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EXHIBIT 10.23
COMPANY TRADEMARK COLLATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT
This COMPANY TRADEMARK COLLATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT (this
"Agreement") is dated as of November 12, 1997 and entered into by and between
FWT, INC., a Texas corporation ("GRANTOR"), and BT COMMERCIAL CORPORATION, as
agent for and representative of (in such capacity herein called "SECURED
PARTY") the financial institutions ("LENDERS") party to the Credit Agreement
(as hereinafter defined).
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
A. Secured Party and Lenders have entered into a Credit Agreement
dated as of November 12, 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 Grantor 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 Grantor.
B. Grantor owns and uses in its business, and will in the future
adopt and so use, various intangible assets, including trademarks, service
marks, designs, logos, indicia, tradenames, corporate names, company names,
business names, fictitious business names, trade styles and/or other source
and/or business identifiers and applications pertaining thereto (collectively,
the "TRADEMARKS").
C. Secured Party desires Grantor to assign and grant to it a lien on
and security interest in all of Grantor's existing and future Trademarks, all
registrations that have been or may hereafter be issued or applied for thereon
in the United States and any state thereof and in foreign countries (the
"REGISTRATIONS"), all common law and other rights in and to the Trademarks in
the United States and any state thereof and in foreign countries (the
"TRADEMARK RIGHTS"), all goodwill of Grantor's business symbolized by the
Trademarks and associated therewith, including without limitation the documents
and things described in Section 1(b) (the "ASSOCIATED GOODWILL"), and all
proceeds of the Trademarks, the Registrations, the Trademark Rights and the
Associated Goodwill, and Grantor agrees to assign and grant to Secured Party a
secured and protected interest in the Trademarks, the Registrations, the
Trademark Rights, the Associated Goodwill and all the proceeds thereof as
provided herein.
D. Grantor has executed and delivered the Company Security Agreement
dated as of November 12, 1997 (the "COMPANY SECURITY AGREEMENT") between
Grantor and Secured Party for the benefit of Lenders, pursuant to which Grantor
has granted Secured Party a security interest in all of its personal property,
including, without limitation, the Collateral, as defined below, which Company
Security Agreement is to be supplemented by this Agreement.
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E. Pursuant to the Security Agreement, Grantor has assigned and
granted to Secured Party a lien on and security interest in, among other
assets, all of Grantor's equipment, inventory, accounts and general intangibles
relating to the products and services sold or delivered under or in connection
with the Trademarks such that, upon the occurrence and during the continuation
of an Event of Default, Secured Party would be able to exercise its remedies
consistent with the Security Agreement, this Agreement and applicable law to
foreclose upon Grantor's business and use the Trademarks, the Registrations and
the Trademark Rights in conjunction with the continued operation of such
business, maintaining substantially the same product and service specifications
and quality as maintained by Grantor, and benefit from the Associated Goodwill.
F. It is a condition precedent to the initial extensions of credit by
Lenders under the Credit Agreement that Grantor shall have assigned and 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 for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, Grantor hereby agrees with Secured
Party as follows:
SECTION 1. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST. Grantor hereby grants to
Secured Party a security interest in, all of Grantor's right, title and
interest in and to the following, in each case whether now or hereafter
existing or in which Grantor now has or hereafter acquires an interest and
wherever the same may be located (the "COLLATERAL"):
(a) each of the Trademarks and rights and interests in Trademarks that
are presently, or in the future may be, owned, held (whether pursuant to a
license or otherwise) or used by Grantor, in whole or in part (including,
without limitation, the Trademarks specifically identified in Schedule A
annexed hereto, as the same may be amended pursuant hereto from time to time),
and including all Trademark Rights with respect thereto and all federal, state
and foreign Registrations therefor heretofore or hereafter granted or applied
for, the right (but not the obligation) to register claims under any state or
federal trademark law or regulation or any trademark law or regulation of any
foreign country and to apply for, renew and extend the Trademarks,
Registrations and Trademark Rights, the right (but not the obligation) to sue
or bring opposition or cancellation proceedings in the name of Grantor or in
the name of Secured Party or otherwise for past, present and future
infringements of the Trademarks, Registrations or Trademark rights and all
rights (but not obligations) corresponding thereto in the United States and any
foreign country, and the Associated Goodwill; it being understood that the
rights and interests included herein shall include, without limitation, all
rights and interests pursuant to licensing or other contracts in favor of
Grantor pertaining to any Trademarks, Registrations or Trademark Rights
presently or in the future owned, held or used by third parties but, in the
case of third parties which are not Affiliates of Grantor, only to the extent
permitted by such licensing or other contracts or otherwise permitted by
applicable law and, if not so permitted under any such contracts and applicable
law, only with the consent of such third parties;
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(b) the following documents and things in Grantor's possession, or
subject to Grantor's right to possession, related to (Y) the production, sale
and delivery by Grantor, or by any Affiliate, licensee or subcontractor of
Grantor, of products or services sold or delivered by or under the authority of
Grantor in connection with the Trademarks, Registrations or Trademark Rights
