, then and in every such
case, the Pledgee shall be entitled to exercise all of the rights, powers and
remedies (whether vested in it by this Agreement, any other Secured Debt
Agreement or by law) for the protection and enforcement of its rights in respect
of the Collateral, and the Pledgee shall be entitled to exercise all the rights
and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect
in any relevant jurisdiction and also shall be entitled, without limitation, to
exercise the following rights, which each Pledgor hereby agrees to be
commercially reasonable:
(i) to receive all amounts payable in respect of the Collateral
otherwise payable under Section 6 hereof to the respective Pledgor;
(ii) to transfer all or any part of the Collateral into the
Pledgee's name or the name of its nominee or nominees;
(iii) to accelerate any Pledged Note which may be accelerated in
accordance with its terms, and take any other lawful action to collect
upon any Pledged Note (including, without limitation, to make any demand
for payment thereon);
(iv) to vote all or any part of the Collateral (whether or not
transferred into the name of the Pledgee) and give all consents, waivers
and ratifications in respect of the Collateral and otherwise act with
respect thereto as though it were the outright owner thereof (each Pledgor
hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing the Pledgee the proxy and
attorney-in-fact of such Pledgor, with full power of substitution to do
so);
(v) at any time and from time to time to sell, assign and deliver,
or grant options to purchase, all or any part of the Collateral, or any
interest therein, at any public
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or private sale, without demand of performance, advertisement or notice of
intention to sell or of the time or place of sale or adjournment thereof
or to redeem or otherwise (all of which are hereby waived by each
Pledgor), for cash, on credit or for other property, for immediate or
future delivery without any assumption of credit risk, and for such price
or prices and on such terms as the Pledgee in its absolute discretion may
determine, provided that at least 10 days' written notice of the time and
place of any such sale shall be given to the respective Pledgor. The
Pledgee shall not be obligated to make any such sale of Collateral
regardless of whether any such notice of sale has theretofore been given.
Each Pledgor hereby waives and releases to the fullest extent permitted by
law any right or equity of redemption with respect to the Collateral,
whether before or after sale hereunder, and all rights, if any, of
marshalling the Collateral and any other security for the Obligations or
otherwise. At any such sale, unless prohibited by applicable law, the
Pledgee on behalf of the Secured Creditors may bid for and purchase all or
any part of the Collateral so sold free from any such right or equity of
redemption. Neither the Pledgee nor any other Secured Creditor shall be
liable for failure to collect or realize upon any or all of the Collateral
or for any delay in so doing nor shall any of them be under any obligation
to take any action whatsoever with regard thereto; and
(vi) to set-off any and all Collateral against any and all
Obligations, and to withdraw any and all cash or other Collateral from any
and all Collateral Accounts and to apply such cash and other Collateral to
the payment of any and all Obligations.
The Pledgee shall not exercise any rights under Section 3 of any Securities
Account Control Agreement, executed and delivered pursuant to Section
3.2(a)(vii) of this Agreement, or under Section 2 of any Deposit Account Control
Agreement, executed and delivered pursuant to Section 3.2(a)(vii) of this
Agreement, unless an Event of Default shall exist.
8. REMEDIES, CUMULATIVE, ETC. Each and every right, power and remedy
of the Pledgee provided for in this Agreement or in any other Secured Debt
Agreement, or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute shall
be cumulative and concurrent and shall be in addition to every other such right,
power or remedy. The exercise or beginning of the exercise by the Pledgee or any
other Secured Creditor of any one or more of the rights, powers or remedies
provided for in this Agreement or any other Secured Debt Agreement or now or
hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise shall not
preclude the simultaneous or later exercise by the Pledgee or any other Secured
Creditor of all such other rights, powers or remedies, and no failure or delay
on the part of the Pledgee or any other Secured Creditor to exercise any such
right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof. No notice to or demand
on any Pledgor in any case shall entitle it to any other or further notice or
demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of any of the
rights of the Pledgee or any other Secured Creditor to any other or further
action in any circumstances without notice or demand. The Secured Creditors
agree that this Agreement may be enforced only by the action of the Pledgee, in
each case acting upon the instructions of the Required Lenders (or, after the
date on which all Credit Document Obligations have been paid in full, the
holders of at least the majority of the outstanding Other Obligations) and that
no other Secured Creditor shall have any right individually to seek to enforce
or to enforce this Agreement or to realize upon the security to be
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granted hereby, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may
be exercised by the Pledgee for the benefit of the Secured Creditors upon the
terms of this Agreement.
9. APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS. All monies collected by the Pledgee upon
any sale or other disposition of the Collateral pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, together with all other monies received by the Pledgee hereunder,
shall be applied in the manner provided in the Security Agreement. It is
understood and agreed that the Pledgors shall remain jointly and severally
liable to the extent of any deficiency between the amount of the proceeds of the
Collateral hereunder and the aggregate amount of the Obligations.
10. PURCHASERS OF COLLATERAL. Upon any sale of the Collateral by the
Pledgee hereunder (whether by virtue of the power of sale herein granted,
pursuant to judicial process or otherwise), the receipt of the Pledgee or the
officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or
purchasers of the Collateral so sold, and such purchaser or purchasers shall not
be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid
over to the Pledgee or such officer or be answerable in any way for the
misapplication or nonapplication thereof.
11. INDEMNITY. Each Pledgor jointly and severally agrees (i) to
indemnify and hold harmless the Pledgee in such capacity and each other Secured
Creditor and their respective successors, assigns, employees, agents and
affiliates (individually an "Indemnitee," and collectively the "Indemnitees")
from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, judgments and liabilities
(including liabilities for penalties) of whatsoever kind or nature, and (ii) to
reimburse each Indemnitee for all reasonable costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, in each case growing out of or resulting from this
Agreement or the exercise by any Indemnitee of any right or remedy granted to it
hereunder or under any other Secured Debt Agreement (but excluding any claims,
demands, losses, judgments and liabilities or expenses to the extent incurred by
reason of gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee). In no
event shall the Pledgee be liable, in the absence of gross negligence or willful
misconduct on its part, for any matter or thing in connection with this
Agreement other than to account for monies actually received by it in accordance
with the terms hereof. If and to the extent that the obligations of any Pledgor
under this Section 11 are unenforceable for any reason, such Pledgor hereby
agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of such
obligations which is permissible under applicable law.
12. PLEDGEE NOT A PARTNER OR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MEMBER.
(a) Nothing herein shall be construed to make the Pledgee or any
other Secured Creditor liable as a member of any limited liability company or as
a partner of any partnership and neither the Pledgee nor any other Secured
Creditor 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 partnership. The parties hereto
expressly agree that, unless the Pledgee shall become the absolute owner of
Collateral consisting of a Limited Liability Company Interest or Partnership
Interest pursuant hereto, this Agreement
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shall not be construed as creating a partnership or joint venture among the
Pledgee, any other Secured Creditor, any Pledgor and/or any other Person.
(b) Except as provided in the last sentence of paragraph (a) of this
Section 12, the Pledgee, by accepting this Agreement, did not intend to become a
member of any limited liability company or a partner of any partnership or
otherwise be deemed to be a co-venturer with respect to any Pledgor, any limited
liability company, partnership and/or any other Person either before or after an
Event of Default shall have occurred. The Pledgee shall have only those powers
set forth herein and the Secured Creditors shall assume none of the duties,
obligations or liabilities of a member of any limited liability company or as a
partner of any partnership or any Pledgor except as provided in the last
sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 12.
(c) The Pledgee and the other Secured Creditors shall not be
obligated to perform or discharge any obligation of any Pledgor as a result of
the pledge hereby effected.
(d) The acceptance by the Pledgee of this Agreement, with all the
rights, powers, privileges and authority so created, shall not at any time or in
any event obligate the Pledgee or any other Secured Creditor to appear in or
defend any action or proceeding relating to the Collateral to which it is not a
party, or to take any action hereunder or thereunder, or to expend any money or
incur any expenses or perform or discharge any obligation, duty or liability
under the Collateral.
13. FURTHER ASSURANCES; POWER-OF-ATTORNEY.
(a) Each Pledgor agrees that it will join with the Pledgee in
executing and, at such Pledgor's own expense, file and refile under the Uniform
Commercial Code or other applicable law such financing statements, continuation
statements and other documents in such offices as the Pledgee may deem
reasonably necessary and wherever required by law in order to perfect and
preserve the Pledgee's security interest in the Collateral and hereby authorizes
the Pledgee to file financing statements and amendments thereto relative to all
or any part of the Collateral without the signature of such Pledgor where
permitted by law, and agrees to do such further acts and things and to execute
and deliver to the Pledgee such additional conveyances, assignments, agreements
and instruments as the Pledgee may reasonably require or deem necessary to carry
into effect the purposes of this Agreement or to further assure and confirm unto
the Pledgee its rights, powers and remedies hereunder.
