**Exhibit 10.40**

 

SENIOR SUBORDINATED 

TRADEMARK AND LICENSE SECURITY AGREEMENT 

 

SENIOR SUBORDINATED TRADEMARK AND LICENSE SECURITY AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) dated as of October 25, 2004, made by PW EAGLE, INC., a Minnesota corporation, having its chief executive office at 1550 ValleyRiver Drive, Eugene, Oregon 97440 (“Borrower”) and CHURCHILL CAPITAL PARTNERS IV, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Lender”). 

 

WITNESSETH

 

WHEREAS, Borrower and Lender have entered into that certain Senior Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement of even dateherewith (as the same may hereafter be amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Note Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which Lender has, subject to certain conditions precedent, agreed to purchase the Senior Subordinated Notesof the Company (the “Notes”); and 

 

WHEREAS, Lenderhas required as a condition, among others, to purchasing the Notes, in order to secure the prompt and complete payment, observance and performance of all of Borrower’s obligations and liabilities hereunder, under the Note Purchase Agreement,and under all of the other instruments, documents and agreements executed and delivered by Borrower to Lender in connection with the Note Purchase Agreement (all such obligations and liabilities being hereinafter referred to collectively as the“Obligations”), that Borrower execute and deliver this Agreement to Lender for its benefit; 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which arehereby acknowledged, Borrower agrees as follows: 

 

1. DefinedTerms. 

 

(a) Unless otherwise defined herein, thecapitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Note Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings specified in the Note Purchase Agreement. 

 

(b) The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import when used in this Agreement shall refer to thisAgreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and section and schedule references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. 

 

(c) All terms defined in this Agreement in the singular shall have comparable meanings when used in the plural, andviceversa, unless otherwise specified. 

 

2. Security Interest in Trademarks. To secure the complete and timely payment, performance andsatisfaction of all of the Obligations, Borrower hereby grants to Lender, a second priority security interest, having priority over all other security interests (except for Permitted Liens, including Liens securing the Senior Debt), with power ofsale to the extent permitted by applicable law, in all of Borrower’s now owned or existing and filed and hereafter acquired or arising and filed: 

 

(i) trademarks, registered trademarks and trade mark applications, trade names, service marks, registered service marks and service markapplications including, without limitation, the registered trade marks, trademark applications, registered service marks and service applications listed on Schedule A, and (a) all renewals thereof, (b) all income, royalties, damages andpayments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, payments under all licenses entered into in connection therewith and damages and payments for past or future infringements or dilutions thereof, (c)the right to sue for past, present and future infringements and dilutions thereof, and (d) all of Borrower’s rights corresponding thereto throughout the world (all of the foregoing registered trademarks, trademark applications, registeredservice marks and service mark applications, together with the items described in clauses (a)-(d) in this paragraph 2(i), being sometimes hereinafter individually and/or collectively referred to as the “Trademarks”); 

 

(ii) the goodwill of Borrower’s business connected withand symbolized by the Trademarks; and 

 

(iii)license agreements with any other party in connection with any Trademarks or such other party’s trademarks, registered trademarks and trademark applications, trade names, service marks, registered service marks and service mark applications,whether Borrower is a licensor or licensee under any such license agreement, including but not limited to, the license agreements listed on Schedule B, and the right upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default to usethe foregoing in, connection with the enforcement of Lender’s rights under the Note Purchase Agreement (all of the foregoing being hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Licenses”). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions ofthis Section 2, the Licenses shall not include any license agreement which by its terms prohibits the grant of the security interest contemplated by this Agreement. 

 

3. Restrictions on Future Agreements. Borrower will not, without Lender’s prior written consent, enter into anyagreement, including, without limitation, any license agreement, which is inconsistent with this Agreement, and Borrower further agrees that it will not take any action, and will use its best efforts not to permit any action to be taken by otherssubject to its control, including licensees, or fail to take any action, which would in any material respect affect the validity or enforcement of the rights transferred to Lender under this Agreement or the rights associated with those Trademarkswhich are material to the operation of Borrower’s business. 

 

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4. New Trademarks. Borrower represents and warrants that the Trademarks and Licenses listed onSchedules A and B, respectively, include all of the trademarks, trademark registrations, trademark applications, tradenames, service marks, service mark registrations, service mark applications and license agreements in connection withtrademarks, registered trademarks, trademark applications, tradenames, service marks, registered service marks and service mark applications now owned or held by Borrower. If, prior to the termination of this Agreement, Borrower shall (i) obtainrights to any new trademarks, trademark registrations, trademark applications, trade names, service marks, service mark registration, service mark applications or license agreements in connection with trademarks, registered trademarks, trademarkapplications, trade names, service marks, registered service marks or service mark applications or (ii) become entitled to the benefit of any trademark, trademark registration, trademark application, trade name, service mark, service markregistration or service mark application, the provisions of Section 2 shall automatically apply thereto and Borrower shall give to Lender prompt written notice thereof. Borrower hereby authorizes Lender to modify this Agreement by (i)amending Schedules A or B, as the case may be, to include any future trademarks, trademark registrations, trademark applications, trade names, service marks, service mark applications and license agreements in connection with trademarks,registered trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, service mark registrations, service mark applications and trade names that are Trademarks or Licenses under Section 2, or under this Section 4, and (ii) filing, in additionto and not in substitution for, this Agreement, a duplicate original of this Agreement containing on Schedules A or B, thereto, as the case may be, such future trade marks, trademark applications, trade names, service marks, service markapplications and license agreements in connection with trademarks, registered trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, registered service marks, service mark applications and trade names which are Trademarks or Licenses under Section2 or this Section 4. 