(which products and services shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be deemed
to include, without limitation, products and services sold or delivered
pursuant to merchandising operations utilizing any Trademarks, Registrations or
Trademark Rights); or (Z) any retail or other merchandising operations
conducted under the name of or in connection with the Trademarks, Registrations
or Trademark Rights by Grantor or any Affiliate, licensee or subcontractor of
Grantor:
(i) all lists and ancillary documents that identify and describe any
of Grantor's customers, or those of its Affiliates, licensees or
subcontractors, for products sold and services delivered under or in
connection with the Trademarks or Trademark Rights, including without
limitation any lists and ancillary documents that contain a customer's name
and address, the name and address of any of its warehouses, branches or
other places of business, the identity of the Person or Persons having the
principal responsibility on a customer's behalf for ordering products or
services of the kind supplied by Grantor, or the credit, payment, discount,
delivery or other sale terms applicable to such customer, together with
information setting forth the total purchases, by brand, product, service,
style, size or other criteria, and the patterns of such purchases;
(ii) all product and service specification documents and production
and quality control manuals used in the manufacture or delivery of products
and services sold or delivered under or in connection with the Trademarks
or Trademark Rights;
(iii) all documents which reveal the name and address of any source
of supply, and any terms of purchase and delivery, for any and all
materials, components and services used in the production of products and
services sold or delivered under or in connection with the Trademarks or
Trademark Rights; and
(iv) all documents constituting or concerning the then current or
proposed advertising and promotion by Grantor or its Affiliates, licensees
or subcontractors of products and services sold or delivered under or in
connection with the Trademarks or Trademark Rights including, without
limitation, all documents which reveal the media used or to be used and the
cost for all such advertising conducted within the described period or
planned for such products and services;
(c) all books, records, ledger cards, files, correspondence, computer
programs, tapes, disks and related data processing software that at any
time evidence or contain information relating to any of the Collateral or
are otherwise necessary or helpful in the collection thereof or realization
thereupon;
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(d) to the extent not included in the foregoing clauses (a) - (c), all
general intangibles relating to the Collateral; and
(e) all proceeds, products, rents and profits (including without
limitation license royalties and proceeds of infringement suits) of or from any
and all of the foregoing Collateral and, to the extent not otherwise included,
all payments under insurance (whether or not Secured Party is the loss payee
thereof), or any indemnity. warranty or guaranty, payable by reason of loss or
damage to or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing Collateral. For
purposes of this Agreement, the term "PROCEEDS" includes whatever is receivable
or received when Collateral or proceeds are sold, exchanged, collected or
otherwise disposed of, whether such disposition is voluntary or involuntary.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Collateral shall exclude any
intellectual property right, contracts and agreements to the extent, and only
to the extent, that such intellectual property right, contract or agreement
contains a provision enforceable at law and in equity that would be breached by
(or would result in the termination of such intellectual property right,
contract, or agreement upon) the grant of the security interest created herein
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that if and when
any prohibition on the assignment, pledge or grant of a security interest in
such intellectual property right, contract or agreement is removed, the Secured
Party will be deemed to have been granted a security interest in such
intellectual property right, contract or agreement as of the date hereof, and
the Collateral will be deemed to include such intellectual property right,
contract or agreement.
SECTION 2. SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS. This Agreement secures, and the
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. Section 362(a)), of all obligations and
liabilities of every nature of Grantor now or hereafter existing under or
arising out of or in connection with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and all extensions or renewals thereof, whether for principal,
interest (including without limitation interest that, but for the filing of a
petition in bankruptcy with respect to Grantor, would accrue on such
obligations), reimbursement of amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, 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 or any Lender as a preference, fraudulent transfer or otherwise (all such
obligations and liabilities being the "UNDERLYING DEBT"), and all obligations
of every nature of Grantor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement (all
such obligations of Grantor, together with the Underlying Debt, being the
"SECURED OBLIGATIONS").
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SECTION 3. GRANTOR REMAINS LIABLE. Anything contained herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, (a) Grantor shall remain liable under any contracts
and agreements included in the Collateral, to the extent set forth therein, to
perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if
this Agreement had not been executed, (b) the exercise by Secured Party of any
of its rights hereunder shall not release Grantor from any of its duties or
obligations under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral, and
(c) Secured Party shall not have any obligation or liability under any
contracts and agreements included in the Collateral by reason of this
Agreement, nor shall Secured Party be obligated to perform any of the
obligations or duties of Grantor thereunder or to take any action to collect or
enforce any claim for payment assigned hereunder.
