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EXHIBIT 10.11
PLEDGE AGREEMENT dated as of April 30, 1997, among NC MERGER
COMPANY, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Borrower"), NFC CASTINGS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation ("Holdings"), each Subsidiary of the Borrower
listed on Schedule I hereto (each such Subsidiary, individually, a
"Subsidiary Pledgor" and, collectively, the "Subsidiary Pledgors"; the
Borrower, Holdings and the Subsidiary Pledgors are referred to
collectively herein as the "Pledgors") and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a
New York banking corporation ("Chase"), as collateral agent (in such
capacity, the "Collateral Agent") for the Secured Parties (as defined
in the Credit Agreement referred to below).
Reference is made to (a) the Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997
(as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"), among the Borrower, Holdings, the lenders from time to time party
thereto (the "Lenders") and Chase, as administrative agent for the Lenders,
Collateral Agent and issuing bank (in such capacity, the "Issuing Bank"), (b)
the Parent Guarantee Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Parent Guarantee
Agreement"), between Holdings and the Collateral Agent and (c) the Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997 (as amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the "Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement"; and,
collectively with the Parent Guarantee Agreement, the "Guarantee Agreements")
among the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Collateral Agent.
The Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower and the Issuing Bank
has agreed to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower, pursuant
to, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions specified in, the Credit
Agreement. Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors have agreed to guarantee,
among other things, all the obligations of the Borrower under the Credit
Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank
to issue Letters of Credit are conditioned upon, among other things, the
execution and delivery by the Pledgors of a Pledge Agreement in the form hereof
to secure (a) the due and punctual payment by the Borrower of (i) the principal
of and premium, if any, and interest (including interest accruing during the
pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar
proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on
the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or
more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be
made by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter of
Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of
disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral and
(iii) all other monetary obligations, including reasonable fees, costs, expenses
and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or
otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of
whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Borrower to the Secured
Parties under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) the due and
punctual performance of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities
of the Borrower under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the
covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of Holdings under or pursuant
to the Parent Guarantee Agreement or the other Loan Documents, (d) the due and
punctual payment and performance of all the covenants, agreements, obligations
and liabilities of each Subsidiary Guarantor under or pursuant to the Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement or the other Loan Documents and (e) the due and punctual
payment and performance of all obligations of the Borrower under each Interest
Rate Protection Agreement entered into with any counterparty that was a Lender
at the time such Interest Rate Protection Agreement was entered into (all the
monetary and other obligations referred to in the preceding clauses (a) through
(e) being referred to collectively as the "Obligations"). Capitalized terms used
herein and not defined herein shall have meanings assigned to such terms in the
Credit Agreement.
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Accordingly, the Pledgors and the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself
and each Secured Party (and each of their respective successors or assigns),
hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Pledge. As security for the payment and performance, as the
case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Pledgor hereby transfers, grants,
bargains, sells, conveys, hypothecates, pledges, sets over and delivers unto the
Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, and hereby grants to the
Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the
Secured Parties, a security interest in all of the Pledgor's right, title and
interest in, to and under (a) the shares of capital stock owned by it and listed
on Schedule II hereto and any shares of capital stock of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary obtained in the future by the Pledgor and the certificates
representing all such shares (the "Pledged Stock"); provided that the Pledged
Stock shall not include (i) more than 65% of the issued and outstanding shares
of stock of any Foreign Subsidiary or (ii) to the extent that applicable law
requires that a Subsidiary of the Pledgor issue directors' qualifying shares,
such qualifying shares; (b)(i) the debt securities listed opposite the name of
the Pledgor on Schedule II hereto, (ii) any debt securities in the future issued
to the Pledgor and (iii) the promissory notes and any other instruments
evidencing such debt securities (the "Pledged Debt Securities"); (c) all other
property that may be delivered to and held by the Collateral Agent pursuant to
the terms hereof; (d) subject to Section 5, all payments of principal or
interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time
received, receivable or otherwise distributed, in respect of, in exchange for or
upon the conversion of the securities referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above;
(e) subject to Section 5, all rights and privileges of the Pledgor with respect
to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c) and
(d) above; and (f) all proceeds of any of the foregoing (the items referred to
in clauses (a) through (f) above being collectively referred to as the
"Collateral"). Upon delivery to the Collateral Agent, (a) any stock
certificates, notes or other securities now or hereafter included in the
Collateral (the "Pledged Securities") shall be accompanied by stock powers duly
executed in blank or other instruments of transfer reasonably satisfactory to
the Collateral Agent and by such other instruments and documents as the
Collateral Agent may reasonably request and (b) all other property comprising
part of the Collateral shall be accompanied by proper instruments of assignment
duly executed by the applicable Pledgor and such other instruments or documents
as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request. Each delivery of Pledged
Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the securities
theretofore and then being pledged hereunder, which schedule shall be attached
hereto as Schedule II and made a part hereof. Each schedule so delivered shall
supersede any prior schedules so delivered.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Collateral, together with all right, title,
interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto,
unto the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit
of the Secured Parties, forever; subject, however, to the terms, covenants and
conditions hereinafter set forth.
