exv10w8



 





Exhibit 10.8




EXECUTION COPY




PLEDGE AGREEMENT




     PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 17, 2007, made by each entity listed
as a pledgor on the signature pages hereto (each a “Pledgor” and collectively, the “Pledgors”), in
favor of HIGHBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the
Cayman Islands, in its capacity as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”) for
the “Buyers” (as defined below) party to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of even date
herewith (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Securities Purchase
Agreement”).



W I T N E S S E T H:




     WHEREAS, Hythiam, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and each party listed as a
“Buyer” on the Schedule of Buyers attached thereto (collectively, the “Buyers”) are parties to the
Securities Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall be required to sell, and the
Buyers shall purchase or have the right to purchase, the “Notes” (as defined therein);



     WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the Buyers purchasing the Notes that the Pledgors
shall have executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of itself and the Buyers
this Agreement to secure all of the Company’s obligations under the Securities Purchase Agreement,
the Notes issued pursuant thereto (as such Notes may be amended, restated, replaced or otherwise
modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, collectively, the “Notes”) and the
other “Transaction Documents” (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement, the “Transaction
Documents”), on such terms and conditions as are set forth herein;



     WHEREAS, the Company shall have executed a Security Agreement granting the Collateral Agent a
first priority perfected lien in all of its personal property (the “Security Agreement”) on such
terms and conditions as are set forth therein;



     WHEREAS, the Pledgors are mutually dependent on each other in the conduct of their respective
businesses as an integrated operation, with the credit needed from time to time by each Pledgor
often being provided through financing obtained by the other Pledgors and the ability to obtain
such financing being dependent on the successful operations of all of the Pledgors as a whole; and



     WHEREAS, each Pledgor has determined that the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement directly benefits, and is in the best interest of, such Pledgor.



     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements herein and in order to
induce the Buyers to perform under the Securities Purchase Agreement, each Pledgor agrees with the
Collateral Agent as follows:



     SECTION 1. Definitions and Rules of Interpretation.



          (a) Definitions. Reference is made to the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Notes
for a statement of terms thereof. All terms used in this Agreement




 









 







which are defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement or the Notes or in Article 8 or Article
9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York (the
“Code”), and which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as set
forth therein; provided, that terms used herein which are defined in the Code as in effect
in the State of New York on the date hereof shall continue to have the same meaning notwithstanding
any replacement or amendment of such statute except as the Collateral Agent may otherwise
determine. In the event that any such term is defined in both the Securities Purchase Agreement or
the Notes and the Code, the definition of such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement or the
Notes shall control.




          (b) Rules of Interpretation. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, the following rules of interpretation apply to this Agreement: (i) the singular includes
the plural and the plural includes the singular; (ii) “or” and “any” are not exclusive and
“include” and “including” are not limiting; (iii) a reference to any agreement or other contract
includes permitted supplements and amendments; (iv) a reference to a law includes any amendment or
modification to such law and any rules or regulations issued thereunder; (v) a reference to a
person includes its permitted successors and assigns; and (vi) a reference in this Agreement to an
Article, Section, Annex, Exhibit or Schedule is to the Article, Section, Annex, Exhibit or Schedule
of this Agreement.




     SECTION 2. Pledge and Grant of Security Interest. As collateral security for all of
the Obligations (as defined in Section 3 hereof), each of the Pledgors hereby pledges and
assigns and grants to the Collateral Agent a continuing security interest in, and Lien on, all of
such Pledgor’s right, title and interest in and to the following (collectively, the “Collateral”):



          (a) all present, as set forth in Schedule I, and all future, issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock, or other equity or investment securities of, or partnership, membership,
or joint venture interests in, each Subsidiary (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement),
whether now owned or hereafter acquired by such Pledgor and whether or not evidenced or represented
by any stock certificate, certificated security or other instrument, together with the certificates
representing such equity interests, all options and other rights, contractual or otherwise, in
respect thereof and all dividends, distributions, cash, instruments, investment property and any
other property (including, but not limited to, any stock dividend and any distribution in
connection with a stock split) from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in
respect of or in exchange for any or all of the foregoing and all cash and noncash proceeds thereof
(collectively, the “Pledged Shares”);




          (b) all present and future increases, profits, combinations, reclassifications, and
substitutes and replacements for all or part of the foregoing Collateral heretofore described;




          (c) all investment property, financial assets, securities, capital stock, other equity
interests, stock options and commodity contracts of such Pledgor, all notes, debentures, bonds,
promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness payable or owing to such Pledgor, and all other
assets now or hereafter received or receivable with respect to the foregoing;




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          (d) all securities entitlements of such Pledgor in any and all of the foregoing; and




          (e) all proceeds (including proceeds of proceeds) of any and all of the foregoing;



in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by such Pledgor and howsoever its interest
therein may arise or appear (whether by ownership, security interest, Lien, claim or otherwise).



Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the term “Collateral” shall not include in the
case of a Subsidiary of such Pledgor organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the
United States, any of the states thereof or the District of Columbia (a “Foreign Subsidiary”), more
than 65% (or such greater percentage that, due to a change in applicable law after the date hereof,
(i) would not reasonably be expected to cause the undistributed earnings of such Foreign Subsidiary
as determined for United States federal income tax purposes to be treated as a deemed dividend to
such Foreign Subsidiary’s United States parent and (ii) would not reasonably be expected to cause
any material adverse tax consequences) of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock
entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) (it being understood and
agreed that the Collateral shall include 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock
not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) or other equity
interest of such Foreign Subsidiary). “Capital Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is
a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however
designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, and (ii) with respect to any Person that
is not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person.
“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any Federal, state, city, town,
municipality, county, local or other political subdivision thereof or thereto and any department,
commission, board, bureau, instrumentality, agency or other entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to
government.



The Pledgors agree that the pledge of the shares of Capital Stock acquired by a Pledgor of any and
all Persons now or hereafter existing who is a Foreign Subsidiary may be supplemented by one or
more separate pledge agreements, deeds of pledge, share charges, or other similar agreements or
instruments, executed and delivered by the relevant Pledgors in favor of the Collateral Agent,
which pledge agreements will provide for the pledge of such shares of Capital Stock in accordance
with the laws of the applicable foreign jurisdiction. With respect to such shares of Capital
Stock, the Collateral Agent may, at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion, take
actions in such foreign jurisdictions that will result in the perfection of the Lien created in
such shares of Capital Stock.




     SECTION 3. Security for Obligations. The security interest created hereby in the
Collateral constitutes continuing collateral security for all of the following obligations, whether
now existing or hereafter incurred (the “Obligations”):



          (a) the payment by the Pledgors, as and when due and payable (by scheduled maturity, required
prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), of all amounts





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from time to time owing by it in
respect of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Notes and the
other Transaction Documents, (A) all principal of and interest on the Notes (including,
without limitation, all interest that accrues after the commencement of any bankruptcy proceeding
of the Pledgors, whether or not the payment of such interest is unenforceable or is not allowable
due to the existence of such bankruptcy proceeding), and (B) all fees, commissions, expense
reimbursements, indemnifications and all other amounts due or to become due under any of the
Transaction Documents; and




          (b) the due performance and observance by each Pledgor of all of its other obligations from
time to time existing in respect of any of the Transaction Documents for so long as the Notes are
outstanding.




     SECTION 4. Delivery of the Collateral.



          (a) All certificates currently representing the Pledged Shares shall be delivered to the
Collateral Agent on or prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement. All other promissory
notes, certificates and instruments constituting Collateral from time to time or required to be
pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (the “Additional
Collateral”) shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent promptly upon receipt thereof by or on
behalf of any of the Pledgors. All such promissory notes, certificates and instruments shall be
held by the Collateral Agent pursuant hereto and shall be delivered in suitable form for transfer
by delivery or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment or
undated stock powers executed in blank, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent. If any Collateral consists of uncertificated securities, unless the immediately
following sentence is applicable thereto, the Pledgors shall cause the Collateral Agent (or its
designated custodian, nominee or other designee) to become the registered holder thereof, or cause
each issuer of such securities to agree that it will comply with instructions originated by the
Collateral Agent (or its designated custodian, nominee or other designee) with respect to such
securities without further consent by the Pledgors. If any Collateral consists of securities
entitlements, the Pledgors shall transfer such securities entitlements to the Collateral Agent (or
its designated custodian, nominee or other designee) or cause the applicable securities
intermediary to agree that it will comply with entitlement orders by the Collateral Agent (or its
designated custodian, nominee or other designee) without further consent by the Pledgors.