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Grantor represents and
warrants as follows:
(a) Description of Collateral. A true and complete list of all
Trademarks, Registrations and Trademark Rights owned, held (whether pursuant to
a license or otherwise) or used by Grantor, in whole or in part, as of the date
of this Agreement is set forth in Schedule A annexed hereto. Each Trademark,
Registration or Trademark Right designated on Schedule A annexed hereto as a
Material Trademark Property, and each other Trademark, Registration or
Trademark Right hereafter arising or otherwise owned, held or used by Grantor
that is subsequently so designated, is referred to herein as a "MATERIAL
TRADEMARK PROPERTY".
(b) Validity and Enforceability of Collateral. Each Material Trademark
Property is valid, subsisting and enforceable. As of the Closing Date, Grantor
is not aware of any pending or threatened claim by any third party that any
Material Trademark Property is invalid or unenforceable or that the use of any
Material Trademark Property violates the rights of any third person or of any
basis for any such claim, and there is no such pending or threatened claim,
whether arising prior to or after the Closing Date, that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Ownership of Collateral. Except for the interests disclosed in
Schedule B annexed hereto and the security interest assigned and created by
this Agreement, Grantor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the entire
right, title and interest in and to each Material Trademark Property, free and
clear of any Lien other than Permitted Encumbrances and the interests disclosed
in Schedule B annexed hereto and Liens of mechanics, materialmen, attorneys and
other similar liens imposed by law in the ordinary course of business in
connection with the establishment, creation or application for Registration of
any Trademarks, Registrations or Trademark Rights for sums not yet delinquent
or being contested in good faith (such Liens being referred to herein as
"PERMITTED TRADEMARK LIENS"). Except with respect to Permitted Encumbrances and
the interests disclosed in Schedule B annexed hereto and such as may have been
filed in favor of Secured Party relating to this Agreement, no effective
financing statement or other instrument similar in effect covering all or any
part of the Collateral is on file in any filing or recording office, including
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
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(d) Office Locations: Other Names. The chief place of business, the
chief executive office and the office where Grantor keeps its records regarding
the Collateral is, and has been for the four month period preceding the date
hereof, located at 1901 East Loop 820 South, Forth Worth, Texas 76112. Grantor
has not in the past done, and does not now do, business under any other name
(including any trade-name or fictitious business name).
(e) Governmental Authorizations. No authorization, approval or other
action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or
regulatory body, except for UCC-1 filings, filings with the United States
Patent and Trademark Office or any state trademark office as identified by
Grantor to Secured Party is required for either (i) the assignment and grant by
Grantor of the security interest created hereby, (h) the execution, delivery or
performance of this Agreement by Grantor, or (iii) the perfection or exercise
by Secured Party of its rights and remedies hereunder (except as may have been
taken by or at the direction of Grantor).
(f) Perfection. This Agreement, together with the filing of a
financing statement describing the Collateral with the Secretary of State of
the State of Texas and the recording of this Agreement with the United States
Patent and Trademark Office, assigns and creates a valid, perfected and, except
for the interests disclosed in Schedule B annexed hereto, first priority
security interest in the Collateral (subject only to Permitted Trademark
Liens), securing the payment of the Secured Obligations, and all filings and
other actions necessary or desirable to perfect and protect such security
interest have been duly made or taken.
(g) Other Information. All information heretofore, herein or hereafter
supplied to Secured Party by or on behalf of Grantor with respect to the
Collateral is accurate and complete in all respects.
SECTION 5. FURTHER ASSURANCES; NEW TRADEMARKS, REGISTRATIONS AND
TRADEMARK RIGHTS; CERTAIN INSPECTION RIGHTS.
(a) Grantor agrees that from time to time, at the expense of Grantor,
Grantor 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 assigned or granted or purported to be assigned or granted hereby or
to enable Secured Party to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies
hereunder with respect to any Collateral. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, Grantor will: (i) at the request of Secured Party, mark
conspicuously each of its records pertaining to the Collateral with a legend,
in form and substance satisfactory to Secured Party, indicating that such
Collateral is subject to the security interest granted hereby, (ii) 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, (iii) use commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain any necessary consents of third parties to the assignment and
perfection of a security interest
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to Secured Party with respect to any Collateral, (iv) at any reasonable time,
upon request by Secured Party, exhibit the Collateral to and allow inspection
of the Collateral by Secured Party, or persons designated by Secured Party, and
(v) at Secured Party's request, appear in and defend any action or proceeding
that may affect Grantor's title to or Secured Party's security interest in all
or any part of the Collateral.