SECTION 2. Delivery of the Collateral. (a) Each Pledgor agrees promptly to
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent any and all Pledged
Securities, and any and all certificates or other instruments or documents
representing the Collateral.
(b) Each Pledgor will cause any Indebtedness for borrowed money owed to
the Pledgor by any person to be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note
that is pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms
thereof.
SECTION 3. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Each Pledgor hereby
represents, warrants and covenants, as to itself and the Collateral pledged by
it hereunder, to and with the Collateral Agent that:
(a) the Pledged Stock represents that percentage as set forth on
Schedule II of the issued and outstanding shares of each class of the
capital stock of the issuer with respect thereto;
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(b) except for the security interest granted hereunder, the Pledgor
(i) is and will at all times continue to be the direct owner, beneficially
and of record, of the Pledged Securities indicated on Schedule II, (ii)
holds the same free and clear of all Liens, (iii) will make no assignment,
pledge, hypothecation or transfer of, or create or permit to exist any
security interest in or other Lien on, the Collateral, other than pursuant
hereto, and (iv) subject to Section 5, will cause any and all Collateral,
whether for value paid by the Pledgor or otherwise, to be forthwith
deposited with the Collateral Agent and pledged or assigned hereunder;
(c) the Pledgor (i) has the power and authority to pledge the
Collateral in the manner hereby done or contemplated and (ii) will defend
its title or interest thereto or therein against any and all Liens (other
than the Lien created by this Agreement), however arising, of all persons
whomsoever;
(d) no consent of any other person (including stockholders or
creditors of any Pledgor) and no consent or approval of any Governmental
Authority or any securities exchange was or is necessary to the validity
of the pledge effected hereby;
(e) by virtue of the execution and delivery by the Pledgors of this
Agreement, when the Pledged Securities, certificates or other documents
representing or evidencing the Collateral are delivered to the Collateral
Agent in accordance with this Agreement, the Collateral Agent will obtain
a valid and perfected first lien upon and security interest in such
Pledged Securities as security for the payment and performance of the
Obligations;
(f) the pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the
Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, the rights of the
Collateral Agent in the Collateral as set forth herein;
(g) all of the Pledged Stock has been duly authorized and validly
issued and is fully paid and nonassessable;
(h) all information set forth herein relating to the Pledged Stock
is accurate and complete in all material respects as of the date hereof;
and
(i) the pledge of the Pledged Stock pursuant to this Agreement does
not violate Regulation G, T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board or any
successor thereto as of the date hereof.
SECTION 4. Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations. The Collateral
Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and
absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities in its own name as pledgee,
the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the
Pledgors, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Collateral Agent.
Each Pledgor will promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies of any notices or
other communications received by it with respect to Pledged Securities
registered in the name of such Pledgor. The Collateral Agent shall at all times
have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities for
certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with
this Agreement.