(b) Each Pledgor hereby appoints the Pledgee such Pledgor's
attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Pledgor and
in the name of such Pledgor or otherwise, to act from time to time solely after
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default in the
Pledgee's reasonable discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument
which the Pledgee may deem reasonably necessary or advisable to accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement.
14. THE PLEDGEE AS AGENT. The Pledgee will hold in accordance with
this Agreement all items of the Collateral at any time received under this
Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed by each Secured Creditor that
by accepting the benefits of this Agreement
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each such Secured Creditor acknowledges and agrees that the obligations of the
Pledgee as holder of the Collateral and interests therein and with respect to
the disposition thereof, and otherwise under this Agreement, are only those
expressly set forth in this Agreement. The Pledgee shall act hereunder on the
terms and conditions set forth herein and in Section 12 of the Credit Agreement.
15. TRANSFER BY THE PLEDGORS. No Pledgor will sell or otherwise
dispose of, grant any option with respect to, or mortgage, pledge or otherwise
encumber any of the Collateral or any interest therein (except as may be
permitted in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement).
16. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE PLEDGORS.
(a) Each Pledgor represents, warrants and covenants that:
(i) it is the legal, beneficial and record owner of, and has good
and marketable title to, all Collateral consisting of one or more
Securities and that it has sufficient interest in all Collateral in which
a security interest is purported to be created hereunder for such security
interest to attach (subject, in each case, to no pledge, lien, mortgage,
hypothecation, security interest, charge, option, Adverse Claim or other
encumbrance whatsoever, except the liens and security interests created by
this Agreement);
(ii) it has full power, authority and legal right to pledge all the
Collateral pledged by it pursuant to this Agreement;
(iii) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by such Pledgor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of such Pledgor enforceable against such Pledgor in accordance
with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws generally affecting creditors' rights and
by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in
equity or at law);
(iv) except to the extent already obtained or made, no consent of
any other party (including, without limitation, any stockholder, partner,
member or creditor of such Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries) and no
consent, license, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by,
notice or report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any
governmental authority is required to be obtained by such Pledgor in
connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement, (b) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, (c) the
perfection or enforceability of the Pledgee's security interest in the
Collateral or (d) except for compliance with or as may be required by
applicable securities laws, the exercise by the Pledgee of any of its
rights or remedies provided herein;
(v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will
not violate any provision of any applicable law or regulation or of any
order, judgment, writ, award
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or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority, domestic or
foreign, applicable to such Pledgor, or of the certificate of
incorporation, operating agreement, limited liability company agreement,
partnership agreement or by-laws of such Pledgor or of any securities
issued by such Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries, or of any mortgage,
deed of trust, indenture, lease, loan agreement, credit agreement or other
material contract, agreement or instrument or undertaking to which such
Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or which purports to be
binding upon such Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries or upon any of their
respective assets and will not result in the creation or imposition of (or
the obligation to create or impose) any lien or encumbrance on any of the
assets of such Pledgor or any of its Subsidiaries except as contemplated
by this Agreement;
(vi) all of the Collateral (consisting of Securities, Limited
Liability Company Interests or Partnership Interests) has been duly and
validly issued and acquired, is fully paid and non-assessable and is
subject to no options to purchase or similar rights;
(vii) each of the Pledged Notes constituting an Intercompany Note
constitutes, or when executed by the obligor thereof will constitute, the
legal, valid and binding obligation of such obligor, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability
thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws generally affecting
creditors' rights and by equitable principles (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in equity or at law); and
(viii) the pledge and collateral assignment to, and possession by,
the Pledgee of the Collateral consisting of Certificated Securities and
Pledged Notes pursuant to this Agreement creates a valid and perfected
first priority security interest in such Certificated Securities and
Pledged Notes, and the proceeds thereof, subject to no prior Lien or
encumbrance or to any agreement purporting to grant to any third party a
Lien or encumbrance on the property or assets of such Pledgor which would
include the Securities and the Pledgee is entitled to all the rights,
priorities and benefits afforded by the UCC or other relevant law as
enacted in any relevant jurisdiction to perfect security interests in
respect of such Collateral; and
(ix) "control" (as defined in Section 8-106 of the UCC) has been
obtained by the Pledgee over all Collateral consisting of Securities
(including Notes which are Securities) with respect to which such
"control" may be obtained pursuant to Section 8-106 of the UCC.