          (b) Promptly upon the receipt by any Pledgor of any Additional Collateral, a Pledge Amendment,
duly executed by such Pledgor, in substantially the form of Annex I hereto (a “Pledge
Amendment”), shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent, in respect of the Additional Collateral
which is or are to be pledged pursuant to this Agreement, which Pledge Amendment shall from and
after delivery thereof constitute part of Schedule I hereto. Each Pledgor hereby
authorizes the Collateral Agent to attach each Pledge Amendment to this Agreement and agrees that
all promissory notes, certificates or instruments listed on any Pledge Amendment shall for all
purposes hereunder constitute Collateral and such Pledgor shall be deemed upon delivery thereof to
have made the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5 with respect to such
Additional Collateral as of the date of the Pledge Amendment.





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          (c) If any Pledgor shall receive, by virtue of such Pledgor’s being or having been an owner of
any Collateral, any (i) stock certificate (including, without limitation, any certificate
representing a stock dividend or distribution in connection with any increase or
reduction of capital, reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale of assets, combination of
shares, stock split, spin-off or split-off), promissory note or other instrument, (ii) option or
right, whether as an addition to, substitution for, or in exchange for, any Collateral, or
otherwise, (iii) dividends payable in cash (except such dividends permitted to be retained by such
Pledgor pursuant to Section 7 hereof) or in securities or other property or (iv) dividends,
distributions, cash, instruments, investment property and other property in connection with a
partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital
surplus or paid-in surplus, such Pledgor shall receive such stock certificate, promissory note,
instrument, option, right, payment or distribution in trust for the benefit of the Collateral
Agent, shall segregate it from such Pledgor’s other property and shall deliver it forthwith to the
Collateral Agent in the exact form received, with any necessary endorsement and/or appropriate
stock powers duly executed in blank, to be held by the Collateral Agent as Collateral and as
further collateral security for the Obligations.




     SECTION 5. Representations and Warranties. Each Pledgor jointly and severally
represents and warrants as of the date of this Agreement as follows:



          (a) Each Pledgor (i) is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state or jurisdiction of its
organization, and (ii) has all corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership power
and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement.




          (b) The execution, delivery and performance by each Pledgor of this Agreement (i) have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership
action, (ii) do not and will not contravene its charter or bylaws, its limited liability company or
operating agreement or its certificate of partnership or partnership agreement, as applicable, or
any applicable law or any contractual restriction binding on or affecting it or any of its
properties, and (iii) do not and will not result in or require the creation of any Lien upon or
with respect to any of its properties other than pursuant to this Agreement.




          (c) The issuers of the Pledged Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto are the Pledgors’
only Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof. The Pledged Shares have been duly authorized and
validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and the holders thereof are not entitled to any
preemptive first refusal or other similar rights. Except as noted in Schedule I hereto,
the Pledged Shares constitute 100% of the issued shares of capital stock, partnership interests or
membership or other equity interests, as applicable, of the Subsidiaries. All other shares of
stock constituting Collateral will be, when issued, duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.




          (d) The Pledgors are and will be at all times the legal and beneficial owners of the
Collateral free and clear of any Lien, other than Permitted Liens.




          (e) The exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights and remedies hereunder will not
contravene any law or any contractual restriction binding on or





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affecting any Pledgor or any of the
properties of any Pledgor and will not result in or require the creation of any Lien upon or with
respect to any of the properties of any Pledgor other than pursuant to this Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents.




          (f) No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any
governmental authority is required to be obtained by any Pledgor for (i) the due execution,
delivery and performance by any Pledgor of this Agreement, (ii) the grant by any Pledgor, or the
perfection of the security interest and Lien purported to be created hereby in the Collateral or
(iii) the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights and remedies hereunder, except as
may be required in connection with any sale of any Collateral by laws affecting the offering and
sale of securities generally.




          (g) This Agreement creates a valid security interest and Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent
in the Collateral, as security for the Obligations. The Collateral Agent’s having possession of
the promissory notes evidencing the Collateral, the certificates representing the Pledged Shares
and all other certificates, instruments and cash constituting Collateral from time to time results
in the perfection of the security interest in such Collateral. Such security interest and Lien is,
or in the case of Collateral in which any of the Pledgors obtains rights after the date hereof,
will be, a perfected Lien. All action necessary to perfect and protect such security interest and
Lien has been duly taken, except for the Collateral Agent’s having possession of certificates,
instruments, securities entitlements and cash constituting Collateral after the date hereof.




