Ex 10.3

SECURITY AGREEMENT

     THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated this 31st day of March,
2004 is executed and delivered by TALX EMPLOYER SERVICES, LLC, a Missouri
limited liability company (“Grantor”) in favor of LASALLE BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Administrative Agent (the
“Secured Party”) pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement (hereinafter
defined).

WITNESSETH

     WHEREAS, TALX Corporation, a Missouri corporation (“Borrower”) obtained an
Aggregate Commitment in the principal amount of up to Forty Million and 00/100
Dollars ($40,000,000.00) pursuant to that certain Loan Agreement dated March 27,
2002 entered into by the Borrower, Secured Party, and Southwest Bank of St.
Louis (“Southwest”) (the “Initial Loan Agreement”), as amended by that First
Amendment to Loan Agreement dated July 29, 2002 among Borrower, Secured Party
and Southwest (the “First Amendment”), as further amended by that Second
Amendment to Loan Agreement dated January 27, 2003 among Borrower, Secured
Party, and Southwest (the “Second Amendment”), as further amended by that Third
Amendment to Loan Agreement dated June 30, 2003 among Borrower, Secured Party
and Southwest (the “Third Amendment”).

     WHEREAS, in order to refinance the indebtedness outstanding under the
Initial Loan Agreement, Borrower, Secured Party, Southwest and the Lenders named
therein (hereto collectively the “Lenders”) are entering into that Amended and
Restated Loan Agreement of even date herewith increasing the Aggregate
Commitment to an amount up to Eighty Three Million and 00/100 Dollars
($83,000,000.00)(the “Amended and Restated Loan Agreement”) (collectively, the
Initial Loan Agreement as so amended by the First Amendment, Second Amendment,
Third Amendment, and the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement and as may be
amended, restated, and modified from time to time, is referred to herein as the
“Loan Agreement”), pursuant to which loans made to Borrower thereunder (each a
“Loan” and collectively “Loans”) are evidenced by certain Revolving Notes and
Term Notes dated of even date therewith in the aggregate amount of up to Eighty
Three Million and 00/100 Dollars ($83,000,000.00) and which are all due and
payable at the times and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Loan
Agreement, (collectively, the Revolving Notes and Term Notes as each may be
amended, restated or modified from time to time, are referred to herein as the
“Notes”).

     WHEREAS, Secured Party and Lenders acknowledge that portions of the Loans
are being used to finance the purchase of certain assets by Grantor;

     WHEREAS, Grantor, desirous of having Lenders make and/or continue to make
the Loans to Borrower which will inure to the direct and indirect financial
benefit of Grantor, executes this Agreement in the favor of Secured Party for
the ratable benefit of the Lenders in order to induce Lenders to make the Loans
and any other advances, loans, extensions of credit, future advances or
additional loans, directly or indirectly, to Borrower and to grant to Borrower
such renewals, extensions, forbearances, releases of collateral or other
relinquishments of rights as Secured Party may deem advisable; and

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     WHEREAS, Grantor and the Secured Party desire to secure the Obligations
(hereinafter defined) for the ratable benefit of Lenders pursuant to the terms
of the Loan Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the execution and delivery by the
Lenders of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, and other good and valuable
consideration, receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the
Grantor, the Grantor hereby agrees with the Secured Party as follows.

     1. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST. To secure the Obligations, Grantor hereby
grants to Secured Party, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders pursuant to the
terms of the Loan Agreement, a continuing lien on and security interest in, and
the right to set off against, any and all right, title and interest of the
Grantor, whether now, or hereafter, owned, existing, created, acquired or
arising, in and to any and all of Grantor’s personal property, wherever located
and whomever held by (collectively the “Collateral”). The Collateral includes,
but is not limited to, the following:

     (i) All Accounts, accounts receivable, Deposit Accounts, promissory notes
and other obligations owed to Grantor that arise from the sale, rental or lease
of Inventory, goods or other property of Grantor or the rendering of services by
Grantor, and all Chattel Paper, Instruments (including Promissory Notes),
Documents, drafts, contract rights and acceptances, Health-Care-Insurance
Receivables, Letter-of-Credit Rights and other forms of obligations (including
but not limited to all obligations that may be characterized as General
Intangibles or otherwise under the UCC) respecting the rights of Grantor to the
payment of money from others and all other rights to the payment of money;

     (ii) All Goods and Inventory, and all documents of title of at any time
evidencing or representing a part thereof, including all inventories of raw
materials, work-in-process, finished goods, and merchandise, materials and
supplies and all other personal property and assets of every kind and
description held for sale, rental or lease or held to be furnished under
contracts for services or consumed in Grantor’s business, or in any case held,
used or useable in the supply, servicing, advertising, processing, packaging,
delivery or shipping of such property;

     (iii) All Equipment, machinery, tools, furniture, and fixtures of every
sort and spare parts therefor, all storage media containing computer programs
and data, and all tools, dies, and molds, and all motor vehicles, trailers,
tractors, barges, and ships of every sort and spare parts and accessories
therefor, whether or not titled or certificated;