(b) Each Pledgor covenants and agrees that it will defend the
Pledgee's right, title and security interest in and to the Securities and the
proceeds thereof against the claims and demands of all persons whomsoever; and
each Pledgor covenants and agrees that it will have like title to and right to
pledge any other property at any time hereafter pledged to the Pledgee as
Collateral hereunder and will likewise defend the right thereto and security
interest therein of the Pledgee and the other Secured Creditors.
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17. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE; JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION RECORDS.
The full legal name and jurisdiction of organization of Pledgor is as set forth
in Annex F hereto. The chief executive office of each Pledgor is located at the
address specified in Annex F hereto. Each Pledgor will not move its chief
executive office except to such new location as such Pledgor may establish in
accordance with the last sentence of this Section 17. The originals of all
documents in the possession of such Pledgor evidencing all Collateral, including
but not limited to all Limited Liability Company Interests and Partnership
Interests, and the only original books of account and records of such Pledgor
relating thereto are, and will continue to be, kept at such chief executive
office as specified in Annex F hereto, or at such new locations as such Pledgor
may establish in accordance with the last sentence of this Section 17. All
Limited Liability Company Interests and Partnership Interests are, and will
continue to be, maintained at, and controlled and directed (including, without
limitation, for general accounting purposes) from, such chief executive office
as specified in Annex F hereto, or such new locations as such Pledgor may
establish in accordance with the last sentence of this Section 17. No Pledgor
shall change its chief executive office, name, form of organization from that of
a corporation or jurisdiction of organization until (i) it shall have given to
the Pledgee not less than 30 days' prior written notice of its intention so to
do, clearly describing the proposed changes and providing such other information
in connection therewith as the Pledgee may reasonably request and (ii) with
respect to such changes, it shall have taken all action, satisfactory to the
Pledgee, to maintain the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the
Collateral intended to be granted hereby at all times fully perfected and in
full force and effect. Promptly after establishing a new location for such
offices in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence, the respective
Pledgor shall deliver to the Pledgee a supplement to Annex F hereto so as to
cause such Annex F hereto to be complete and accurate.
18. PLEDGORS' OBLIGATIONS ABSOLUTE, ETC. The obligations of each
Pledgor under this Agreement shall be absolute and unconditional and shall
remain in full force and effect without regard to, and shall not be released,
suspended, discharged, terminated or otherwise affected by, any circumstance or
occurrence whatsoever, including, without limitation: (i) any renewal,
extension, amendment or modification of or addition or supplement to or deletion
from any Secured Debt Agreement or any other instrument or agreement referred to
therein, or any assignment or transfer of any thereof; (ii) any waiver, consent,
extension, indulgence or other action or inaction under or in respect of any
such agreement or instrument including, without limitation, this Agreement;
(iii) any furnishing of any additional security to the Pledgee or its assignee
or any acceptance thereof or any release of any security by the Pledgee or its
assignee; (iv) any limitation on any party's liability or obligations under any
such instrument or agreement or any invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or
in part, of any such instrument or agreement or any term thereof; or (v) any
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, composition, adjustment, dissolution,
liquidation or other like proceeding relating to any Pledgor or any Subsidiary
of any Pledgor, or any action taken with respect to this Agreement by any
trustee or receiver, or by any court, in any such proceeding, whether or not
such Pledgor shall have notice or knowledge of any of the foregoing.
19. REGISTRATION, ETC.
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(a) If there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of
Default then, and in every such case, upon receipt by any Pledgor from the
Pledgee of a written request or requests that such Pledgor cause any
registration, qualification or compliance under any Federal or state securities
law or laws to be effected with respect to all or any part of the Collateral
consisting of Securities, Limited Liability Company Interests or Partnership
Interests, such Pledgor as soon as practicable and at its expense will cause
such registration to be effected (and be kept effective) and will cause such
qualification and compliance to be declared effected (and be kept effective) as
may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and distribution
of such Collateral, including, without limitation, registration under the
Securities Act, as then in effect (or any similar statute then in effect),
appropriate qualifications under applicable blue sky or other state securities
laws and appropriate compliance with any other government requirements,
provided, that the Pledgee shall furnish to such Pledgor such information
regarding the Pledgee as such Pledgor may reasonably request in writing and as
shall be required in connection with any such registration, qualification or
compliance. Such Pledgor will cause the Pledgee to be kept advised in writing as
to the progress of each such registration, qualification or compliance and as to
the completion thereof, will furnish to the Pledgee such number of prospectuses,
offering circulars or other documents incident thereto as the Pledgee from time
to time may reasonably request, and will indemnify the Pledgee, each other
Secured Creditor and all others participating in the distribution of such
Collateral against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities caused by any
untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained
therein (or in any related registration statement, notification or the like) or
by any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein (or in any related
registration statement, notification or the like) a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
except insofar as the same may have been caused by an untrue statement or
omission based upon information furnished in writing to such Pledgor by the
Pledgee or such other Secured Creditor expressly for use therein.
