Document:

STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

EXHIBIT 10.15

STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT

     THIS STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of
January 9, 2003 by and among Party City Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the “Pledgor”), Party City Michigan, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Pledged Stock Issuer”) and Wells Fargo Retail Finance, LLC, as the arranger,
collateral agent and administrative agent (the “Agent” or the “Secured Party”),
on its own behalf and on behalf of the Lender Group and any other holder of
Obligations under, and as defined in, the Loan Agreement referred to below (the
Lender Group and such other holders of Obligations, collectively, the “Secured
Obligation Holders”).

Introduction

     Concurrently with the execution and delivery hereof, the Pledgor is
entering into a Loan and Security Agreement dated as of the date hereof (as
amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the “Loan Agreement”) with the Agent and the financial institutions from
time to time party thereto as lenders (the “Lenders”) pursuant to which the
Agent and the Lenders have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set
forth therein, to make certain revolving credit loans and to provide other
financial accommodations to the Borrower (collectively, the “Loans”).

     It is a condition precedent to the effectiveness of the Loan Agreement
that the Pledgor execute and deliver to the Agent, for its benefit and the
benefit of the Secured Obligation Holders, a stock pledge agreement in
substantially the form hereof.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the willingness of the Agent and the
Lenders to enter into the Loan Agreement and to agree, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth therein, to make the Loans to the Pledgor pursuant
thereto, and for other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, it is hereby agreed as follows:

     1. Security Interest. The Pledgor hereby deposits with and pledges to the
Secured Party, for the benefit of the Secured Obligation Holders, the shares of
capital stock of the Pledged Stock Issuer listed on Schedule I attached hereto
(the “Pledged Stock”) and the promissory notes or other instruments, if any,
payable to the Pledgor listed on Schedule I attached hereto (the “Pledged
Notes” and collectively with the Pledged Stock and any additional securities or
collateral now or hereafter pledged hereunder, the “Pledged Collateral”), and
the Pledgor hereby grants to the Secured Party, for the benefit of the Secured
Party and the Secured Obligation Holders, a security interest in and lien on
all of the Pledgor’s right, title and interest in and to the Pledged Collateral
as security for the due and punctual payment and performance of the Secured
Obligations described in Section 2 hereof.

     2. Secured Obligations. The security interest hereby granted shall secure
the due and punctual payment and performance of the following liabilities and
obligations of each of the Pledgor and the Pledged Stock Issuer (herein called
the “Secured Obligations”):

          (a) Principal of and premium, if any, and interest (including any interest
that would accrue in the Secured Obligations but for the operation of the
United States Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable insolvency law) on the
Advances and any other amount owed to the Secured Obligation Holders under the
Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents; and

 

 

           (b) Any and all other obligations of the Pledgor to the Secured Party and
the Lenders arising out of or relating to the Advances, the Loan Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, or under any agreement or instrument relating
thereto, all as amended from time to time.

     3. Special Warranties and Covenants of the Pledgor. The Pledgor hereby
warrants and covenants to the Secured Party and the Lenders that:

          (a) The Pledged Collateral is duly and validly pledged with the Secured
Party, for the benefit of the Secured Party and the Secured Obligation Holders,
in accordance with law and the Pledgor warrants and will defend the Secured
Party’s and the Lenders’ right, title and security interest in and to the
Pledged Collateral against the claims and demands of all persons whomsoever.

          (b) This Agreement and the delivery of the Pledged Collateral to the
Secured Party creates a perfected first priority security interest in all of
the Pledged Collateral in favor of the Secured Party for the benefit of the
Secured Obligation Holders, securing payment of the Secured Obligations, and
all actions necessary to achieve such perfection have been taken.

          (c) The Pledgor owns the Pledged Collateral, free and clear of all claims,
mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests and other encumbrances of every
nature whatsoever except Permitted Liens.

          (d) All of the Pledged Stock has been duly and validly issued and is fully
paid and nonassessable.

          (e) The Pledged Stock constitutes all of the presently issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Pledged Stock Issuer. The Pledged Notes
constitute all promissory notes, or negotiable instruments (other than checks
or drafts) payable to the Pledgor.

          (f) If (i) any additional shares of capital stock of any class of the
Pledged Stock Issuer or if any promissory notes of the Pledged Stock Issuer or
other securities of the Pledged Stock Issuer and/ or (ii) any promissory notes,
or negotiable instruments (other than checks or drafts) payable to the Pledgor
are acquired by the Pledgor after the date hereof, the same shall constitute
Pledged Collateral and shall be deposited and pledged with the Secured Party,
for the benefit of the Secured Party and the Lenders, as provided in Section 1
hereof simultaneously with such acquisition. The Pledgor will promptly notify
the Secured Party of the date and amount of any loans made from time to time by
the Pledgor to the Pledged Stock Issuer.

          (g) If at any time and from time to time any Pledged Collateral consists
of an uncertificated security or a security in book entry form, then Pledged
Stock Issuer shall either (i) immediately register or enter the Pledged
Collateral, as the case may be, in the name of Secured Party, for the benefit
of the Secured Obligation Holders, or (ii) otherwise cause Secured Party’s
security interest thereon to be perfected in accordance with applicable law.