     (iv) All General Intangibles, including Payment Intangibles, all computer
programs, data and databases, leases, licenses, claims and causes of action
against others (whether in litigation, settlement or otherwise), and tax
refunds, and all summaries, compilations, mailing and customer, client or
supplier lists, and other supporting evidence records relating to the business,
assets, liabilities or capital of Grantor, and all disks, files, tapes,
printouts, books, records, periodicals, directories, publications and other
documents and media where the foregoing is stored or embodied, and all patents,
patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, trade secrets, trade
names,

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service marks, trade styles, and copyrights, in each case whether or not
registered, licensed or filed, including, but not limited to, any of the
aforementioned specifically listed on the Addendum A attached hereto;

     (v) All rights under all licenses, permits, leases, contracts, governmental
approvals, franchises, applications for any of the foregoing, renewals of any of
the foregoing, and similar rights or privileges or immunities;

     (vi) (A) all dividends, cash, securities, instruments and other property
from time to time paid, payable or otherwise distributed to Grantor in respect
of or in exchange for any shares or other capital stock or trust, partnership or
limited liability company interests, all Investment Property, Certificated
Securities, Uncertificated Securities, Security Entitlements, Securities
Accounts, securities accounts, margin accounts, financial assets, hedging
contracts, options contracts, and futures contracts; (B) any and all
distributions made to Grantor in respect of any such shares or capital stock, or
trust, partnership or limited liability company interests, whether in cash or in
kind, by way of dividends or stock splits, or pursuant to a merger or
consolidation or otherwise, or any substitute security issued to Grantor upon
conversion, reorganization or otherwise; and (C) any and all other property
hereafter delivered to Grantor or Secured Party in substitution for or in
addition to any of the foregoing (including without limitation all securities
issued pursuant to any shareholder agreement, stock purchase agreement,
partnership agreement, trust agreement or indenture, limited liability company
operating agreement, stock purchase rights or other agreement to which Grantor
may now or hereafter be a party, all certificates and instruments representing
or evidencing such property and all cash, securities, interest, dividends,
rights, and other property at any time and from time to time received,
receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all
thereof);

     (vii) All of Grantor’s property in the possession, custody or control of
Secured Party in any way, whether or not for safekeeping, custody, pledge,
transmission, collection or otherwise;

     (viii) All funds paid to Secured Party or in transit to any deposit account
or fund established by Grantor, and any securities in which such funds may be
invested; and

     (ix) All cash and non-cash proceeds and products of the foregoing, all
proceeds from insurance on any of the foregoing, all goodwill associated with
the foregoing, all additions and accessions to and replacements and
substitutions for any of the foregoing, everything that becomes (or is held for
the purpose of being) affixed to or installed in any of the foregoing, and all
products, rents, income, dividends, royalties, and profits of or from any of the
foregoing.

     This Agreement is made and given to secure, and shall secure, the payment
and performance of, whether arising by the Guaranty or otherwise, (i) any and
all indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of the Grantor to the Lenders, or
any of them individually, evidenced by or otherwise arising out of or relating
to the Guaranty and (ii) any and all reasonable expenses and charges, legal or
otherwise, suffered or incurred by the Secured Party in collecting or enforcing
any of such indebtedness, obligations or liabilities or in realizing on or
protecting or

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preserving any security therefor, including, without limitation, the lien and
security interest granted hereby (all of the foregoing being herein referred to
as the “Obligations”).

     2. DEFINED TERMS. The term “Loan Documents” and all other capitalized terms
used herein but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given them in the
Loan Agreement. All capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein or
in the Loan Agreement have the meanings given them in the Uniform Commercial
Code as in effect from time to time in the State of Illinois (“UCC”). To the
extent the provisions of this Agreement conflict with the provisions of the Loan
Agreement, the Loan Agreement shall govern. The prior sentences notwithstanding,
any reference to any agreement, document, or instrument, including this
Agreement, any other Loan Document and any agreement, document or instrument
defined herein or therein, means such agreement, document, or instrument as it
may have been or may be amended, restated, extended, renewed, replaced, or
otherwise modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms
thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof, and includes all attachments
thereto and instruments incorporated therein, if any.

     3. POSSESSION OF COLLATERAL. Until the occurrence of an Event of Default,
Grantor may have possession of all Collateral except for Collateral which is in
the possession of Secured Party or Collateral which Secured Party must possess
in order to have a perfected first priority Security Interest therein, and
Grantor may use each item of the Collateral in its possession in any lawful
manner not inconsistent with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or with
any policy of insurance covering the same.

     4. GRANTOR’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Grantor represents and
warrants to the Secured Party the following:

     4.1. NAME; JURISDICTION; TAXPAYER ID NUMBER. The correct corporate name and
jurisdiction of formation of the Grantor is set forth in the first paragraph of
this Agreement, and the Grantor does not conduct and, during the five-year
period immediately preceding the date of this Agreement, has not conducted,
business under any trade name or other fictitious name other than those set
forth on Schedule A attached hereto; and in any event, the only trade name or
style under which Grantor sells Inventory or creates Accounts, or to which
instruments in payment of Accounts are made payable, is the name which
identifies Grantor as aforementioned. The Internal Revenue Service taxpayer
identification number of the Grantor and the organizational identification
number of the Grantor issued by the Grantor’s jurisdiction of formation are set
forth on Schedule A attached hereto.