SECTION 5. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, etc. (a) Unless and
until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:
(i) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting
and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged
Securities or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms
of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
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provided, however, that such Pledgor will not be entitled to exercise any
such right if the result thereof could materially and adversely affect the
rights inuring to a holder of the Pledged Securities or the rights and
remedies of any of the Secured Parties under this Agreement or the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of the Secured Parties
to exercise the same.
(ii) The Collateral Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to each
Pledgor, or cause to be executed and delivered to each Pledgor, all such
proxies, dividend payment orders, powers of attorney and other instruments
as such Pledgor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such
Pledgor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is
entitled to exercise pursuant to subparagraph (i) above and to receive the
cash dividends it is entitled to receive pursuant to subparagraph (iii)
below.
(iii) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and
all cash dividends, distributions, interest and principal paid on the
Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such cash
dividends, distributions, interest and principal are permitted by, and
otherwise paid in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit
Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable laws. All noncash
dividends, distributions, interest and principal, and all dividends,
distributions, interest and principal paid or payable in cash or otherwise
in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution, return
of capital, capital surplus or paid-in surplus, and all other
distributions (other than distributions referred to in the preceding
sentence) made on or in respect of the Pledged Securities, whether paid or
payable in cash or otherwise, whether resulting from a subdivision,
combination or reclassification of the outstanding capital stock of the
issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged
Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result
of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to
which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of
the Collateral, and, if received by any Pledgor, except to the extent
otherwise permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement, shall not be
commingled by such Pledgor with any of its other funds or property but
shall be held separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the
benefit of the Collateral Agent and shall be forthwith delivered to the
Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary
endorsement).
(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
all rights of any Pledgor to dividends, distributions, interest or principal
that such Pledgor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) above
shall cease other than with respect to any such dividends or distributions
pursuant to Sections 6.06(a)(ii) and 6.06(a)(v) of the Credit Agreement, and all
such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall
have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such
dividends, distributions, interest or principal. All dividends, distributions,
interest or principal received by the Pledgor contrary to the provisions of this
Section 5 shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall
be segregated from other property or funds of such Pledgor and shall be
forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent upon demand in the same form as so
received (with any necessary endorsement). Any and all money and other property
paid over to or received by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of
this paragraph (b) shall be retained by the Collateral Agent in an account to be
established by the Collateral Agent upon receipt of such money or other property
and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 7. After all
Events of Default have been cured or waived, the Collateral Agent shall, within
five Business Days after all such Events of Default have been cured or waived,
repay to each Pledgor all cash and non-cash dividends, distributions, interest
or principal (without interest), that such Pledgor would otherwise be permitted
to retain pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(iii) above and which remain in
such account.
(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
all rights of any Pledgor to exercise the voting and consensual rights and
powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to
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paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 5, and the obligations of the Collateral Agent
under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 5, shall cease, and all such rights
shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole
and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights
and powers, provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders,
the Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during
the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Pledgors to exercise such
rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, such Pledgor will
have the right to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers that it
would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of paragraph
(a)(i) above.
SECTION 6. Remedies upon Default. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, subject to applicable regulatory and legal
requirements, the Collateral Agent may sell the Collateral, or any part thereof,
at public or private sale or at any broker's board or on any securities
exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Collateral Agent
shall deem appropriate. The Collateral Agent shall be authorized at any such
sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or
purchasers to persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the
Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the
distribution or sale thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale the
Collateral Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the
purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at
any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or
right on the part of any Pledgor, and, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, the Pledgors hereby waive all rights of redemption, stay, valuation and
appraisal any Pledgor now has or may at any time in the future have under any
rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.