          (h) Pledgor has taken all steps it deems necessary or appropriate to be
informed on a continuing basis of changes or potential changes affecting the
Pledged Collateral (including rights of conversion and exchange, rights to
subscribe, payment of dividends,

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reorganizations or recapitalization, tender offers and voting rights), and
Pledgor agrees that neither Secured Party nor any Lender shall have any
responsibility or liability for informing Pledgor of any such changes or
potential changes or for taking any action or omitting to take any action with
respect thereto.

          (i) All information herein or hereafter supplied to Secured Party by or on
behalf of Pledgor in writing with respect to the Pledged Collateral is, or in
the case of information hereafter supplied will be, accurate and complete in
all material respects.

          (j) The Pledgor will not sell, convey or otherwise dispose of any of the
Pledged Collateral, nor will the Pledgor create, incur or permit to exist any
pledge, mortgage, lien, charge, encumbrance or any security interest whatsoever
with respect to any of the Pledged Collateral or the proceeds thereof, other
than liens on and security interests in the Pledged Collateral created hereby
or which are otherwise expressly permitted under the Loan Agreement.

          (k) The Pledgor will not consent to or approve the issuance of any
additional shares of capital stock of any class of the Pledged Stock Issuer if
such issuance would violate the terms of the Loan Agreement or would cause a
Default or Event of Default under the Loan Agreement and, in the event that any
such additional shares of capital stock are issued to any of the Pledgor, they
shall be deposited and pledged with the Secured Party simultaneously with such
issuance as provided in Section 1 hereof.

          (l) Neither the pledge of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this
Agreement nor the extensions of credit represented by the Secured Obligations
violates Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.

     4. Further Assurances.

          (a) Pledgor agrees that from time to time, at the expense of Pledgor,
Pledgor will promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and
documents, and take all further action that may be necessary or reasonably
desirable, or that Secured Party may request, in order to perfect and protect
any security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable
Secured Party to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with
respect to any Pledged Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Pledgor and/or Pledged Stock Issuer, as the case may be, will: (i)
authorize (or execute and file, if and as applicable) such financing or
continuation statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or
notices, as may be necessary or reasonably desirable, or as Secured Party may
request, in order to perfect and preserve the security interests granted or
purported to be granted hereby;; and (ii) appear in and defend any action or
proceeding that may affect Pledgor’s title to or Secured Party’s security
interest in the Pledged Collateral.

          (b) Pledgor hereby authorizes Secured Party to file one or more financing
or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relative to all or any part
of the Pledged Collateral. A carbon, photographic, or other reproduction of
this Agreement or any financing statement covering the Pledged Collateral or
any part thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted
by law.

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           (c) Upon request Pledgor will furnish to Secured Party: (i) a certificate
executed by an authorized officer of Pledgor, and dated as of the date of
delivery to Secured Party, itemizing in such detail as Secured Party may
request, the Pledged Collateral which, as of the date of such certificate, has
been delivered to Secured Party by Pledgor pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement; and (ii) such statements and schedules further identifying and
describing the Pledged Collateral and such other reports in connection with the
Pledged Collateral as Secured Party may request.

     5. Covenants of Pledgor. Pledgor shall:

          (a) Perform each and every covenant in the Loan Documents applicable to
Pledgor; and

          (b) Upon receipt by Pledgor or any material notice, report, or other
communication from any of the Pledged Stock Issuer relating to all or any part
of the Pledged Collateral, deliver such notices, report or other communication
to Secured Party as soon as possible, but in no event later than five (5) days
following the receipt thereof by Pledgor.

     6. Secured Party as Pledgor’s Attorney-in-Fact.

          (a) Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints Secured Party as Pledgor’s
attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of Pledgor and in
the name of Pledgor, Secured Party or otherwise, from time to time at Secured
Party’s discretion, to take any action and to execute any instrument that
Secured Party may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement, including: (i) upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, to receive, endorse, and collect all
instruments made payable to Pledgor representing any dividend, interest payment
or other distribution in respect of the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof
to the extent permitted hereunder and to give full discharge for the same and
to execute and file governmental notifications and reporting forms; (ii) to
issue any notifications/instructions Secured Party deems necessary pursuant to
Section 3 of this Agreement; or (iii) upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, to arrange for the transfer of the Pledged
Collateral on the books of any of the Pledged Stock Issuer or any other Person
to the name of Secured party or to the name of Secured Party’s nominee, for the
benefit of the Secured Obligation Holders.

          (b) In addition to the designation of Secured Party as Pledgor’s
attorney-in-fact in subsection (a), upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints Secured
Party as Pledgor’s agent and attorney-in-fact to make, execute and deliver any
and all documents and writings which may be necessary or appropriate for
approval of, or be required by, any regulatory authority located in any city,
county, state or country where Pledgor or any of the Pledged Stock Issuer
engage in business, in order to transfer or to more effectively transfer any of
the Pledged Shares or otherwise enforce Secured Party’s rights hereunder.