(b) Grantor hereby authorizes Secured Party to file one or more
financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relative to all
or any part of the Collateral without the signature of Grantor. Grantor agrees
that a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or of a
financing statement signed by Grantor shall be sufficient as a financing
statement and may be filed as a financing statement in any and all
jurisdictions.
(c) Grantor hereby authorizes Secured Party to modify this Agreement
without obtaining Grantor's approval of or signature to such modification by
amending Schedule A annexed hereto to include reference to any right, title or
interest in any existing Trademark, Registration or Trademark Right or any
Trademark, Registration or Trademark Right acquired or developed by Grantor
after the execution hereof or to delete any reference to any right, title or
interest in any Trademark, Registration or Trademark Right in which Grantor no
longer has or claims any right, title or interest.
(d) Grantor will furnish to Secured Party from time to time statements
and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other
reports in connection with the Collateral as Secured Party may reasonably
request, all in reasonable detail.
(e) If Grantor shall obtain rights to any new Trademarks,
Registrations or Trademark Rights, the provisions of this Agreement shall
automatically apply thereto. Grantor shall promptly notify Secured Party in
writing of any rights to any new Trademarks or Trademark Rights acquired by
Grantor after the date hereof and of any Registrations issued or applications
for Registration made after the date hereof, which notice shall state whether
such Trademark, Registration or Trademark Right constitutes a Material
Trademark Property. Concurrently with the filing of an application for
Registration for any Trademark, Grantor shall execute, deliver and record in
all places where this Agreement is recorded an appropriate Trademark Security
Agreement, substantially in the form hereof, with appropriate insertions, or an
amendment to this Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Secured
Party, pursuant to which Grantor shall assign and grant a security interest to
the extent of its interest in such Registration as provided herein to Secured
Party unless so doing would, in the reasonable judgment of Grantor, after due
inquiry, result in the grant of a Registration in the name of Secured Party, in
which event Grantor shall give written notice to Secured Party as soon as
reasonably practicable and the filing shall instead be undertaken as soon as
practicable but in no case later than immediately following the grant of the
Registration.
(f) Grantor hereby grants to Secured Party and its employees,
representatives and agents the right to visit Grantor's and any of its
Affiliate's or
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subcontractor's plants, facilities and other places of business that are
utilized in connection with the manufacture, production, inspection, storage or
sale of products and services sold or delivered under any of the Trademarks,
Registrations or Trademark Rights (or which were so utilized during the prior
six month period), and to inspect the quality control and all other records
relating thereto upon reasonable notice to Grantor and as often as may be
reasonably requested.
SECTION 6. CERTAIN COVENANTS OF GRANTOR. Grantor shall:
(a) not use or permit any Collateral to be used unlawfully or in
violation of any provision of this Agreement or any applicable statute,
regulation or ordinance or any policy of insurance covering the Collateral;
(b) notify Secured Party of any change in Grantor's name, identity or
corporate structure within 15 days of such change;
(c) give Secured Party 30 days' prior written notice of any change in
Grantor's chief place of business or chief executive office or the office where
Grantor keeps its records regarding the Collateral;
(d) to the extent required under the Credit Agreement, pay promptly
when due all property and other taxes, assessments and governmental charges or
levies imposed upon, and all claims (including claims for labor, materials and
supplies) against, the Collateral, except to the extent the validity thereof is
being contested in good faith; provided that Grantor shall in any event pay
such taxes, assessments, charges, levies or claims not later than five days
prior to the date of any proposed sale under any judgement, writ or warrant of
attachment entered or filed against Grantor or any of tile Collateral as a
result of the failure to make such payment;
(e) not sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise
dispose of any of the Collateral except as permitted by the Credit Agreement;
(f) except for the interests disclosed in Schedule B annexed hereto,
Permitted Trademark Liens, Permitted Encumbrances and the security interest
assigned and created by this Agreement, not create or suffer to exist any Lien
upon or with respect to any of the Collateral to secure the indebtedness or
other obligations of any Person;
(g) diligently keep reasonable records respecting the Collateral and
at all times keep at least one complete set of its records concerning
substantially all of the Trademarks, Registrations and Trademark Rights at its
chief executive office or principal place of business;
(h) not permit the inclusion in any contract to which it becomes a
party of any provision that could or might in any way conflict with this
Agreement or impair or prevent the assignment and creation of a security
interest in Grantor's rights and interests
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in any property included within the definitions of any Trademarks,
Registrations, Trademark Rights and Associated Goodwill;
(i) take all reasonable steps necessary to protect the secrecy of all
trade secrets relating to the products and services sold or delivered under or
in connection with the Trademarks and Trademark Rights, including without
limitation entering into confidentiality agreements with employees and labeling
and restricting access to secret information and documents;
(j) use proper statutory notice in connection with its use of each
Material Trademark Property to the extent reasonably necessary for the
protection of such Material Trademark Property;
(k) use consistent standards of high quality (which may be consistent
with Grantor's past practices) in the manufacture, sale and delivery of
products and services sold or delivered under or in connection with the
Trademarks, Registrations and Trademark Rights, including, to the extent
applicable, in the operation and maintenance of its merchandising operations;
and
(1) upon any officer of Grantor obtaining knowledge thereof, promptly
notify Secured Party in writing of any event that may materially and adversely
affect the value of the Collateral or any portion thereof, the ability of
Grantor or Secured Party to dispose of the Collateral or any portion thereof,
or the rights and remedies of Secured Party in relation thereto, including
without limitation the levy of any legal process against the Collateral or any
portion thereof.