The Collateral Agent shall give a Pledgor 10 days' prior written notice
(which each Pledgor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section
9-504(3) of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York or
its equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Collateral Agent's intention to
make any sale of such Pledgor's Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public
sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at
a broker's board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange
at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion
thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such
public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours
and at such place or places as the Collateral Agent may fix and state in the
notice of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to be
sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the
Collateral Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The
Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it
shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such
Collateral shall have been given. The Collateral Agent may, without notice or
publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be
adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for
sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place
to which the same was so adjourned. In case any sale of all or any part of the
Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may
be retained by the Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid in full by the
purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall not incur any
liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay
for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may
be sold again upon like notice. At any public (or, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, private) sale made pursuant to this Section 6, any Secured Party
may bid for or purchase, free from any right of redemption, stay or appraisal on
the part of any Pledgor (all said rights being also hereby waived and released
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law), the Collateral or any part
thereof offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any
claim then due and payable to it from such Pledgor as a credit against the
purchase price, and it may, upon compliance with the terms of sale, hold, retain
and dispose of such property without further accountability to such Pledgor
therefor. For purposes hereof, (a) a written agreement to purchase the
Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof, (b) the
Collateral Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement
and (c) such Pledgor shall not be entitled to the
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return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding
the fact that after the Collateral Agent shall have entered into such an
agreement all Events of Default shall have been remedied and the Obligations
paid in full. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred
upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity
to foreclose upon the Collateral and to sell the Collateral or any portion
thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent
jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6 shall be deemed to conform to the
commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-504(3) of the Uniform
Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York or its equivalent in other
jurisdictions.
SECTION 7. Application of Proceeds of Sale. The proceeds of any sale of
Collateral pursuant to Section 6, as well as any Collateral consisting of cash,
shall be applied by the Collateral Agent as follows:
FIRST, to the payment of all costs and expenses incurred by the
Collateral Agent in connection with such sale or otherwise in connection
with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any of the Obligations,
including all court costs and the reasonable fees and expenses of its
agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the
Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document on behalf of
any Pledgor and any other reasonable costs or expenses incurred in
connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any
other Loan Document;
SECOND, to the payment in full of the Obligations (other than
Obligations in respect of indemnification and expense reimbursement
obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the extent such
Obligations are not due and payable) (the amounts so applied to be
distributed among the Secured Parties pro rata in accordance with the
amounts of the Obligations owed to them on the date of any such
distribution); and
THIRD, as promptly as practicable, to the Pledgors, their successors
or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
The Collateral Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of
application of any such proceeds, moneys or balances in accordance with this
Agreement. Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including
pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding),
the receipt of the purchase money by the Collateral Agent or of 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 Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the
misapplication thereof.
SECTION 8. Reimbursement of Collateral Agent. (a) Each Pledgor agrees to
pay upon reasonable notice to the Collateral Agent the amount of any and all
reasonable expenses, including the reasonable fees, other charges and
disbursements of its counsel and of any experts or agents, that the Collateral
Agent may incur in connection with (i) the administration of this Agreement,
(ii) the custody or preservation 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 the Collateral Agent hereunder or (iv) the material failure
by such Pledgor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.
(b) Without limitation of its indemnification obligations under the other
Loan Documents, each Pledgor agrees to indemnify the Collateral Agent and the
Indemnitees (as defined in Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement) against, and
hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, other
charges and disbursements, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee
arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of the
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execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any claim, litigation,
investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any
Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any
Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross
negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee.
(c) Any amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional
Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents. The provisions
of this Section 8 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless
of the termination of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations, the invalidity or
unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent or
any other Secured Party. All amounts due under this Section 8 shall be payable
on written demand therefor and shall bear interest at the rate specified in
Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 9. Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Each Pledgor
hereby appoints the Collateral Agent the attorney-in-fact of such Pledgor for
the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any
action and executing any instrument that the Collateral Agent may reasonably
deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment
is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Collateral Agent shall have the right, upon the occurrence
and during the continuance of an Event of Default, with full power of
substitution either in the Collateral Agent's name or in the name of such
Pledgor, to ask for, demand, xxx for, collect, receive and give acquittance for
any and all moneys due or to become due under and by virtue of any Collateral,
to endorse checks, drafts, orders and other instruments for the payment of money
payable to the Pledgor representing any interest or dividend or other
distribution payable in respect of the Collateral or any part thereof or on
account thereof and to give full discharge for the same, to settle, compromise,
prosecute or defend any action, claim or proceeding with respect thereto, and to
sell, assign, endorse, pledge, transfer and to make any agreement respecting, or
otherwise deal with, the same; provided, however, that nothing herein contained
shall be construed as requiring or obligating the Collateral Agent to make any
commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment
received by the Collateral Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or
to take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the
moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property covered thereby.