     4.2. OFFICES; PLACES OF BUSINESS. Grantor’s chief executive office and
principal place of business and the books and records relating to all Accounts
and the Collateral is located at the address set forth on Schedule A. All
addresses (including applicable counties) of all other places of business of the
Grantor shall at all times be additionally listed on Schedule A. Unless Secured
Party otherwise consents in writing, all of the tangible Collateral will be kept
at Grantor’s chief executive office or such other places of business described
in the Loan Agreement, including Collateral which is movable when the same is
not in use; and without Grantor first making arrangements satisfactory to
Secured Party to protect Secured Party’s Security Interest therein, Grantor

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will not place any of the tangible Collateral in any other location. No
Collateral shall at any time be in the possession or control of any
warehouseman, bailee or any of Grantor’s agents or processors without Secured
Party’s prior written consent and unless Secured Party, if Secured Party has so
requested, has received warehouse receipts or bailee letters satisfactory to
Secured Party prior to the commencement of such storage. Grantor shall, upon the
request of Secured Party, notify any such warehouseman, bailee, agent or
processor of the Security Interests created hereby and shall instruct such
person to provide a written agreement to Secured Party that such person holds
all such Collateral for Secured Party’s account subject to Secured Party’s
instructions.

     4.3. NAME, ENTITY OR OFFICE CHANGES. If Grantor intends to change its name,
change its structure, change the location of Grantor’s chief executive office,
create new or otherwise amend its trade names or trademarks, change its state of
organization, or open other places of business, Grantor will, prior to taking
any such action, provide Secured Party no less than thirty (30) days prior
written notice of the same and, prior to taking any such action, will promptly
execute such additional documents as Secured Party may reasonably request in
order to maintain a fully perfected first priority Security Interest in favor of
Secured Party in the Collateral, excepting only Permitted Security Interests (as
defined in the Loan Agreement).

     4.4. INSURANCE. Grantor will keep the Collateral insured in accordance with
the terms of the Loan Agreement.

     4.5. COLLATERAL NOT TO BECOME FIXTURES. Without first making arrangements
satisfactory to Secured Party to protect its Security Interest, Grantor will not
allow the Collateral to become affixed to or installed in any property
(including but not limited to any real estate) except, however, to or in other
items of Collateral or as otherwise permitted by the terms of the Loan
Agreement.

     4.6. CONDITION OF COLLATERAL; DISPOSAL OF COLLATERAL. Grantor will keep the
Collateral in the condition required under the terms of the Loan Agreement.
Grantor will not transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of any Collateral (or any
interest therein) unless and only to the extent permitted herein or by the Loan
Agreement.

     4.7. LIENS. Grantor is the lawful owner of the Collateral free and clear,
and will keep free and clear, of all security interests, liens, encumbrances,
registered pledges, adverse claims, voting trust restrictions and any other
claims of others except with respect to Permitted Security Interest or as
otherwise disclosed to Secured Party in the Loan Agreement. Grantor will pay and
discharge all taxes assessed on the Collateral in accordance with the terms of
the Loan Agreement.

     4.8. COLLATERAL DISPOSITION. Grantor has not, and will not, sell, assign,
transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of Grantor’s rights in the
Collateral except (i) with respect to Permitted Security Interests, (ii) in the
ordinary course of Grantor’s business or (iii) upon the prior written consent of
Secured Party, to be withheld, conditioned or delayed by Secured Party in
Secured Party’s sole discretion.

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     4.9. AUTHORIZATION. Grantor has the full right, power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and to pledge the Collateral. Grantor’s articles of
formation and operating agreement do not prohibit execution of this Agreement by
Grantor or any term or condition contained in this Agreement.

     4.10. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement is binding upon Grantor, as well as
Grantor’s heirs, successors, representatives and assigns, and is legally
enforceable in accordance with its terms.

     5. INSPECTION. Secured Party and any of its authorized agents may examine
and inspect the Collateral in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement.

     6. DISBURSEMENT DIRECTLY TO SELLER OF COLLATERAL. To the extent, if any,
that Grantor has advised Secured Party that any of the Collateral is being
acquired with proceeds of any loan, advance or other financial accommodation
from Secured Party, such proceeds may be disbursed by Secured Party directly to
the seller of such Collateral.

     7. ADVERSE CONDITIONS AFFECTING COLLATERAL. Grantor will notify Secured
Party within 30 days of becoming aware of any material adverse fact or condition
which bears upon the value of the Collateral including any adverse fact or
condition, or the occurrence of any event, which (i) bears upon the
collectibility of any material Account including the ability of any Account
Grantor to perform under any agreement evidencing any material Account
(including the bankruptcy, insolvency or failure of any Account Grantor to pay
its debts as they become due), or (ii) causes material loss or depreciation in
the value of any material item of the Collateral and the amount of such loss or
depreciation. Grantor will provide such additional information to Secured Party
regarding the amount of any loss or depreciation in value of the Collateral as
Secured Party may reasonably request from time to time.