     7. Distributions. In case, upon the dissolution, winding up, liquidation
or reorganization of the Pledged Stock Issuer whether in bankruptcy, insolvency
or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors
or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Pledged Stock
Issuer or otherwise, any sum shall be paid or any

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property shall be distributed upon or with respect to any of the Pledged
Collateral, such sum shall be paid over to the Secured Party to be held as
collateral security for the Secured Obligations. In case any stock dividend
shall be declared on any of the Pledged Collateral, or any share of stock or
fraction thereof shall be issued pursuant to any stock split involving any of
the Pledged Collateral, or any distribution of capital (including cash
dividends, except those expressly allowed under the Loan Agreement) shall be
made on any of the Pledged Collateral, or any property shall be distributed
upon or with respect to the Pledged Collateral pursuant to recapitalization or
reclassification of the capital of the Pledged Stock Issuer, the shares or
other property so distributed shall be delivered to the Secured Party to be
held as collateral security for the Secured Obligations.

     8. Events of Default. There shall exist a default under this Agreement
upon the happening of any of the following events or conditions (herein called
“Events of Default”):

          (a) Default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of any principal
of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Secured Obligations as and
when the same shall become due and payable (whether at maturity or at a date
fixed for any payment or prepayment or installment or by demand, declaration,
acceleration or otherwise) and such default shall continue beyond the
expiration of the applicable period of grace, if any; or

          (b) Any other Event of Default (as defined or provided in the Loan
Agreement) shall occur; or

          (c) There shall be a material breach of any term or provision contained
herein, or any representation and/or warranty made in this Agreement.

     9. Rights and Remedies of Secured Party. Upon the occurrence and
continuance of any Event of Default, such default not having previously been
remedied or cured within any applicable grace or cure periods, the Secured
Party shall have the following rights and remedies:

          (a) All rights and remedies provided by law, including, without
limitation, those provided by the New York Uniform Commercial Code;

          (b) All rights and remedies provided in this Agreement; and

          (c) All rights and remedies provided in the Loan Agreement, the Security
Documents or in any other Loan Document, other agreement, document or
instrument pertaining to the Secured Obligations.

     10. Right to Transfer into Name of Secured Party, etc. In case there
shall exist an Event of Default that shall be continuing after applicable grace
and cure periods, but subject to the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code
or other applicable law, the Secured Party may cause all or any of the Pledged
Collateral to be transferred into its name or into the name of its nominee or
nominees. So long as no Event of Default shall exist and be continuing, the
Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise as the Pledgor shall deem fit, but in a
manner not inconsistent with the terms hereof or of the Secured Obligations,
the voting power with respect to the Pledged Collateral. In addition, Secured
Party shall have the right at any time to exchange certificates or

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instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for certificates
or instruments of smaller or larger denominations.

     11. Right of Secured Party to Exercise Voting Power, etc. In case there
shall exist an Event of Default, which shall not have been remedied or cured,
the Secured Party, until such Event of Default has been remedied or cured in
accordance with the Loan Agreement shall be entitled to exercise the voting
power with respect to the Pledged Collateral, to receive and retain, as
collateral security for the Secured Obligations, any and all dividends or other
distributions at any time and from time to time declared or made upon any of
the Pledged Collateral, and to exercise any and all rights of payment,
conversion, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges or options
pertaining to the Pledged Collateral as if it were the absolute owner thereof,
including without limitation, the right to exchange, at its discretion, any and
all of the Pledged Collateral upon the merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization or other readjustment of the Pledged Stock Issuer or, upon the
exercise of any such right, privilege or option pertaining to the Pledged
Collateral, and in connection therewith, to deposit and deliver any and all of
the Pledged Collateral with any committee, depositary, transfer agent,
registrar or other designated agency upon such terms and conditions as the
Secured Party may determine, all without liability except to account for
property actually received, neither the Secured Party nor any of the Lenders
shall have any duty to exercise any of the aforesaid rights, privileges or
options and shall not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so
doing.

     12. Right of Secured Party to Dispose of Collateral, etc. Upon the
occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, such default not having
previously been remedied or cured within any applicable grace or cure periods,
the Secured Party shall have the right, unless the Event of Default shall have
been remedied or cured in accordance with the Loan Agreement prior to taking
any such actions, at any time or times thereafter to sell, resell, assign and
deliver all or any of the Pledged Collateral in one or more parcels at any
exchange or broker’s board or at public or private sale. Unless the Pledged
Collateral is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in value or is of a
type customarily sold on a recognized market, the Secured Party will give the
Pledgor at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice at the respective
addresses of the Pledgor specified in Section 23 hereof of the time and place
of any public sale thereof or of the time after which any private sale or any
other intended disposition thereof is to be made. Any such notice shall be
deemed to meet any requirement hereunder or under any applicable law (including
the Uniform Commercial Code) that reasonable notification be given of the time
and place of such sale or other disposition. Such notice may be given without
any demand of performance or other demand, all such demands being hereby
expressly waived by the Pledgor. All such sales shall be conducted in a
commercially reasonable manner and shall be at such commercially reasonable
price or prices as the Secured Party shall deem best and either for cash or on
credit or for future delivery (without assuming any responsibility for credit
risk). At any such sale or sales the Secured Party may purchase any or all of
the Pledged Collateral to be sold thereat upon such terms as the Secured Party
may deem best. Upon any such sale or sales the Pledged Collateral so purchased
shall be held by the purchaser absolutely free from any claims or rights of
whatsoever kind or nature, including any equity of redemption and any similar
rights, all such equity of redemption and any similar rights being hereby
expressly waived and released by the Pledgor. In the event any consent,
approval or authorization of any governmental agency will be necessary to
effectuate any such sale or sales, the Pledgor shall execute, and hereby agree
to cause the Pledged Stock Issuer to execute, all such applications or other
instruments as may be