The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for
amounts actually received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to
them herein, and neither they nor their officers, directors, employees or agents
shall be responsible to any Pledgor for any act or failure to act hereunder,
except for their own gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
SECTION 10. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the Collateral
Agent in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or
any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power,
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right or power. The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder and of
the other Secured Parties under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are
not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No
waiver of any provisions of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any
Pledgor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be
permitted by paragraph (b) below, and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No
notice or demand on any Pledgor in any case shall entitle such Pledgor to any
other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended
or modified except pursuant to a written agreement entered into between the
Collateral Agent and the Pledgor or Pledgors with
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respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to
any consent required in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 11. Securities Act, etc. In view of the position of the Pledgors
in relation to the Pledged Securities, or because of other current or future
circumstances, a question may arise under the Securities Act of 1933, as now or
hereafter in effect, or any similar statute hereafter enacted analogous in
purpose or effect (such Act and any such similar statute as from time to time in
effect being called the "Federal Securities Laws") with respect to any
disposition of the Pledged Securities permitted hereunder. Each Pledgor
understands that compliance with the Federal Securities Laws might very strictly
limit the course of conduct of the Collateral Agent if the Collateral Agent were
to attempt to dispose of all or any part of the Pledged Securities, and might
also limit the extent to which or the manner in which any subsequent transferee
of any Pledged Securities could dispose of the same. Similarly, there may be
other legal restrictions or limitations affecting the Collateral Agent in any
attempt to dispose of all or part of the Pledged Securities under applicable
Blue Sky or other state securities laws or similar laws analogous in purpose or
effect. Each Pledgor recognizes that in light of such restrictions and
limitations the Collateral Agent may, with respect to any sale of the Pledged
Securities, limit the purchasers to those who will agree, among other things, to
acquire such Pledged Securities for their own account, for investment, and not
with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Pledgor acknowledges and
agrees that in light of such restrictions and limitations, the Collateral Agent,
in its sole and absolute discretion, (a) may proceed to make such a sale whether
or not a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged
Securities or part thereof shall have been filed under the Federal Securities
Laws and (b) may approach and negotiate with a single potential purchaser to
effect such sale. Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that any such sale might
result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale
were a public sale without such restrictions. In the event of any such sale, the
Collateral Agent shall incur no responsibility or liability for selling all or
any part of the Pledged Securities at a price that the Collateral Agent, in its
sole and absolute discretion, may in good xxxxx xxxx reasonable under the
circumstances, notwithstanding the possibility that a substantially higher price
might have been realized if the sale were deferred until after registration as
aforesaid or if more than a single purchaser were approached. The provisions of
this Section 11 will apply notwithstanding the existence of a public or private
market upon which the quotations or sales prices may exceed substantially the
price at which the Collateral Agent sells.