 

5. Royalties. Borrowerhereby agrees that the use by Lender of the Trademarks and Licenses as authorized hereunder shall be co-extensive with Borrower’s rights thereunder and with respect thereto and without any liability for royalties or other related charges fromLender to Borrower. 

 

6. Nature and Continuation ofLender’s Security Interest. This Agreement is made for collateral security purposes only. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Trademarks and Licenses and shall remain in full force and effect until theObligations have been paid in full and the Note Purchase Agreement terminated. 

 

7. Right to Inspect; Further Assignments and Security Interests. Lender shall have the right, at any reasonable time and from time to time, to inspect Borrower’s premises and to examine Borrower’sbooks, records and operations relating to the Trademarks, including, without limitation, Borrower’s quality control processes; provided, that in conducting such inspections and examinations, Lender shall use its best efforts not todisturb unnecessarily the conduct of Borrower’s ordinary business operations and provided further, that if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Lender shall give Borrower at least 24 hours prior written notice of suchinspection. From and after the occurrence of an 

 

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Event of Default, and subject to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement and the Senior Subordination Agreement, Borrower agrees that Lender or aconservator appointed by Lender, shall have the right to establish such reasonable additional product quality controls as Lender or such conservator, in its sole judgment may deem necessary to assure maintenance of the quality of products sold byBorrower under the Trademarks. Borrower agrees (i) not to sell or assign its respective interests in, or grant any license under, the Trademarks without the prior written consent of Lender, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld ordelayed, (ii) to maintain the quality of any and all products in connection with which the Trademarks are used, consistent with the quality of said products as of the date hereof, and (iii) not to change the quality of such products in any materialrespect without the prior written consent of Lender, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. 

 

8. Duties of Borrower. Borrower shall have the duty, to the extent desirable in the normal conduct of Borrower’s business and consistent withBorrower’s current business practices (i) to prosecute diligently any trademark applications or service mark applications that are part of the Trademarks pending as of the date hereof or thereafter until the termination of this Agreement, (ii)to make applications for trademarks and service marks as Borrower deems appropriate, and (iii) to take reasonable steps to preserve and maintain all of Borrower’s rights in the trademark applications, service mark applications and trademark andservice mark registrations that are part of the Trademarks. Any expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing shall be borne by Borrower. Borrower shall not abandon any material trademark or service mark which is the subject of a registeredtrademark, service mark or application therefor and which is or, to Borrower’s knowledge, shall be necessary or economically desirable in the operation of the Borrower’s business. Borrower agrees to retain an experienced trademark attorneyreasonably acceptable to Lender (Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. being acceptable to Lender) for the filing and prosecution of all such applications and other proceedings. Lender shall not have any duty with respect to the Trademarks. Without limitingthe generality of the foregoing, Lender shall not be under any obligation to take any steps necessary to preserve rights in the Trademarks and Licenses against any other parties, but may do so at its option during the continuance of an Event ofDefault, and all reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith shall be for the sole account of Borrower and added to the Obligations secured hereby. 

 

9. Lender’s Right to Sue. From and after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and subject to the terms of theNote Purchase Agreement and the Senior Subordination Agreement, Lender shall have the right but shall not be obligated, to bring suit to enforce the Trademarks and the Licenses and, if Lender shall commence any such suit, Borrower shall, at therequest of Lender, do any and all lawful acts and execute any and all proper documents required by Lender in aid of such enforcement. Borrower shall, upon demand, promptly reimburse and indemnify Lender for all costs and reasonable expenses incurredby Lender in the exercise of its rights under this Section 9, (including, without limitation, all attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees). If, for any reason whatsoever, Lender is not reimbursed with respect to the costs and expensesreferred to in the 

 

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preceding sentence, such costs and expenses shall be added to the Obligations secured hereby. 

 

10. Waivers. No course of dealing between Borrower and Lender, and no failure to exercise or delay in exercising onthe part of Lender any right, power or privilege hereunder or under the Note Purchase Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any of Lender’s rights, powers or privileges. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunderor under the Note Purchase Agreement shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. 