SECTION 7. AMOUNTS PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF THE COLLATERAL. Except as
otherwise provided in this Section 7, Grantor shall continue to collect, at its
own expense, all amounts due or to become due to Grantor in respect of the
Collateral or any portion thereof. In connection with such collections, Grantor
may take (and, at Secured Party's direction, shall take) such action as Grantor
or Secured Party may deem necessary or advisable to enforce collection of such
amounts; provided, however, that Secured Party shall have the right at any
time, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of all Event of Default
or a Potential Event of Default and upon written notice to Grantor of its
intention to do so, to notify the obligors with respect to any such amounts of
the existence of the security interest assigned and created hereby, and to
direct such obligors to make payment of all such amounts directly to Secured
Party, and, upon such notification and at the expense of Grantor, to enforce
collection of any such amounts and to adjust, settle or compromise the amount
or payment thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as Grantor might
have done. After receipt by Grantor of the notice from Secured Party referred
to in the proviso to the preceding sentence, (i) all amounts and proceeds
(including checks and other instruments) received by Grantor in respect of
amounts due to Grantor in respect of the Collateral or any portion thereof
shall be received in trust for the benefit of Secured Party hereunder, shall be
segregated from other funds of Grantor and shall be forthwith paid over or
delivered to Secured Party in the same form as so received (with any necessary
endorsement) to be held as cash Collateral and applied as
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provided by Section 14, and (ii) Grantor shall not adjust, settle or compromise
tile amount or payment of any such amount or release wholly or partly any
obligor with respect thereto or allow any credit or discount thereon.
SECTION 8. TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS AND LITIGATION.
(a) Grantor shall have the duty diligently, through counsel reasonably
acceptable to Secured Party, to prosecute any trademark application relating to
any Material Trademark Property that is pending as of the date of this
Agreement, to make federal application on any existing or future registerable
but unregistered Material Trademark Property (whenever it is commercially
reasonable in the reasonable judgment of Grantor to do so), and to file and
prosecute opposition and cancellation proceedings, renew Registrations and do
any and all acts which are necessary or desirable to preserve and maintain all
rights in all Material Trademark Properties. Any expenses incurred in
connection therewith shall be borne solely by Grantor. Grantor shall not
abandon any Material Trademark Property.
(b) Except as provided in Section 8(d), Grantor shall have the right
to commence and prosecute in its own name, as real party in interest, for its
own benefit and at its own expense, such suits, proceedings or other actions
for infringement, unfair competition, dilution or other damage as are in its
reasonable business judgment necessary to protect the Collateral. Secured Party
shall provide, at Grantor's expense, all reasonable and necessary cooperation
in connection with any such suit, proceeding or action including, without
limitation, joining as a necessary party.
(c) Grantor shall promptly, following its becoming aware thereof,
notify Secured Party of the institution of, or of any adverse determination in,
any proceeding (whether in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any
federal, state, local or foreign court) described in Section 8(a) or 8(b) or
regarding Grantor's claim of ownership in or right to use any of the
Trademarks, Registrations or Trademark Rights, its right to register the same,
or its right to keep and maintain such Registration. Grantor shall provide to
Secured Party any information with respect thereto requested by Secured Party.