     8. PROTECTION OF SECURITY INTEREST. Secured Party may, at Grantor’s sole
cost, file a copy of this Agreement or a Financing Statement in any public
office deemed necessary by Secured Party to perfect or continue its Security
Interest in the Collateral, and Grantor hereby ratifies any such Financing
Statement previously filed by Secured Party and irrevocably authorizes Secured
Party to do any of the foregoing. Grantor will execute or cause the execution of
such additional Financing Statements and other documents (and pay the cost of
filing or recording the same in all public offices deemed necessary by Secured
Party) and do such other acts and things, including execution of applications
and certificates of title naming Secured Party as a secured party and delivery
of same to Secured Party, as Secured Party may from time to time request or deem
necessary to establish and maintain a valid and perfected Security Interest in
the Collateral, subject only to the Permitted Security Interests. Grantor will,
immediately upon Secured Party’s reasonable request, place a durable notice of
the existence of Secured Party’s Security Interest, in form and by means
reasonably acceptable to Secured Party, upon such items of the Collateral as are
designated by Secured Party. Grantor will not create any Chattel Paper without
placing a legend on the Chattel Paper acceptable to Secured Party indicating
Secured Party has a Security Interest in the Chattel Paper. Grantor will not
file any document releasing Secured Party’s Security Interest in any of the
Collateral without the prior written authorization of Secured Party.

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     9. PRESERVATION OF COLLATERAL; EXPENDITURES. After first giving notice to
Grantor, Secured Party may perform any obligation of Grantor hereunder or under
any other Loan Document which Grantor fails to perform; provided, however, that
after the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuance, Secured
Party will not be obligated to provide Grantor with any such notice. After first
giving notice to Grantor, Secured Party may, in its commercially reasonable
judgment at any time, take any other action which it reasonably deems necessary
for the maintenance or preservation of any of the Collateral or the Security
Interest of Secured Party therein, including the payment and discharge of taxes,
liens, security interests and encumbrances of any kind against the Collateral,
or the procurement of insurance; provided, however that after the occurrence of
an Event of Default and during the continuance, Secured Party will not be
obligated to provide Grantor with any such notice. Any actions taken by Secured
Party pursuant to this Section will not be deemed a waiver of any Event of
Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
Secured Party may adjust, settle or cancel claims under any policy of insurance
covering items of the Collateral and endorse any draft received in connection
therewith in payment of a loss or otherwise. Grantor agrees to reimburse Secured
Party on demand for all costs and expenses incurred or paid by Secured Party
pursuant to this Section, together with interest thereon at the highest default
or post-maturity rate provided in the Loan Agreement or the Notes. Any amounts,
until so reimbursed to Secured Party, will, without further action by Secured
Party or Grantor, be added to and become a part of the Obligations and secured
hereby. Secured Party may, for the foregoing purposes, act in its own name or
that of Grantor. Grantor hereby grants to Secured Party its power of attorney,
irrevocable so long as any of the Obligations are outstanding, to take any of
the actions described or permitted by this Section. Secured Party is not
obligated to exercise its rights under this Section and will not be liable to
Grantor for any failure to do so.

     10. LIMITATION OF OBLIGATION OF SECURED PARTY. Secured Party shall use
ordinary reasonable care in the physical preservation and custody of the
Collateral in Secured Party’s possession, but shall have no other obligation to
protect the Collateral or its value. In particular, but without limitation,
Secured Party shall have no responsibility for: (a) any change in the market
value of the Collateral or for the collection or protection of any income and
proceeds from the Collateral; (b) ascertaining any maturities, calls,
conversions, exchanges, offers, tenders, or similar matters relating to any of
the Collateral; or (c) informing Grantor about any of the above, whether or not
Secured Party has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters. Secured Party
will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation
of any Collateral in its possession (even if it fails to sell or convert
Collateral which is falling in market value) if Secured Party treats such
Collateral in substantially the same way that Secured Party treats the
collateral of its other customers when dealing with similar types of collateral
under similar circumstances. The failure of Secured Party to preserve or protect
any rights with respect to any of the Collateral against other parties will not
be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care in the custody or preservation
of such Collateral.

     11. DEFAULT. The term “Event of Default” has the meaning as set forth in
the Loan Agreement and thus the occurrence and continuance of any event of or
the existence of any condition which is specified as an Event of Default under
the Loan Agreement shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder.

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     12. REMEDIES. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event
of Default, Secured Party will have and may exercise any or all of its rights
and remedies as provided in the Loan Agreement and in the other Loan Documents,
at law or in equity, including any or all of its rights and remedies against any
Guarantor, and/or treat all of Grantor’s property in Secured Party’s possession
as part of the Collateral to secure payment of the Obligations, in addition to
exercising any one or more of the following rights and remedies:

     (i) Declare all Obligations immediately due and payable, without notice of
any kind to Grantor.

     (ii) Utilize any and all of its rights and pursue any and all of its
remedies under the UCC, under any other applicable law, at equity, or pursuant
to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with respect to the Collateral.

     (iii) Register any securities included in the Collateral in Secured Party’s
name and exercise any rights normally incident to the ownership of securities.

     (iv) Maintain a judicial suit for foreclosure and sale of the Collateral.