(b) If at any time when the Pledgee shall determine to exercise its
right to sell all or any part of the Collateral consisting of Securities,
Limited Liability Company Interests or Partnership Interests pursuant to Section
7 hereof, and the Collateral or the part thereof to be sold shall not, for any
reason whatsoever, be effectively registered under the Securities Act, as then
in effect, the Pledgee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, sell such
Collateral, as the case may be, or part thereof by private sale in such manner
and under such circumstances as the Pledgee may deem necessary or advisable in
order that such sale may legally be effected without such registration. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, in any such event the Pledgee, in its
sole and absolute discretion (i) may proceed to make such private sale
notwithstanding that a registration statement for the purpose of registering
such Collateral or part thereof shall have been filed under such Securities Act,
(ii) may approach and negotiate with a single possible purchaser to effect such
sale, and (iii) may restrict such sale to a purchaser who will represent and
agree that such purchaser is purchasing for its own account, for investment, and
not with a view to the distribution or sale of such Collateral or part thereof.
In the event of any such sale, the Pledgee shall incur no responsibility or
liability for selling all or any part of the Collateral at a price which the
Pledgee, in its sole and absolute discretion, in good faith deems reasonable
under the circumstances, notwithstanding the possibility that a substantially
higher price might be realized if the sale were deferred until after
registration as aforesaid.
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20. TERMINATION; RELEASE.
(a) After the Termination Date, this Agreement and the security
interest created hereby shall terminate (provided that all indemnities set forth
herein including, without limitation, in Section 11 hereof shall survive any
such termination), and the Pledgee, at the request and expense of any Pledgor,
will execute and deliver to such Pledgor a proper instrument or instruments
acknowledging the satisfaction and termination of this Agreement, and will duly
assign, transfer and deliver to such Pledgor (without recourse and without any
representation or warranty) such of the Collateral as has not theretofore been
sold or otherwise applied or released pursuant to this Agreement, together with
any monies at the time held by the Pledgee or any of its sub-agents hereunder.
As used in this Agreement, "Termination Date" shall mean the date upon which the
Total Commitment and all Interest Rate Protection Agreements and Other Hedging
Agreements have been terminated, no Note under the Credit Agreement is
outstanding (and all Loans have been repaid in full), all Letters of Credit have
been terminated and all Obligations then due and payable have been paid in full.
(b) In the event that any part of the Collateral is sold in
connection with a sale permitted by Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement (other
than a sale to any Pledgor or any Subsidiary thereof) or is otherwise released
at the direction of the Required Lenders (or all Lenders if required by Section
13.12 of the Credit Agreement) and the proceeds of such sale or sales or from
such release are applied in accordance with the provisions of the Credit
Agreement, to the extent required to be so applied, the Pledgee, at the request
and expense of any Pledgor, will duly assign, transfer and deliver to such
Pledgor (without recourse and without any representation or warranty) such of
the Collateral (and releases therefor) as is then being (or has been) so sold or
released and has not theretofore been released pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) At any time that a Pledgor desires that the Pledgee assign,
transfer and deliver Collateral (and releases therefor) as provided in Section
20(a) or (b) hereof, it shall deliver to the Pledgee a certificate signed by a
principal executive officer of such Pledgor stating that the release of the
respective Collateral is permitted pursuant to such Section 20(a) or (b).
(d) The Pledgee shall have no liability whatsoever to any other
Secured Creditor as the result of any release of Collateral by it in accordance
with this Section 20.
21. NOTICES, ETC. All such notices and communications hereunder
shall be sent or delivered by mail, telegraph, telex, telecopy, cable or
overnight courier service and all such notices and communications shall, when
mailed, telegraphed, telexed, telecopied, or cabled or sent by overnight
courier, be effective when deposited in the mails, delivered to the telegraph
company, cable company or overnight courier, as the case may be, or sent by
telex or telecopier and when mailed shall be effective three Business Days
following deposit in the mail with proper postage, except that notices and
communications to the Pledgee or any Pledgor shall not be effective until
received by the Pledgee or such Pledgor, as the case may be. All notices and
other communications shall be in writing and addressed as follows:
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(a) if to any Pledgor, at:
c/o infoUSA Inc.