(d) Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, upon
the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, Secured
Party shall have the right (but not the obligation) to bring suit, in the name
of Grantor, Secured Party or otherwise, to enforce any Trademark, Registration,
Trademark Right, Associated Goodwill and any license thereunder, in which event
Grantor shall, at the request of Secured Party, do any and all lawful acts and
execute any and all documents required by Secured Party in aid of such
enforcement and Grantor shall promptly, upon demand, reimburse and indemnify
Secured Party as provided in Section 15 in connection with the exercise of its
rights under this Section 8. To the extent that Secured Party shall elect not
to bring suit to enforce any Trademark, Registration, Trademark Right,
Associated Goodwill or any license thereunder as provided in this Section 8(d),
Grantor agrees to use all reasonable measures, whether by action, suit,
proceeding or otherwise, to prevent the infringement of any of the Trademarks,
Registrations, Trademark Rights or Associated
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Goodwill by others and for that purpose agrees to diligently maintain any
action, suit or proceeding against any Person so infringing necessary to
prevent such infringement.
SECTION 9. NON-DISTURBANCE AGREEMENTS, ETC. If and to the extent that
Grantor is permitted to license the Collateral, Secured Party shall enter into
a non-disturbance agreement or other similar arrangement, at Grantor's request
and expense, with Grantor and any licensee of any Collateral permitted
hereunder in form and substance satisfactory to Secured Party pursuant to which
(a) Secured Party shall agree not to disturb or interfere with such licensee's
rights under its license agreement with Grantor so long as such licensee is not
in default thereunder and (b) such licensee shall acknowledge and agree that
the Collateral licensed to it is subject to the security interest assigned and
created in favor of Secured Party and the other terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 10. SECURED PARTY APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT. Grantor hereby
irrevocably appoints Secured Party as Grantor's attorney-in-fact, with full
authority in the place and stead of Grantor and in the name of Grantor, 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 without
limitation:
(a) to endorse Grantor's name on all applications, documents, papers
and instruments necessary for Secured Party in the use or maintenance of the
Collateral;
(b) during the continuation of any Event of Default to ask for,
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
Collateral;
(c) to receive, endorse and collect any drafts or other instruments,
documents and chattel paper in connection with clause (b) above;
(d) during the continuance of any Event of Default 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 Collateral or otherwise
to enforce the rights of Secured Party with respect to any of the Collateral;
(e) to pay or discharge taxes or Liens (other than Liens permitted
under this Agreement or the Credit Agreement) levied or placed upon or
threatened against the Collateral, the legality or validity thereof and the
amounts necessary to discharge the same to be determined by Secured Party in
its sole discretion, any such payments made by Secured Party to become
obligations of Grantor to Secured Party, due and payable immediately without
demand; and
(f) upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of
Default, (i) to execute and deliver any of the assignments or documents
requested by Secured Party pursuant to Section 13(b), (ii) to grant or issue an
exclusive or non-exclusive license to the Collateral or any portion thereof to
any Person, and
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(iii) otherwise generally to sell, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with
respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely
as though Secured Party were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and
to do, at Secured Party's option and Grantor's expense, at any time or from
time to time, all acts and things that Secured Party deems necessary to
protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and Secured Party's security
interest therein in order to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully
and effectively as Grantor might do.
SECTION 11. SECURED PARTY MAY PERFORM. If Grantor fails to perform any
agreement contained herein, 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 Grantor under Section 15.
SECTION 12. STANDARD OF CA. THE powers conferred on Secured Party
hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Collateral and shall not
impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the exercise of
reasonable care in the custody of any Collateral in its possession and the
accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, Secured Party shall
have no duty as to any Collateral or as to the taking of any necessary steps to
preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any
Collateral. Secured Party shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in
the custody and preservation of Collateral in its possession if such Collateral
is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which Secured Party accords
its own property.
SECTION 13. REMEDIES. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing:
(a) Secured Party may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in
addition to all other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise
available to it, all tile 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 tile affected Collateral), and
also may (i) require Grantor to, and Grantor hereby agrees that it will at its
expense and upon request of Secured Party forthwith, assemble all or part of
the Collateral as directed by Secured Party and make it available to Secured
Party at a place to be designated by Secured Party that is reasonably
convenient to both parties, (ii) enter onto the property where any Collateral
is located and take possession thereof with or without judicial process, (iii)
prior to the disposition of the Collateral, store the Collateral or otherwise
prepare the Collateral for disposition in any manner to the extent Secured
Party deems appropriate, (iv) take possession of Grantor's premises or place
custodians in exclusive control thereof, remain on such premises and use the
same for the purpose of taking any actions described in the preceding clause
(iii) and collecting any Secured Obligation, (v) exercise any and all rights
and remedies of Grantor under or in connection with the contracts related to
the Collateral or otherwise in respect of the Collateral, including without
limitation any and all rights of Grantor to demand or otherwise require payment
of any amount under, or performance of any provision of, such contracts, and
(vi) without notice except as specified below, sell the Collateral or
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any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, 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. Secured Party or any
Lender may be the purchaser of any or all of the Collateral at any such sale
and Secured Party, as agent for and representative of Lenders (but not any
Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless
Requisite Lenders 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 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 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 Grantor, and Grantor 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. Grantor agrees that, to the extent
notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten days' notice to Grantor
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 Collateral regardless of notice of
sale having been given. Secured Party may adjourn any public or private sale
from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and
such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which
it was so adjourned. Grantor hereby waives any claims against Secured Party
arising by reason of the fact that the price at which any 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 Collateral to more than one offeree. If the
proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to
pay all the Secured Obligations, Grantor shall be liable for the deficiency and
the fees of any attorneys employed by Secured Party to collect such deficiency.