     (v) Effect transfer of title upon sale of all or part of the Collateral.
For this purpose, Grantor irrevocably appoints Secured Party as its
attorney-in-fact to execute endorsements, assignments and instruments in the
name of Grantor and each of them (if more than one) as shall be necessary or
reasonable.

     All of Secured Party’s rights and remedies, whether evidenced by this
Agreement, the Loan Agreement or other Loan Documents or by any other writing,
shall be cumulative and may be exercised singularly or concurrently. Election by
Secured Party to pursue any remedy shall not exclude pursuit of any other
remedy, and an election to make expenditures or to take action to perform an
obligation of Grantor under this Agreement, after Grantor’s failure to perform,
shall not affect Secured Party’s right to declare an Event of Default and to
exercise its remedies hereunder. Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of
sale shall be required by applicable law, ten (10) days notice shall constitute
commercially reasonable notification.

     13. CERTIFICATE REGARDING COLLATERAL. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of an Event of Default, whenever Secured Party so requires, Grantor
will execute and deliver to Secured Party a certificate, in form and detail
satisfactory to Secured Party and signed by a knowledgeable officer of Grantor,
scheduling all material Collateral, as Secured Party may reasonably require,
together with such copies of invoices (with evidence of shipment attached), if
available, original purchase orders, service contracts, bills of lading,
original warehouse receipts or similar documents of title, pertaining to
Grantor’s Accounts and Inventory as Secured Party may reasonably require.

     14. INVESTMENT PROPERTY AS COLLATERAL. If any of the property which is part
of the Collateral is, from time to time, Investment Property:

     14.1. Grantor agrees (a) to deliver immediately to the Secured Party or the
Secured Party’s nominee all certificates evidencing any of the Investment
Property which may at any time come into the possession of Grantor, (b) to
execute and deliver to the

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Secured Party such financing statements as the Secured Party may request with
respect to the Investment Property, and, additionally, however, Grantor hereby
authorizes Secured Party to file any such financing statements as Secured Party
deems necessary or appropriate in Secured Party’s sole discretion without the
need for Grantor’s signature or further approval as provided for in Section 8
hereof, (c) to take such other steps as the Secured Party may from time to time
reasonably request to perfect the Secured Party’s security interest in the
Investment Property under applicable law, including, but not limited to,
(i) with respect to any portion of the Investment Property which may constitute
uncertificated securities, to obtain the agreement of issuer of such securities
to transfer or dispose of the securities only upon Secured Party’s instructions
without Grantor’s further consent and (ii) with respect to any portion of the
Investment Property which may constitute a “security entitlement” (as defined in
the UCC), to, in the Secured Party’s sole discretion, obtain an agreement of the
“securities intermediary” (as defined in the UCC) to transfer or dispose of such
security entitlement only upon Secured Party’s instructions without the further
consent of Grantor.

     14.2. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Secured Party may
transfer or register the Investment Property into its name or the name of its
nominee for so long as the Investment Property remains part of the Collateral.

     14.3. The issuer of any Investment Property which is part of the Collateral
is hereby granted the authority to make the transfer or registration pursuant to
Section 14.2 of this Agreement into Secured Party’s name or the name of Secured
Party’s nominee, without the consent of or further instruction from the Grantor.

     14.4. Secured Party has the sole right to vote any Investment Property
which is Collateral with regard to any proposed amendment to the Charter
Documents of the issuer of such Investment Property which could reasonably be
expected to have an adverse effect on the Secured Party. Otherwise, Grantor has
the sole right to vote such Investment Property except upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of an Event of Default.

     14.5. All income from the Investment Property is to be paid and delivered
to Grantor; provided, however, that any Investment Property received by Grantor
by reason of Grantor’s ownership of the Investment Property pledged hereunder
are to be promptly delivered to Secured Party as part of the Collateral, as
provided above.

     15. NO RELEASE OR IMPAIRMENT OF COLLATERAL. Secured Party’s Security
Interest hereunder and Secured Party’s rights in connection therewith will
continue unimpaired, except with respect to Permitted Security Interests,
notwithstanding that Secured Party takes, exchanges or releases the Collateral
or other security, releases any person primarily or secondarily liable for any
of the Obligations, grants or allows extensions, renewals, modifications,
rearrangements, restructures, replacements or refinancings thereof, whether or
not the same involve modifications to interest rates or other payment terms
thereof, or indulgences with respect to the Obligations. Secured Party may apply
to the Obligations in such order as Secured Party determines, any proceeds or
other amounts received on account of the Collateral pursuant hereto by the
exercise of any right permitted under this Agreement, regardless of

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whether there is any other security for the Obligations. Grantor hereby waives
all requirements of presentment, protest, demand, and notice of dishonor or
non-payment to Grantor or any other party to the Obligations or the Collateral

     16. RELEASES. In the event all of the Obligations have been fully and
indefeasibly paid, all of the Commitments have been canceled or terminated, all
Letters of Credit have expired, and the Secured Party have no other commitment
to extend credit or make advances to or for the account of Grantor, and Secured
Party has received a written request from Grantor in connection therewith to
execute and deliver all applicable UCC termination statements and releases with
respect to the Collateral (collectively, the “Releases”), Secured Party will, at
Grantor’s sole cost and expense (and Grantor will promptly reimburse Secured
Party for any reasonable fees and expenses, including but not limited to
reasonable legal fees and expenses, incurred in connection with the preparation,
review, filing or recording of any such releases or terminations) execute and
deliver such Releases to the person and address designated by Grantor in its
notice within a commercially reasonable time after Secured Party’s receipt of
such notice.