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required. The proceeds of any such sale or sales, together with any other
additional collateral security at the time received and held hereunder, shall
be received and applied: first, to the payment of all costs and expenses of
such sale, including reasonable attorneys’ fees; second, to the payment of the
Secured Obligations in such order of priority as the Secured Party shall
determine, and any surplus thereafter remaining shall be paid to the Pledgor or
to whomever may be legally entitled thereto (including, if applicable, any
subordinated creditor of the Pledged Stock Issuer or the Pledgor).

     The Pledgor recognizes that the Secured Party may be unable to effect a
public sale of all or a part of the Pledged Collateral by reason of certain
prohibitions contained in the Securities Act of 1933, but may be compelled to
resort to one or more private sales to a restricted group of purchasers, each
of whom will be obligated to agree, among other things, to acquire such Pledged
Collateral for its own account, for investment and not with a view to the
distribution or resale thereof. The Pledgor acknowledges that private sales so
made may be at prices and upon other terms less favorable to the seller than if
such Pledged Collateral were sold at public sales, and that the Secured Party
has no obligation to delay sale of any such Pledged Collateral for the period
of time necessary to permit such Pledged Collateral to be registered for public
sale under the Securities Act of 1933. The Pledgor agrees that any such
private sales shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially
unreasonable manner solely because they shall have been made under the
foregoing circumstances.

     If Secured Party, for the benefit of the Lenders, shall determine to
exercise its right to sell all or any portion of the Pledged Collateral
pursuant to this Section, Pledged Stock Issuer agrees that, upon request of
Secured Party, Pledged Stock Issuer will, at its own expense:

		
	 	     (i) execute and deliver, all such instruments and documents, and to
do or cause to be done all such other acts and things, as may be
necessary or, in the opinion of Secured Party, advisable to register such
Pledged Collateral under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933,
and use its best efforts to cause the registration statement relating
thereto to become effective and to remain effective for such period as
prospectuses are required by law to be furnished, and to make all
amendments and supplements thereto and to the related prospectuses which,
in the opinion of Secured Party, are necessary or advisable, all in
conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
applicable thereto;

		
	 	     (ii) use its best efforts to qualify the Pledged Collateral under
the state securities laws or “Blue Sky” laws and to obtain all necessary
governmental approvals for the sale of the Pledged Collateral, as
requested by Secured Party;

		
	 	     (iii) make available to its respective security holders, as soon as
practicable, an earnings statement which will satisfy the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act of 1933;

		
	 	     (iv) execute and deliver to any person, entity or governmental
authority as Secured Party may choose, any and all documents and writings
which, in Secured Party’s reasonable judgment, may be necessary or
appropriate for approval, or be required by, any regulatory authority
located in any city, state or country where Pledgor or the

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	 	Pledged Stock Issuer engage in business, in order to transfer or to
more effectively transfer the Pledged Shares or otherwise enforce Secured
Party’s rights hereunder; and

		
	 	     (v) do or cause to be done all such other acts and things as may be
necessary to make such sale of the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof
valid and binding and in compliance with applicable law.

     Pledgor acknowledges that there is no adequate remedy at law for failure
by it to comply with the provisions of this Section and that such failure would
not be adequately compensable in damages, and therefore agrees that its
agreements contained in this Section may be specifically enforced.

     13. Collection of Amounts Payable on Account of Pledged Collateral, etc.
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the
Secured Party may, but without obligation to do so, demand, sue for and/or
collect any money or property at any time due, payable or receivable, to which
it may be entitled hereunder, on account of or in exchange for any of the
Pledged Collateral and shall have the right, for and in the name, place and
stead of the Pledgor, to execute endorsements, assignments or other instruments
of conveyance or transfer with respect to all or any of the Pledged Collateral.

     14. Care of Pledged Collateral in Secured Party’s Possession. Beyond the
exercise of reasonable care to assure the safe custody of the Pledged
Collateral while held hereunder, the Secured Party shall have no duty or
liability to collect any sums due in respect thereof or to protect or preserve
rights pertaining thereto, and shall be relieved of all responsibility for the
Pledged Collateral upon surrendering the same to the Pledgor.