 

11. Lender’s Exercise of Rights and Remedies upon Default. Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary, it is hereby expresslyagreed that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may exercise any of the rights and remedies provided in this Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement, or any other agreement executed in connection therewith,subject to the Senior Subordination Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Borrower acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Trademarks and Licenses comprise a portion of the Collateral and Lender shall have the right to exerciseits rights under the Note Purchase Agreement with respect to the Trademarks and Licenses to the same extent as with respect to all other items of Collateral described therein, and (ii) from and after the occurrence and during the continuance of anEvent of Default, Lender or its nominee may use the Trademarks and Licenses to complete the manufacture of, assemble, package, distribute, prepare for sale and sell the Inventory, or otherwise in connection with the conduct of Borrower’sbusiness. 

 

12. Severability. The provisions of thisAgreement are severable, and if any clause or provision shall be held invalid and unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, then such invalidity or unenforceability shall affect only such clause or provision, or part thereof, in suchjurisdiction, and shall not in any manner affect such clause or provision in any other jurisdiction, or any other clause or provision of this Agreement in any jurisdiction. 

 

13. Modification. This Agreement cannot be altered, amended or modified in any way, except as specifically providedin Sections 2 and 4 hereof or by a writing signed by the parties hereto. 

 

14. Cumulative Remedies; Power of Attorney. All of Lender’s rights and remedies with respect to the Trademarks and the Licenses, whether established hereby, by any other agreements or by law, shall becumulative and may be exercised singularly or concurrently. Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints Lender as Borrower’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of Borrower and in the name of Borrower or otherwise to carry outthe acts described below. Subject to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement and the Senior Subordination Agreement, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and the giving by Lender of written notice to Borrower ofLender’s intention to enforce its rights and claims against Borrower, Borrower hereby authorizes Lender to, in its sole discretion (i) endorse Borrower’s name on all applications, 

 

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documents, papers and instruments necessary or desirable for Lender in the use of the Trademarks and the Licenses, (ii) take any other actions with respectto the Trademarks and the Licenses as Lender deems is in its best interest, (iii) grant or issue any exclusive or nonexclusive license under the Trademarks to anyone on commercially reasonable terms, and (iv) assign, pledge, convey or otherwisetransfer title in or dispose of the Trademarks to anyone on commercially reasonable terms. Lender shall take no action pursuant to subsection (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 14 without taking like action with respect to the entiregoodwill of Borrower’s business connected with the use of, and symbolized by, such Trademarks, Borrower hereby ratifies all that such attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney is coupledwith an interest and shall be irrevocable until this Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 6. Borrower acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement is not intended to limit or restrict in any way the rights and remedies ofLender under the Note Purchase Agreement, but rather is intended to facilitate the exercise of such rights and remedies. Lender shall have, in addition to all other rights and remedies given it by the terms of this Agreement, all rights and remediesallowed by law and the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted in any jurisdiction in which the Trademarks may be located or deemed located. 

 

15. Binding Effect; Benefits. This Agreement shall be binding upon Borrower and its successors and assigns, and shallinure to the benefit of Lender and its nominees, successors and assigns. Borrower’s successors and assigns shall include, without limitation, a receiver, trustee or debtor-in-possession of or for Borrower; provided, however, thatBorrower shall not voluntarily assign its obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender. 

 

16. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (as distinguished from the conflicts oflaw provisions) and decisions of the State of Minnesota. 

 

17.Notices. All notices or other communications hereunder shall be given in the manner and to the addresses set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement. 

 

18. Section Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience of reference only, and shall not affect in any way the interpretation of anyof the provisions hereof. 

 

19. Execution inCounterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shallconstitute one and the same agreement. 

 

***[Signature PageFollows]***

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Senior Subordinated Trademark and LicenseSecurity Agreement on the day and year first above written. 

 

**PW EAGLE, INC.**, a Minnesota corporation

By:
 
/s/ Dobson West
  
Name:
 
Dobson West
  
Title:
 
Secretary
Accepted and agreed to as of this 25th day of October, 2004.**CHURCHILL CAPITAL PARTNERS IV, L.P.**
By:
 Churchill Capital IV, L.L.C, its General Partner
By:
 Churchill Capital, Inc., as Managing Agent
By:
 /s/ Mark McDonald  
Name:
 
Mark McDonald
  
Title:
 
Partner

 

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STATE OF MINNESOTA  )   ) SSCOUNTY OF HENNEPIN  )
 

The foregoing SeniorSubordinated Trademark and License Security Agreement was executed and acknowledged before me this 25th day of October, 2004, by                    , personally known to me to be the                     of PW EAGLE, INC., a Minnesota corporation, on behalf of such corporation. 

 

(SEAL) 

 

/s/

Notary Public

My commission expires:                                        

 

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Schedule A 

to Senior Subordinated Trademark and License Security Agreement 

 

[Revised Schedule will be attached.] 

 

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Schedule B 

to Senior Subordinated Trademark and License Security Agreement 

 

[Revised Schedule will be attached.] 

 

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