     17. NO LIABILITY OF SECURED PARTY FOR CONTRACTS. Anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding: (i) Grantor shall remain liable under the 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; (ii) 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
(iii) Neither Secured Party nor Lenders shall have any obligation or liability
under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral by reason of this
Agreement, or 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.

     18. FURTHER ASSURANCES. From time to time, Grantor shall execute and
deliver to Secured Party such additional documents and will provide such
additional information as Secured Party may reasonably require to carry out the
terms of this Agreement and be informed of Grantor’s status and affairs.

     19. CONTINUING AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be a continuing agreement in
every respect and shall remain in full force and effect until all of the
Obligations, both for principal and interest, have been fully paid and satisfied
all Commitments have been cancelled or terminated and all Letters of Credit have
expired.

     20. MISCELLANEOUS.

     20.1. NOTICES. All notices, consents, requests and demands to or upon the
respective parties hereto shall be in writing, and shall be deemed to have been
given or made when delivered to Grantor or Secured Party in person or when
deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of
overnight courier services, when delivered to the overnight courier service, or
in the case of telecopy notice, when sent, verification received, and in the
case of Grantor at the address on the signature page hereto and in the case of
Secured Party at the address as set forth on the signature page of the Loan
Agreement, or such other address as any party may designate by notice to the

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other in accordance with the terms of this Section. No notice given to or demand
made on Grantor or Secured Party in any instance shall entitle Grantor to notice
or demand in any other instance.

     20.2. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. No amendment to this Agreement will be
effective unless it is in writing and signed by authorized officers of Grantor
and Secured Party. No waiver of full compliance with any provision of this
Agreement or consent to any departure by Grantor herefrom will be effective
unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized officer of Secured Party;
provided, however, that any such waiver or consent will be effective only in the
specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No failure by Secured
Party to exercise, and no delay by Secured Party in exercising, any right,
remedy, power or privilege hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will
any single or partial exercise by Secured Party of any right, remedy, power or
privilege hereunder preclude any other exercise thereof, or the exercise of any
other right, remedy, power or privilege.

     Oral agreements or commitments to loan money, extend credit or to forbear
from enforcing repayment of a debt including promises to extend or renew such
debt are not enforceable. To protect you (Borrower(s)) and us (creditor) from
misunderstanding or disappointment, any agreements we reach covering such
matters are contained in this writing, which is the complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement between us, except as we may later agree in writing
to modify it.

     20.3. RIGHTS CUMULATIVE. Each of the rights and remedies of Secured Party
under this Agreement is in addition to all of their other rights and remedies
under applicable law, and nothing in this Agreement may be construed as limiting
any such rights or remedies.

     20.4. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement binds Grantor and its
successors and assigns and inures to the benefit of Secured Party, and each of
their successors, transferees, participants and assignees. Grantor may not
delegate or transfer any of its obligations under this Agreement without the
prior written consent of Secured Party. With respect to Grantor’s successors and
assigns, such successors and assigns include any receiver, trustee or
debtor-in-possession of or for Grantor.

     20.5. SEVERABILITY. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited,
unenforceable or not authorized in any jurisdiction is, as to such jurisdiction,
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition, unenforceability or
nonauthorization without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or
affecting the validity, enforceability or legality of such provision in any
other jurisdiction unless the ineffectiveness of such provision would result in
such a material change as to cause completion of the transactions contemplated
hereby to be unreasonable.

     20.6. GOVERNING LAW; NO THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. This Agreement is to be
governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the internal Laws
of the State of Illinois applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly
within such state, without regard to choice or conflicts of law principles;
except that the

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provisions of this Agreement pertaining to the creation or perfection of a
security interest in or the enforcement of rights in the Collateral which is
located in a state other than the State of Illinois shall governed by the by the
laws of such other state. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the
parties hereto and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns
pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement, and no other person has any right,
benefit, priority or interest under, or because of the existence of, this
Agreement.

     20.7. FINAL EXPRESSION; NO COURSE OF DEALING. This Agreement, together with
the Loan Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any other agreement executed in
connection herewith or therewith, is intended by the parties as a final
expression of their agreement and is intended as a complete and exclusive
statement of the terms and conditions thereof. Acceptance of or acquiescence in
a course of performance or course of dealing rendered or taken under or with
respect to this Agreement, the Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents will
not be relevant to determine the meaning of this Agreement, the Loan Agreement
or the other Loan Documents even though the accepting or acquiescing party had
knowledge of the nature of the performance and opportunity for objection.

     20.8. NEGOTIATED TRANSACTION. Grantor and Secured Party each represent to
the other that in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement each has been
represented by and has relied upon the advice of counsel of its choice. Each of
Grantor and Secured Party affirm that its counsel has had a substantial role in
the drafting and negotiation of this Agreement; therefore, this Agreement will
be deemed drafted by each of Grantor and Secured Party, and the rule of
construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the
drafter will not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement.