     15. Waivers, etc. The Pledgor hereby waives presentment, demand, notice,
protest and, except as is otherwise provided herein, all other demands and
notices in connection with this Agreement or the enforcement of the Secured
Party’s or the Lenders’ respective rights hereunder or in connection with any
Secured Obligations or any Pledged Collateral; consent to and waive notice of
the granting of renewals, extensions of time for payment or other indulgences
to the Pledged Stock Issuer or the Pledgor or to any third party, or
substitution, release or surrender of any collateral security for any Secured
Obligation, the addition or release of persons primarily or secondarily liable
on any Secured Obligation or on any collateral security for any Secured
Obligation, the acceptance of partial payments on any Secured Obligation or on
any collateral security for any Secured Obligation and/or the settlement or
compromise thereof. No delay or omission on the part of the Secured Party in
exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of such right or of
any other right hereunder. Any waiver of any such right on any one occasion
shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any such right on any future
occasion. The Pledgor further waives any right it may have under the
Constitution of The State of New York (or under the constitution of any other
state in which any of the Pledged Collateral may be located), or under the
Constitution of the United States of America, to notice (other than any
requirement of notice provided herein) or to a judicial hearing prior to the
exercise of any right or remedy provided by this Agreement to the Secured Party
and waives their rights, if any, to set aside or invalidate any sale duly
consummated in accordance with the foregoing provisions hereof on the grounds
(if such be the case) that the sale was consummated without a prior judicial
hearing. The Pledgor’s waivers under this section have been made voluntarily,

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intelligently and knowingly and after the Pledgor has been apprised and
counseled by its attorneys as to the nature thereof and its possible
alternative rights.

     16. Termination; Assignment, etc. This Agreement and the security
interest in the Pledged Collateral created hereby shall terminate when all of
the Secured Obligations other than contingent indemnification obligations for
which neither the Agent nor the Lenders have yet made a claim have been paid in
full in cash (provided that the Secured Party and the Lenders are no longer
obligated to make Loans under the Loan Agreement). For all purposes of this
Agreement, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have been cured or
waived except as expressly provided in the Loan Agreement. No waiver by the
Secured Party or by any other holder of Secured Obligations of any default
shall be effective unless in writing nor operate as a waiver of any other
default or of the same default on a future occasion. In the event of a sale or
assignment by the Secured Party of all or any of the Secured Obligations held
by it in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement, the Secured Party may
assign or transfer the rights and interest of the Secured Party, for the
benefit of the Lenders, under this Agreement in whole or in part to the
purchaser or purchasers of such Secured Obligations, whereupon such purchaser
or purchasers shall become vested with all of the powers and rights of the
Secured Party hereunder, and the Secured Party shall thereafter be forever
released and fully discharged from any liability or responsibility hereunder
with respect to the rights and interest so assigned.

     17. Reinstatement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13, this
Agreement shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be,
if at any time any amount received by the Secured Party in respect of the
Secured Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by
the Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or
reorganization of the Pledged Stock Issuer or the Pledgor or upon the
appointment of any intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar official
for, the Pledged Stock Issuer or the Pledgor or any substantial part of their
respective properties, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been
made.

     18. Governmental Approvals, etc. Upon the exercise by the Secured Party
of any power, right, privilege or remedy pursuant to this Agreement which
requires any consent, approval, qualification or authorization of any
governmental authority or instrumentality, the Pledgor will execute and
deliver, or will cause the execution and delivery of, all applications,
certificates, instruments and other documents and papers that the Secured Party
may be required to obtain for such governmental consent, approval,
qualification or authorization.

     19. Restrictions on Transfer, etc. To the extent that any restrictions
imposed by the charter or by-laws of any Pledged Stock Issuer or any agreement
among the holders of capital stock of the Pledged Stock Issuer or other
document or instrument would in any way affect or impair the pledge of the
Pledged Collateral hereunder or the exercise by the Secured Party of any right
granted hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Secured
Party to dispose of the Pledged Collateral upon the occurrence of any Event of
Default, the Pledgor hereby waives such restrictions. The Pledged Stock Issuer
represents and warrants that it has taken each necessary action to waive such
restrictions. The Pledgor Stock Issuer and the Pledgor will each take any
further action which the Secured Party may reasonably request in order that the
Secured Party and the Lenders may obtain and enjoy the full rights and benefits
granted to the Secured Party and the Lenders by this Agreement free of any such
restrictions.

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     20. Amendments. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement
nor consent to any departure by Pledgor herefrom shall in any event be
effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Secured Party, and
then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance
and for the specific purpose for which given.

     21. Security Interest Absolute. To the maximum extent permitted by law,
all rights of Secured Party and the Lenders, all security interests hereunder,
and all obligations of Pledgor hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional
irrespective of:

          (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any of the Secured
Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto, including
any of the Loan Documents;

          (b) any change in the time, manner, or place of payment of, or in any
other term of, all or any of the Secured Obligations, or any other amendment or
waiver of or any consent to any departure from any of the Loan Documents, or
any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

          (c) any exchange, release, or non-perfection of any other collateral, or
any release or amendment or waiver o or consent to departure from any guaranty
for all or any of the Secured Obligations; or

          (d) any other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a defense
available to, or a discharge of, Pledgor.

     To the maximum extent permitted by law, Pledgor hereby waives any right to
require Secured Party to: (A) proceed against or exhaust any security held
from Pledgor; or (B) pursue any other remedy in Secured Party’s power
whatsoever.

     22. Waiver of Marshaling. Each of Pledgor and Secured Party acknowledges
and agrees that in exercising any rights under or with respect to the Pledged
Collateral: (i) Secured Party is under no obligation to marshal any Pledged
Collateral; (ii) may, in its absolute discretion, realize upon the Pledged
Collateral in any order and in any manner it so elects; and (iii) may, in its
absolute discretion, apply the proceeds of any or all of the Pledged Collateral
to the Secured Obligations in any order and in any manner it so elects.
Pledgor and Secured Party waive any right to require the marshaling of any of
the Pledged Collateral.