5711 South 86th Circle
Omaha, Nebraska 68127
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telephone No.: (402) 593-4500
Telecopier No.: (402) 331-1505
(b) if to the Pledgee, at:
Bank of America, N.A.
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60697
Attention: David Johanson
Telephone No.: (312) 828-7933
Telecopier No.: (312) 974-9102
(c) if to any Lender Creditor, either (x) to the Administrative
Agent, at the address of the Administrative Agent specified in the Credit
Agreement or (y) at such address as such Lender Creditor shall have specified in
the Credit Agreement;
(d) if to any Other Creditor at such address as such Other Creditor
shall have specified in writing to the Pledgors and the Pledgee;
or at such other address as shall have been furnished in writing by any Person
described above to the party required to give notice hereunder.
22. WAIVER; AMENDMENT. None of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement may be changed, waived, modified or varied in any manner whatsoever
unless in writing duly signed by each Pledgor directly affected thereby and the
Pledgee (with the written consent of either (x) the Required Lenders (or all of
the Lenders to the extent required by Section 13.12 of the Credit Agreement) at
all times prior to the time on which all Credit Document Obligations have been
paid in full or (y) the holders of at least 50% of the aggregate principal
amount of the outstanding Other Obligations at all times after the time on which
all Credit Document Obligations have been paid in full); provided, that any
change, waiver, modification or variance affecting the rights and benefits of a
single Class (as defined below) of Secured Creditors (and not all Secured
Creditors in a like or similar manner) shall also require the written consent of
the Requisite Creditors (as defined below) of such affected Class. For the
purpose of this Agreement, the term "Class" shall mean each class of Secured
Creditors, i.e., whether (i) the Lender Creditors as holders of the Credit
Document Obligations or (ii) the Other Creditors as the holders of the Other
Obligations. For the purpose of this Agreement, the term "Requisite Creditors"
of any Class shall mean each of (i) with respect to the Credit Document
Obligations, the Required Lenders and (ii) with respect to the Other
Obligations, the holders of at least 50% of the aggregate principal amount of
the outstanding Other Obligations.
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23. MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by each of the parties hereto and its successors
and assigns, provided that no Pledgor may assign any of its rights or
obligations under this Agreement without the prior consent of the Collateral
Agent. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND
GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. EACH PLEDGOR IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY. The headings in this Agreement are for purposes of reference only and
shall not limit or define the meaning hereof. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which
shall constitute one instrument. In the event that any provision of this
Agreement shall prove to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be
deemed to be severable from the other provisions of this Agreement which shall
remain binding on all parties hereto.
24. RECOURSE. This Agreement is made with full recourse to the
Pledgors and pursuant to and upon all the representations, warranties, covenants
and agreements on the part of the Pledgors contained herein and in the other
Secured Debt Agreements and otherwise in writing in connection herewith or
therewith.
25. ADDITIONAL PLEDGORS. It is understood and agreed that any
Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to execute a counterpart of this
Agreement after the date hereof pursuant to the Credit Agreement shall become a
Pledgor hereunder by executing a counterpart hereof and delivering the same to
the Pledgee.
* * * *
-22-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Pledgor and the Pledgee have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their duly elected officers duly authorized as of
the date first above written.
INFOUSA INC., as a Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title: Chief Financial Officer
INFOUSA MARKETING, INC.,
as a Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
AMERICAN CHURCH LISTS, INC., as a
Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
BUSINESSCREDITUSA.COM, as a Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
CD-ROM TECHNOLOGIES, INC., as a
Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
CITY DIRECTORIES, INC., as a Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
Signature Page
to
Pledge Agreement
STRATEGIC INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT, INC., as a Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
LIST BAZAAR.COM, as a Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
WALTER KARL, INC., as a Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
DONNELLEY MARKETING, INC., as a Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
VIDEO YELLOW PAGES USA.COM, INC.,
as a Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
IDEXEC, INC.,
as a Pledgor
By
-----------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
Signature Page
to
Pledge Agreement
Accepted and Agreed to:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Pledgee, Collateral Agent
By
----------------------------
Title: Vice President
Signature Page
to
Pledge Agreement