     SECTION 6. Covenants as to the Collateral. So long as any Obligations shall remain
outstanding and the Securities Purchase Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall not
have been terminated, each Pledgor will, unless the Collateral Agent shall otherwise consent in
writing:



          (a) keep adequate records concerning the Collateral owned or purported to be owned by it, and
permit the Collateral Agent, or any designees or representatives thereof at any time or from time
to time to examine and make copies of and abstracts from such records;




          (b) at the Pledgors’ joint and several expense, promptly deliver to the Collateral Agent a
copy of each material notice or other material communication received by any Pledgor in respect of
the Collateral;




          (c) at the Pledgors’ joint and several expense, defend the Collateral Agent’s right, title and
security interest in and to the Collateral against the claims of any Person (other than the holders
of Permitted Liens);




          (d) at the Pledgors’ joint and several expense, at any time and from time to time, promptly
execute and deliver all further instruments and documents and take all further action that may be
necessary or that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to (i) perfect and protect,
or maintain the perfection of, the security interest and Lien purported to be created hereby, (ii)
enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder in respect of
the Collateral or (iii) otherwise effect the purposes of this Agreement,





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including, without
limitation, delivering to the Collateral Agent irrevocable proxies in respect of the Collateral;




          (e) not sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise), exchange or otherwise dispose of any
Collateral or any interest therein except in the ordinary course of business or as expressly
permitted by the Securities Purchase Agreement or the Notes;




          (f) not create or suffer to exist any Lien, upon or with respect to any Collateral except for
Permitted Liens;




          (g) not make or consent to any amendment or other modification or waiver with respect to any
Collateral or enter into any agreement or permit to exist any restriction with respect to any
Collateral other than pursuant to the Transaction Documents;




          (h) except as expressly permitted by the Securities Purchase Agreement, not permit the
issuance of (i) any additional shares of any class of capital stock, partnership interests, member
interests or other equity of any Subsidiary, (ii) any securities convertible voluntarily by the
holder thereof or automatically upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or condition
into, or exchangeable for, any such shares of capital stock or (iii) any warrants, options,
contracts or other commitments entitling any Person to purchase or otherwise acquire any such
shares of capital stock;




          (i) not issue any stock certificate, certificated security or other instrument to evidence or
represent any shares of capital stock, any partnership interest or membership interest described in
Schedule I hereto; and




          (j) not take or fail to take any action which would in any manner impair the validity or
enforceability of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in and Lien on any Collateral.




     SECTION 7. Voting Rights, Dividends, Etc. in Respect of the Collateral.



          (a) So long as no Event of Default (as defined in the Notes) (an “Event of Default”) shall
have occurred and be continuing:




               (i) each Pledgor may exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to any
Collateral for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Securities
Purchase Agreement or the other Transaction Documents; provided, however, that (A)
no Pledgor will exercise or refrain from exercising any such right, as the case may be, if the
Collateral Agent gives it notice that, in the Collateral Agent’s judgment, such action (or
inaction) is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect and (B) each Pledgor will give the
Collateral Agent at least five (5) Business Days’ notice of the manner in which it intends to
exercise, or the reasons for refraining from exercising, any such right which is reasonably likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect;



               (ii) the Pledgors may receive and retain any and all dividends, interest or other
distributions paid in respect of the Collateral to the extent permitted by the Securities Purchase
Agreement; provided, however, that any and all (A) dividends and interest



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paid or
payable other than in cash in respect of, and instruments and other property received, receivable
or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for, any Collateral, (B) dividends and other
distributions paid or payable in cash in respect of any Collateral in connection with a partial or
total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or
paid-in surplus, and (C) cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed in redemption of, or in
exchange for, any Collateral, together with any dividend, distribution, interest or other payment
which at the time of such dividend, distribution, interest or other payment was not permitted by
the Securities Purchase Agreement, shall be, and shall forthwith be delivered to the
Collateral Agent to hold as, Collateral and shall, if received by any of the Pledgors, be
received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from the other
property or funds of the Pledgors, and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent in the
exact form received with any necessary indorsement and/or appropriate stock powers duly executed in
blank, to be held by the Collateral Agent as Collateral and as further collateral security for the
Obligations; and




               (iii) the Collateral Agent will execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) to
a Pledgor all such proxies and other instruments as such Pledgor may reasonably request for the
purpose of enabling such Pledgor to exercise the voting and other rights which it is entitled to
exercise pursuant to paragraph (i) of this Section 7(a) and to receive the dividends,
distributions, interest and other payments which it is authorized to receive and retain pursuant to
paragraph (ii) of this Section 7(a), in each case, to the extent that the Collateral Agent
has possession of such Collateral.