SECTION 12. Registration, etc. Each Pledgor agrees that, upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default hereunder, if for
any reason the Collateral Agent desires to sell any of the Pledged Securities of
the Borrower at a public sale, it will, at any time and from time to time, upon
the written request of the Collateral Agent, use its best efforts to take or to
cause the issuer of such Pledged Securities to take such action and prepare,
distribute and/or file such documents, as are required or advisable in the
reasonable opinion of counsel for the Collateral Agent to permit the public sale
of such Pledged Securities. Each Pledgor further agrees to indemnify, defend and
hold harmless the Collateral Agent, each other Secured Party, any underwriter
and their respective officers, directors, affiliates and controlling persons
from and against all loss, liability, reasonable expenses, reasonable costs of
counsel (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses to the
Collateral Agent for legal counsel), and claims (including the costs of
investigation) that they may incur insofar as such loss, liability, expense or
claim arises out of or is based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in any prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in
any notification or offering circular, or arises out of or is based upon any
alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements in any thereof not misleading, except insofar
as the same may have been caused by any untrue statement or omission based upon
information furnished in writing to such Pledgor or the issuer of such Pledged
Securities by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party expressly for use
therein. Each Pledgor further agrees, upon such written request referred to
above, to use its best efforts to qualify, file or register, or cause the issuer
of such Pledged Securities to qualify, file or register, any of the Pledged
Securities under the Blue Sky or other securities laws of such states as may be
reasonably requested by the
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Collateral Agent and keep effective, or cause to be kept effective, all such
qualifications, filings or registrations. Each Pledgor will bear all costs and
expenses of carrying out its obligations under this Section 12. Each Pledgor
acknowledges that there is no adequate remedy at law for failure by it to comply
with the provisions of this Section 12 and that such failure would not be
adequately compensable in damages, and therefore agrees that its agreements
contained in this Section 12 may be specifically enforced.
SECTION 13. Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Collateral Agent
hereunder, the grant of a security interest in the Collateral and all
obligations of each Pledgor hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional
irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit
Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the
Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the
foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any
other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver
of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan
Document or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing,
(c) any exchange, release or nonperfection of any other collateral, or any
release or amendment or waiver of or consent to or departure from any guaranty,
for all or any of the Obligations or (d) any other circumstance that might
otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Pledgor in
respect of the Obligations or in respect of this Agreement (other than the
indefeasible payment in full of all the Obligations).
SECTION 14. Termination or Release. (a) This Agreement and the security
interests granted hereby shall terminate when all the Obligations have been
indefeasibly paid in full (other than Obligations in respect of indemnification
and expense reimbursement obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document
to the extent such Obligations are not due and payable) and the Lenders have no
further commitment to lend under the Credit Agreement, the L/C Exposure has been
reduced to zero and the Issuing Bank has no further obligation to issue Letters
of Credit under the Credit Agreement.
(b) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Pledgor of any Collateral that
is permitted under the Credit Agreement to any person that is not a Pledgor, or,
upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security
interest granted hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 9.08(b) of the
Credit Agreement, the security interest in such Collateral shall be
automatically released.
(c) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph
(a) or (b), the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Pledgor, at
such Pledgor's expense, all documents that such Pledgor shall reasonably request
to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents
pursuant to this Section 14 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the
Collateral Agent.
SECTION 15. Notices. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in
writing and given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All
communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Pledgor shall be given to
it at the address for notices set forth on Schedule I in care of the Borrower.
SECTION 16. Further Assurances. Each Pledgor agrees to do such further
acts and things, and to execute and deliver such additional conveyances,
assignments, agreements and instruments, as the Collateral Agent may at any time
reasonably request in connection with the administration and enforcement of this
Agreement or with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or in order
better to assure and confirm unto the Collateral Agent its rights and remedies
hereunder.
SECTION 17. Binding Effect; Several Agreement; Assignments. Whenever in
this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be
deemed to include the successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants,
promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Pledgor that are contained in
this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of its successors and
assigns. This Agreement shall
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become effective as to any Pledgor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf
of such Pledgor shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent and a
counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent,
and thereafter shall be binding upon such Pledgor and the Collateral Agent and
their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such
Pledgor, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, and their
respective successors and assigns, except that no Pledgor shall have the right
to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein or in the Collateral (and
any such attempted assignment shall be void and the Collateral Agent shall not
have the right to assign its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest
herein other than pursuant to any assignment or resignation permitted under the
Credit Agreement), except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the
other Loan Documents. If all of the capital stock of a Pledgor is sold,
transferred or otherwise disposed of to a person that is not an Affiliate of the
Borrower pursuant to a transaction permitted by Section 6.05 of the Credit
Agreement, such Pledgor shall be released from its obligations under this
Agreement without further action. This Agreement shall be construed as a
separate agreement with respect to each Pledgor and may be amended, modified,
supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Pledgor without the
approval of any other Pledgor and without affecting the obligations of any other
Pledgor hereunder.