     20.9. SECURED PARTY EXPENSES AND ATTORNEYS’ FEES. Grantor will reimburse
Secured Party for all expenses incurred by Secured Party in connection with
preparation, administration, amendment, modification and in seeking to collect
or enforce the Obligations and any other rights under this Agreement or any of
the other Loan Documents or under any other instrument, document or agreement
evidencing or executed in connection with any of the Obligations, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees and actual attorneys’ expenses (whether or not there
is litigation), court costs and all costs in connection with any proceedings
under the United States Bankruptcy Code, and any expenses incurred on account of
damage to any property to which any of the Collateral may be affixed.

     20.10. ASSIGNMENT BY SECURED PARTY. To the extent permitted in the Loan
Agreement, Secured Party may grant a participation interest in or assign or
transfer to another person any instrument, document or agreement evidencing any
of the Obligations and Secured Party’s rights under this Agreement, and may
deliver all the property which is part of the Collateral and in its possession
to the participant, assignee or transferee or to any person acting as agent for
Secured Party.

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     20.11. PARAGRAPH HEADINGS. The titles to the paragraphs of this Agreement
are solely for the convenience of the parties and shall not be used to explain,
modify, simplify, or aid in the interpretation of the provisions of this
Agreement.

     20.12. REINSTATEMENT. This Agreement and any and all Security Interests
created or evidenced hereby will continue to be effective or be reinstated, as
the case may be, as though such payments had not been made, if at any time any
amount received by Secured Party or Lenders in respect of the Obligations is
rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by Secured Party or Lenders,
including upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or
reorganization of Grantor or upon the appointment of any intervenor or
conservator of, or trustee or similar official for, Grantor, any substantial
part of its assets, or otherwise.

     20.13. CHOICE OF FORUM. SUBJECT ONLY TO THE EXCEPTION IN THE NEXT SENTENCE,
GRANTOR AND SECURED PARTY HEREBY AGREE TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE
FEDERAL COURT OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS AND THE STATE COURTS OF
ILLINOIS LOCATED IN COOK COUNTY AND WAIVES ANY OBJECTION BASED ON VENUE OR FORUM
NON CONVENIENS WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION INSTITUTED THEREIN, AND AGREES THAT
ANY DISPUTE CONCERNING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SECURED PARTY AND GRANTOR OR THE
CONDUCT OF ANY OF THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE SHALL BE
HEARD ONLY IN THE COURTS DESCRIBED ABOVE. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING:
(1) SECURED PARTY SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST
GRANTOR OR ITS PROPERTY IN ANY COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION DEEMED NECESSARY
OR APPROPRIATE IN ORDER TO REALIZE ON THE COLLATERAL, OR OTHER SECURITY FOR THE
LOAN OBLIGATIONS, AND (2) GRANTOR AND SECURED PARTY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ANY APPEALS
FROM THE COURTS DESCRIBED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SENTENCE MAY HAVE TO BE
HEARD BY A COURT LOCATED OUTSIDE THOSE JURISDICTIONS.

     20.14. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. GRANTOR AND SECURED PARTY HEREBY WAIVE ANY
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION
(1) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR (2) IN ANY WAY
CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE GRANTOR AND
SECURED PARTY OR EITHER OF THEM IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER
NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR
OTHERWISE. GRANTOR AND SECURED PARTY AGREE AND CONSENT THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM,
DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY
AND THAT EITHER MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT
WITH ANY COURT AS

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WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE GRANTOR OR SECURED PARTY TO THE WAIVER OF
THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

     20.15. SERVICE OF PROCESS. GRANTOR HEREBY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY
AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT AND CONSENTS THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE
MADE BY REGISTERED MAIL (RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) DIRECTED TO GRANTOR AT ITS
ADDRESS SET FORTH ON THE SIGNATURE PAGE HERETO, AND SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE COMPLETED FIVE (5) DAYS AFTER THE SAME SHALL HAVE BEEN SO DEPOSITED
IN THE U.S. MAILS; OR AT SECURED PARTY’S OPTION, BY SERVICE UPON CT CORPORATION,
WHICH GRANTOR IRREVOCABLY APPOINTS AS GRANTOR’S SECURED PARTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ACCEPTING SERVICE OF PROCESS WITHIN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. SECURED PARTY SHALL
PROMPTLY FORWARD BY REGISTERED MAIL ANY PROCESS SO SERVED UPON SAID SECURED
PARTY TO GRANTOR AT ITS ADDRESS ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO. NOTHING IN THIS
SECTION SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE SECURED PARTY TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN
ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

(signatures on following page)

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the date
first above written.