(b) Upon written demand from Secured Party, Grantor shall execute and
deliver to Secured Party an assignment or assignments of the Trademarks,
Registrations, Trademark Rights and the Associated Goodwill and such other
documents as are requested by Secured Party. Grantor agrees that such an
assignment and/or recording shall be applied to reduce the Secured Obligations
outstanding only to the extent that Secured Party (or any Lender) receives cash
proceeds in respect of the sale of, or other realization upon, the Collateral.
(c) Within five Business Days after written notice from Secured Party,
Grantor shall make available to Secured Party, to the extent within Grantor's
power and authority, such personnel in Grantor's employ on the date of such
Event of Default as Secured Party may reasonably designate, by name, title or
job responsibility, to permit Grantor to continue, directly or indirectly, to
produce, advertise and sell the products and services sold or delivered by
Grantor under or in connection with the Trademarks, Registrations and Trademark
Rights, such persons to be available to perform their prior functions on
Secured Party's behalf and to be compensated by Secured Party at Grantor's
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expense on a per diem, pro-rata basis consistent with the salary and benefit
structure applicable to each as of the date of such Event of Default.
SECTION 14. APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS. Except as expressly provided
elsewhere in this Agreement, all proceeds received by Secured Party in respect
of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of
the Collateral may, in the discretion of Secured Party, be held by Secured
Party as Collateral for, and/or then, or at any other time thereafter, applied
in full or in part by Secured Party against, the Secured Obligations in the
following order of priority:
FIRST: To the payment of all costs and expenses of such sale,
collection or other realization, including\reasonable compensation to
Secured Party and its agents and counsel, and all other expenses,
liabilities and advances made or incurred by Secured Party in connection
therewith, and all amounts for which Secured Party is entitled to
indemnification hereunder and all advances made by Secured Party hereunder
for the account of Grantor, and to the payment of all costs and expenses
paid or incurred by Secured Party in connection with the exercise of any
right or remedy hereunder, all in accordance with Section 15;
SECOND: To the payment of all other Secured Obligations in such order
as Secured Party shall elect; and
THIRD: To the payment to or upon the order of Grantor, or to whosoever
may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent
jurisdiction may direct, of any surplus then remaining from such proceeds.
SECTION 15. INDEMNITY AND EXPENSES.
(a) Grantor agrees to indemnify Secured Party and each Lender from and
against any and all claims, losses and liabilities in any way relating to,
growing out of or resulting from this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, enforcement of this
Agreement), except to the extent such claims, losses or liabilities result from
Secured Party's or such Lender's gross negligence or willful misconduct as
finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) Grantor shall pay to Secured Party upon demand the amount of any
and all costs and expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of its
counsel and of any experts and agents, that Secured Party may incur in
connection with (i) the administration of this Agreement, (ii) the custody,
preservation, use or operation of, or the sale of, collection from, or other
realization upon, any of the Collateral, (iii) the exercise or enforcement of
any of the rights of Secured Party hereunder, or (iv) the failure by Grantor to
perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.
SECTION 16. CONTINUING SECURITY INTEREST; TRANSFER OF LOANS. This
Agreement shall assign and create a continuing security interest in the
Collateral and shall (a) remain in full force and effect until the payment in
full of the Secured Obligations, the
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cancellation or termination of the Commitments and the cancellation or
expiration of all outstanding Letters of Credit, (b) be binding upon Grantor,
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
permitted successors, 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
otherwise. Upon 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, the security interest assigned
and granted hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall
revert to Grantor. Upon any such termination Secured Party will, at Grantor's
expense, execute and deliver to Grantor such documents as Grantor shall
reasonably request to evidence such termination.
SECTION 17. SECURED PARTY AS AGENT.
(a) Secured Party has been appointed to act as Secured
Party hereunder by Lenders. 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, without limitation, the release or substitution of Collateral),
solely in accordance with this Agreement and the Credit Agreement.