          (b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:




               (i) all rights of each Pledgor to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which it
would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (i) of subsection (a) of this
Section 7, and to receive the dividends, distributions, interest and other payments which
it would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to paragraph (ii) of subsection (a)
of this Section 7, shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the
Collateral Agent which shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise such voting and other
consensual rights and to receive and hold as Collateral such dividends, distributions, interest and
other payments;



               (ii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral Agent may at its option
exercise any and all rights of conversion, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges
or options pertaining to any of the Collateral as if it were the absolute owner thereof, including,
without limitation, the right to exchange, in its discretion, any and all of the Collateral upon
the merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other adjustment of any issuer of
the Collateral or upon the exercise by any issuer of the Collateral of any right, privilege or
option pertaining to any Collateral, and, in connection therewith, to deposit and deliver any and
all of the Collateral with any committee, depository, transfer collateral agent, registrar or other
designated collateral agent upon such terms and conditions as it may determine; and



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               (iii) all dividends, distributions, interest and other payments which are received by any
Pledgor contrary to the provisions of paragraph (i) of this Section 7(b) shall be received
in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other funds of such
Pledgor, and shall be forthwith paid over to the Collateral Agent as Collateral in the exact form
received with any necessary indorsement and/or appropriate stock powers duly executed in blank, to
be held by the Collateral Agent as Collateral and as further collateral security for the
Obligations.



     SECTION 8. Additional Provisions Concerning the Collateral.



          (a) Each Pledgor hereby (i) authorizes the Collateral Agent to file one or more financing or
continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relating to the Collateral, without the signature
of such Pledgor where permitted by law, (ii) ratifies such authorization to the extent that the
Collateral Agent has filed any such financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto,
without the signature of such Pledgor prior to the date hereof and (iii) authorizes the Collateral
Agent to execute any agreements, instruments or other documents in such Pledgor’s name and to file
such agreements, instruments or other documents to perfect, protect or enforce the security
interest and Lien of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral or as provided under Article 8 or
Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code in any appropriate filing office.




          (b) Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent as its attorney-in-fact and
proxy, with full authority in the place and stead and in its name or otherwise, from time to time
in the Collateral Agent’s discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument which the
Collateral Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement
(subject to the rights of such Pledgor under Section 7(a) hereof), including, without
limitation, to receive, indorse and collect all instruments made payable to such Pledgor
representing any dividend, interest payment or other distribution in respect of any Collateral and
to give full discharge for the same. This power is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable
until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 13(e) hereof.




          (c) If any Pledgor fails to perform any agreement or obligation contained herein, the
Collateral Agent itself may perform, or cause performance of, such agreement or obligation, and the
expenses of the Collateral Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be jointly and severally
payable by the Pledgors pursuant to Section 10 hereof and shall be secured by the
Collateral.




          (d) Other than the exercise of reasonable care to assure the safe custody of the Collateral
while held hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty or liability to preserve rights
pertaining thereto and shall be relieved of all responsibility for the Collateral upon surrendering
it or tendering surrender of it to any of the Pledgors. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to
have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession
if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Collateral Agent
accords its own property, it being understood that the Collateral Agent shall not have
responsibility for (i) ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges,
maturities, tenders or other matters relating to any Collateral, whether or





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not the Collateral
Agent has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or (ii) taking any necessary steps to
preserve rights against any parties with respect to any Collateral.




          (e) The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest
in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for
the safe custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for monies actually
received by it hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral or as to the
taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights
pertaining to any Collateral.




          (f) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Default or Event of Default, the
Collateral Agent may at any time in its discretion (i) without notice to the Pledgors, transfer or
register in the name of the Collateral Agent or any of its nominees any or all of the Collateral,
subject only to the revocable rights of the Pledgors under Section 7(a) hereof, and (ii)
exchange certificates or instruments constituting Collateral for certificates or instruments of
smaller or larger denominations.