SECTION 18. Survival of Agreement; Severability. (a) All covenants,
agreements, representations and warranties made by each Pledgor herein and in
the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with
or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to
have been relied upon by the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and
shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans and the issuance of the
Letters of Credit by the Issuing Bank, regardless of any investigation made by
the Secured Parties or on their behalf, and shall continue in full force and
effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any
other fee or amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is
outstanding and unpaid (other than Obligations in respect of indemnification and
expense reimbursement obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document to
the extent such Obligations are not due and payable) or the L/C Exposure does
not equal zero and as long as the Commitments and the L/C Commitments have not
been terminated.
(b) In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood
that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall
not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other
jurisdiction). The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace
the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the
economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions.
SECTION 19. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (BUT WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS).
SECTION 20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which, when
taken together, shall constitute a single contract, and shall become effective
as provided in Section 17. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature
page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 21. Rules of Interpretation. The rules of interpretation specified
in Section 1.02 of the Credit Agreement shall be applicable to this Agreement.
Section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part
of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into
consideration in interpreting this Agreement.
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SECTION 22. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) Each Pledgor
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to
the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of
the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court
from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any
judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all claims in respect of
any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State
or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties
hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be
conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or
in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any
right that the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party may otherwise have to
bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents against any Pledgor or its properties in the courts of any
jurisdiction.
(b) Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the
fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may
now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in any
New York State or Federal court. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient
forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(c) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of
process in the manner provided for notices in Section 15. Nothing in this
Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process
in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 23. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY
JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER
OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK
TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER
PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 24. Additional Pledgors. Pursuant to Section 5.11 of the Credit
Agreement, each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that was not in existence or
not such a Subsidiary on the date of the Credit Agreement is required to enter
in this Agreement as a Subsidiary Pledgor upon becoming a Subsidiary if such
Subsidiary owns or possesses property of a type that would be considered
Collateral hereunder. Upon execution and delivery by the Collateral Agent and a
Subsidiary of an instrument in the form of Annex 1, such Subsidiary shall become
a Subsidiary Pledgor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally
named as a Subsidiary Pledgor herein. The execution and delivery of such
instrument shall not require the consent of any Pledgor hereunder. The rights
and obligations of each Pledgor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect
notwithstanding the addition of any new Subsidiary Pledgor as a party to this
Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.
NFC CASTINGS, INC.,
by
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
NC MERGER COMPANY,
by
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
NEENAH FOUNDRY COMPANY,
by
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
XXXXXXX CONTROLS CORPORATION,
by
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
NEENAH TRANSPORT, INC.,
by
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Collateral Agent,
by
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
13
Schedule I to the
Pledge Agreement
SUBSIDIARY PLEDGORS
Name
14
Schedule II to the
Pledge Agreement
CAPITAL STOCK
Number and
Number of Registered Class of Percentage
Issuer Certificate Owner Shares of Shares
------ ----------- ----- ------ ---------
DEBT SECURITIES
Principal Date of Maturity
Pledgor Issuer Amount Note Date
------- ------ ------ ---- ----
15
Annex 1 to the
Pledge Agreement
SUPPLEMENT NO. dated as of [ ], to the PLEDGE AGREEMENT dated
as of April 30, 1997, among NC MERGER COMPANY, a Wisconsin
corporation (the "Borrower"), NFC CASTINGS, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("Holdings") and each subsidiary of the Borrower listed
on Schedule I to such Pledge Agreement (each such subsidiary,
individually, a "Subsidiary Pledgor" and, collectively, the
"Subsidiary Pledgors"; the Borrower, Holdings and Subsidiary
Pledgors are referred to collectively herein as the "Pledgors") and
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation ("Chase"),
as collateral agent (in such capacity, the "Collateral Agent") for
the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to
below).