     23. Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices to the
Pledgor or to the Secured Party shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been sufficiently given or served for all purposes hereof if made in accordance
with and delivered to the respective addresses provided in Section 12 of the
Loan Agreement.

     24. Miscellaneous.

          (a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Secured Party and the Pledgor and their respective successors and assigns. In
case any provision in this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

10

 

           (b) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by
the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which shall be
an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

     25. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement,
including the validity hereof and the rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal
laws of The State of New York (without reference to conflicts of law
principles). The Pledgor, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, hereby
consents to service of process, and to be sued, in The State of New York and
consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of The State of New York and the
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, as well as
to the jurisdiction of all courts to which an appeal may be taken from such
courts, for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of
any of their respective and/or joint obligations hereunder or with respect to
the transactions contemplated hereby, and expressly waive any and all
objections they may have as to venue in any such courts. The Pledgor further
agrees that a summons and complaint commencing an action or proceeding in any
of such courts shall be properly served and shall confer personal jurisdiction
if served personally or by certified mail to it at its address provided in
Section 23 hereof or as otherwise provided under the laws of The State of New
York. THE PLEDGOR IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT,
ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING INSTITUTED BY OR AGAINST THE PLEDGOR IN RESPECT OF
ITS OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

     26. Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this
Agreement shall have the respective meanings given to such terms in the Loan
Agreement.

11

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as a sealed
instrument as of the date first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	PARTY CITY CORPORATION
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	
By:
	 	     /s/ Linda M. Siluk
	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	Linda M. Siluk
	 	 	 	 	Chief Financial Officer
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	PARTY CITY MICHIGAN, INC.
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	
By:
	 	     /s/ Linda M. Siluk
	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	Name: Linda M. Siluk
	 	 	 	 	Title: Vice President
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	WELLS FARGO RETAIL FINANCE, LLC,
	 	 	as Agent
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	
By:
	 	     /s/ David Molinario
	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	David Molinario
	 	 	 	 	Vice President

 

 

SCHEDULE I TO STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT

PLEDGED STOCK

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Owner and Address	 	Description	 	No. of Shares	 	Percentage*	 	Certificate No(s).
	
	 	
	 	
	 	
	 	

	Party City Corporation

400 Commons Way

Rockaway, NJ 07866	 	
Common Stock in Party City

Michigan, Inc.
	 	 	100	 	 	 	100	%	 	C2

PLEDGED NOTES AND INSTRUMENTS

None.

	* For the purposes of this Schedule I, “Percentage” means the percentage of all
of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of such Pledged Stock
Issuer on a fully diluted basis.TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

EXHIBIT 10.16

Execution Copy

TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT

     This TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of January
9, 2003 by and between Party City Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(“Grantor”), and WELLS FARGO RETAIL FINANCE, LLC, as the arranger, collateral
agent, and administrative agent for the Lender Group and any other holder of
Obligations under, and as defined in, the Loan Agreement referred to below
(together with its successor(s) thereto in such capacity, the “Agent”).

INTRODUCTION:

     Pursuant to the Loan and Security Agreement dated as of the date hereof
(as amended, restated, supplemented and/or modified from time to time, the
“Loan Agreement”) by and among the Grantor, the Agent and the financial
institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders (the “Lenders”), the
Agent and the Lenders have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set
forth therein, to make revolving credit loans and to provide other financial
accommodations to the Grantor (collectively, the “Loans”).

     It is a condition precedent to the effectiveness of the Loan Agreement
that the Grantor execute and deliver this Agreement and grant to the Agent, for
the benefit of the Lender Group and any other holder of Obligations under, and
as defined in, the Loan Agreement (the Lender Group and such other holders of
Obligations collectively with the Agent, the “Secured Parties”), a continuing
security interest in all of the Trademark Collateral referred to below to
secure all of the Obligations.

     NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and in order to induce the Agent
and Lenders to make Loans to the Grantor pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the
Grantor agrees, for the benefit of the Agent and each other Secured Party, as
follows:

     SECTION 1. Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein or the context
otherwise requires, terms used in this Agreement, including its preamble and
recitals, have the meanings provided in the Loan Agreement.

     SECTION 2. Grant of Security Interest. To secure the prompt performance
of the Obligations, the Grantor hereby collaterally assigns, pledges,
hypothecates, charges, mortgages, delivers, and transfers to the Agent, for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Agent, for the benefit
of the Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in all of the following
property, whether now or hereafter existing or acquired by the Grantor (the
“Trademark Collateral”):

		
	 	     (a) (i) all of its trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company
names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, service
marks, certification marks, collective marks, logos and other source or
business identifiers, patents, and all goodwill of the business
associated therewith, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired
including those referred to in Schedule I attached hereto under such
Grantor’s

 

 

		
	 	name, whether currently in use or not, all registrations and
recordings thereof and all applications in connection therewith, whether
pending or in preparation for filing, including registrations, recordings
and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in
any office or agency of the United States of America or any State thereof
or any other country or political subdivision thereof or otherwise, and
all common-law rights relating to the foregoing, and (ii) the right to
obtain all reissues, extensions or renewals of the foregoing (each, a
“Trademark”);

		
	 	     (b) all Trademark licenses for the grant by or to the Grantor of any
right to use any Trademark, including each Trademark license referred to
in Schedule I attached hereto under such Grantor’s name; and

		
	 	     (c) all proceeds of, and rights associated with, the foregoing,
including any claim by the Grantors against third parties for past,
present or future infringement or dilution of any Trademark, Trademark
registration or Trademark license.