(b) Secured Party shall at all times be the same Person
that is Agent under the Credit Agreement. Written notice of resignation by
Agent pursuant to subsection 9.5 of the Credit Agreement shall also constitute
notice of resignation as Secured Party under this Agreement; removal of 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
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 appointment as Agent under subsection 9.5 of the Credit
Agreement by a successor Agent, that successor 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 Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as Secured Party, the
provisions of this Agreement shall inure to its benefit as
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to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it under this Agreement while it
was Secured Party hereunder.
SECTION 18. AMENDMENTS; ETC. Subject to Section 5(c), no amendment,
modification, termination or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no
consent to any departure by Grantor 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 Grantor. Any such waiver or
consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which it was given.
SECTION 19. NOTICES. Any notice or other communication herein 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 set forth under such party's name on the signature pages hereof or, as to
either party, such other address as shall be designated by such party in a
written notice delivered to the other party hereto.
SECTION 20. FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER; REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. No
failure or delay on the part of Secured Party in the exercise of any power,
right or privilege hereunder shall impair such power, right or privilege or be
construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right or privilege.
All rights and remedies existing under this Agreement are cumulative to, and
not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.
SECTION 21. SEVERABILITY. In case any provision in or obligation 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 22. HEADINGS. Section and subsection headings in this
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.
SECTION 23. GOVERNING LAW; TERMS. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
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 WITHOUT LIMITATION 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
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THE CODE PROVIDES THAT THE PERFECTION OF THE SECURITY INTEREST HEREUNDER, OR
REMEDIES HEREUNDER, IN RESPECT OF ANY PARTICULAR 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 24. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS. ALL
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST GRANTOR ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT, OR ANY OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER, MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL
COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THE STATE, COUNTY AND CITY OF NEW YORK. BY
EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, GRANTOR, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION
WITH ITS PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY
(I) ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION
AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS;
(II) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS;
(III) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY
SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT
REQUESTED, TO GRANTOR AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION
19;
(IV) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (III) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT
TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER GRANTOR IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY
SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN
EVERY RESPECT;
(V) AGREES THAT SECURED PARTY RETAINS THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY
OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST GRANTOR IN
THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION; AND
(VI) AGREES THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 24 RELATING TO
JURISDICTION AND VENUE SHALL BE BINDING AND ENFORCEABLE TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW SECTION 5-1402 OR
OTHERWISE.
SECTION 25. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. GRANTOR AND SECURED PARTY HEREBY
AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF
ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT. The scope of this waiver is
intended to be
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all-encompassing of any and all disputes that may be filed in any court and
that relate to the subject matter of this transaction, including without
limitation contract claims, tort claims, breach of duty claims, and all other
common law and statutory claims. Grantor and Secured Party each acknowledge
that this waiver is a material inducement for Grantor and Secured Party to
enter into a business relationship, that Grantor and Secured Party have already
relied on this waiver in entering into this Agreement and that each will
continue to rely on this waiver in their related future dealings. Grantor and
Secured Party further warrant and represent that each has reviewed this waiver
with its legal counsel, and that each knowingly and voluntarily waives its jury
trial rights following consultation with legal counsel. THIS WAIVER IS
IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING
(OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION
25 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO
ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS
AGREEMENT. In the event of litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written
consent to a trial by the court.
SECTION 26. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or
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.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantor 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.
FWT. INC.
By: [ILLEGIBLE]
--------------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------------
Notice Address:
FWT, Inc.
1901 East Loop 820 South
Fort Worth, TX 76112
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
BT COMMERCIAL CORPORATION,
as Secured Party
By: /s/ ALBERT SUN
--------------------------------------
Name: Albert Sun
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President
-----------------------------------
Notice Address:
BT Commercial Corporation
14 Wall Street, 3rd Floor
Mail Stop # 4032
New York, NY 10005
Telecopy: (212) 618-2428
Attention: Bhartai Baliga
S-1
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SCHEDULE A (to Exhibit 10.23)
TO
COMPANY TRADEMARK COLLATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT
Trademarks & Registration:
United States
Trademark Registration
Registered Owner Description Number Registration Date
- ---------------- ------------- ------------ -----------------
FWT, Inc. POWERMOUNT 2,088,202 August 12, 1997
FTW, Inc. SMARTROCC 1,944,176 December 26, 1995
Software Licenses:
(1) PJF Pole Automated Telecom Monopole Design and Analysis Software ("PJF
Pole") under Software License Agreement between Paul J. Ford and Company, an
Ohio corporation, and FWT, Inc.
(2) PJF Caisson (monopole foundation design).
Schedule A-1
21
SCHEDULE B (to Exhibit 10.23)
TO
COMPANY TRADEMARK COLLATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT
Permitted Trademark Liens:
None
Schedule B-1