A. Reference is made to (a) the Credit Agreement dated as of April 30,
1997 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Credit Agreement"), among the Borrower, Holdings, the lenders from time to time
party thereto (the "Lenders"), Chase, as administrative agent for the Lenders,
Collateral Agent and issuing bank (in such capacity, the "Issuing Bank"), (b)
the Parent Guarantee Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997 (as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Parent Guarantee
Agreement"), between Holdings and the Collateral Agent and (c) the Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997 (as amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the "Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement"; and,
collectively with the Parent Guarantee Agreement, the "Guarantee Agreements")
among the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Collateral Agent.
B. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
C. The Pledgors have entered into the Pledge Agreement in order to induce
the Lenders to make Loans and the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit.
Pursuant to Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement, each Domestic Subsidiary of
the Borrower that was not in existence or not such a Subsidiary on the date of
the Credit Agreement is required to enter into the Pledge Agreement as a
Subsidiary Pledgor upon becoming such a Subsidiary if such Subsidiary owns or
possesses property of a type that would be considered Collateral under the
Pledge Agreement. Section 24 of the Pledge Agreement provides that such
Subsidiaries may become Subsidiary Pledgors under the Pledge Agreement by
execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The
undersigned Subsidiary (the "New Pledgor") is executing this Supplement in
accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement to become a Subsidiary
Pledgor under the Pledge Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make
additional Loans and the Issuing Bank to issue additional Letters of Credit and
as consideration for Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously
issued.
Accordingly, the Collateral Agent and the New Pledgor agree as follows:
SECTION 1. In accordance with Section 24 of the Pledge Agreement, the New
Pledgor by its signature below becomes a Pledgor under the Pledge Agreement with
the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Pledgor and the
New Pledgor hereby agrees (a) to all the terms and provisions of the Pledge
Agreement applicable to it as a Pledgor thereunder and (b) represents and
warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a Pledgor
thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. In furtherance of
the foregoing, the New Pledgor, as security for the payment and performance in
full of the Obligations (as defined in the Pledge Agreement), does hereby create
and grant to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit
of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a security interest in and
lien on all of the New Pledgor's right, title and interest in and to the
Collateral (as defined in the Pledge Agreement) of the New Pledgor. Each
reference to a "Subsidiary Pledgor" or a "Pledgor" in the Pledge Agreement shall
be deemed to include the New Pledgor. The Pledge Agreement is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
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SECTION 2. The New Pledgor represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent
and the other Secured Parties that this Supplement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding
obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 3. This Supplement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall
constitute a single contract. This Supplement shall become effective when the
Collateral Agent shall have received counterparts of this Supplement that, when
taken together, bear the signatures of the New Pledgor and the Collateral Agent.
Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile
transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart
of this Supplement.
SECTION 4. The New Pledgor hereby represents and warrants that set forth
on Schedule I attached hereto is a true and correct schedule of all its Pledged
Securities.
SECTION 5. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Pledge Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS).
SECTION 7. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
neither party hereto shall be required to comply with such provision for so long
as such provision is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, but the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein and in the Pledge Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired.
The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the
invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic
effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provisions.
SECTION 8. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing
and given as provided in Section 15 of the Pledge Agreement. All communications
and notices hereunder to the New Pledgor shall be given to it at the address set
forth under its signature hereto in care of the Borrower.
SECTION 9. The New Pledgor agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent for
its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Supplement,
including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel for
the Collateral Agent.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Pledgor and the Collateral Agent have duly
executed this Supplement to the Pledge Agreement as of the day and year first
above written.
[Name of New Pledgor],
by
Name:
17
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Title:
Address:
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Collateral
Agent,
by
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
18
Schedule I to
Supplement No.___
to the Pledge Agreement
Pledged Securities of the New Pledgor
CAPITAL STOCK
Number and
Number of Registered Class of Percentage
Issuer Certificate Owner Shares of Shares
------ ----------- ----- ------ ---------
DEBT SECURITIES
Principal Date of Maturity
Pledgor Issuer Amount Note Date
------- ------ ------ ---- ----