     SECTION 9. Remedies Upon Default. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing:



          (a) The Collateral Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other
rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all of the rights and
remedies of a secured party on default under the Code then in effect in the State of New York; and
without limiting the generality of the foregoing and without notice except as specified below, sell
the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any
exchange or broker’s board or elsewhere, at such price or prices and on such other terms as the
Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable. The Pledgors agree that, to the extent notice
of sale shall be required by law, at least ten (10) days’ notice to any of the Pledgors of the time
and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall
constitute reasonable notification. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale
of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Collateral Agent may adjourn any
public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and
such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.




          (b) Each Pledgor recognizes that it may be impracticable to effect a public sale of all or any
part of the Pledged Shares or any other securities constituting Collateral and that the Collateral
Agent may, therefore, determine to make one or more private sales of any such securities to a
restricted group of purchasers who will be obligated to agree, among other things, to acquire such
securities for its own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale
thereof. Each Pledgor acknowledges that any such private sale may be at prices and on terms less
favorable to the seller than the prices and other terms which might have been obtained at a public
sale and, notwithstanding the foregoing, agrees that such private sales shall be deemed to have
been made in a commercially reasonable manner and that the Collateral Agent shall have no
obligation to delay sale of any such securities for the period of time necessary to permit the
issuer of such securities to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Each Pledgor further






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acknowledges and agrees that any
offer to sell such securities which has been (i) publicly advertised on a bona fide basis in a
newspaper or other publication of general circulation in the financial community of New York, New
York (to the extent that such an offer may be so advertised without prior registration under the
Securities Act) or (ii) made privately in the manner described above to not less than fifteen (15)
bona fide offerees shall be deemed to involve a “public disposition” for the
purposes of Section 9-610 of the Code (or any successor or similar, applicable statutory provision)
as then in effect in the State of New York, notwithstanding that such sale may not constitute a
“public offering” under the Securities Act, and that the Collateral Agent may, in such event, bid
for the purchase of such securities.




          (c) Any cash held by the Collateral Agent as Collateral and all cash proceeds received by the
Collateral Agent in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, all or any
part of the Collateral shall be applied (after payment of any amounts payable to the Collateral
Agent pursuant to Section 10 hereof) by the Collateral Agent against, all or any part of
the Obligations in such order as the Collateral Agent shall elect consistent with the provisions of
the Securities Purchase Agreement.




          (d) In the event that the proceeds of any such sale, collection or realization are
insufficient to pay all amounts to which the Collateral Agent is legally entitled, the Pledgors
shall be jointly and severally liable for the deficiency, together with interest thereon at the
highest rate specified in the Notes for interest on overdue principal thereof or such other rate as
shall be fixed by applicable law, together with the costs of collection and the reasonable fees,
costs and expenses of any attorneys employed by the Collateral Agent to collect such deficiency.




     SECTION 10. Indemnity and Expenses.



          (a) Each of the Pledgors, jointly and severally, hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the
Collateral Agent (and all of its officers, directors, employees, attorneys, and consultants)
harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, obligations, penalties,
fees, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and disbursements of
counsel) to the extent that they arise out of or otherwise result from this Agreement (including,
without limitation, enforcement of this Agreement), except such claims, losses or liabilities
arising or resulting directly from such Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.




          (b) Each Pledgor shall be jointly and severally obligated for, and will upon demand pay to the
Collateral Agent the reasonable amount of any and all out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including
the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Collateral Agent’s counsel and of any experts which
the Collateral Agent may incur in connection with (i) the preparation, negotiation, execution,
delivery, recordation, administration, amendment, waiver or other modification or termination of
this Agreement, (ii) the custody, preservation, use or operation of, or the sale of, collection
from, or other realization upon, any Collateral, (iii) the exercise or enforcement of any of the
rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, or (iv) the failure by any Pledgor to perform or observe
any of the provisions hereof.





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     SECTION 11. Notices, Etc. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be mailed (by certified mail, postage prepaid and return receipt
requested), sent by Federal Express or other recognized courier service (return receipt requested),
telecopied or delivered, if to any Pledgor, to it at the address specified for the Company in the
Securities Purchase Agreement or if to the Collateral Agent, to it at the address specified in the
Securities Purchase Agreement; or as to either such Person at such other address as shall be
designated by such Person in a written notice to such other Person complying as to delivery with
the terms of this Section 11. All such notices and other communications shall be effective
(i) if sent by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, when received or three
(3) Business Days after mailing, whichever first occurs, (ii) if telecopied, when transmitted and
confirmation is received, provided same is on a Business Day and, if not, on the next
Business Day or (iii) if delivered or sent by Federal Express or other recognized courier service
(return receipt requested), upon delivery, provided same is on a Business Day and, if
not, on the next Business Day.