     SECTION 3. Security Agreement. This Agreement has been executed and
delivered by the Grantor for the purpose of registering the security interest
of the Agent in the Trademark Collateral with the United States Patent and
Trademark Office and corresponding offices in other countries of the world.
The security interest granted hereby has been granted as a supplement to, and
not in limitation of, the security interest granted to the Agent for its
benefit and the ratable benefit of each other Secured Party under the Loan
Agreement. The Loan Agreement (and all rights and remedies of each Secured
Party thereunder) shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its
terms.

     SECTION 4. Covenants. The Grantor covenants and agrees to comply with
the following provisions as such provisions relate to any item of Trademark
Collateral (other than items of Trademark Collateral which are not,
individually or in the aggregate, material):

		
	 	     (a) the Grantor shall promptly notify the Agent if it knows, or has
reason to know, that any application or registration relating to any
material item of the Trademark Collateral may become abandoned or
dedicated to the public or placed in the public domain or invalid or
unenforceable, or of any adverse determination or development (including
the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any
proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any
foreign counterpart thereof or any court) regarding the Grantor’s
ownership of any of the Trademark Collateral, its right to register the
same or to keep and maintain and enforce the same;

		
	 	     (b) in no event will the Grantor or any of its respective agents,
employees, designees or licensees file an application for the
registration of any Trademark Collateral with the United States Patent
and Trademark Office or any similar office or agency in any other country
or any political subdivision thereof, unless it promptly informs the
Agent, and upon request of the Agent, executes and delivers all
agreements, instruments and documents as the Agent may reasonably request
to evidence the security interest of the Agent and the other Secured
Parties in such Trademark Collateral;

2

 

		
	 	     (c) the Grantor will take all the necessary steps, including in any
proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any
similar office or agency in any other country or any political
subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue any application (and to
obtain the relevant registration after application) filed with respect
to, and to maintain any registration of, all material items of the
Trademark Collateral, including the filing of applications for renewal,
affidavits of use, affidavits of incontestability and opposition,
interference and cancellation proceedings and the payment of fees and
taxes (except to the extent that (i) dedication, abandonment or
invalidation is permitted under the foregoing clause (b) or (ii) the
Grantor shall either (a) reasonably and in good faith determine that any
of such Trademark Collateral is of negligible economic value to the
Grantor, or (b) have a valid business purpose to do otherwise); and

		
	 	     (d) the Grantor will promptly (but no less than quarterly) execute
and deliver to the Agent a Trademark Security Agreement, substantially in
the form of this Trademark Security Agreement following its obtaining an
interest in any material trademarks, and shall execute and deliver to the
Agent any other document required to acknowledge or register or perfect
the Secured Parties’ interest in any part of such item of material
Trademark Collateral, in each case at the request of the Agent.

     SECTION 5. Release of Liens. Upon (a) the disposition of Trademark
Collateral in accordance with the Loan Agreement or (b) the payment in full of
the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which
neither the Agent nor the Lenders have yet made a claim) and the termination of
the Lender Group’s obligations to make Loans under the Loan Agreement, the
security interests granted herein shall automatically terminate with respect to
(i) such Trademark Collateral (in the case of clause 5(a)) or (ii) all
Trademark Collateral (in the case of clause 5(b)). Upon any such disposition
or termination, the Agent will, at the Grantor’s sole expense, deliver to the
Grantor, without any representations, warranties or recourse of any kind
whatsoever, all Trademark Collateral held by the Agent hereunder, and execute
and deliver to the Grantor such documents as the Grantor shall reasonably
request to evidence such termination.

     SECTION 6. Acknowledgment. The Grantor further acknowledges and affirms
that the rights and remedies of the Agent with respect to the security interest
in the Trademark Collateral granted hereby are more fully set forth in the Loan
Agreement, the terms and provisions of which (including the remedies provided
for therein) are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein.

     SECTION 7. Due Authorization. The Grantor represents and warrants that
the execution, delivery, and performance by the Grantor of this Agreement have
been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Grantor.

     SECTION 8. Loan Document. This Agreement is a Loan Document executed
pursuant to the Loan Agreement and shall (unless otherwise expressly indicated
herein) be construed, administered and applied in accordance with the terms and
provisions thereof.

3

 

     SECTION 9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties
hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same agreement.

     SECTION 10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed under and
governed by the laws of The State of New York.

[Signatures appear on next page.]