         

  GRANTOR:
 
       

  TALX EMPLOYER SERVICES, LLC, a
Missouri limited liability company
 
       

  By:  /s/ L. Keith Graves

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  Name:  L. Keith Graves

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  Title:  CFO

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  WITH A NOTICE ADDRESS OF:

 

  1850 Borman

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  St. Louis, MO 63146

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  AND COPY TO:
 
       

  Karen W. Fries, Esq.
Bryan Cave LLP
One Metropolitan Square, Suite 3600
St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2750

 

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SCHEDULE A

(a)   Additional Trade or Fictitious Names:

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(b)   Taxpayer ID Number:

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(c)   Chief Executive and principal place of business at:

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(d)   Additional places of business:

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EXHIBIT A

Collateral Description for Financing Statement
Naming TALX EMPLOYER SERVICES, LLC, a Missouri limited liability company, as
“Grantor” and LaSalle Bank National Association, a national banking association,
as Administrative Agent, as “Secured Party"

Grantor hereby grants a Security Interest to Secured Party in all personal
property and assets of Grantor, and all of Grantor’s rights, title and interest
therein, in all cases whether now or hereafter owned or acquired by or consigned
to Grantor and wherever located, and whether held by Grantor or any other person
(including a securities intermediary) including, but not limited to, the
following:

     (i) All Accounts, accounts receivable, Deposit Accounts, promissory notes
and other obligations owed to Grantor that arise from the sale, rental or lease
of Inventory, goods or other property of Grantor or the rendering of services by
Grantor, and all Chattel Paper, Instruments (including Promissory Notes),
Documents, drafts, contract rights and acceptances, Health-Care-Insurance
Receivables, Letter-of-Credit Rights and other forms of obligations (including
but not limited to all obligations that may be characterized as General
Intangibles or otherwise under the UCC) respecting the rights of Grantor to the
payment of money from others and all other rights to the payment of money;

     (ii) All Goods and Inventory, and all documents of title of at any time
evidencing or representing a part thereof, including all inventories of raw
materials, work-in-process, finished goods, and merchandise, materials and
supplies and all other personal property and assets of every kind and
description held for sale, rental or lease or held to be furnished under
contracts for services or consumed in Grantor’s business, or in any case held,
used or useable in the supply, servicing, advertising, processing, packaging,
delivery or shipping of such property;

     (iii) All Equipment, machinery, tools, furniture, and fixtures of every
sort and spare parts therefor, all storage media containing computer programs
and data, and all tools, dies, and molds, and all motor vehicles, trailers,
tractors, barges, and ships of every sort and spare parts and accessories
therefor, whether or not titled or certificated;

     (iv) All General Intangibles, including Payment Intangibles, all computer
programs, data and databases, leases, licenses, claims and causes of action
against others (whether in litigation, settlement or otherwise), and tax
refunds, and all summaries, compilations, mailing and customer, client or
supplier lists, and other supporting evidence records relating to the business,
assets, liabilities or capital of Grantor, and all disks, files, tapes,
printouts, books, records, periodicals, directories, publications and other
documents and media where the foregoing is stored or embodied, and all patents,
patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, trade secrets, trade
names, service marks, trade styles, and copyrights, in each case whether or not
registered, licensed or filed;

 

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     (v) All rights under all licenses, permits, leases, contracts, governmental
approvals, franchises, applications for any of the foregoing, renewals of any of
the foregoing, and similar rights or privileges or immunities;

     (vi) (A) all dividends, cash, securities, instruments and other property
from time to time paid, payable or otherwise distributed to Grantor in respect
of or in exchange for any shares or other capital stock or trust, partnership or
limited liability company interests, all Investment Property, Certificated
Securities, Uncertificated Securities, Security Entitlements, Securities
Accounts, securities accounts, margin accounts, financial assets, hedging
contracts, options contracts, and futures contracts; (B) any and all
distributions made to Grantor in respect of any such shares or capital stock, or
trust, partnership or limited liability company interests, whether in cash or in
kind, by way of dividends or stock splits, or pursuant to a merger or
consolidation or otherwise, or any substitute security issued to Grantor upon
conversion, reorganization or otherwise; and (C) any and all other property
hereafter delivered to Grantor or Secured Party in substitution for or in
addition to any of the foregoing (including without limitation all securities
issued pursuant to any shareholder agreement, stock purchase agreement,
partnership agreement, trust agreement or indenture, limited liability company
operating agreement, stock purchase rights or other agreement to which Grantor
may now or hereafter be a party, all certificates and instruments representing
or evidencing such property and all cash, securities, interest, dividends,
rights, and other property at any time and from time to time received,
receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all
thereof);

     (vii) All of Grantor’s property in the possession, custody or control of
Secured Party in any way, whether or not for safekeeping, custody, pledge,
transmission, collection or otherwise;

     (viii) All funds paid to Secured Party or in transit to any deposit account
or fund established by Grantor, and any securities in which such funds may be
invested; and

     (ix) All cash and non-cash proceeds and products of the foregoing, all
proceeds from insurance on any of the foregoing, all goodwill associated with
the foregoing, all additions and accessions to and replacements and
substitutions for any of the foregoing, everything that becomes (or is held for
the purpose of being) affixed to or installed in any of the foregoing, and all
products, rents, income, dividends, royalties, and profits of or from any of the
foregoing.

 

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ADDENDUM A

                                              Serial   Date of   Regist.    
Trademarks

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  Number

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  Filing

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  Number

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  Date Reg.

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