     SECTION 12. Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Collateral Agent, all Liens
and all obligations of each of the Pledgors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional
irrespective of: (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Securities Purchase Agreement
or any other Transaction Document, (ii) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or
in any other term in respect of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of
or consent to any departure from the Securities Purchase Agreement or any other Transaction
Document, (iii) any exchange or release of, or non-perfection of any Lien on any Collateral, or any
release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any guaranty, for all or any of the
Obligations, or (iv) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available
to, or a discharge of, any of the Pledgors in respect of the Obligations (other than the payment in
full of the Obligations). All authorizations and agencies contained herein with respect to any of
the Collateral are irrevocable and powers coupled with an interest.



     SECTION 13. Miscellaneous.



          (a) No amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing
and signed by each Pledgor and the Collateral Agent, and no waiver of any provision of this
Agreement, and no consent to any departure by the Pledgors therefrom, shall be effective unless it
is in writing and signed by the Collateral Agent, and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.




          (b) No failure on the part of the Collateral Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising,
any right hereunder or under any other Transaction Document shall operate as a waiver hereof or
thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further
exercise hereof or thereof or the exercise of any other right. The rights and remedies of the
Collateral Agent provided herein and in the other Transaction Documents are cumulative and are in
addition to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies provided by law. The rights of the
Collateral Agent under any Transaction Document against any party thereto are not conditional or
contingent on any attempt by the Collateral Agent to exercise any of its rights under any other
Transaction Document against such party or against any other Person.






-12-









 








          (c) Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction
shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or affecting the validity or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.




          (d) This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in and Lien on the Collateral
and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the termination of this Agreement in accordance
with Section 13 (e) hereof and (ii) be binding on the Pledgors and their respective successors and
assigns and shall inure, together with all rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent, to the
benefit of the Collateral Agent and its successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the
generality of clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Collateral Agent may assign or
otherwise transfer its rights and obligations under this Agreement and any other Transaction
Document to any other Person pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, and such
other Person shall thereupon become vested with all of the
benefits in respect thereof granted to the Collateral Agent herein or otherwise. Upon any
such assignment or transfer, all references in this Agreement to the Collateral Agent shall mean
the assignee of the Collateral Agent. None of the rights or obligations of any of the Pledgors
hereunder may be assigned or otherwise transferred without the prior written consent of the
Collateral Agent, and any such assignment or transfer shall be null and void.




          (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) this Agreement (along with
all powers of attorney granted hereunder) and the security interests and Lien created hereby shall
terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the Pledgors upon the repayment in full
and/or complete conversion to equity securities of the Company of all indebtedness obligations owed
by the Company to the Buyers under the Notes (including, without limitation, all principal,
interest and fees related to the Notes), and (ii) the Collateral Agent will, upon each Pledgor’s
request and at each such Pledgor’s expense, (A) return to such Pledgor such of the Collateral (to
the extent delivered to the Collateral Agent) as shall not have been sold or otherwise disposed of
or applied pursuant to the terms hereof, and (B) execute and deliver to such Pledgor, without
recourse, representation or warranty, such documents as such Pledgor shall reasonably request to
evidence such termination.




          (f) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY MANDATORY PROVISIONS OF LAW AND EXCEPT TO THE
EXTENT THAT THE VALIDITY AND PERFECTION OR THE PERFECTION AND THE EFFECT OF PERFECTION OR
NON-PERFECTION OF THE SECURITY INTEREST CREATED HEREBY, OR REMEDIES HEREUNDER, IN RESPECT OF ANY
PARTICULAR COLLATERAL ARE GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.




          (g) ANY LEGAL ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT
RELATED HERETO MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND APPELLATE COURTS THEREOF,
AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PLEDGOR HEREBY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF







-13-









 







AND IN
RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE
AFORESAID COURTS. EACH PLEDGOR HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF
VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR
HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH RESPECTIVE
JURISDICTIONS AND CONSENTS TO THE GRANTING OF SUCH LEGAL OR EQUITABLE RELIEF AS IS DEEMED
APPROPRIATE BY THE COURT.