4

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement
to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as
of the date first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	GRANTOR:
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	PARTY CITY CORPORATION
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	
By:
	 	     /s/ Linda M. Siluk
	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	Linda M. Siluk
	 	 	 	 	Chief Financial Officer
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	AGENT:
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	WELLS FARGO RETAIL FINANCE, LLC,
	 	 	as Agent
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	
By:
	 	     /s/ David Molinario
	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	 	David Molinario
	 	 	 	 	Vice President

	 	 	 
	State of New Jersey	 	 
	 
	County of Morris	 	
January      , 2003

     Then personally appeared the above named Linda M. Siluk, as Chief
Financial Officer of Party City Corporation, and acknowledged the foregoing
instrument to be her free act and deed as Chief Financial Officer of Party City
Corporation, before me,

	 	 
	 	     /s/ Maura Santos
	 	

	 

	 	Notary Public
	 	 
	 	My commission expires:
	 	 
	 	     Maura Santos
	 	     Bergen County
	 	Notary Public of New Jersey
	 	My commission expires Dec. 12, 2004
	 	     ID #2172812

Signature Page

 

 

SCHEDULE I

to Trademark Security Agreement

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	APPLICATION /		 		 		 	
	TITLE	 	REGISTRATION NO	 	FILE / ISSUE DATE	 	COUNTRY
	
	 	
	 	
	 	

	Halloween Costume
Warehouse	 		
78/140,220
		 		7/1/2002
		 		U.S.	
	Halloween Costume
Warehouse	 		
1,815,585
		 		1/4/1994
		 		U.S.	
	Halloween Witch Logo	 		
76/357,517
		 		1/11/2002
		 		U.S.	
	Inflation Station	 		
76/309,702
		 		9/6/2001
		 		U.S.	
	Party City	 		
1,806,095
		 		11/23/1993
		 		U.S.	
	Party City (logo)	 		
1,553,347
		 		8/22/1989
		 		U.S.	
	Party City (logo)	 		
1,811,298
		 		12/14/1993
		 		U.S.	
	The Discount
Halloween Superstore	 		
78/133,433
		 		6/5/2002
		 		U.S.	
	The Discount Party
Superstore	 		
1,974,890
		 		5/21/1996
		 		U.S.	
	Your Celebration
Starts Here	 		
78/133,436
		 		6/5/2002
		 		U.S.	
	The Discount
Halloween Superstore	 		
2504293
		 		9/19/2002
		 		Spain	
	The Discount Party
Superstore	 		
1,935,059
		 		7/5/1995
		 		Spain	
	Your Celebration
Starts Here	 		
2504295
		 		9/18/2002
		 		Spain	
	Party City	 		
334321
		 		7/6/1999
		 		Portugal	
	Halloween Witch Logo	 		
544717
		 		4/26/2002
		 		Mexico	
	Party City (color
logo)	 		
518,109
		 		2/28/1996
		 		Mexico	
	Party City (logo)	 		
518108
		 		2/28/1996
		 		Mexico	
	Party City
(servicemark)	 		
496,512
		 		6/30/1996
		 		Mexico	
	Party City (trademark)	 		
508,809
		 		10/3/1995
		 		Mexico	

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	APPLICATION /	 		 		 		 	
	TITLE	 	REGISTRATION NO	 	FILE / ISSUE DATE	 	COUNTRY
	
	 	
	 	
	 	

	The Discount
Halloween Superstore	 		
561433
		 		8/15/2002
		 		Mexico	
	The Discount Party
Superstore	 		
522866
		 		5/28/1996
		 		Mexico	
	Your Celebration
Starts Here	 		
561432
		 		8/16/2002
		 		Mexico	
	Party City	 		
2158781
		 		6/16/2000
		 		Great Britain	
	Party City	 		
2273522
		 		4/5/2002
		 		Great Britain	
	Party World	 		
1 1,455,663
		 		2/13/1991
		 		Great Britain	
	Party World	 		
B 1,455,664
		 		2/13/1991
		 		Great Britain	
	Party World	 		
B 1,455,668
		 		2/13/1991
		 		Great Britain	
	Party City	 		
835314
		 		6/27/2002
		 		European Mrkt.	
	Halloween Witch Logo	 		
1135863
		 		3/28/2002
		 		Canada	
	Party City	 		
TMA 451,736
		 		12/15/1995
		 		Canada	
	Party City (color
logo)	 		
TMA 457,894
		 		5/24/1995
		 		Canada	
	Party City (logo)	 		
TMA 451,735
		 		12/15/1995
		 		Canada	
	The Discount
Halloween Superstore	 		
1148142
		 		7/26/2002
		 		Canada	
	The Discount Party
Superstore	 		
766,534
		 		10/19/1994
		 		Canada	
	Your Celebration
Starts Here	 		
1148143
		 		7/26/2002
		 		Canada	
	Party City	 		
820961914
		 		5/22/2001
		 		Brazil	
	Party City	 		
824681606
		 		6/26/2002
		 		Brazil	
	Party City (logo)	 		
820961906
		 		5/22/2001
		 		Brazil	
	Party City	 		
768811
		 		4/21/1999
		 		Australia	
	Party City (logo)	 		
768812
		 		4/21/1999
		 		Australia	

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	APPLICATION /	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	TITLE	 	REGISTRATION NO	 	FILE / ISSUE DATE	 	COUNTRY
	
	 	
	 	
	 	

	YourCelebrationStarts Here.com	 	 	 	 	 	 	8/12/2002

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