          (h) EACH PLEDGOR AND (BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT) THE COLLATERAL
AGENT WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED ON, ARISING
OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, OR
ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE
OF DEALING, ORAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENT OR OTHER ACTION OF THE PARTIES HERETO.




          (i) Each Pledgor irrevocably consents to the service of process of any of the aforesaid courts
in any such action, suit or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified
mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to any Pledgor at its address
provided herein, such service to become effective 10 days after such mailing.




          (j) Nothing contained herein shall affect the right of the Collateral Agent to serve process
in any other manner permitted by law or commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any
Pledgor or any property of any Pledgor in any other jurisdiction.




          (k) Each Pledgor irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to claim or
recover in any legal action, suit or proceeding referred to in this Section any special, exemplary,
punitive or consequential damages.




          (l) Section headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall not
constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose.




          (m) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
taken together constitute one in the same Agreement.




[Signature Page Follows]




-14-









 





          In Witness Whereof, each Pledgor has caused this Agreement to be executed and
delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	HYTHIAM, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Chuck Timpe	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name: Chuck Timpe	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title: Chief Financial Officer	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Address: 11150 Santa Monica Boulevard	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	                 Suite 1500	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	                 Los Angeles, California 90025	 	 
	 
	 

	 	 	 	Facsimile: (310) 444-5300	 	 






ACCEPTED BY:




HIGHBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL LLC,

as Collateral Agent




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	Highbridge Capital Management, LLC
	 	 
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Adam J. Chill	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name: Adam J. Chill	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title: Managing Director	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Address: c/o Highbridge Capital Management, LLC	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	               9 West 57th Street, 27th Floor	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	               New York, New York 10019	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Facsimile: (212) 751-0755	 	 	 	 






Pledge Agreement





 









 








SCHEDULE I TO PLEDGE AGREEMENT




Pledged Shares




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Number of	 	% of Issuer’s	 	 	 	Certificate
	       Pledgor	 	Name of Issuer	 	Shares	 	Issued Shares	 	Class	 	No.(s)
	Hythiam, Inc.

	 	Hythiam International
(Cayman) Ltd.
	 	                    
	 	 	65	%	 	[Common] [Ordinary] [Stock]
	 	                     
	 
	Hythiam, Inc.

	 	Hythiam International Sarl
	 	                    
	 	 	65	%	 	[Common] [Ordinary] [Stock]
	 	                     
	 
	Hythiam, Inc.

	 	Quit System Sarl
	 	                    
	 	 	65	%	 	[Common] [Ordinary] [Stock]
	 	                     
	 
	Hythiam, Inc.

	 	Hythiam Switzerland Sarl
	 	                    
	 	 	65	%	 	[Common] [Ordinary] [Stock]
	 	                     
	 
	Hythiam, Inc.

	 	Quit System Italy Srl
	 	                    
	 	 	65	%	 	[Common] [Ordinary] [Stock]
	 	                     
	 
	Hythiam, Inc.

	 	Quit Systems Spain Trading S1
	 	                    
	 	 	65	%	 	[Common] [Ordinary] [Stock]
	 	                     






 









 






ANNEX I




TO




PLEDGE AGREEMENT




PLEDGE AMENDMENT




          This Pledge Amendment, dated as of                                                    
         , 20___, is delivered pursuant to Section
4 of the Pledge Agreement referred to below. The undersigned hereby agrees that this Pledge
Amendment may be attached to the Pledge Agreement, dated as of January                     , 2007, made by [Pledgor]
and certain of its affiliates in favor of HIGHBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL LLC, as Collateral Agent for the
Buyers (the “Collateral Agent”), as it may heretofore have been or hereafter may be amended or
otherwise modified or supplemented from time to time and that the promissory notes [and/or] shares
or other equity interests listed on this Pledge Amendment shall be hereby pledged and assigned to
the Collateral Agent and become part of the Collateral referred to in such Pledge Agreement and
shall secure all of the Obligations referred to in such Pledge Agreement.




Pledged Shares




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	Number of Shares	 	 	 	 	 	 	Certificate	 
	Pledgor	 	Name of Issuer	 	 	or Other Equity Interests	 	 	Class	 	 	No.(s)	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 





	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	[PLEDGOR]
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title: