Document:

VGR-2.27.2012 EX10.1 Ln Agr

[EXECUTION]

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

by and between

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
successor by merger to Wachovia Bank, National Association
as Lender

LIGGETT GROUP LLC
as Borrower

and

100 MAPLE LLC

Dated as of February 21, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	
						
	 
	 
	 
	 
	Page
	

	SECTION 1.
	 
	DEFINITIONS
	1
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	SECTION 2.
	 
	CREDIT FACILITIES
	17
	

	 
	2.1
	 
	Loans
	17
	

	 
	2.2
	 
	Letter of Credit Accommodations
	18
	

	 
	2.3
	 
	Availability Reserves
	21
	

	 
	2.4
	 
	Mebane Loan
	21
	

	 
	2.5
	 
	Existing Loan
	22
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	SECTION 3.
	 
	INTEREST AND FEES
	22
	

	 
	3.2
	 
	Interest
	22
	

	 
	3.2
	 
	Closing Fee
	23
	

	 
	3.3
	 
	Service Fee
	23
	

	 
	3.4
	 
	Unused Line Fee
	23
	

	 
	3.5
	 
	Changes in Laws and Increased Costs of Loans
	25
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	SECTION 4.
	 
	CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THIS AGREEMENT
	25
	

	 
	4.1
	 
	Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of this Agreement
	25
	

	 
	4.2
	 
	Conditions Precedent to All Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	SECTION 5.
	 
	GRANT AND PERFECTION OF SECURITY INTEREST
	26
	

	 
	5.1
	 
	Grant of Security Interest
	26
	

	 
	5.2
	 
	Perfection of Security Interests
	28
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	SECTION 6.
	 
	COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION
	31
	

	 
	6.1
	 
	Borrower's Loan Account
	31
	

	 
	6.2
	 
	Statements
	32
	

	 
	6.3
	 
	Collection of Accounts
	32
	

	 
	6.4
	 
	Payments
	33
	

	 
	6.5
	 
	Authorization to Make Loans
	34
	

	 
	6.6
	 
	Use of Proceeds
	34
	

	 
	6.7
	 
	Grant of Irrevocable License
	35
	

	 
	6.8
	 
	Collected Credit Balances
	35
	

	 
	6.9
	 
	Bank Products
	35
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

(i)

	
						
	 
	 
	 
	 
	Page
	

	SECTION 7.
	 
	COLLATERAL REPORTING AND COVENANTS
	36
	

	 
	7.1
	 
	Collateral Reporting
	36
	

	 
	7.2
	 
	Accounts Covenants
	36
	

	 
	7.3
	 
	Inventory Covenants
	37
	

	 
	7.4
	 
	Equipment Covenants
	38
	

	 
	7.5
	 
	Power of Attorney
	38
	

	 
	7.6
	 
	Right to Cure
	39
	

	 
	7.7
	 
	Access to Premises
	39
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	SECTION 8.
	 
	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
	39
	

	 
	8.1
	 
	Corporate Existence; Power and Authority
	40
	

	 
	8.2
	 
	Name; State of Organizations; Chief Executive Office; Collateral Locations
	40
	

	 
	8.3
	 
	Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change
	41
	

	 
	8.4
	 
	Priority of Liens; Title to Properties
	41
	

	 
	8.5
	 
	Tax Returns
	41
	

	 
	8.6
	 
	Litigation
	41
	

	 
	8.7
	 
	Compliance with Other Agreements and Applicable Laws
	42
	

	 
	8.8
	 
	Environmental Compliance
	42
	

	 
	8.9
	 
	Employee Benefits
	42
	

	 
	8.10
	 
	[Reserved]
	43
	

	 
	8.11
	 
	Intellectual Property
	43
	

	 
	8.12
	 
	Subsidiaries; Affiliates; Capitalization
	43
	

	 
	8.13
	 
	Labor Disputes
	44
	

	 
	8.14
	 
	[Reserved]
	44
	

	 
	8.15
	 
	[Reserved]
	44
	

	 
	8.16
	 
	Payable Practices
	44
	

	 
	8.17
	 
	Accuracy and Completeness of Information
	44
	

	 
	8.18
	 
	Consent of Affiliates
	45
	

	 
	8.19
	 
	Survival of Warranties; Cumulative
	45
	

	 
	8.20
	 
	OFAC
	45
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	SECTION 9.
	 
	AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE COVENANTS
	45
	

	 
	9.1
	 
	Maintenance of Existence
	45
	

	 
	9.2
	 
	New Collateral Locations
	46
	

	 
	9.3
	 
	Compliance with Laws, Regulations, Etc.
	46
	

	 
	9.4
	 
	Payment of Taxes and Claims
	46
	

	 
	9.5
	 
	Insurance
	46
	

	 
	9.6
	 
	Financial Statements and Other Information
	47
	

	 
	9.7
	 
	Sale of Assets, Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, Etc.
	49
	

	 
	9.8
	 
	Encumbrances
	49
	

	 
	9.9
	 
	Indebtedness
	50
	

	 
	9.10
	 
	Loans, Investments, Guarantees, Etc.
	51
	

(ii)

	
						
	 
	9.11
	 
	Dividends and Redemptions
	51
	

	 
	9.12
	 
	Transactions with Affiliates
	51
	

	 
	9.13
	 
	EBITDA
	51
	

	 
	9.14
	 
	Maximum Capital Expenditures
	52
	

	 
	9.15
	 
	Costs and Expenses
	52
	

	 
	9.16
	 
	Further Assurances
	52
	

	 
	9.17
	 
	Certain Permitted Transactions
	53
	

	 
	9.18
	 
	Post-Closing Deliveries
	55
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	SECTION 10.
	 
	EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
	55
	

	 
	10.1
	 
	Events of Default
	55
	

	 
	10.2
	 
	Remedies
	57
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	SECTION 11.
	 
	JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS AND CONSENTS; GOVERNING LAW
	60
	

	 
	11.1
	 
	Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver
	60
	

	 
	11.2
	 
	Waiver of Notices
	61
	

	 
	11.3
	 
	Amendments and Waivers
	61
	

	 
	11.4
	 
	Waiver of Counterclaims
	61
	

	 
	11.5
	 
	Indemnification
	62
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	SECTION 12.
	 
	TERM OF AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS
	62
	

	 
	12.1
	 
	Term
	62
	

	 
	12.2
	 
	Notices
	63
	

	 
	12.3
	 
	Interpretative Provisions
	64
	

	 
	12.4
	 
	Partial Invalidity
	65
	

	 
	12.5
	 
	Successors
	65
	

	 
	12.6
	 
	Participant's Right of Setoff
	66
	

	 
	12.7
	 
	Confidentiality
	66
	

	 
	12.8
	 
	Entire Agreement
	67
	

	 
	12.9
	 
	USA Patriot Act
	67
	

	 
	12.10
	 
	Counterparts, Etc
	67
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	SECTION 13.
	 
	ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RESTATEMENT
	68
	

	 
	13.1
	 
	Existing Obligations
	68
	

	 
	13.2
	 
	Acknowledgment of Security Interest
	68
	

	 
	13.3
	 
	Existing Agreements
	68
	

	 
	13.4
	 
	Restatement
	68
	

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

(iii)

INDEX TO
EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

		
	Exhibit A
	Information Certificate

		
	Exhibit B
	Form of Compliance Certificate

		
	Schedule 9.18
	Post-Closing Deliveries

-i-

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT 

This Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of February 21, 2012 (this “Agreement”) is entered into by and between Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, successor by merger to Wachovia Bank, National Association, a national banking association (“Lender”), Liggett Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as successor to Liggett Group Inc. (“Borrower”), and 100 Maple LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Maple”).
W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, Borrower and Lender are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of April 14, 2004  (as amended, the “Existing Loan Agreement”) pursuant to which Lender loans and makes certain financial accommodations to Borrower; 
WHEREAS, Borrower and Lender wish to amend and restate the Existing Loan Agreement to incorporate various amendments thereto and to extend the term thereof, without amending or altering the effect of any of the consents, approvals or waivers granted by Lender prior to the date hereof; and
WHEREAS, Lender is willing to enter into this Agreement on the terms set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual conditions and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: 
		
	SECTION 1.
	DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings given to them below:
1.1    “Accounts” shall mean all present and future rights of Borrower to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, which is not evidenced by chattel paper or an instrument, (a) for property that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, (b) for services rendered or to be rendered, (c) for a secondary obligation incurred or to be incurred, or (d) arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card.
1.2    “Additional Permitted New Notes” shall mean any and all notes issued under the New Notes Indenture to the extent that the issuance of such notes does not cause Vector Group Ltd. to breach the “Secured Leverage Ratio” covenant relating to the incurrence of indebtedness and described in the New Notes Indenture as in effect on August 16, 2007.
1.3    “Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” shall mean, with respect to each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next one-thousandth (1/1000) of one percent (1%)) determined by dividing (a) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest 

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Period by (b) a percentage equal to: (i) one (1) minus (ii) the Reserve Percentage.  For purposes hereof, “Reserve Percentage” shall mean the reserve percentage, expressed as a decimal, prescribed by any United States or foreign banking authority for determining the reserve requirement which is or would be applicable to deposits of United States dollars in a non-United States or an international banking office of Reference Bank used to fund a Eurodollar Rate Loan or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made with the proceeds of such deposit, whether or not the Reference Bank actually holds or has made any such deposits or loans.  The Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall be adjusted on and as of the effective day of any change in the Reserve Percentage.
1.4    “Adjusted Net Worth” shall mean as to any Person, at any time, in accordance with GAAP (except as otherwise specifically set forth below), on a consolidated basis for such Person and its subsidiaries (if any), the amount equal to: (a) the difference between: (i) the aggregate net book value of all assets of such Person and its subsidiaries, calculating the book value of inventory for this purpose on a first-in-first-out basis (with the exception of leaf tobacco inventory which shall be calculated on an average cost basis), after deducting from such book values all appropriate reserves in accordance with GAAP (including all reserves for doubtful receivables, obsolescence, depreciation and amortization) and (ii) the aggregate amount of the indebtedness and other liabilities of such Person and its subsidiaries (including tax and other proper accruals) plus (b) indebtedness of such Person and its subsidiaries which is subordinated in right of payment to the full and final payment of all of the Obligations on terms and conditions acceptable to Lender.  
1.5    “Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person.  For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
1.6    “Availability Reserves” shall mean as of any date of determination, such amounts as Lender may from time to time establish and revise in good faith reducing the amount of Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations which would otherwise be available to Borrower under the lending formula(s) provided for herein:  (a) to reflect events, conditions, contingencies or risks which, as determined by Lender in good faith, do or may adversely affect either (i) the Collateral or its value, or (ii) the assets, business or prospects of Borrower or Obligor or (iii) the security interests and other rights of Lender in the Collateral (including the enforceability, perfection and priority thereof) or (b) to reflect Lender’s good faith belief that any collateral report or financial information furnished by or on behalf of Borrower or Obligor to Lender is or may have been incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect or (c) to reflect outstanding Letter of Credit Accommodations as provided in Section 2.2 hereof or (d) in respect of any state of facts which Lender determines in good faith constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.
1.7    “Bank Products” shall mean any one or more of the following types or services or facilities provided to Borrower or any Affiliate of Borrower by Lender or any Affiliate of Lender: (a) credit cards or stored value cards or (b) cash management or related services, including (i) the automated clearinghouse transfer of funds for the account of Borrower pursuant to agreement or overdraft for any accounts of Borrower maintained at Lender that are subject to the control of Lender, whether pursuant to any Deposit Account Control Agreement to which Lender is a party or 

2

by Lender being the bank at which the deposit account is maintained, as applicable, and (ii) controlled disbursement services and (c) Hedge Agreements if and to the extent permitted hereunder. 
1.8    “Blocked Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 hereof.
1.9    “Borrower” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
1.10    “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks are authorized or required to close under the laws of the State of New York or the State of North Carolina, and a day on which Lender is open for the transaction of business; except, that, if a determination of a Business Day shall relate to any Eurodollar Rate Loans, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are closed for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market or other applicable Eurodollar Rate market.
1.11    “Capital Expenditures” shall mean all payments or accruals for any fixed assets or improvements or for replacements, substitutions or additions thereto, that have a useful life of more than one year and that are required to be capitalized under GAAP, including, but not limited to, the direct or indirect acquisition of such assets by way of offset items or otherwise and obligations under Capital Leases incurred in respect of such fixed or capital assets during such period.
1.12    “Capital Leases” shall mean, as applied to any Person, any lease of (or any agreement conveying the right to use) any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee which in accordance with GAAP, is required to be reflected as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person.
1.13    “Cash Collateral” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in any Cash Collateral Agreement.
1.14    “Cash Collateral Agreement” shall mean any Cash Collateral Pledge Agreement between Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower, and Lender, as from time to time delivered to Lender, substantially in the form of the Cash Collateral Agreement received by Lender in April 2003, as any such agreement may be from time to time amended, supplemented, renewed, restated, extended or replaced.
1.15    “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same now exists or may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified, recodified or supplemented, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.
1.16    “Collateral” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereof.  
1.17    “Collected Credit Balance” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.8(a) hereof.
1.18    “Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, with respect to any Person, for any period, the aggregate of the net income (loss) of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for such period, excluding to the extent included therein any extraordinary, one-time or non-recurring gains or non-cash losses, after deducting all charges which should be deducted before 

3

arriving at the net income (loss) for such period and after deducting the Provision for Taxes for such period, all as determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, that, (a) the net income of any Person that is not a majority owned Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of cash dividends or similar distributions paid to such Person or a majority owned Subsidiary of such Person; (b) the effect of any change in accounting principles adopted by (or applicable) such Person or its Subsidiaries after the date hereof (including any cumulative effects resulting from changes in purchase accounting principles) shall be excluded; and (c) the net income (if positive) of any majority-owned Subsidiary of such Person to the extent the payment of cash dividends or similar cash distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such majority-owned Subsidiary shall be excluded (except to the extent of the amount of cash dividends or similar distributions paid to such Person or a majority owned Subsidiary of such Person).  For the purpose of this definition, net income excludes any material gain or non-cash loss, together with any related fees and expenses and Provision for Taxes, for such gain or non-cash loss realized upon the sale or other disposition of any assets or of any Equity Interests of such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person.  
1.19    “Deed of Trust” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Mebane Note.
1.20    “Deposit Account Control Agreement” shall mean an agreement in writing, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, by and among Lender, Borrower and any bank at which any deposit account of Borrower is at any time maintained which provides that such bank will comply with instructions originated by Lender directing disposition of the funds in the deposit account without further consent by Borrower and such other terms and conditions as Lender may require.
1.21    “Designated Percentage” shall mean the lesser of (a) sixty percent (60%) multiplied by Borrower’s Eligible Cost (as that term is used and reported in the most recent appraisal report rendered from time to time pursuant to Section 7.3(d) hereof; it being understood that for purposes hereof, “Eligible Cost” shall have the meaning set forth in, and shall be calculated using the method of calculation thereof that is employed, in the appraisal reports delivered prior to the date of this Agreement) of Eligible Inventory consisting of leaf tobacco as reflected on the books and records of Borrower maintained by Borrower in good faith, or (b) eighty-five percent (85%) of the net orderly liquidation value of Eligible Inventory consisting of leaf tobacco as indicated by the most recent appraisal report thereof rendered from time to time pursuant to Section 7.3(d) hereof.
1.22    “EBITDA” shall mean as to any Person, with respect to any period, an amount equal to: (a) the Consolidated Net income of such Person, and its Subsidiaries for such period, plus (b) depreciation and amortization, imputed interest, deferred compensation for such period and other non-cash charges (to the extent deducted in the computation of Consolidated Net Income of such Person), all in accordance with GAAP, plus (c) Interest Expense for such period (to the extent deducted in the computation of Consolidated Net Income of such Person), plus (d) the Provision for Taxes for such period (to the extent deducted in the computation of Consolidated Net Income of such Person).  EBITDA shall be calculated on a trailing twelve (12) month basis.
1.23    “Eligible Accounts” shall mean Accounts created by Borrower which are and continue to be acceptable to Lender based on the criteria set forth below.  In general, Accounts shall be Eligible Accounts if: 

4

(a)    such Accounts arise from the actual and bona fide sale and shipment of goods by Borrower or rendition of services by Borrower in the ordinary course of its business which sale and shipment are completed in all material respects in accordance with the terms and provisions contained in any documents related thereto; 
(b)    such Accounts, other than those set forth in Section 1.23(k) below, are not unpaid more than the earlier of ninety (90) days after the invoice date or forty-five (45) days after the due date of the original invoice for them; 
(c)    such Accounts comply with the terms and conditions contained in Section 7.2(c) of this Agreement; 
(d)    such Accounts do not arise from sales on consignment, sale and return, sale on approval, or other terms under which payment by the account debtor may be conditional or contingent (it being understood that the right of an account debtor to return goods to Borrower in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business consistent with past practices shall not constitute “consignment, sale and return, sale on approval, or other terms under which payment by the account debtor may be conditional or contingent”); 
(e)    the chief executive office of the account debtor with respect to such Accounts is located in the United States of America, or, at Lender’s option, if either: (i) the account debtor has delivered to Borrower an irrevocable letter of credit issued or confirmed by a bank satisfactory to Lender, sufficient to cover such Account, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender and, if required by Lender, the original of such letter of credit has been delivered to Lender or Lender’s agent and the issuer thereof notified of the assignment of the proceeds of such letter of credit to Lender, or (ii) such Account is subject to credit insurance payable to Lender issued by an insurer and on terms and in an amount acceptable to Lender, or (iii) such Account is otherwise acceptable in all respects to Lender (subject to such lending formula with respect thereto as Lender may determine); 
(f)    such Accounts do not consist of progress billings, bill and hold invoices or retainage invoices, except as to bill and hold invoices, if Lender shall have received an agreement in writing from the account debtor, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, confirming the unconditional obligation of the account debtor to take the goods related thereto and pay such invoice; 
(g)    the account debtor with respect to such Accounts has not asserted a counterclaim, defense or dispute and does not have, and does not engage in transactions which may give rise to, any right of setoff against such Accounts (but the portion of the Accounts not affected by such counterclaim, defense, dispute or right of setoff may still be deemed Eligible Accounts); 
(h)    there are no facts, events or occurrences which would impair the validity, enforceability or collectability of such Accounts or reduce the amount payable or delay payment thereunder; 
(i)    such Accounts are subject to the first priority, valid and perfected security interest of Lender and any goods giving rise thereto are not, and were not at the time of the sale thereof, subject to any liens except those permitted in this Agreement; 

5

(j)    neither the account debtor nor any officer or employee of the account debtor with respect to such Accounts is an officer, employee, agent, family member or Affiliate of Borrower; 
(k)    the account debtors with respect to such Accounts are not any foreign government, the United States of America, any State, political subdivision, department, agency or instrumentality thereof, unless, if the account debtor is the United States of America, any State, political subdivision, department, agency or instrumentality thereof, (i) such Account results from sales in the ordinary course of business to the United States military which arise from only military purchase orders or, in any other case, upon Lender’s request, the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended or any similar State or local law, if applicable, has been complied with in a manner satisfactory to Lender and (ii) such Accounts are not unpaid more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the original invoice for them; 
(l)    there are no proceedings or actions which are threatened or pending against the account debtors with respect to such Accounts which are reasonably likely to result in any material adverse change in any such account debtor’s financial condition; 
(m)    such Accounts of a single account debtor or its Affiliates do not constitute more than twenty percent (20%) of all otherwise Eligible Accounts (but the portion of the Accounts not in excess of such percentage may be deemed Eligible Accounts); 
(n)    such Accounts are not owed by an account debtor who has Accounts unpaid more than forty-five (45) days after the due date of the original invoice for them which constitute more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Accounts of such account debtor; 
(o)    such Accounts are owed by account debtors whose total indebtedness to Borrower does not exceed the credit limit with respect to such account debtors as determined in good faith by Lender from time to time after Lender has given notice thereof to Borrower (but the portion of the Accounts in excess of such credit limit arising prior to such notice or not in excess of such credit limit may still be deemed Eligible Accounts); and 
(p)    such Accounts are owed by account debtors deemed creditworthy at all times by Lender, as determined by Lender in good faith (and Lender agrees to use its best efforts to give notice to Borrower of any account debtor so deemed not to be creditworthy).  
General criteria for Eligible Accounts may be established and revised from time to time by Lender in good faith on ten (10) days’ prior notice by Lender to Borrower.  Any Accounts which are not Eligible Accounts shall nevertheless be part of the Collateral.  
1.24    “Eligible Inventory” shall mean Inventory consisting of finished goods (including any such goods which are reflected in Borrower’s books and records, in accordance with its accounting practices in effect on the date hereof, as finished goods and manufactured stock) held for resale in the ordinary course of the business of Borrower and raw materials for such finished goods (including, without limitation, leaf tobacco) which are acceptable to Lender based on the criteria set forth below.  In general, Eligible Inventory shall not include (a) work-in-process; (b) spare parts for equipment; (c) packaging and shipping materials; (d) supplies used or consumed in Borrower’s 

6

business; (e) Inventory at premises other than those owned and controlled by Borrower, except if Lender shall have received an agreement in writing from the person in possession of such Inventory and/or the owner or operator of such premises in form and substance satisfactory to Lender acknowledging Lender’s first priority security interest in the Inventory, waiving security interests and claims by such person against the Inventory and permitting Lender access to, and the right to remain on, the premises so as to exercise Lender’s rights and remedies and otherwise deal with the Collateral; (f) Inventory subject to a security interest or lien in favor of any person other than Lender except those permitted in this Agreement; (g) bill and hold goods; (h) unserviceable, obsolete or slow moving Inventory; (i) Inventory which is not subject to the first priority, valid and perfected security interest of Lender; (j) returned, damaged and/or defective Inventory; and (k) Inventory purchased or sold on consignment.  In addition, Eligible Inventory shall not include any Inventory consisting of leaf tobacco used exclusively in connection with the manufacture by Borrower of finished goods for Vector Tobacco Inc. together with any finished goods manufactured by Borrower for Vector Tobacco Inc.  General criteria for Eligible Inventory may be established and revised from time to time by Lender in good faith on ten (10) days’ prior notice by Lender to Borrower.  Any Inventory which is not Eligible Inventory shall nevertheless be part of the Collateral.
1.25    “Environmental Laws” shall mean all foreign, Federal, State and local laws (including common law), legislation, rules, codes, licenses, permits (including any conditions imposed therein), authorizations, judicial or administrative decisions, injunctions or agreements between any Borrower or Obligor and any Governmental Authority, (a) relating to pollution and the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment (including air, water vapor, surface water, ground water, drinking water, drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), or to human health or safety, (b) relating to the exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, transportation, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal, or threatened release, of Hazardous Materials, or (c) relating to all laws with regard to recordkeeping, notification, disclosure and reporting requirements respecting Hazardous Materials.  The term “Environmental Laws” includes (i) the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, the Federal Clean Water Act, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (including the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments thereto), the Federal Solid Waste Disposal and the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, and the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, (ii) applicable state counterparts to such laws and (iii) any common law or equitable doctrine that may impose liability or obligations for injuries or damages due to, or threatened as a result of, the presence of or exposure to any Hazardous Materials.
1.26    “Equipment” shall mean all of Borrower’s now owned and hereafter acquired equipment, wherever located, including machinery, data processing and computer equipment and computer hardware and software, whether owned or licensed, and including embedded software, vehicles, tools, furniture, fixtures, all attachments, accessions and property now or hereafter affixed thereto or used in connection therewith, and substitutions and replacements thereof, wherever located.
1.27    “Equity Interests” shall mean, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person’s capital stock or partnership, limited liability company or other equity or ownership interests at any time outstanding, 

7

all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other equity interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other equity interests in) such Person and all warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other equity interests), but excluding (a) any debt security that is convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares (or such other equity interests) and (b) any stock appreciation rights, interests in phantom equity plans or similar rights or interests.
1.28    “ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.
1.29    “ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any person required to be aggregated with any Borrower, any Obligor or any of its or their respective Subsidiaries under Sections 414(b), 414(c), 414(m) or 414(o) of the Code.
1.30    “ERISA Event” shall mean (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Plan; (b) the adoption of any amendment to a Plan that would require the provision of security pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code or Section 307 of ERISA; (c) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (d) the filing pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (e) the occurrence of a “prohibited transaction” with respect to which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a “disqualified person” (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) or with respect to which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries could otherwise be liable; (f) a complete or partial withdrawal by Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or a cessation of operations which is treated as such a withdrawal or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (g) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate a Plan; (h) an event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan; (i) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in excess of $100,000 and (j) any other event or condition with respect to a Plan including any Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA maintained, or contributed to, by any ERISA Affiliate that could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Borrower in excess of $100,000.
1.31    “Eurodollar Rate” shall mean the rate per annum appearing on Bloomberg L.P.’s (the “Service”) Page BBAM1/(Official BBA USD Dollar Libor Fixings) (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service) two (2) Business Days’ prior to the commencement of the requested Interest Period, for a term and in an amount comparable to the Interest Period and the amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan requested (whether as an initial Eurodollar Rate Loan or as a continuation of a Eurodollar Rate Loan or as a conversion of a Prime Rate Loan to a Eurodollar Rate Loan) by Borrower in accordance with this Agreement, which determination shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. 

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1.32    “Eurodollar Rate Loans” shall mean any Loans or portion thereof on which interest is payable based on the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate in accordance with the terms hereof.
1.33    “Event of Default” shall mean the occurrence or existence of any event or condition described in Section 10.1 hereof.  
1.34    “Excess Availability” shall mean the amount, as determined by Lender, calculated at any time, equal to: (a) the lesser of (i) the amount of the Loans available to Borrower as of such time as provided in Section 2.1 and (ii) the Maximum Credit, minus (b) the sum of: (i) the amount of all then outstanding and unpaid Obligations, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all trade payables owed to suppliers of Borrower which are more than sixty (60) days past due as of such time.
1.35    “Existing Loan Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Recitals hereof.
1.36    “Existing Term Loan” shall mean the term loan under the Mebane Note.
1.37    “Financing Agreements” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement and all notes, guarantees, security agreements, deposit account control agreements, investment property control agreements, intercreditor agreements and all other agreements, documents and instruments now or at any time hereafter executed and/or delivered by Borrower or any Obligor in connection with this Agreement; provided, that, in no event shall the term Financing Agreements be deemed to include any Hedge Agreement.
1.38    “Funding Bank” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a) hereof.
1.39    “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time as set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Boards which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination consistently applied; except, that, for purposes of Sections 9.13 and 9.14 hereof, GAAP shall be determined on the basis of such principles in effect on the date hereof and consistent with those used in the preparation of the audited financial statements delivered to Lender prior to the date hereof.
1.40    “Governmental Authority” shall mean any nation or government, any state, province, or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.
1.41    “Hazardous Materials” shall mean any hazardous, toxic or dangerous substances, materials and wastes, including hydrocarbons (including naturally occurring or man-made petroleum and hydrocarbons), flammable explosives, asbestos, urea formaldehyde insulation, radioactive materials, biological substances, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, herbicides and any other kind and/or type of pollutants or contaminants (including materials which include hazardous constituents), sewage, sludge, industrial slag, solvents and/or any other similar substances, materials, or wastes and including any other substances, materials or wastes that are or become regulated under 

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any Environmental Law (including any that are or become classified as hazardous or toxic under any Environmental Law).
1.42    “Hedge Agreement” shall mean an agreement between Borrower or any Affiliate of Borrower and Lender or any Affiliate of Lender that is a swap agreement as such term is defined in 11 U.S.C. Section 101, and including any rate swap agreement, basis swap, forward rate agreement, commodity swap, interest rate option, forward foreign exchange agreement, spot foreign exchange agreement, rate cap agreement, floor agreement, rate collar agreement, currency swap agreement, cross-currency rate swap agreement, currency option, any other similar agreement (including any option to enter into any of the foregoing or a master agreement for any of the foregoing together with all supplements thereto) for the purpose of protecting against or managing exposure to fluctuations in interest or exchange rates, currency valuations or commodity prices; sometimes being collectively referred to herein as “Hedge Agreements”.  
1.43    “Information Certificate” shall mean the Information Certificate of Borrower constituting Exhibit A hereto, as such Information Certificate may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
1.44    “Intellectual Property” shall mean all of Borrower’s now owned and hereafter arising or acquired:  patents, patent rights, patent applications, copyrights, works which are the subject matter of copyrights, copyright applications, copyright registrations, trademarks, trade names, trade styles, trademark and service mark applications, and licenses and rights to use any of the foregoing; all extensions, renewals, reissues, divisions, continuations, and continuations-in-part of any of the foregoing; all rights to sue for past, present and future infringement of any of the foregoing; inventions, trade secrets, formulae, processes, compounds, drawings, designs, blueprints, surveys, reports, manuals, and operating standards; goodwill (including any goodwill associated with any trademark or the license of any trademark); customer and other lists in whatever form maintained; trade secret rights, copyright rights, rights in works of authorship, domain names and domain name registration; software and contract rights relating to computer software programs, in whatever form created or maintained.
1.45    “Interest Equivalent” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.8(a) hereof.
1.46    “Interest Expense” shall mean, for any period, as to any Person, as determined in accordance with GAAP, the total interest expense of such Person, whether paid or accrued during such period but without duplication (including the interest component of Capital Leases for such period), including, without limitation, discounts in connection with the sale of any Accounts that are sold for purposes other than collection, but excluding interest paid in property other than cash and any other interest expense not payable in cash.
1.47    “Interest Period” shall mean for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, a period of approximately one (1), two (2), or three (3) months duration as Borrower may elect, the exact duration to be determined in accordance with the customary practice in the applicable Eurodollar Rate market; provided, that, Borrower may not elect an Interest Period which will end after the last day of the then-current term of this Agreement.
1.48    “Interest Rate” shall mean

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(a)    Subject to clause (b) of this definition below:
(i)    as to Prime Rate Loans, a rate equal to zero percent (0%) per annum in excess of the Prime Rate, 
(ii)    as to Eurodollar Rate Loans, a rate equal to two percent (2%) per annum in excess of the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate (in each case, based on the Eurodollar Rate applicable for the Interest Period selected by Borrower, as in effect three (3) Business Days after the date of receipt by Lender of the request of or on behalf of Borrower for such Eurodollar Rate Loans in accordance with the terms hereof, whether such rate is higher or lower than any rate previously quoted to Borrower).
(b)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in clause (a) of this definition, the Interest Rate shall mean the rate of two percent (2%) per annum in excess of the Prime Rate as to Prime Rate Loans and the rate of four percent (4%) per annum in excess of the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate as to Eurodollar Rate Loans, at Lender’s option, without notice, (i) either (A) for the period on and after the date of termination or non-renewal hereof until such time as all Obligations are indefeasibly paid and satisfied in full in immediately available funds, or (B) for the period from and after the date of the occurrence of any Event of Default, and for so long as such Event of Default is continuing as determined by Lender and (ii) on the Loans to Borrower at any time outstanding in excess of the lending formulas set forth in Section 2.1(a) or the Maximum Credit (whether or not such excess(es) arise or are made with or without Lender’s knowledge or consent and whether made before or after an Event of Default).
1.49    “Inventory” shall mean all of Borrower’s now owned and hereafter existing or acquired goods, wherever located, which (a) are leased by Borrower as lessor; (b) are held by Borrower for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service; (c) are furnished by Borrower under a contract of service; or (d) consist of raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods or materials used or consumed in its business.
1.50    “Investment Property Control Agreement” shall mean an agreement in writing delivered at Lender’s request pursuant to Section 5.2, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, by and among Lender, Borrower and any securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other person who has custody, control or possession of any investment property of Borrower acknowledging that such securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other person has custody, control or possession of such investment property on behalf of Lender, that it will comply with entitlement orders originated by Lender with respect to such investment property, or other instructions of Lender, and including such other terms and conditions as Lender may require.
1.51    “Leaf Tobacco Sublimit” shall mean the amount of $22,500,000.
1.52    “Lender” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
1.53    “Lender Payment Account” shall mean account no. 5000000030279 of Lender at Wells Fargo Bank, National Association or such other account of Lender as Lender may from time to time designate to Borrower as the Lender Payment Account for purposes of this Agreement.

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1.54    “Letter of Credit Accommodations” shall mean the letters of credit, merchandise purchase or other guaranties which are from time to time either (a) issued or opened by Lender for the account of Borrower or any Obligor or (b) with respect to which Lender has agreed to indemnify the issuer or guaranteed to the issuer the performance by Borrower of its obligations to such issuer.  
1.55    “Liggett Agreement” shall mean that certain Sales, Marketing and Distribution Agreement, dated January 1, 2011, by and between Borrower and Liggett Vector Brands Inc., as may be amended from time to time.
1.56    “License Agreements” shall have the meaning assigned in Section 9.12 hereof.
1.57    “Loans” shall mean the loans now or hereafter made by Lender to or for the benefit of Borrower on a revolving basis (involving advances, repayments and readvances) as set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
1.58    “Maple” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
1.59    “Maple Guarantee” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.17(d)(ii) hereof. 
1.60    “Maple Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.17(d)(i) hereof.
1.61    “Maple Transactions” shall mean, collectively, the Mebane Loan and the Mebane Lease.
1.62    “Maturity Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.1(a) hereof.
1.63    “Maximum Credit” shall mean the amount of $50,000,000, minus the outstanding and unpaid principal amount of the loan or loans made by Lender to Maple.
1.64    “Mebane Lease” shall mean the lease by Maple to Borrower of the Mebane Premises.
1.65    “Mebane Loan” shall mean the borrowing by Maple from Lender on or about August 10, 2007 in the original principal amount of $8,000,000 which is secured by a first mortgage and lien in favor of Lender on the Mebane Premises.  As of the date hereof, after giving effect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the outstanding principal amount of the Mebane Loan is $4,425,000.
1.66    “Mebane Note” shall mean the Amended and Restated Term Promissory Note dated as of the date hereof executed by Maple in favor of Lender, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, renewed, extended, restated or replaced from time to time.
1.67    “Mebane Premises” shall mean the land, buildings, fixtures and other improvements at 100 Maple Lane, Mebane, North Carolina.
1.68    “Multiemployer Plan” shall mean a “multi-employer plan” as defined in Section 4001

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(a)(3) of ERISA which is or was at any time during the current year or the immediately preceding six (6) years contributed to by Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
1.69    “Net Amount of Eligible Accounts” shall mean the gross amount of Eligible Accounts less (a) sales, excise or similar taxes billed to the account debtor as such and (b) returns, discounts, claims, credits and allowances of any nature at any time issued, owing, granted, outstanding, available or claimed with respect thereto, including, without limitation, accrued promotional reserves (including coupon and sticker programs, if any), shelving accruals, competitive incentives, profit rebates, and other items representing potential offsets against Accounts, as determined by Lender in good faith.
1.70    “New Notes” shall mean, collectively, (a) the 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 (including exchange notes), in the original principal amount of $165,000,000, and (b) any Additional Permitted New Notes, issued by Vector Group Ltd. pursuant to the New Notes Indenture, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced (to the extent not prohibited by this Agreement and the New Notes Intercreditor Agreement).
1.71    “New Notes Indenture” shall mean the Indenture dated as of August 16, 2007, by and among Vector Group Ltd., the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and New Notes Trustee, as trustee, with respect to the New Notes, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced (to the extent not prohibited by this Agreement and the New Notes Intercreditor Agreement).
1.72    “New Notes Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2007 executed by and among Lender, the New Notes Trustee, Borrower and Maple, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.
1.73    “New Notes Trustee” shall mean U.S. Bank National Association, in its capacity as trustee under the New Notes Indenture for the holders of the Class A Notes issued pursuant to, and as such term is defined in, the New Notes Indenture and any successor, replacement or additional trustee under the New Notes Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns.
1.74    “Obligations” shall mean a) any and all Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations and all other obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of every kind, nature and description owing by Borrower to Lender, including principal, interest, charges, fees, costs and expenses, however evidenced, whether as principal, surety, endorser, guarantor or otherwise, arising under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether arising before, during or after the initial or any renewal term of this Agreement or after the commencement of any case with respect to Borrower under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any similar statute (including the payment of interest and other amounts which would accrue and become due but for the commencement of such case, whether or not such amounts are allowed or allowable in whole or in part in such case), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, joint or several, due or not due, primary or secondary, liquidated or unliquidated, or secured or unsecured and b) for purposes only of Section 5.1 hereof and subject to the priority in right of payment set forth in Section 6.4 hereof, all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of every kind, nature and 

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description owing by Borrower to Lender or any Affiliate of Lender arising under or pursuant to any Bank Products, whether now existing or hereafter arising (and in the case of any Affiliate of Lender, Lender shall be deemed to act as Lender for such Affiliate for purposes of Section 5.1 hereof).
1.75    “OFAC” shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
1.76    “Obligor” shall mean any guarantor, endorser, acceptor, surety or other person liable on or with respect to the Obligations or who is the owner of any property which is security for the Obligations, other than Borrower.  
1.77    “Participant” shall mean any person which at any time participates with Lender in respect of the Loan, the Letter of Credit Accommodations or other Obligations or any portion thereof.  
1.78    “Person” or “person” shall mean any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation (including, without limitation, any corporation which elects subchapter S status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), business trust, unincorporated association, joint stock corporation, trust, joint venture or other entity or any government or any agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof.
1.79    “Plan” shall mean an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which Borrower sponsors, maintains, or to which it makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions, or in the case of a Multiemployer Plan has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding six (6) plan years.
1.80    “Prime Rate” shall mean the rate of interest announced, from time to time, within Wells Fargo at its principal office in San Francisco as its “prime rate”, with the understanding that the “prime rate” is one of Wells Fargo’s base rates (not necessarily the lowest of such rates) and serves as the basis upon which effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans making reference thereto and is evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such internal publications as Wells Fargo may designate.
1.81    “Prime Rate Loans” shall mean any Loans or portion thereof on which interest is payable based on the Prime Rate in accordance with the terms thereof.
1.82    “Proceeds” shall have the meaning assigned that term under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction or under other relevant law and, in any event, shall include, but not be limited to, (i) any and all proceeds of any insurance, indemnity, warranty or guaranty payable to Lender or Borrower from time to time with respect to any of the Collateral, (ii) any and all payments (in any form whatsoever) made or due and payable to Borrower from time to time in connection with any requisition, confiscation, condemnation, seizure or forfeiture of all or any part of the Collateral by any governmental authority (or any person acting under color of governmental authority), and (iii) any and all other amounts from time to time paid or payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral.
1.83    “Provision for Taxes” shall mean an amount equal to all taxes imposed on or 

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measured by net income or due under any tax sharing agreement or arrangement with Vector Group Ltd., whether Federal, State, Provincial, country or local , and whether foreign or domestic, that are paid or payable by any Person in respect of any period in accordance with GAAP.
1.84    “Real Property” shall mean all now owned and hereafter acquired real property of Borrower, including leasehold interests, together with all buildings, structures, and other improvements located thereon and all licenses, easements and appurtenances relating thereto, wherever located.
1.85    “Receivables” shall mean all of the following  now owned or hereafter arising or acquired property of Borrower: (a) all Accounts; (b) all interest, fees, late charges, penalties, collection fees and other amounts due or to become due or otherwise payable in connection with any Account; (c) all payment intangibles of Borrower and other contract rights, chattel paper, instruments, notes, and other forms of obligations owing to Borrower, whether from the sale and lease of goods or other property, licensing of any property (including Intellectual Property or other general intangibles), rendition of services or from loans or advances by Borrower or to or for the benefit of any third person (including loans or advances to any Affiliates or Subsidiaries of Borrower) or otherwise associated with any Accounts or Inventory of Borrower.
1.86    “Records” shall mean all of Borrower’s present and future books of account of every kind or nature, purchase and sale agreements, invoices, ledger cards, bills of lading and other shipping evidence, statements, correspondence, memoranda, credit files and other data, in each case to the extent relating to the Collateral or any account debtor, together with the tapes, disks, diskettes and other data and software storage media and devices, file cabinets or containers in or on which the foregoing are stored (including any rights of Borrower with respect to the foregoing maintained with or by any other person).
1.87    “Reference Bank” shall mean Wells Fargo Bank, National Association or its successors, or such other bank as Lender may from time to time designate.
1.88    “Sanctioned Entity” shall mean (a) an agency of the government of, (b) an organization directly or indirectly controlled by, or (c) a person resident in, a country that is subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained and published by OFAC and available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs, or as otherwise published from time to time as such program may be applicable to such agency, organization or person.
1.89    “Sanctioned Person” shall mean a person named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons maintained by OFAC available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn/index.html, or as otherwise published from time to time.
1.90    “Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, association or organization, active or inactive, as to which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock or shares or interests shall now or hereafter be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly by any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person, or any Subsidiary of such Subsidiary.
1.91    “Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York, and any successor statute, as in effect from time to time 

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(except, that, terms used herein which are defined in the Uniform Commercial 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 Lender may otherwise determine).
1.92    “Value” shall mean, as determined by Lender in good faith, with respect to Inventory, the lower of (a) cost computed on a first-in-first-out basis (except, that, Inventory consisting of leaf tobacco shall be computed on an average cost basis) in accordance with GAAP or (b) market value.  
1.93    “Vector Agreements” shall mean, collectively, (a) Sales, Marketing and Distribution Agreement, dated January 1, 2011, by and between Liggett Vector Brands Inc. and Vector Tobacco Inc., as may be amended from time to time, (b) Contract Manufacturing Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2011, by and between Borrower and Vector Tobacco Inc., as may be amended from time to time, and (c) Agreement for Production and Storage Space, dated August 15, 2005, by and between Borrower and Vector Tobacco Inc., as amended on April 1, 2010 and as may be further amended from time to time.
1.94    “VGRH” shall mean VGR Holding LLC (formerly VGR Holding Inc., formerly BGLS Inc.), an affiliate of Borrower.

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	SECTION 2.
	CREDIT FACILITIES

2.1    Loans.
(a)    Subject to, and upon the terms and conditions contained herein, Lender agrees to make Loans to Borrower from time to time in amounts requested by Borrower up to the amount equal to the sum of: 
(i)    the lesser of: (A) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Net Amount of Eligible Accounts, or (B) $10,000,000; plus 
(ii)    the lesser of: (A) the sum of eighty percent (80%) of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of packaged cigarettes (whether reflected in Borrower’s books and records, in accordance with its accounting practices in effect on the date hereof, as finished goods or manufactured stock) plus the lower of the Designated Percentage of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of leaf tobacco or the Leaf Tobacco Sublimit at such time plus zero percent (0%) of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of raw materials, other than leaf tobacco, for the manufacture of cigarettes, or (B) $50,000,000; less
(iii)    any Availability Reserves.
(b)    Except in Lender’s discretion, the aggregate amount of Loans to be made against the respective categories of Eligible Inventory, consisting of finished goods (including any such goods which are reflected in Borrower’s books and records, in accordance with its accounting practices in effect on the date hereof, as finished goods and manufactured stock), leaf tobacco and other raw materials, pursuant to the lending formulas set forth in Section 2.l(a)(ii) above, shall not exceed eight-five percent (85%) of the orderly liquidation values of all such combined categories of Eligible Inventory, assuming an orderly liquidation sale within ninety (90) days, as indicated by appraisal reports rendered from time to time pursuant to Section 7.3(d).
(c)    Lender may, in its discretion, from time to time, upon not less than ten (10) days’ prior notice to Borrower, (i) reduce the lending formula with respect to Eligible Accounts to the extent that Lender determines in good faith that: (A) the dilution with respect to the Accounts for any period (based on the ratio of (1) the aggregate amount of reductions in Accounts other than as a result of payments in cash or items which are deducted in determining the Net Amount of Eligible Accounts to (2) the aggregate amount of total sales) has increased in any material respect or may be reasonably I anticipated to increase in any material respect above historical levels, or (B) the general creditworthiness of account debtors has declined or (ii) reduce the lending formula(s) with respect to Eligible Inventory to the extent that Lender determines in good faith that: (A) the number of days of the turnover of the Inventory for any period has changed in any material respect or (B) the Value of the Eligible Inventory, or any category thereof, has decreased, or (C) the mix among Eligible Inventory of premium brands mass sell generic/private label and military categories of packaged cigarettes has materially changed from that existing on October 31, 2011 if such change shall be deemed in good faith by Lender to adversely affect the Collateral, or (D) the nature and quality of the Inventory has materially deteriorated.  In determining whether to reduce the lending formula(s), Lender may consider events, conditions, contingencies or risks which are also considered in determining Eligible Accounts, Eligible Inventory or in establishing Availability Reserves.  

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(d)    Except in Lender’s discretion, the aggregate amount of the Loans and the Letter of Credit Accommodations outstanding at any time shall not exceed the Maximum Credit.  In the event that the outstanding amount of any component of the Loans, or the aggregate amount of the outstanding Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations, exceed the amounts available under the lending formulas, the sublimits for Letter of Credit Accommodations set forth in Section 2.2(d) or the Maximum Credit, as applicable, such event shall not limit, waive or otherwise affect any rights of Lender in that circumstances or on any future occasions and Borrower shall, upon demand by Lender, which may be made at any time or from time to time, immediately repay to Lender the entire amount of any such excess(es) for which payment is demanded.  
2.2    Letter of Credit Accommodations.  
(a)    Subject to, and upon the terms and conditions contained herein, at the request of Borrower, Lender agrees to provide or arrange for Letter of Credit Accommodations for the account of Borrower containing terms and conditions acceptable to Lender, Borrower and the issuer thereof.  Any payments made by Lender to any issuer thereof and/or related parties in connection with the Letter of Credit Accommodations shall constitute additional Loans to Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.  
(b)    In addition to any charges, fees or expenses charged by any bank or issuer in connection with the Letter of Credit Accommodations, Borrower shall pay to Lender a letter of credit fee at a rate equal to two percent (2%) per annum on the daily outstanding balance of the Letter of Credit Accommodations for the immediately preceding month (or part thereof), payable in arrears as of the first day of each succeeding month; provided, that, if any of the Letter of Credit Accommodations have expired with any amount remaining unpaid thereunder, such Letter of Credit Accommodation shall continue to be included in the daily outstanding balance of the Letter of Credit Accommodations for purposes of calculating such letter of credit fee until the earlier of (i) the payment under the Letter of Credit Accommodation of all amounts which were unpaid upon its expiration date or (ii) a period of thirty (30) days after the stated expiration date of such Letter of Credit Accommodation.  Such letter of credit fee shall be calculated on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed and the obligation of Borrower to pay such fee shall survive the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement. 
(c)    Borrower shall give Lender two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice of Borrower’s request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit Accommodation.  Such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the original face amount of the Letter of Credit Accommodation requested, the effective date (which date shall be a Business Day and in no event shall be a date less than ten (10) days’ prior to the end of the then current term of this Agreement) of issuance of such requested Letter of Credit Accommodation, whether such Letter of Credit Accommodations may be drawn in a single or in partial draws, the date on which such requested Letter of Credit Accommodation is to expire (which date shall be a Business Day), the purpose for which such Letter of Credit Accommodation is to be issued, and the beneficiary of the requested Letter of Credit Accommodation.  Borrower shall attach to such notice the proposed terms of the Letter of Credit Accommodation.  
(d)    In addition to being subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions precedent contained in Section 4 hereof and the other terms and conditions contained herein, no 

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Letter of Credit Accommodations shall be available unless each of the following conditions precedent have been satisfied in a manner satisfactory to Lender:  (i) Borrower shall have delivered to the proposed issuer of such Letter of Credit Accommodation at such times and in such manner as such proposed issuer may require, an application, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such proposed issuer and Lender, for the issuance of the Letter of Credit Accommodation and such other documents as may be required pursuant to the terms thereof, and the form and terms of the proposed Letter of Credit Accommodation shall be reasonably satisfactory to Lender and such proposed issuer, (ii) as of the date of issuance, no order of any court, arbitrator or other Governmental Authority shall purport by its terms to enjoin or restrain money center banks generally from issuing letters of credit of the type and in the amount of the proposed Letter of Credit Accommodation, and no law, rule or regulation applicable to money center banks generally and no request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over money center banks generally shall prohibit, or request that the proposed issuer of such Letter of Credit Accommodation refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the issuance of such Letters of Credit Accommodation; and (iii) the Excess Availability, prior to giving effect to any Availability Reserves with respect to such Letter of Credit Accommodations, on the date of the proposed issuance of any Letter of Credit Accommodations, shall be equal to or greater than: (A) if the proposed Letter of Credit Accommodation is for the purpose of purchasing Eligible Inventory consisting of leaf tobacco Inventory and the documents of title with respect thereto are consigned to the issuer, the sum of (1) the percentage equal to one hundred percent (100%) minus the then applicable percentage with respect to Eligible Inventory consisting of leaf tobacco set forth in Section 2.1(a) multiplied by the Value of such Eligible Inventory, plus (2) freight, taxes, duty and other amounts which Lender estimates must be paid in connection with such Inventory upon arrival and for delivery to one of Borrower’s locations for Eligible Inventory within the United States of America and (B) if the proposed Letter of Credit Accommodation is for any other purpose or the documents of title are not consigned to the issuer in connection with a Letter of Credit Accommodation for the purpose of purchasing Inventory, an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the face amount thereof and all other commitments and obligations made or incurred by Lender with respect thereto.  Effective on the issuance of each Letter of Credit Accommodation, an Availability Reserve shall be established in the applicable amount set forth in Section 2.2(d)(iii)(A) or Section 2.2(d)(iii)(B).
(e)    Except in Lender’s discretion, the amount of all outstanding Letter of Credit Accommodations and all other commitments and obligations made or incurred by Lender in connection therewith, shall not at any time exceed $5,000,000.  At any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, upon Lender’s request, Borrower will either furnish cash collateral to secure the reimbursement obligations to the issuer in connection with any Letter of Credit Accommodations or furnish cash collateral to Lender for the Letter of Credit Accommodations, and in either case, the Loans otherwise available to Borrower shall not be reduced as provided in Section 2.2(d) to the extent of such cash collateral
(f)    Borrower shall indemnify and hold Lender harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses which Lender may suffer or incur in connection with any Letter of Credit Accommodations and any documents, drafts or acceptances relating thereto, including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses due to any action taken by any issuer or correspondent with respect to any Letter of Credit Accommodation, other than any such loss, claim, damage, liability, cost or expense resulting only from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Lender.  Borrower assumes all risks with respect 

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to the acts or omissions of the drawer under or beneficiary of any Letter of Credit Accommodation and for such purposes the drawer or beneficiary shall be deemed Borrower’s agent Borrower assumes all risks for, and agrees to pay, all foreign, Federal, State and local taxes, duties and levies relating to any good subject to any Letter of Credit Accommodations or any documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder.  Borrower hereby releases and holds Lender harmless from and against any acts, waivers, errors, delays or omissions, whether caused by Borrower, by any issuer or correspondent or otherwise with respect to or relating to any Letter of Credit Accommodation.  The provisions of this Section 2.2(f) shall survive the payment of Obligations and the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.
(g)    In connection with Inventory purchased pursuant to Letter of Credit Accommodations, Borrower shall, at Lender’s request, instruct all suppliers, carriers, forwarders, customs brokers, warehouses or others receiving or holding cash, checks, Inventory, documents or instruments in which Lender holds a security interest to deliver them to Lender and/or subject to Lender’s order, and if they shall come into Borrower’s possession, to deliver them, upon Lender’s request, to Lender in their original form.  Borrower shall also, at Lender’s request, designate Lender as the consignee on all bills of lading and other negotiable and non-negotiable documents.
(h)    So long as no Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Borrower may (i) approve or resolve any questions of non-compliance of documents, (ii) give any instructions as to acceptance or rejection of any documents or goods, (iii) execute any and all applications for steamship or airway guaranties, indemnities or delivery orders, and (iv) with Lender’s consent, grant any extensions of the maturity of, time of payment for, or time of presentation of, any drafts, acceptances, or documents, and agree to any amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications, changes or cancellations of any of the terms or conditions of any of the applications, Letter of Credit Accommodations, or documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder or any letters of credit included in the Collateral. 
(i)    Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs any issuer of a Letter of Credit Accommodation to name Borrower as the account party therein and to deliver to Lender all instruments, documents and other writings and property received by issuer pursuant to the Letter of Credit Accommodations and to accept and rely upon Lender’s instructions and agreements with respect to all matters arising in connection with the Letter of Credit Accommodations or the applications therefor.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or construed to grant Borrower any right or authority to pledge the credit of Lender in any manner.  Lender shall have no liability of any kind with respect to any Letter of Credit Accommodation provided by an issuer other than Lender unless Lender has duly executed and delivered to such issuer the application or a guarantee or indemnification in writing with respect to such Letter of Credit Accommodation.  Borrower shall be bound by any reasonable interpretation made in good faith by Lender, or any other issuer or correspondent under or in connection with any Letter of Credit Accommodation or any documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder, notwithstanding that such interpretation may be inconsistent with any instructions of Borrower.
(j)    At any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Lender shall have the right and authority to, and Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of Lender, (i) approve or resolve any questions of non-compliance of documents, (ii) give any instructions as to acceptance or rejection of any documents or goods, (iii) execute any and all 

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applications for steamship or airway guaranties, indemnities or delivery orders, (iv) grant any extensions of the maturity of, time of payments for, or time of presentation of, any drafts, acceptances, or documents, and (v) agree to any amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications, changes or cancellations of any of the terms or conditions of any of the applications, Letter of Credit Accommodations, or documents, drafts or acceptances thereunder or any letters of credit included in the Collateral.  Lender may take such actions either in its own name or in Borrower’s name.
(k)    Any rights, remedies, duties or obligations granted or undertaken by Borrower to any issuer or correspondent in any application for any Letter of Credit Accommodation, or any other agreement in favor of any issuer or correspondent relating to any Letter of Credit Accommodation, shall be deemed to have been granted or undertaken by Borrower to Lender.  Any duties or obligations undertaken by Lender to any issuer or correspondent in any application for any Letter of Credit Accommodation, or any other agreement by Lender in favor of any issuer or correspondent to the extent relating to any Letter of Credit Accommodation, shall be deemed to have been undertaken by Borrower to Lender and to apply in all respects to Borrower.
2.3    Availability Reserves.  All Loans otherwise available to Borrower pursuant to the lending formulas and subject to the Maximum Credit and other applicable limits hereunder shall be subject to Lender’s continuing right to establish and revise Availability Reserves.   
2.4    Mebane Loan.  Pursuant to the terms of the Mebane Note, Lender has made the Mebane Loan to Maple, which loan is secured by a first deed of trust and lien in favor of Lender on the Mebane Premises and all guaranties, security agreements and other agreements, documents and instruments now or at any time hereafter executed and/or delivered by Borrower, Maple or any other party in connection therewith, and Lender is entitled to all of the benefits and rights of this Agreement, which loan shall be repaid according to the terms of the Mebane Note.  Maple shall be required to make the regularly scheduled principal installments as set forth in the Mebane Note.  Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default or if this Agreement shall be terminated or not renewed for any reason whatsoever, then and in any such event, in addition to all rights and remedies of Lender hereunder, or under applicable law or otherwise, all such rights and remedies being cumulative, not exclusive, and enforceable alternatively, successively and concurrently, Lender may, at its option, declare all amounts owing under the Mebane Note to be due and payable, whereupon the then unpaid balance of the Mebane Note, together with all interest accrued thereon, shall forthwith become due and payable, together with interest accruing thereafter at the then applicable interest rate set forth in the Mebane Note until the indebtedness evidenced by the Mebane Note is paid in full, plus the costs and expenses of collection of the Mebane Note, including but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses actually incurred.

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2.5    Existing Loan.  All outstanding Loans under the Existing Loan Agreement as of the date hereof shall be deemed to be outstanding hereunder as of the date hereof.
		
	SECTION 3.
	INTEREST AND FEES 

3.1    Interest.  
(a)    Borrower shall pay to Lender interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Loans at the Interest Rate.  All interest accruing hereunder on and after the date of any Event of Default or termination hereof shall be payable on demand.
(b)    Borrower may from time to time request Eurodollar Rate Loans or may request that Prime Rate Loans be converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans or that any existing Eurodollar Rate Loans continue for an additional Interest Period.  Such request from Borrower shall specify the amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans or the amount of the Prime Rate Loans to be converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans or the amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans to be continued (subject to the limits set forth below) and the Interest Period to be applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, three (3) Business Days after receipt by Lender of such a request from Borrower, such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made or Prime Rate Loans shall be converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans or such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall continue, as the case may be; provided, that, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing, (ii) no party hereto shall have sent any notice of termination of this Agreement, Borrower shall have complied with such customary procedures as are established by Lender and specified by Lender to Borrower from time to time for requests by Borrower for Eurodollar Rate Loans, (iii) no more than four (4) Interest Periods may be in effect at any one time, (iv) the aggregate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans must be in an amount not less than $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof, (v) the maximum amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans in the aggregate at any time requested by Borrower shall not exceed the amount equal to ninety percent (90%) of the lowest principal amount of the Loans which it is anticipated will be outstanding during the applicable Interest Period, in each case as determined by Lender in good faith (but with no obligation of Lender to make such Loans), and  (vi) Lender shall have determined that the Interest Period or Adjusted Eurodollar Rate is available to Lender and can be readily determined as of the date of the request for such Eurodollar Rate Loan by Borrower.  Any request by or on behalf of Borrower for Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Prime Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans or to continue any existing Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be irrevocable.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Lender shall not be required to purchase United States Dollar deposits in the London interbank market or other applicable Eurodollar Rate market to fund any Eurodollar Rate Loans, but the provisions hereof shall be deemed to apply as if Lender had purchased such deposits to fund the Eurodollar Rate Loans.
(c)    Any Eurodollar Rate Loans shall automatically convert to Prime Rate Loans upon the last day of the applicable Interest Period, unless Lender has received and approved a request to continue such Eurodollar Rate Loan at least three (3) Business Days’ prior to such last day in accordance with the terms hereof.  Any Eurodollar Rate Loans shall, at Lender’s option, upon notice by Lender to Borrower, be subsequently converted to Prime Rate Loans in the event that this Agreement shall terminate or not be renewed.  Borrower shall pay to Lender, upon demand by Lender (or Lender may, at its option, charge any loan account of Borrower) any amounts required to 

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compensate Lender or Participant for any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by such person, as a result of the conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Prime Rate Loans pursuant to any of the foregoing.
(d)    Interest shall be payable by Borrower to Lender monthly in arrears not later than the first day of each calendar month and shall be calculated on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed.  The interest rate on non-contingent Obligations (other than Eurodollar Rate Loans) shall increase or decrease by an amount equal to each increase or decrease in the Prime Rate effective on the first day of the month after any change in such Prime Rate is announced based on the Prime Rate in effect on the last day of the month in which any such change occurs.  In no event shall charges constituting interest payable by Borrower to Lender exceed the maximum amount or the rate permitted under any applicable law or regulation, and if any such part or provision of this Agreement is in contravention of any such law or regulation, such part or provision shall be deemed amended to conform thereto.
3.2    Closing Fee.  Borrower shall pay to Lender as a closing fee the amount of $150,000, which shall be fully earned and payable as of the date hereof.
3.3    Servicing Fee.  Borrower shall pay to Lender monthly a servicing fee in an amount equal to $10,000 in respect of Lender’s services for each month (or part thereof) while this Agreement remains in effect and for so long thereafter as any of the Obligations are outstanding, which fee shall be fully earned as of and payable in advance on the date hereof and on the first day of each month hereafter.  
3.4    Unused Line Fee.  Borrower shall pay to Lender monthly an unused line fee at a rate equal to one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum calculated upon the amount by which the Maximum Credit exceeds the average daily principal balance of the outstanding Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations during the immediately preceding month (or part thereof) while this Agreement is in effect and for so long thereafter as any of the Obligations are outstanding, which fee shall be payable on the first day of each month in arrears.  
3.5    Changes in Laws and Increased Costs of Loans.
(a)    If after the date hereof, either (i) any change in, or in the interpretation of, any law or regulation is introduced, including, without limitation, with respect to reserve requirements, applicable to Lender or any banking or financial institution from whom Lender borrows funds or obtains credit (a “Funding Bank”), or (ii) a Funding Bank or Lender complies with any future guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental Authority or (iii) a Funding Bank or Lender determines that the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof has or would have the effect described below, or a Funding Bank or Lender complies with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency (provided, that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith shall be 

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deemed to be a change in Law under this clause (iii), regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued), and in the case of any event set forth in this clause (iii), such adoption, change or compliance has or would have the direct or indirect effect of reducing the rate of return on Lender’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which Lender could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration the Funding Bank’s or Lender’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by Lender to be material, and the result of any of the foregoing events described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) is or results in an increase in the cost to Lender of funding or maintaining the Loans or the Letter of Credit Accommodations, then Borrower shall from time to time upon demand by Lender pay to Lender additional amounts sufficient to indemnify Lender against such increased cost on an after-tax basis (after taking into account applicable deductions and credits in respect of the amount indemnified).  A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost shall be submitted to Borrower by Lender and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error
(b)    If prior to the first day of any Interest Period, (i) Lender shall have determined in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon Borrower) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, (ii) the Eurodollar Rate determined or to be determined for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to Lender of making or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans during such Interest Period, or (iii) Dollar deposits in the principal amounts of the Eurodollar Rate Loans to which such Interest Period is to be applicable are not generally available in the London interbank market, Lender shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to Borrower as soon as practicable thereafter, and will also give prompt written notice to Borrower when such conditions no longer exist.  If such notice is given (A) any Eurodollar Rate Loans requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be made as Prime Rate Loans, (B) any Loans that were to have been converted on the first day of such Interest Period to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be converted to or continued as Prime Rate Loans and (C) each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be converted, on the last day of the then-current Interest Period thereof, to Prime Rate Loans.  Until such notice has been withdrawn by Lender, no further Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made or continued as such, nor shall Borrower have the right to convert Prime Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans.
(c)    Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if the adoption of or any change in any law, treaty, rule or regulation or final, non-appealable determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority or in the interpretation or application thereof occurring after the date hereof shall make it unlawful for Lender to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans as contemplated by this Agreement, (i) Lender shall promptly give written notice of such circumstances to Borrower (which notice shall be withdrawn whenever such circumstances no longer exist), (ii) the commitment of Lender hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Loans, continue Eurodollar Rate Loans as such and convert Prime Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall forthwith be canceled and, until such time as it shall no longer be unlawful for Lender to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans, Lender shall then have a commitment only to make a Prime Rate Loan when a Eurodollar Rate Loan is requested and (iii) Lender’s Loans then outstanding as Eurodollar Rate Loans, if any, shall be converted automatically to Prime Rate Loans on the respective last days of the then current Interest Periods with respect to such Loans or within such earlier period as required by law.  If any such conversion of a Eurodollar Rate Loan occurs on a day which is not the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, Borrower shall pay to Lender such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to Section 3.3(d) below.

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(d)    Borrower shall indemnify Lender and to hold Lender harmless from any loss or expense which Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (i) default by Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion into or extension of Eurodollar Rate Loans after Borrower has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) default by Borrower in making any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan after Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and (iii) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans on a day which is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto.  With respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, converted or extended, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or extend to the last day of the applicable Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or extend, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest for such Eurodollar Rate Loans provided for herein over (B) the amount of interest (as determined by Lender) which would have accrued to Lender on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the interbank Eurodollar market.  This covenant shall survive the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement and the payment of the Obligations.
		
	SECTION 4.
	CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THIS AGREEMENT

4.1    Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of this Agreement.  Each of the following is a condition precedent to Lender entering into this Agreement:
(a)    All requisite corporate action and proceedings in connection with this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall be satisfactory in form and substance to Lender, and Lender shall have received all information and copies of all documents, including, without limitation, records of requisite corporate action and proceedings which Lender may have requested in connection therewith, such documents where requested by Lender or its counsel to be certified by appropriate corporate officers or governmental authorities; 
(b)    Lender shall have received (i) a prepayment in respect of the Mebane Loan so that, after giving effect to such prepayment, the outstanding principal amount of the Mebane Loan shall be $4,425,000, and (ii) the Mebane Note, duly authorized, executed and delivered by Maple;
(c)    Lender shall have received payment of the closing fee that is required to be paid on the date hereof pursuant to Section 3.2; and
(d)    The other Financing Agreements and all instruments and documents hereunder and thereunder shall have been duly executed and delivered to Lender, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender. 

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4.2    Conditions Precedent to All Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations.  Each of the following is an additional condition precedent to Lender making any future Loans and/or providing Letter of Credit Accommodations to Borrower: 
(a)    all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Financing Agreements shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of the making of each such Loan or providing each such Letter of Credit Accommodation and after giving effect thereto (except as to those representations and warranties expressly made as of a specified earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); and 
(b)    no Event of Default, and no event or condition which, with notice or passage of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall exist or have occurred and be continuing, on and as of the date of the making of such Loan or providing each such Letter of Credit Accommodation and after giving effect thereto.  
		
	SECTION 5.
	GRANT AND PERFECTION OF SECURITY INTEREST 

5.1    Grant of Security Interest.  To secure payment and performance of all Obligations, Borrower hereby grants to Lender, and confirms, reaffirms and restates its prior grant to Lender of, a continuing security interest in, a lien upon, and a right of set off against, and hereby assigns to Lender as security, all personal and real property and fixtures and interests in property and fixtures of Borrower, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or existing, and wherever located (together with all other collateral security for the Obligations at any time granted to or held or acquired by Lender, collectively, the “Collateral”), including:
(a)    all Accounts arising from the sale or other disposition of Inventory;
(b)    all general intangibles, including, without limitation, all Intellectual Property; 
(c)    all Inventory;
(d)    all Equipment;
(e)    all chattel paper (including all tangible and electronic chattel paper), in each case arising in connection with or related to, or constituting identifiable proceeds of, any of the Accounts that constitute Collateral, any Inventory or any of the other Collateral;
(f)    all instruments (including all promissory notes), in each case arising in connection with or related to, or constituting identifiable proceeds of, any of the Accounts that constitute Collateral, any Inventory or any of the other Collateral;
(g)    all documents arising in connection with or related to, or constituting identifiable proceeds of, any of the Accounts that constitute Collateral, any Inventory or any of the other Collateral;

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(h)    all deposit accounts;
(i)    all letters of credit, banker’s acceptances and similar instruments and including all letter-of-credit rights, in each case arising in connection with or related to, or constituting identifiable proceeds of, any of the Accounts that constitute Collateral, any Inventory or any of the other Collateral;
(j)    all supporting obligations and all present and future liens, security interests, rights, remedies, title and interest in, to and in respect of Receivables arising from the sale or other disposition of Inventory or any of the other Collateral, including (i) rights and remedies under or relating to guaranties, contracts of suretyship, letters of credit and credit and other insurance related to the Collateral, (ii) rights of stoppage in transit, replevin, repossession, reclamation and other rights and remedies of an unpaid vendor, lienor or secured party, (iii) goods described in invoices, documents, contracts or instruments with respect to, or otherwise representing or evidencing, Receivables arising from the sale or other disposition of Inventory or any of the other Collateral, including returned, repossessed and reclaimed goods, and (iv) deposits by and property of account debtors or other persons securing the obligations of account debtors;
(k)    all (i) investment property (including securities, whether certificated or uncertificated, securities accounts, security entitlements, commodity contracts or commodity accounts), in each case arising in connection with or related to, or constituting identifiable proceeds of any Collateral and (ii) monies, credit balances, deposits and other property of Borrower now or hereafter held or received by or in transit to Lender or its Affiliates or at any other depository or other institution from or for the account of Borrower, whether for safekeeping, pledge, custody, transmission, collection or otherwise (including, without limitation, any Cash Collateral at any time held by Lender);
(l)    all commercial tort claims, including, without limitation, those identified in the Information Certificate, in each case arising in connection with or related to, or constituting identifiable proceeds of, any of the Accounts that constitute Collateral, any Inventory or any of the other Collateral;
(m)    to the extent not otherwise described above, all Receivables arising from the sale or other disposition of Inventory or of any other Collateral; 
(n)    all Records; and
(o)    all products and proceeds of the foregoing, in any form, including insurance proceeds and all claims against third parties for loss or damage to or destruction of or other involuntary conversion of any kind or nature of any or all of the other Collateral.
As used herein, “Collateral” shall not include (i) any of Borrower’s Real Property other than the Mebane Premises, (ii) any of Borrower’s Equipment to the extent any grant of a lien to Lender in such Equipment would be precluded by or require a consent under the terms and conditions of any purchase money or other financing of any such Equipment, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, (iii) the Bronson trademark (Registration No. 1821601; Registration Date 2/15/94), the mark “M” (Registration No. 3108068; Registration Date 6/20/06) and the Montego trademark 

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(Registration No. 1900071; Registration Date 6/13/95) to the extent that such marks are subject to a license agreement permitting the licensee thereunder to purchase such marks pursuant to the terms of such license agreement, or (iv) any proceeds of such assets and property that are excluded from Collateral.
5.2    Perfection of Security Interests.
(a)    Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally authorizes Lender (or its agent) to file at any time and from time to time such financing statements with respect to the Collateral naming Lender or its designee as the secured party and Borrower as debtor, as Lender may require, and including any other information with respect to Borrower or otherwise required by part 5 of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of such jurisdiction as Lender may determine, together with any amendment and continuations with respect thereto, which authorization shall apply to all financing statements filed on, prior to or after the date hereof.  Borrower hereby ratifies and approves all financing statements naming Lender or its designee as secured party and Borrower as debtor with respect to the Collateral (and any amendments with respect to such financing statements) filed by or on behalf of Lender prior to the date hereof and ratifies and confirms the authorization of Lender to file such financing statements (and amendments, if any).  Borrower hereby authorizes Lender to adopt on behalf of Borrower any symbol required for authenticating any electronic filing.  In the event that the description of the collateral in any financing statement naming Lender or its designee as the secured party and Borrower as debtor includes assets and properties of Borrower that do not at any time constitute Collateral, whether hereunder, under any of the other Financing Agreements or otherwise, the filing of such financing statement shall nonetheless be deemed authorized by Borrower to the extent of the Collateral included in such description and it shall not render the financing statement ineffective as to any of the Collateral or otherwise affect the financing statement as it applies to any of the Collateral.  Except as permitted by the Uniform Commercial Code, in no event shall Borrower at any time file, or permit or cause to be filed, any correction statement or termination statement with respect to any financing statement (or amendment or continuation with respect thereto) naming Lender or its designee as secured party and Borrower as debtor.
(b)    In the event that Borrower shall be entitled to or shall receive any chattel paper or instrument after the date hereof that constitutes Collateral, Borrower shall promptly notify Lender thereof in writing.  Promptly upon the receipt thereof by or on behalf of Borrower (including by any agent or representative), Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to Lender, all tangible chattel paper and instruments that constitute Collateral that Borrower may at any time acquire, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as Lender may from time to time specify, in each case except as Lender may otherwise agree.  At Lender’s option, Borrower shall, or Lender may at any time on behalf of Borrower, cause the original of any such instrument or chattel paper to be conspicuously marked in a form and manner acceptable to Lender with the following legend referring to chattel paper or instruments as applicable: “This [chattel paper][instrument] is subject to the security interest of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and any sale, transfer, assignment or encumbrance of this [chattel paper][instrument] violates the rights of such secured party.”
(c)    In the event that Borrower shall at any time hold or acquire an interest in any electronic chattel paper or any “transferable record” (as such term is defined in Section 201 of the 

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Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction) that constitutes Collateral, Borrower shall promptly notify Lender thereof in writing.  Promptly upon Lender’s request, Borrower shall take, or cause to be taken, such actions as Lender may reasonably request to give Lender control of such electronic chattel paper under Section 9-105 of the UCC and control of such transferable record under Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or, as the case may be, Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, as in effect in such jurisdiction.
(d)    Borrower does not have any deposit accounts as of the date hereof, except as set forth on Schedule 5.2 of the Information Certificate.  Borrower shall not, directly or indirectly, after the date hereof open, establish or maintain any deposit account unless each of the following conditions is satisfied:  (i) Lender shall have received not less than five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice of the intention of Borrower to open or establish such account which notice shall specify in reasonable detail and specificity acceptable to Lender the name of the account, the owner of the account, the name and address of the bank at which such account is to be opened or established, the individual at such bank with whom Borrower is dealing and the purpose of the account, (ii) the bank where such account is opened or maintained shall be acceptable to Lender, and (iii) on or before the opening of such deposit account, Borrower shall as Lender may specify either (A) deliver to Lender a Deposit Account Control Agreement with respect to such deposit account duly authorized, executed and delivered by Borrower and the bank at which such deposit account is opened and maintained or (B) arrange for Lender to become the customer of the bank with respect to the deposit account on terms and conditions acceptable to Lender.  The terms of this subsection (d) shall not apply to deposit accounts specifically and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of Borrower’s salaried employees.
(e)    Borrower does not own or hold, directly or indirectly, beneficially or as record owner or both, any investment property that constitutes Collateral, as of the date hereof, or have any investment account, securities account, commodity account or other similar account with any bank or other financial institution or other securities intermediary or commodity intermediary as of the date hereof that constitutes Collateral, in each case except as set forth in the Information Certificate.
(i)    In the event that Borrower shall be entitled to or shall at any time after the date hereof hold or acquire any certificated securities that constitute Collateral, Borrower shall promptly endorse, assign and deliver the same to Lender, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as Lender may from time to time specify.  If any securities that constitute Collateral, now or hereafter acquired by Borrower, are uncertificated and are issued to Borrower or its nominee directly by the issuer thereof, Borrower shall immediately notify Lender thereof and shall as Lender may specify, either (A) cause the issuer to agree to comply with instructions from Lender as to such securities, without further consent of Borrower or such nominee, or (B) arrange for Lender to become the registered owner of the securities. 
(ii)    Borrower shall not, directly or indirectly, after the date hereof open, establish or maintain any investment account, securities account, commodity account or any other similar account (other than a deposit account) with any securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, if any investment property constituting Collateral has been credited or will be credited to, or is or will be on deposit, in such account, unless each of the following conditions is satisfied:  

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(A) Lender shall have received not less than five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice of the intention of Borrower to open or establish such account which notice shall specify in reasonable detail and specificity acceptable to Lender the name of the account, the owner of the account, the name and address of the securities intermediary or commodity intermediary at which such account is to be opened or established, the individual at such intermediary with whom Borrower is dealing and the purpose of the account, (B) the securities intermediary or commodity intermediary (as the case may be) where such account is opened or maintained shall be acceptable to Lender, and (C) on or before the opening of such investment account, securities account or other similar account with a securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, Borrower shall as Lender may specify either (1) execute and deliver, and cause to be executed and delivered to Lender, an Investment Property Control Agreement with respect thereto duly authorized, executed and delivered by Borrower and such securities intermediary or commodity intermediary or (2) arrange for Lender to become the entitlement holder with respect to such investment property on terms and conditions acceptable to Lender.
(f)    Borrower is not the beneficiary or otherwise entitled to any right to payment under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar instrument that constitutes Collateral as of the date hereof, except as set forth in the Information Certificate.  In the event that Borrower shall be entitled to or shall receive any right to payment under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or any similar instrument that constitutes Collateral, whether as beneficiary thereof or otherwise after the date hereof, Borrower shall promptly notify Lender thereof in writing.  Borrower shall immediately, as Lender may specify, either (i) deliver, or cause to be delivered to Lender, with respect to any such letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar instrument, the written agreement of the issuer and any other nominated person obligated to make any payment in respect thereof (including any confirming or negotiating bank), in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, consenting to the assignment of the proceeds of the letter of credit to Lender by Borrower and agreeing to make all payments thereon directly to Lender or as Lender may otherwise direct or (ii) cause Lender to become, at Borrower’s expense, the transferee beneficiary of the letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar instrument (as the case may be).
(g)    Borrower has no commercial tort claims that constitute Collateral as of the date hereof, except as set forth in the Information Certificate.  In the event that Borrower shall at any time after the date hereof have any commercial tort claims that constitute Collateral, Borrower shall promptly notify Lender thereof in writing, which notice shall (i) set forth in reasonable detail the basis for and nature of such commercial tort claim and (ii) include the express grant by Borrower to Lender of a security interest in such commercial tort claim (and the proceeds thereof).  In the event that such notice does not include such grant of a security interest, the sending thereof by Borrower to Lender shall be deemed to constitute such grant to Lender.  Upon the sending of such notice, any such commercial tort claim described therein that constitutes Collateral shall constitute part of the Collateral and shall be deemed included therein.  Without limiting the authorization of Lender provided in Section 5.2(a) hereof or otherwise arising by the execution by Borrower of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements, Lender is hereby irrevocably authorized from time to time and at any time to file such financing statements naming Lender or its designee as secured party and Borrower as debtor, or any amendments to any financing statements, covering any such commercial tort claim that constitutes a part of the Collateral.  In addition, Borrower shall promptly upon Lender’s request, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered,  to Lender such other agreements, documents and instruments as Lender may require in connection with such commercial tort claim.

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(h)    Borrower does not have any goods or documents of title that constitute Collateral or other Collateral in the custody, control or possession of a third party as of the date hereof, except as set forth in the Information Certificate and except for goods located in the United States in transit to a location of Borrower permitted herein in the ordinary course of business of Borrower in the possession of the carrier transporting such goods.  In the event that any goods, documents of title or other Collateral are at any time after the date hereof in the custody, control or possession of any other person not referred to in the Information Certificate or such carriers (except for goods or documents of title that constitute Collateral or other tangible Collateral located in the United States in transit to a location of Borrower permitted herein in the ordinary course of business of Borrower in the possession of the carrier transporting such goods or other Collateral), Borrower shall promptly notify Lender thereof in writing.  Promptly upon Lender’s request, Borrower shall deliver to Lender a Collateral Access Agreement duly authorized, executed and delivered by such person and Borrower.
(i)    Borrower shall take any other actions reasonably requested by Lender from time to time to cause the attachment, perfection and first priority of, and the ability of Lender to enforce, the security interest of Lender in any and all of the Collateral, including, without limitation, (i) executing, delivering and, where appropriate, filing financing statements and amendments relating thereto under the UCC or other applicable law, to the extent, if any, that Borrower’s signature thereon is required therefor, (ii) causing Lender’s name to be noted as secured party on any certificate of title for a titled good if such notation is a condition to attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of Lender to enforce, the security interest of Lender in such Collateral, (iii) complying with any provision of any statute, regulation or treaty of the United States as to any Collateral if compliance with such provision is a condition to attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of Lender to enforce, the security interest of Lender in such Collateral, and (iv) obtaining the consents and approvals of any Governmental Authority or third party, including, without limitation, any consent of any licensor, lessor or other person obligated on Collateral, and taking all actions required by any earlier versions of the UCC or by other law, as applicable in any relevant jurisdiction.
		
	SECTION 6.
	COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION 

6.1    Borrower’s Loan Account.  Lender shall maintain one or more loan account(s) on its books in which shall be recorded (a) all Loans, Letter of Credit Accommodations and other Obligations and the Collateral, (b) all payments made by or on behalf of Borrower and (c) all other appropriate debits and credits as provided in this Agreement, including, without limitation, fees, charges, costs, expenses and interest.  All entries in the loan account(s) shall be made in accordance with Lender’s customary practices as in effect from time to time.  

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6.2    Statements.  Lender shall render to Borrower each month a statement setting forth the balance in Borrower’s loan account(s) maintained by Lender for Borrower pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including principal, interest, fees, costs and expenses.  Each such statement shall be subject to subsequent adjustment by Lender but shall, absent manifest errors or omissions, be considered correct and deemed accepted by Borrower and conclusively binding upon Borrower as an account stated except to the extent that Lender receives a written notice from Borrower of any specific exceptions of Borrower thereto within thirty (30) days after the date such statement has been mailed by Lender.  Until such time as Lender shall have rendered to Borrower a written statement as provided above, the balance in Borrower’s loan account(s) shall be presumptive evidence of the amounts due and owing to Lender by Borrower.  
6.3    Collection of Accounts 
(a)    Borrower shall establish and maintain, at its expense, blocked accounts or lockboxes and related blocked accounts (in either case, “Blocked Accounts”), as Lender may specify, with such banks as are acceptable to Lender into which Borrower shall promptly deposit and direct its account debtors to directly remit all payments on Receivables that constitute Collateral and all payments constituting proceeds of Inventory or other Collateral in the identical form in which such payments are made, whether by cash, check or other manner.  At Lender’s option, Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to Lender, a Depository Account Control Agreement duly authorized, executed and delivered by each bank where a Blocked Account is maintained as provided in Section 5.2 hereof or at any time and from time to time Lender may become bank’s customer with respect to the Blocked Accounts and promptly upon Lender’s request, Borrower shall execute and deliver such agreements or documents as Lender may require in connection therewith.  Borrower shall cause all funds received or deposited into the Blocked Accounts to be transferred each Business Day to the Lender Payment Account. Borrower agrees that all payments made to such Blocked Accounts or other funds received and collected by Lender, whether in respect of the Receivables that constitute Collateral, as proceeds of Inventory or other Collateral or otherwise shall be treated as payments to Lender in respect of the Obligations and therefore shall constitute the property of Lender to the extent of the then outstanding Obligations.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 6.3(a), Lender agrees that, in the event Lender and Borrower are unable to agree with Reference Bank, within thirty (30) days subsequent to the date hereof, regarding the terms and conditions of a new Depository Account Control Agreement with respect to Borrower’s Blocked Accounts located at Reference Bank, to replace the existing blocked account agreement previously executed with respect to such Blocked Accounts among Reference Bank , Lender and Borrower, then Lender shall accept such existing blocked account agreement for purposes of this Section 6.3(a) with respect to Borrower’s Blocked Accounts at Reference Bank.
(b)    For purposes of calculating interest on the Obligations, such payments or other funds received will be applied (conditional upon final collection) to the Obligations on the Business Day of receipt of immediately available funds by Lender in the Lender Payment Account.  For purposes of calculating the amount of the Loans available to Borrower such payments will be applied (conditional upon final collection) to the Obligations on the Business Day of receipt by Lender in the Lender Payment Account. if such payments are received within sufficient time (in accordance with Lender’s usual and customary practices as in effect from time to time) to credit Borrower’s loan account on such day, and if not, then on the next Business Day.  

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(c)    Borrower and all of its affiliates, subsidiaries, shareholders, directors, members, managers, employees or agents shall, acting as trustee for Lender, receive, as the property of Lender, any monies, checks, notes, drafts or any other payment relating to and/or proceeds of Accounts or other Collateral which come into their possession or under their control and immediately upon receipt thereof, shall deposit or cause the same to be deposited in the Blocked Accounts, or remit the same or cause the same to be remitted, in kind, to Lender.  In no event shall the same be commingled with Borrower’s own funds.  Borrower agrees to reimburse Lender on demand for any amounts owed or paid to any bank at which a Blocked Account is established or any other bank or person involved in the transfer of funds to or from the Blocked Accounts arising out of Lender’s payments to or indemnification of such bank or person.  The obligation of Borrower to reimburse Lender for such amounts pursuant to this Section 6.3 shall survive the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement. 
6.4    Payments.  
(a)    All Obligations shall be payable to the Lender Payment Account as provided in Section 6.3 or such other place as Lender may designate from time to time.  Lender shall apply payments received or collected from Borrower or any Obligor or for the account of Borrower or any  Obligor (including the monetary proceeds of collections or of realization upon any Collateral) as follows: first, to pay any fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due to Lender from Borrower or any Obligor; second, to pay interest due in respect of any Loans; third, to pay principal in respect of the Loans and to pay or prepay Obligations arising under or pursuant to any Hedge Agreements of Borrower (up to the amount of any then effective Reserve established in respect of such Obligations), on a pro rata basis; fourth, to pay or prepay any other Obligations whether or not then due, in such order and manner as Lender determines or to be held as cash collateral in connection with any Letters of Credit or other contingent Obligations (but not including for this purpose any Obligations arising under or pursuant to any Bank Products); and fifth, to pay or prepay any Obligations arising under or pursuant to any Bank Products (other than to the extent provided for above) on a pro rata basis.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, (i) unless so directed by Lender, or unless a Default or an Event of Default shall exist or have occurred and be continuing, Lender shall not apply any payments which it receives to any Eurodollar Rate Loans, except: (A) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Eurodollar Rate Loans or (B) in the event that there are no outstanding Prime Rate Loans and (ii) to the extent Borrower uses any proceeds of the Loans or Letters of Credit to acquire rights in or the use of any Collateral or to repay any indebtedness used to acquire rights in or the use of any Collateral, payments in respect of the Obligations shall be deemed applied first to the Obligations arising from Loans and Letters of Credit that were not used for such purposes and second to the Obligations arising from Loans and Letters of Credit the proceeds of which were used to acquire rights in or the use of any Collateral in the chronological order in which Borrower acquired such rights in or the use of such Collateral.
(b)    At Lender’s option, all principal, interest, fees, costs, expenses and other charges provided for in this Agreement or the other Financing Agreements may be charged directly to the loan account(s) of Borrower maintained by Lender.  Borrower shall make all payments to Lender on the Obligations free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any setoff, counterclaim, defense, duties, taxes, levies, imposts, fees, deductions, withholding, restrictions or conditions of any kind.  If after receipt of any payment of, or proceeds of Collateral applied to the payment of, any of the Obligations, Lender is required to surrender or return such 

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payment or proceeds to any Person for any reason, then the Obligations intended to be satisfied by such payment or proceeds shall be reinstated and continue and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by Lender.  Borrower shall be liable to pay to Lender, and do hereby indemnify and hold Lender harmless for the amount of any payments or proceeds surrendered or returned.  This Section 6.4(b) shall remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may be taken by Lender in reliance upon such payment or proceeds.  This Section 6.4 shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
6.5    Authorization to Make Loans.  Lender is authorized to make the Loans and provide the Letter of Credit Accommodations based upon telephonic or other instructions received from anyone reasonably believed by Lender to be an approved officer of Borrower or other person authorized to act on behalf of Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or, at the discretion of Lender, if such Loans are necessary to satisfy any Obligations.  All requests for Loans or Letter of Credit Accommodations hereunder shall specify the date on which the requested advance is to be made or Letter of Credit Accommodations established (which day shall be a Business Day) and the amount of the requested Loan.  Requests received after 11:00 a.m.  New York City time on any day shall be deemed to have been made as of the opening of business on the immediately following Business Day.  All Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations under this Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have been made to, and at the request of and for the benefit of, Borrower when deposited to the credit of Borrower or otherwise disbursed or established in accordance with the instructions of Borrower or in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement 
6.6    Use of Proceeds.  On the effective date of this Agreement, Lender is authorized and directed to fund an amount of the Loans to pay all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements.  All other Loans made or Letter of Credit Accommodations provided by Lender to Borrower pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be used by Borrower only for general operating, working capital and other proper corporate purposes of Borrower not otherwise prohibited by the terms hereof.  None of the proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security or for the purposes of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Loans to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meaning of Regulation G of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as amended. 

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6.7    Grant of Irrevocable License.  At any time or times that an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Lender shall have an irrevocable license to have access to and use all media, computers, computer peripherals, storage units, file cabinets and other containers in which the books, records and other information relating to the Collateral may be stored or compiled and such irrevocable license shall continue without charge for as long as Lender deems reasonably necessary.  
6.8    Collected Credit Balances.  
(a)    In connection with the financing arrangements between Lender and Borrower, Borrower may from time to time maintain a credit balance in its loan account with Lender.  To the extent of the outstanding daily amount of such credit balance received by Lender in immediately available funds and then held by Lender (a “Collected Credit Balance”), Lender shall credit the loan account of Borrower as hereafter provided in an amount equal to three and one-half percent (31⁄2%) per annum less than the Prime Rate on such Collected Credit Balance (the “Interest Equivalent”); provided, that, no such credit to Borrower’s loan account will be made by Lender in respect of the amount of such Collected Credit Balance in excess of $10,000,000.
(b)    Such Interest Equivalent on the Collected Credit Balance shall be credited thereto monthly on the first day of each month and shall be calculated on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed, so long as no Event of Default shall exist or have occurred.  The Prime Rate used to calculate such Interest Equivalent shall increase or decrease by an amount equal to such increase or decrease in such Prime Rate effective on the first day of the month after any change in such Prime Rate is announced, based on the Prime Rate in effect on the last day of the month in which any such change occurs.
(c)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 6.3(b) hereof, for each day on which Borrower maintains a Collected Credit Balance, all payments and other funds for which Lender has received immediately available funds in the Lender Payment Account prior to 2:00 P.M., New York City time on such date will be applied (conditional upon final collection) on such date, or on the next Business Day if not received at or before such time, for purposes of calculating Interest Equivalent on the Collected Credit Balance.
6.9    Bank Products.  Borrower may (but is not required to) request that Lender or its Affiliates provide or arrange for Borrower to obtain Bank Products, and Lender may, in its sole discretion, provide or arrange for Borrower to obtain the requested Bank Products.  Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the obtaining of Bank Products (a) is in the sole discretion of Lender, and (b) is subject to all rules and regulations of Lender with respect thereto.  In addition to any other Availability Reserves established hereunder, Lender may, at its option, establish an Availability Reserve to reflect obligations, liabilities or indebtedness (contingent or otherwise) of Borrower to Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender arising under or in connection with any Bank Products to the extent that such obligations, liabilities or indebtedness constitute Obligations as such term is defined herein or otherwise receive the benefit of the security interest of Lender in any Collateral.

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	SECTION 7.
	COLLATERAL REPORTING AND COVENANTS

7.1    Collateral Reporting.  Borrower shall provide Lender with the following documents in a form satisfactory to Lender: (a) on a regular basis as required by Lender, a schedule of Accounts and sales reports; (b) on a monthly basis or more frequently as Lender may request, (i) actual inventory reports, (ii) inventory reports by category and (iii) agings of accounts payable, (c) upon Lender’s request, (i) copies of customer statements and credit memos, remittance advices and reports, and copies of deposit slips and bank statements, (ii) copies of shipping and delivery documents, and (iii) copies of purchase orders, invoices and delivery documents for Inventory acquired by Borrower; (d) agings of accounts receivable on a weekly basis or more frequently as Lender may request; and (e) such other reports as to the Collateral as Lender shall request from time to time.  In addition, Borrower agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts in cooperation with Lender to facilitate and implement a system of electronic collateral reporting in order to provide electronic reporting of each of the items set forth in Section 7.1(a) above.  If any of Borrower’s records or reports of the Collateral are prepared or maintained by an accounting service, contractor, shipper or other agent, Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes such service, contractor, shipper or agent to deliver such records, reports, and related documents to Lender and to follow Lender’s instructions with respect to further services at any time that an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing.  
7.2    Accounts Covenants.
(a)    Borrower shall notify Lender promptly of: (i) any material delay in Borrower’s performance of any of its obligations to any account debtor or the assertion of any claims, offsets, defenses or counterclaims in excess of $250,000 by any account debtor, or any disputes involving amounts in excess of $250,000 with an account debtor, or any settlement, adjustment or compromise thereof, (ii) all material adverse information relating to the financial condition of any account debtor and (iii) any event or circumstance which, to Borrower’s knowledge would cause Lender to consider any then existing Accounts as no longer constituting Eligible Accounts.  No credit, discount, allowance or extension or agreement for any of the foregoing shall be granted to any account debtor without Lender’s consent, except in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business in accordance with its practices and policies.  So long as no Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Borrower shall have the right to settle, adjust or compromise any claim, offset, counterclaim or dispute with any account debtor.  At any time that an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Lender shall, at its option, have the exclusive right to settle, adjust or compromise any claim, offset, counterclaim or dispute with account debtors or grant any credits, discounts or allowances.  
(b)    Borrower shall promptly report to Lender any return of Inventory by an account debtor having a sales price in excess of $250,000.  At any time that Inventory is returned, reclaimed or repossessed, the related Account (or portion thereof relating specifically to such return) shall not be deemed an Eligible Account.  In the event any account debtor returns Inventory when an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Borrower shall, upon Lender’s request, (i) hold the returned Inventory in trust for Lender; (ii) segregate all returned Inventory from all of its other property; (iii) dispose of the returned Inventory solely according to Lender’s instructions; and (iv) not issue any credits, discounts or allowances with respect thereto without Lender’s prior written 

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consent. 
(c)    With respect to each Account: (i) the amounts shown on any invoice delivered to Lender or schedule thereof delivered to Lender shall be true and complete, (ii) no payments shall be made thereon except payments immediately delivered to Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) no credit, discount, allowance or extension or agreement for any of the foregoing shall be granted to any account debtor except as reported to Lender in accordance with this Agreement and except for credits, discounts, allowances or extensions made or given in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business in accordance with its practices and policies, (iv) there shall be no setoffs, deductions, contras, defenses, counterclaims or disputes existing or asserted with respect thereto except as reported to Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (v) none of the transactions giving rise thereto will violate any applicable State or Federal laws or regulations, all documentation relating thereto will be legally sufficient under such laws and regulations and all such documentation will be legally enforceable in accordance with its terms.  
(d)    Lender shall have the right at any time or times, in Lender’s name or in the name of a nominee of Lender, to verify the validity, amount or any other matter relating to any Account or other Collateral, by mail, telephone, facsimile transmission or otherwise.  
(e)    Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Lender, with appropriate endorsement and assignment, with full recourse to Borrower, all chattel paper and instruments which Borrower now owns or may at any time acquire immediately upon Borrower’s receipt thereof, except as Lender may otherwise agree.  
(f)    Lender may, at any time or times that an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, (i) notify any or all account debtors that the Accounts have been assigned to Lender and that Lender has a security interest therein and Lender may direct any or all accounts debtors to make payment of Accounts directly to Lender, (ii) extend the time of payment of, compromise, settle or adjust for cash, credit, return of merchandise or otherwise, and upon any terms or conditions, any and all Accounts or other obligations included in the Collateral and thereby discharge or release the account debtor or any other party or parties in any way liable for payment thereof without affecting any of the Obligations (other than to the extent that any proceeds in respect of such compromise, settlement or adjustment are applied to the payment of the Obligations), (iii) demand, collect or enforce payment of any Accounts or such other obligations, but without any duty to do so, and Lender shall not be liable for its failure to collect or enforce the payment thereof nor for the negligence of its agents or attorneys with respect thereto and (iv) take whatever other action Lender may deem necessary or desirable for the protection of its interests.  At any time that an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, at Lender’s request, all invoices and statements sent to any account debtor shall state that the Accounts and such other obligations have been assigned to Lender and are payable directly and only to Lender, and Borrower shall deliver to Lender such originals of documents evidencing the sale and delivery of goods or the performance of services giving rise to any Accounts as Lender may require.  
7.3    Inventory Covenants.  With respect to the Inventory: (a) Borrower shall at all times maintain inventory records reasonably satisfactory to Lender, keeping correct and accurate records itemizing and describing the kind, type, and quantity of Inventory, Borrower’s cost therefor and daily withdrawals therefrom and additions thereto; (b) Borrower 

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shall conduct a physical count of the Inventory at least once each year, but at any time or times as Lender may request on or after an Event of Default, and promptly following such physical inventory shall supply Lender with a report in the form and with such specificity as may be reasonably satisfactory to Lender concerning such physical count; (c) Borrower shall not remove any Inventory from the locations set forth or permitted herein, without the prior written consent of Lender, except for sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business and except to move Inventory directly from one location set forth or permitted herein to another such location; (d) upon Lender’s request, Borrower shall, at its expense, no more than two (2) times in any calendar year (but any time or times as Lender may request on or after an Event of Default), deliver or cause to be delivered to Lender written reports or appraisals as to the Inventory in form, scope and methodology acceptable to Lender and by Hilco Appraisal Services or other appraiser acceptable to Lender, addressed to Lender or upon which Lender is expressly permitted to rely; (e) Borrower shall produce, use, store and maintain the Inventory, with all reasonable care and caution and in accordance with applicable standards of any insurance and in conformity with applicable laws (including, but not limited to, the requirements of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended and all rules, regulations and orders related thereto); (f) Borrower assumes all responsibility and liability arising from or relating to the production, use, sale or other disposition of the Inventory; (g) Borrower shall keep the Inventory in good and marketable condition; and (h) Borrower shall not, without prior written notice to Lender, acquire or accept any Inventory on consignment.  
7.4    Equipment Covenants.  With respect to the Equipment: (a) Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, keep all of the Equipment that is useful and necessary in its business in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted), (b) Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain or cause to be maintained with responsible insurance companies such insurance coverage with respect to its properties and business against such casualties and contingencies and of such types and in such amounts as is customary in the case of similar businesses and will, upon request of Lender, furnish to Lender at reasonable intervals a certificate of an authorized officer on behalf of Borrower setting forth the nature and extent of all insurance maintained by Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with this Section 7.4 and Section 9.5 hereof; and (c) Borrower shall not sell or remove any Equipment from the locations set forth or permitted herein, which sale or removal would have a material adverse affect on the manufacturing operations of Borrower.  
7.5    Power of Attorney.  Borrower hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Lender (and all persons designated by Lender) as Borrower’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact, and authorizes Lender, in Borrower’s or Lender’s name, to: (a) at any time an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (i) demand payment on Accounts or other proceeds of Inventory or other Collateral, (ii) enforce payment of Accounts by legal proceedings or otherwise, (iii) exercise all of Borrower’s rights and remedies to collect any Account or other Collateral, (iv) sell or assign any Account upon such terms, for such amount and at such time or times as Lender deems advisable, (v) settle, adjust, compromise, extend or renew an Account, (vi) discharge and release any Account, (vii) prepare, file and sign Borrower’s name on any proof of claim in bankruptcy or other similar document against an account debtor, (viii) notify the post office authorities to change the address for delivery of Borrower’s mail to an address designated by Lender, and open and dispose of all mail 

38

addressed to Borrower; provided, that, Borrower will be notified by Lender and Borrower, at its option, may be present at any time that Lender exercises its right to open mail as provided herein and Lender shall return any mail to Borrower which does not include a payment or other collection or otherwise relate to the Collateral, and (ix) do all acts and things which are necessary, in Lender’s determination, to fulfill Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and (b) at any time to (i) take control in any manner of any item of payment relating to the Collateral or Proceeds, (ii) have access to any lockbox or postal box into which Borrower’s mail is deposited, (iii) endorse Borrower’s name upon any items of payment relating to the Collateral or Proceeds thereof and deposit the same in Lender’s account for application to the Obligations, (iv) endorse Borrower’s name upon any chattel paper, document, instrument, invoice, or similar document or agreement relating to any Account or any goods pertaining thereto or any other Collateral, (v) sign Borrower’s name on any verification of Accounts and notices thereof to account debtors and (vi) execute in Borrower’s name and file any UCC financing statements or amendments thereto relating to the Collateral.  Borrower hereby releases Lender and its officers, employees and designees from any liabilities arising from any act or acts under this power of attorney and in furtherance thereof, whether of omission or commission, except as a result of Lender’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined pursuant to a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction. 
7.6    Right to Cure.  If in Lender’s good faith judgment, Lender deems it necessary or appropriate to preserve, protect, insure or maintain the Collateral and the rights of Lender with respect thereto, Lender may, at its option, (a) cure any default by Borrower under any agreement with a third party or pay or bond on appeal any judgment entered against Borrower relating to the Collateral, (b) discharge taxes, liens, security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied on or existing with respect to the Collateral and (c) pay any amount, incur any expense or perform any other act related to the foregoing.  Lender may add any amounts so expended to the Obligations and charge Borrower’s account therefor, such amounts to be repayable by Borrower on demand.  Lender shall be under no obligation to effect such cure, payment or bonding and shall not, by doing so, be deemed to have assumed any obligation or liability of Borrower.  Any payment made or other action taken by Lender under this Section shall be without prejudice to any right to assert an Event of Default hereunder and to proceed accordingly.  
7.7    Access to Premises.  From time to time as requested by Lender, at the cost and expense of Borrower, (a) Lender or its designee shall have complete access to all of Borrower’s premises during normal business hours and after notice to Borrower, or at any time and without notice to Borrower if an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, for the purposes of inspecting, verifying and auditing the Collateral and all of Borrower’s books and records, (b) Borrower shall promptly furnish to Lender such copies of such books and records or extracts therefrom as Lender may request, and (c) Lender may use during normal business hours such of Borrower’s personnel, equipment, supplies and premises as may be reasonably necessary for the foregoing and if an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing for the collection of Accounts and realization of other Collateral.  
		
	SECTION 8.
	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 

39

Borrower hereby represents and warrants to Lender the following (which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement), the truth and accuracy of which are a continuing condition of the making of Loans and providing Letter of Credit Accommodations by Lender to Borrower:
8.1    Corporate Existence; Power and Authority.  Borrower is a limited liability company duly organized and in good standing under the laws of its state of organization and is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company and in good standing in all states or other jurisdictions where the nature and extent of the business transacted by it or the ownership of assets makes such qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions in which the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on Borrower’s financial condition, results of operation or business or the rights of Lender in or to any of the Collateral.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder (a) are all within Borrower’s limited liability company powers, (b) have been duly authorized, (c) are not in contravention of law or the terms of Borrower’s certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documentation, or any indenture, agreement or undertaking to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower or its property are bound and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of, or require or give rise to any obligation to grant, any lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance upon any property of Borrower, except as created or otherwise permitted by this Agreement.  This Agreement and the other Financing Agreements constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement of certain rights and remedies may be limited by the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended from time to time, or other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally. 
8.2    Name; State of Organization; Chief Executive Office; Collateral Locations.
(a)    The exact legal name of Borrower is as set forth on the signature page of this Agreement and in the Information Certificate.  Borrower has not, during the five years immediately prior to the date of this Agreement, been known by or used any other name, other than Liggett Group Inc., or been a party to any merger or consolidation, or acquired all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, or acquired any of its property or assets out of the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in the Information Certificate.
(b)    Borrower is an organization of the type and organized in the jurisdiction set forth in the Information Certificate.  The Information Certificate accurately sets forth the organizational identification number of Borrower or accurately states that Borrower has none and accurately sets forth the federal employer identification number of Borrower.
(c)    The chief executive office and mailing address of Borrower and Borrower’s Records concerning Accounts are located only at the address identified as such in Schedule 8.2 in the Information Certificate (as such schedule may from time to time be updated by Borrower providing written notice to Lender, but at all times subject to Section 9.1(c) below) and its only other places of business and the only other locations of Collateral, if any, are the addresses set forth in Schedule 8.2 in the Information Certificate, subject to the rights of Borrower to establish new locations in 

40

accordance with Section 9.2 below.  Such Schedule 8.2 correctly identifies any of such locations which are not owned by Borrower and sets forth the owners and/or operators thereof.
8.3    Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change.  All financial statements relating to Borrower which have been or may hereafter be delivered by Borrower to Lender have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as to any interim financial statements, to the extent such statements are subject to normal year-end adjustments and do not include any notes) and fairly present the financial condition and the results of operation of Borrower as at the dates and for the periods set forth therein.  Except as disclosed in any interim financial statements furnished by Borrower to Lender prior to the date of this Agreement, there has been no material adverse change in the assets, liabilities, properties and condition, financial or otherwise, of Borrower, since the date of the most recent audited financial statements furnished by Borrower to Lender prior to the date of this Agreement.
8.4    Priority of Liens; Title to Properties.  The security interests and liens granted to Lender under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements constitute valid and perfected first priority liens and security interests in and upon the Collateral subject only to the liens indicated on Schedule 8.4 in the Information Certificate and the other liens permitted under Section 9.8 hereof.  Borrower has good and marketable fee simple title to or valid leasehold interests in all of its Real Property and good, valid and merchantable title to all of its other properties and assets subject to no liens, mortgages, pledges, security interests, encumbrances or charges of any kind, except those granted to Lender and such others as are specifically listed on Schedule 8.4 in the Information Certificate or permitted under Section 9.8 hereof.
8.5    Tax Returns.  Borrower has filed, or caused to be filed, in a timely manner (or extended by Borrower in good faith) all Federal, State and local income tax, withholding tax, excise tax and other material tax returns, reports and declarations which are required to be filed by it.  All information in such tax returns, reports and declarations is complete and accurate in all material respects.  Borrower has paid or caused to be paid all Federal, State and local income tax, withholding tax, excise tax and other material taxes due and payable or claimed due and payable in any assessment received by it, except taxes the validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to Borrower and with respect to which, to the extent required by GAAP, adequate reserves have been set aside on its books and such taxes are not a lien on the Collateral.  Adequate provision has been made for the payment of all accrued and unpaid Federal, State, county, local, foreign and other taxes whether or not yet due and payable and whether or not disputed.
8.6    Litigation.  Except as set forth in Schedule 8.6 in the Information Certificate, as of the date hereof, there is no present investigation by any Governmental Authority pending, or to the best of Borrower’s knowledge threatened, against or affecting Borrower, its assets or business and there is no action, suit, proceeding or claim by any Person pending, or to the best of Borrower’s knowledge threatened, against Borrower or its assets or goodwill, or against or affecting any transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which, in the case of any of the foregoing, is reasonably likely to be adversely determined against Borrower and is reasonably likely to result in a material adverse change in the assets, 

41

business or prospects of Borrower or is reasonably likely to impair the ability of Borrower to perform its obligations hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements to which it is a party or of Lender to enforce any Obligations or realize upon any Collateral.
8.7    Compliance with Other Agreements and Applicable Laws.  Borrower is not in default in any material respect under, or in violation in any material respect of any of the terms of, any material agreement, contract, instrument, lease or other commitment to which it is a party or by which it or any of its assets are bound and Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of laws, rules, regulations, licenses, permits, approvals and orders of any foreign, Federal, State or local Governmental Authority.
8.8    Environmental Compliance.
(a)    Except as set forth on Schedule 8.8 in the Information Certificate, as of the date hereof, Borrower has not generated, used, stored, treated, transported, manufactured, handled, produced or disposed of any Hazardous Materials, on or off its premises (whether or not owned by it) in any manner which at any time violates in any material respect any applicable Environmental Law or any license, permit, certificate, approval or similar authorization thereunder and the operations of Borrower comply in all material respects with all Environmental Laws and all licenses, permits, certificates, approvals and similar authorizations thereunder.
(b)    Except as set forth on Schedule 8.8 in the Information Certificate, as of the date hereof, there has been no investigation, proceeding, complaint, order, directive, claim, citation or notice by any Governmental Authority or any other person nor is any pending or to the best of Borrower’s knowledge threatened, with respect to any non-compliance with or violation of the requirements of any Environmental Law by Borrower or the release, spill or discharge, threatened or actual, of any Hazardous Material or the generation, use, storage, treatment, transportation, manufacture, handling, production or disposal of any Hazardous Materials or any other environmental, health or safety matter, which affects, in any material respect, Borrower or its business, operations or assets or any properties at which Borrower has transported, stored or disposed of any Hazardous Materials.
(c)    As of the date hereof, Borrower has no material liability (contingent or otherwise) in connection with a release, spill or discharge, threatened or actual, of any Hazardous Materials or the generation, use, storage, treatment, transportation, manufacture, handling, production or disposal of any Hazardous Materials.
(d)    Borrower has all material licenses, permits, certificates, approvals or similar authorizations required to be obtained or filed in connection with the operations of Borrower under any Environmental Law and all of such licenses, permits, certificates, approvals or similar authorizations are valid and in full force and effect.
8.9    Employee Benefits.
(a)    Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state law.  Each Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter or has a pending 

42

request for a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service and to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, nothing has occurred which would cause the loss of such qualification.  Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates have made all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.
(b)    There are no pending or, to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan, which is reasonably likely to be adversely determined against Borrower and is reasonably likely to result in a material adverse change in the assets, business or prospects of Borrower or would impair the ability of Borrower to perform its obligations hereunder or under any of the other Financing Agreements to which it is a party or of Lender to enforce any Obligations or realize upon any Collateral.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan.
(c)    (i)    No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) the current value of each Plan’s assets (determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding such Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code) are not less than such Plan’s liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA; (iii) Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred and do not reasonably expect to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred and do not reasonably expect to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates have not engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
8.10    [Reserved].  
8.11    Intellectual Property.  Borrower owns or licenses or otherwise has the right to use all Intellectual Property necessary for the operation of its business as presently conducted or proposed to be conducted.  As of the date hereof, Borrower does not have any Intellectual Property registered, or subject to pending applications, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar office or agency in the United States, any State thereof, any political subdivision thereof or in any other country, other than those described on Schedule 8.11 to the Information Certificate, and has not granted any licenses with respect thereto, other than as set forth on Schedule 8.11 to the Information Certificate.  
8.12    Subsidiaries; Affiliates; Capitalization.
(a)    As of the date hereof, Borrower does not have any direct or indirect Subsidiaries and is not engaged in any joint venture or partnership except as set forth in Schedule 8.12 in the Information Certificate. 
(b)    As of the date hereof, Borrower is the record and beneficial owner of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Equity Interests of each of the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 8.12 in the Information Certificate as being owned by Borrower and there are no proxies, irrevocable or 

43

otherwise, with respect to such shares and no equity securities of any of the Subsidiaries are or may become required to be issued by reason of any options, warrants, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any kind or nature and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of its Equity Interests or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares.
(c)    As of the date hereof, the issued and outstanding shares of Equity Interests in Borrower are directly and beneficially owned and held by the persons listed on Schedule 8.12 in the Information Certificate, and in each case all of such shares or membership interests have been duly authorized and are fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all claims, liens, pledges and encumbrances of any kind, except as disclosed in writing to Lender prior to the date hereof.
8.13    Labor Disputes.
(a)    Set forth on Schedule 8.13 in the Information Certificate is a list (including dates of termination) of all collective bargaining or similar agreements between or applicable to Borrower and any union, labor organization or other bargaining agent in respect of the employees of Borrower as of the date hereof.
(b)    There is (i) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against Borrower or, to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against it, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending on the date hereof against Borrower or, to best of Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against it, and (ii) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against Borrower or, to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against Borrower, in each case that has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse change with respect to Borrower.
8.14    [Reserved].  
8.15    [Reserved].  
8.16    Payable Practices.  Borrower has not made any material change in the historical accounts payable practices from those in effect immediately prior to the date hereof.
8.17    Accuracy and Completeness of Information.  All information furnished by or on behalf of Borrower in writing to Lender in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, including all information in the Information Certificate, is true and correct in all material respects on the date as of which such information is dated or certified and does not omit any material fact necessary in order to make such information not misleading.  No event or circumstance has occurred which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse affect on the business, assets or prospects of Borrower, which has not been fully and accurately disclosed to Lender in writing prior to the date hereof.

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8.18    Consent of Affiliates.  The provisions of Section 9.17 hereof and the other Sections of this Agreement referred to therein do not conflict with any agreement between Borrower and any Affiliate, including, without limitation, VGRH, and do not require the consent of any Affiliate in order to be valid.  
8.19    Survival of Warranties; Cumulative.  All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall be deemed to have been made again to Lender on the date of each additional borrowing or other credit accommodation hereunder and shall be conclusively presumed to have been relied on by Lender regardless of any investigation made or information possessed by Lender.  The representations and warranties set forth herein shall be cumulative and in addition to any other representations or warranties which Borrower shall now or hereafter give, or cause to be given, to Lender.
8.20    OFAC.  Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the country or list based economic and trade sanctions administered and enforced by OFAC.  Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (a) is a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity, (b) has its assets located in Sanctioned Entities, or (c) derives revenues from investments in, or transactions with Sanctioned Persons or Sanctioned Entities.  No proceeds of any Loan will be used to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in, or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity.
		
	SECTION 9.
	AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE COVENANTS 

9.1    Maintenance of Existence.  
(a)    Borrower shall at all times preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its existence and rights and franchises with respect thereto and maintain in full force and effect all permits, licenses, trademarks, tradenames, approvals, authorizations, leases and contracts necessary to carry on the business as presently or proposed to be conducted; provided, however, that, Borrower shall not be required to preserve, renew or keep in full force and effect any such right, franchise, permit, license, trademark, tradename, approval authorization, lease or contract, or the corporate existence of any Subsidiary (other than an Obligor), if in the judgment of the board of directors or managers of Borrower, (i) such preservation or existence is not desirable in the conduct of business of Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole and (ii) the loss thereof or the dissolution of such Subsidiary is not adverse in any material respect to Lender or the Collateral.
(b)    Borrower shall not change its legal name unless each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) Lender shall have received not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice from Borrower of such proposed change in its legal name, which notice shall accurately set forth the new name; and (ii) Lender shall have received  a copy of the amendment to the certificate or articles of formation of Borrower providing for the name change certified by the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of Borrower as soon as it is available.  Any change made pursuant to this Section 9.1(b) shall be deemed an amendment to the Information Certificate.
(c)    Borrower shall not change its chief executive office or its mailing address or 

45

organizational identification number (or if it does not have one, shall not acquire one) unless Lender shall have received not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice from Borrower of such proposed change, which notice shall set forth such information with respect thereto as Lender may require and Lender shall have received such agreements as Lender may reasonably require in connection therewith.  Borrower shall not change its type of organization, jurisdiction of organization or other legal structure.  Any change made pursuant to this Section 9.1(c) shall be deemed an amendment to the Information Certificate.
9.2    New Collateral Locations.  Borrower may open any new location within the continental United States provided Borrower (a) gives Lender thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of the intended opening of any such new location and (b) executes and delivers, or causes to be executed and delivered, to Lender such agreements, documents, and instruments as Lender may deem reasonably necessary or desirable to protect its interests in the Collateral at such location, including, without limitation, UCC financing statements.  Any change made pursuant to this Section 9.2 shall be deemed an amendment to the Information Certificate.
9.3    Compliance with Laws, Regulations, Etc.  Borrower shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at all times, comply in all material respects with all laws, rules, regulations, licenses, permits, approvals and orders of any Federal State or local governmental authority applicable to it.  
9.4    Payment of Taxes and Claims.  Borrower shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, duly pay and discharge all Federal State and local income taxes, withholding taxes, excise taxes and other material taxes, assessments, contributions and governmental charges upon or against it or its properties or assets, except for taxes, assessments, contributions and governmental charges the validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to Borrower and with respect to which, to the extent required by GAAP, adequate reserves have been set aside on its books and such taxes are not a lien upon the Collateral.  Borrower shall provide Lender with evidence, upon Lender’s request, immediately upon payment or filing thereof and in any event on or prior to the due date thereof, that all Federal, State and local excise and ad valorem taxes on or with respect to its Inventory or the sale, transfer, withdrawal, movement or other event or condition giving rise to any such tax, have been paid and all required returns and reports duly filed when due.  Borrower shall be liable for any tax or penalties imposed on Lender as a result of the financing arrangements provided for herein and Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold Lender harmless with respect to the foregoing, and to repay to Lender on demand the amount thereof, and until paid by Borrower such amount shall be added and deemed part of the Loans; provided, that, nothing contained herein shall be construed to require Borrower to pay any income or franchise taxes attributable to the income of Lender from any amounts charged or paid hereunder to Lender.  The foregoing indemnity shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement. 
9.5    Insurance.  Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at all times, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurers insurance with respect to the Collateral against loss or damage and all other insurance of the kinds and in the amounts customarily insured against or carried by corporations of established reputation engaged in 

46

the same or similar businesses and similarly situated.  Said policies of insurance shall be satisfactory to Lender as to form, amount and insurer.  Borrower shall furnish certificates, policies or endorsements to Lender as Lender shall require as proof of such insurance, and, if Borrower fails to do so, Lender is authorized, but not required, to obtain such insurance at the expense of Borrower.  All policies shall provide for at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Lender of any cancellation or reduction of coverage and that Lender may act as attorney for Borrower in obtaining, and at any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, adjusting, settling, amending and canceling such insurance.  Borrower shall cause Lender to be named as a loss payee and an additional insured (but without any liability for any premiums) under such insurance policies and Borrower shall obtain non-contributory lender’s loss payable endorsements to all insurance policies in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.  Such lender’s loss payable endorsements shall specify that the proceeds of such insurance shall be payable to Lender as its interests may appear and further specify that Lender shall be paid regardless of any act or omission by Borrower or any of its affiliates.  At its option, Lender may apply any insurance proceeds received by Lender at any time to the cost of repairs or replacement of Collateral and/or to payment of the Obligations, whether or not then due, in any order and in such manner as Lender may determine or hold such proceeds as cash collateral for the Obligations.  
9.6    Financial Statements and Other Information.  
(a)    Borrower shall keep proper books and records in which true and complete entries shall be made of all dealings or transactions of or in relation to the Collateral and the business of Borrower and its subsidiaries (if any) in accordance with GAAP and Borrower shall furnish or cause to be furnished to Lender: (i) within thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal month, monthly unaudited financial statements and, if Borrower has any subsidiaries, unaudited consolidating financial statements (including in each case balance sheets, statements of income and loss and statements of shareholders’ or members’ equity), all in reasonable detail, fairly presenting the financial position and the results of the operations of Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the end of and through such fiscal month, certified to be correct by the chief financial officer or president and chief executive officer of Borrower, and accompanied by a compliance certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, along with any amendments, modifications or supplements to Schedules 5.2, 8.2, 8.12 and 8.13 of the Information Certificate, and (ii) within one hundred five (l05) days after the end of each fiscal year, audited consolidated financial statements and, if Borrower has any subsidiaries, unaudited consolidating financial statements of Borrower and its subsidiaries (including in each case balance sheets, statements of income and loss, statements of cash flow and statements of shareholders’ or members’ equity), and the accompanying notes thereto, all in reasonable detail, fairly presenting the financial position and the results of the operations of Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal year, together with the opinion of independent certified public accountants, which accountants shall be PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or any other of the three (3) largest independent accounting firms in the United States selected by Borrower that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, and present fairly the results of operations and financial condition of Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the end of and for the fiscal year then ended.
(b)    Borrower shall promptly notify Lender in writing of the details of (i) any loss, damage, investigation, action, suit, proceeding or claim relating to the Collateral or any other property which is security for the Obligations or which would result in any material adverse change 

47

in Borrower’s business, properties, assets, goodwill or condition, financial or otherwise and (ii) the occurrence of any Event of Default or event which, with the passage of time or giving of notice or both, would constitute an Event of Default. 
(c)    Borrower shall promptly after the sending or filing thereof furnish to Lender copies of all reports which Borrower sends to its public stockholders generally, if any, and copies of all reports and registration statements which Borrower files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.  Borrower shall use its best efforts to promptly cause to be furnished to Lender copies of any such reports or registration statements which are sent or filed by Borrower’s direct or indirect parent.  
(d)    Borrower shall furnish or cause to be furnished to Lender such budgets, forecasts, projections and other information respecting the Collateral and the business of Borrower, as Lender may, from time to time, reasonably request.  To the extent consistent with the provisions of Section 12.6 hereof, Lender is hereby authorized to deliver a copy of any financial statement or any other information relating to the business of Borrower to any court or other government agency or to any participant or assignee or prospective participant or assignee.  Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs all accountants or auditors to deliver to Lender, at Borrower’s expense, copies of the financial statements of Borrower and any reports or management letters prepared by such accountants or auditors on behalf of Borrower and to disclose to Lender such information as they may have regarding the business of Borrower.  Any documents, schedules, invoices or other papers delivered to Lender may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by Lender one (1) year after the same are delivered to Lender, except as otherwise designated by Borrower to Lender in writing.  
(e)    In addition to and not in limitation of any of the financial reports required to be delivered to Lender under Section 7.1 hereof or Lender’s right to request such other reports and information from time to time: (i) if Borrower has Excess Availability equal to or greater than $20,000,000, upon the request of Lender, Borrower shall deliver to Lender, on or prior to the tenth (10th) day of each month, (A) schedules of sales made, credits issued and cash received together with a roll forward and appropriate supporting documentation relating thereto (including, without limitation, at Lender’s request, copies of customer statements and credit memos, remittance advices and reports, copies of deposit slips and bank statements, copies of shipping and delivery documents, and copies of purchase orders, invoices and delivery documents for Inventory and Equipment acquired by Borrower), and (B) reports on Borrower’s inventory and accounts, together with appropriate supporting documentation relating thereto; and (ii) if Borrower has Excess Availability of less than $20,000,000, upon the request of Lender, Borrower shall deliver to Lender, on or prior to the third (3rd) Business day of each week, (A) schedules of sales made, credits issued and cash received together with a roll forward and appropriate supporting documentation relating thereto (including, without limitation, at Lender’s request, copies of customer statements and credit memos, remittance advices and reports, copies of deposit slips and bank statements, copies of shipping and delivery documents, and copies of purchase orders, invoices and delivery documents for Inventory and Equipment acquired by Borrower), and (B) reports on Borrower’s inventory and accounts, together with appropriate supporting documentation relating thereto.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each of the financial reports, schedules and information required to be delivered under this Section 9.6(e) shall be delivered more frequently as Lender shall elect.

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9.7    Sale of Assets, Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, Etc.  Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (a) merge into or with or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or with or consolidate with it, or (b) sell, assign, lease, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of any Collateral or its or their other material property that is useful and necessary in its or their business to any other Person (except for (i) sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business and (ii) sales or other dispositions Equipment and other immaterial assets that are worn-out, obsolete or no longer used or useful in the business of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) or (c) form or acquire any subsidiaries, or (d) wind up, liquidate or dissolve or (e) agree to do any of the foregoing.  
9.8    Encumbrances.  Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, charge or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever on any of its assets or properties, including, without limitation, the Collateral, or file or permit the filing of, or permit to remain in effect, any financing statement or other similar notice of any security interest or lien with respect to any such assets or properties, except: (a) the security interests and liens of Lender (and, in the case of Bank Products, any Affiliate of Lender); (b) liens securing the payment of taxes, either not yet overdue or the validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to Borrower or its Subsidiaries and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books; (c) non-consensual statutory liens (other than liens securing the payment of taxes) arising in the ordinary course of Borrower’s or in Subsidiaries’ business to the extent: (i) such liens secure obligations which are not overdue or (ii) such liens secure claims or liabilities which are fully insured and being defended at the sole cost and expense and at the sole risk of the insurer or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to Borrower or its Subsidiaries, in each case prior to the commencement of foreclosure or other similar proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books; (d) zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, covenants and other restrictions affecting the use of real property which do not interfere in any material respect with the use of such real property or ordinary conduct of the business of Borrower or its Subsidiaries as presently conducted thereon or materially impair the value of the real property which may be subject thereto; (e) purchase money security interests in Equipment (including Capital Leases) and purchase money mortgages on real estate, in either case securing the cost of the acquisition or improvement thereon, so long as such security interests and mortgages do not apply to any property of Borrower or its Subsidiaries other than the Equipment or real estate so acquired or improved, and the indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of the acquisition or improvement of such Equipment or real estate, as the case may be; (f) liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bond and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money); (g) liens and security interests on any asset acquired by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof if (i) such lien or security interest exists at the time of such acquisition, (ii) such lien or security interest was not created in contemplation of such acquisition, and (iii) such lien or security interest does not extend to or cover any property other than the assets acquired and improvements to such assets; (h) any extension, 

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renewal or replacement, in whole or in part, of any lien, security interest or other encumbrance described in clauses (a), (e), and (g) herein, so long as the amount of collateral or the principal amount of indebtedness so secured is not increased thereby; (i) the security interests and liens set forth on Schedule 8.4 in the Information Certificate; and (j) the security interests and liens in the Collateral granted to the New Notes Trustee to secure indebtedness under the New Notes and the New Notes Indenture, which shall be subject to and in accordance with the New Notes Intercreditor Agreement.
9.9    Indebtedness.  Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur, create, assume, become or be liable in any manner with respect to, or permit to exist, any obligations or indebtedness, except: 
(a)    the Obligations; 
(b)    trade obligations and normal accruals in the ordinary course of business not yet due and payable, or with respect to which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is contesting in good faith the amount or validity thereof by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books; 
(c)    purchase money indebtedness (including Capital Leases) to the extent not incurred or secured by liens (including Capital Leases) in violation of any other provision of this Agreement; 
(d)    rental and other payments under operating leases which are not sale and leaseback transactions; 
(e)    indebtedness of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business pursuant to any Bank Product; 
(f)    indebtedness in respect of performance, surety or appeal bonds (including with respect to those described on Schedule 9.9 to the Information Certificate), workers’ compensation claims, unemployment insurance, health, disability and other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance (including any reimbursement obligations in connection with the foregoing), in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business; provided, that, upon Lender’s request, Lender shall have received true, correct and complete copies of all material agreements, documents or instruments evidencing or otherwise related to such indebtedness, as duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto;
(g)    the Maple Guarantee;
(h)    indebtedness described on Schedule 9.9 to the Information Certificate; and 
(i)    the guaranty by Borrower and Maple of the indebtedness owing with respect to the New Notes and the New Notes Indenture and any refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals, issuances or replacements thereof to the extent permitted by Section 9.17(g) hereof.

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9.10    Loans, Investments, Guarantees, Etc.  Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any loans or advance money or property to any person, or invest in (by capital contribution, dividend or otherwise) or purchase or repurchase the stock or indebtedness or all or a substantial part of the assets or property of any person, or guarantee, assume, endorse, or otherwise become responsible for (directly or indirectly) the indebtedness, performance obligations or dividends of any Person or agree to do any of the foregoing, except: (a) the endorsement of instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business; (b) investments in: (i) short-term direct obligations of the United States Government, (ii) negotiable certificates of deposit issued by any bank satisfactory to Lender, payable to the order of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries being the owner thereof or to bearer, and (iii) commercial paper rated A1 or P1; (c) loans by any Subsidiary of Borrower to Borrower; (d) the guarantee by Borrower of any indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Borrower to Lender or any Affiliate of Lender under or in connection with any Bank Products; (e) the Maple Guarantee; (f) the guarantees described on Schedule 9.9 to the Information Certificate; and (g) the guaranty by Borrower and Maple of the indebtedness owing with respect to the New Notes and the New Notes Indenture and any refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals, issuances or replacements thereof to the extent permitted by Section 9.17(g) hereof.  
9.11    Dividends and Redemptions.  Borrower may distribute amounts to VGRH on account of any member interests of Borrower; provided, that, (a) Excess Availability for each of the immediately preceding thirty (30) consecutive days shall have been not less than $5,000,000, (b) as of the date of such payment and after giving effect thereto, Excess Availability shall be not less than $5,000,000 and (c) as of the date of such payment and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default, or act, condition or event which with notice or passage of time or both would constitute an Event of Default shall exist or have occurred.
9.12    Transactions with Affiliates.  Subject to Section 9.17 below, Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction for the purchase, sale or exchange of property or the rendering of any service to or by any Affiliate, except: (a) Borrower may make payments required pursuant to the Tax Sharing Agreement, dated June 29, 1990, as amended by the Agreement, dated May 24, 1999, by and between VGRH and Borrower (formerly known as Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company and successor-in-interest to Brooke Group Holding Inc., Eve Holdings Inc. and Chesterfield Assets Inc.); and (b) the guaranty by Borrower and Maple of the indebtedness owing with respect to the New Notes and the New Notes Indenture and any refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals, issuances or replacements thereof to the extent permitted by Section 9.17(g) hereof.  
9.13    EBITDA.  If, at any time, Excess Availability is less than $20,000,000, then Borrower shall maintain at the end of each calendar month, commencing with the calendar month immediately preceding the date on which Excess Availability is less than $20,000,000, and for each month thereafter, EBITDA of not less than $100,000,000.  

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9.14    Maximum Capital Expenditures.  Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis shall not make Capital Expenditures during any fiscal year that exceed in the aggregate the amount of $15,000,000; provided, however, that, the amount of permitted Capital Expenditures during any fiscal year will be increased by the lesser of (a) the amount equal to the difference between the Capital Expenditures limit specified above for the immediately preceding fiscal year minus the actual amount of any Capital Expenditures expended during such immediately preceding fiscal year, and (b) $2,500,000 (the “Carry Over Amount”).  For purposes of measuring compliance with the covenant set forth herein, the Carry Over Amount shall be deemed to be the last amount spent on Capital Expenditures in the succeeding year
9.15    Costs and Expenses.  Borrower shall pay to Lender on demand all costs, expenses, filing fees and taxes paid or payable in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery, recording, administration, collection, liquidation, enforcement and defense of the Obligations, Lender’s rights in the Collateral, this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and all other documents related hereto or thereto, including any amendments, supplements or consents which may hereafter be contemplated (whether or not executed) or entered into in respect hereof and thereof, including but not limited to: (a) all costs and expenses of filing or recording (including Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filing taxes and fees, documentary taxes, intangibles taxes and mortgage reordering taxes and fees, if applicable); (b) all title insurance and other insurance premiums, appraisal fees and search fees; (c) costs and expenses of remitting loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment, and establishing and maintaining the Blocked Accounts, together with Lender’s customary charges and fees with respect thereto; (d) charges, fees or expenses charged by any bank or issuer in connection with the Letter of Credit Accommodations; (e) costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the Collateral; (f) costs and expenses paid or incurred in connection with obtaining payment of the Obligations, enforcing the security interests and liens of Lender, selling or otherwise realizing upon the Collateral, and otherwise enforcing the provisions of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements or defending any claims made or threatened against Lender arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, preparation for and consultation concerning any such matters); (g) all out-of-pocket expenses and costs heretofore and from time to time hereafter incurred by Lender during the course of periodic field examinations of the Collateral and Borrower’s operations, plus a per diem charge at the rate of $1,000 per person per day for Lender’s examiners in the field and office; provided, that, (i) field examinations shall be conducted at Borrower’s expense on no more than one (1) occasion during each twelve (12) month period following the date hereof and on a second (2nd) occasion at Borrower’s expense during any such twelve (12) month period if Borrower has (A) EBITDA of less than $100,000,000 at any time during any period of twelve (12) consecutive month or (B) average Excess Availability, calculated on a daily basis, for any period of thirty (30) consecutive days of less than $30,000,000, and (ii) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may conduct, at Borrower’s expense, all such additional field examinations as Lender shall deem necessary in its discretion; and (h) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (including legal assistants) to Lender in connection with any of the foregoing.
9.16    Further Assurances.  At the request of Lender at any time and from time to time, Borrower shall, at its expense, duly execute and deliver, or cause to be duly executed 

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and delivered, such further agreements, documents and instruments, and do or cause to be done such further acts as may be necessary or proper to evidence, perfect, maintain and enforce the security interests and the priority thereof in the Collateral and to otherwise effectuate the provision or purposes of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements.  Lender may at any time and from time to time request a certificate from an officer of Borrower representing that all conditions precedent to the making of Loans and providing Letter of Credit Accommodations contained herein are satisfied.  In the event of such request by Lender, Lender may, at its option, cease to make any further loans or provide any further Letter of Credit Accommodations until Lender has received such certificate and, in addition, Lender has determined that such conditions are satisfied Where permitted by law, Borrower hereby authorizes Lender to execute and file one or more UCC financing statements signed only by Lender.  
9.17    Certain Permitted Transactions.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 9.7, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 and 9.12 above, Lender agrees to or consents to the following, as applicable:
(a)    Borrower may make distributions to VGRH to the extent permitted under Section 9.11;
(b)    To the extent permitted by the New Notes Indenture, Borrower may make payments and engage in the transactions pursuant to (i) the Corporate Services Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1992, as amended from time to time, between Borrower and VGRH; provided, that, such payments do not exceed $6,898,572 in the aggregate during any consecutive twelve month (12) period, plus the five percent (5%) per annum increase on such fees per annum to the extent paid in any such twelve (12) month period by Borrower to VGRH and (ii) the Services Agreement, dated February 26, 1991, as amended from time to time, between Vector Group Ltd. (successor-in-interest to Brooke Group Ltd., successor by assignment to Brooke Management Inc.) and Borrower; provided, that, such payments do not exceed $1,764,000 in the aggregate during any consecutive twelve month (12) period;
(c)    Borrower may make payments and engage in the transactions permitted under Section 4.11(a) of the New Notes Indenture; provided, that, (i) each such transaction is in Borrower’s ordinary course of business on prices and terms no less favorable than would have been obtained in an arm’s length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate, (ii) Borrower shall provide Lender with written reports, on the tenth (10th) day of each month setting forth the nature and amount of each such transaction for the immediately prior month, including, without limitation, all payments with respect thereto and outstanding indebtedness owed thereunder, (iii) the aggregate indebtedness owed to Borrower in connection with all such transactions outstanding at any time does not exceed $500,000, and (iv) such transaction or series of related transactions does not involve payments or delivery of goods or services by Borrower having a value in excess of $500,000 in each case;
(d)    The Maple Transactions subject to compliance to Lender’s satisfaction with the following terms and conditions:
(i)    Borrower shall have guaranteed payment in full to Lender of the Mebane Loan and all other indebtedness now or hereafter owed by Maple to Lender, including 

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without limitation, principal, interest, fees and expenses (collectively, the “Maple Obligations”), and such guarantee by Borrower in favor of Lender shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Lender,
(ii)    Maple shall have guaranteed payment in full to Lender of all of the Obligations, and such guarantee by Maple shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Lender (the “Maple Guarantee”),
(iii)    The first mortgage and lien granted by Maple to Lender on the Mebane Premises and in the Mebane Lease shall secure all of the Maple Obligations, including, without limitation, the Maple Guarantee,
(iv)    The Mebane Lease (A) shall be for a period of not less than seven (7) years with a monthly rental at least equal to the monthly payment of principal and interest due on the Mebane Loan, and (B) shall not be amended, modified or terminated in any material respect without the prior written consent of Lender,
(v)    The term “Obligor” shall include, without limitation, Maple until such time as the later of (A) the obligation evidenced by the Mebane Note is satisfied in accordance with its terms or (B) the Maple Guarantee is terminated as provided therein,
(vi)    The Collateral shall include, without limitation, Borrower’s rights under the Mebane Lease. Lender is authorized (in its discretion) by Borrower and Maple to charge the monthly rental and other sums owed by Borrower to Maple under the Mebane Lease, when due and payable, directly to Borrower’s loan account with Lender for the account of Maple and to apply such monthly rentals in payment of the monthly installments of principal and interest due in respect of the Mebane Loan,
(vii)    Borrower shall not (A) make any loans or capital contributions to, investments in or guarantees of the debt of Maple except for the loan or capital contribution by Borrower to Maple in an amount not to exceed $2,600,000 to be utilized by Maple to pay to 3C Alliance LLP a portion of the purchase price for the Mebane Premises, (B) permit or cause Maple to amend its certificate or articles of formation or its operating agreement which would allow Maple to be engaged in any other business except for the ownership of the Mebane Premises and (C) permit Maple to incur indebtedness (other than the Maple Obligations) which is other than non-recourse to Maple or Borrower,
(viii)    Maple shall not (A) distribute any funds to Borrower, (B) amend its certificate or articles of formation or its operating agreement to allow Maple to be engaged in any other business except for the ownership of the Mebane Premises and (C) incur indebtedness (other than the Maple Obligations) which is other than non-recourse to Maple or Borrower, and
(ix)    In the event of a refinance of the Mebane Premises, Maple shall deliver, in form reasonably satisfactory to Lender, to (A) a mortgagee waiver in favor of Lender and (B) a non-disturbance and attornment agreement in favor of Lender and Borrower;
(e)    The Liggett Agreement; 

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(f)    The Vector Agreements; and
(g)    The guaranty by Borrower and Maple of the indebtedness owing with respect to the New Notes and the New Notes Indenture and any refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals, issuances, replacements, amendments or modifications thereof to the extent permitted by the New Notes Intercreditor Agreement.  Borrower shall furnish to Lender all notices or demands relating to an event of default under or acceleration of the maturity of such indebtedness either received by Borrower or on its behalf, promptly after the receipt thereof, or sent by Borrower or on its behalf, concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case may be.
9.18    Post-Closing Deliveries.  Without limiting any other obligation of Borrower set forth herein or in any of the other Financing Agreements, Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Lender, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, as promptly as possible following the date hereof, but in any event no later than the dates referred to in Schedule 9.18 hereto with respect to each such item (or such later date as Lender shall agree in writing), each of the items referred to in such Schedule 9.18.
		
	SECTION 10.
	EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES 

10.1    Events of Default.  The occurrence or existence of anyone or more of the following events are referred to herein individually as an “Event of Default”, and collectively as “Events of Default”: 
(a)    (i) Borrower fails to pay when due any of the Obligations or (ii) Borrower or any Obligor fails to perform any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements other than as described in Section 10.1(a)(i) and such failure shall continue for fifteen (15) consecutive days; provided, that, such fifteen (15) day period shall not apply in the case of: (A) any failure to observe any such term, covenant, condition or provision which is not capable of being cured at all or within such fifteen (15) day period or which has been the subject of a prior failure to perform the same term, covenant, condition or provision within the immediately prior six (6) month period or (B) an intentional breach by Borrower or any Obligor of any such term, covenant, condition or provision, or (C) the failure to observe or perform any of the covenants or provisions contained in Sections 8.4, 9.1 and 9.5 of this Agreement or any covenants or agreements covering substantially the same matter as such sections in any of the Financing Agreements; 
(b)    any representation, warranty or statement of fact made by Borrower to Lender in this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements or any other agreement, schedule, confirmatory assignment or otherwise shall when made or deemed made be false or misleading in any material respect; 
(c)    any Obligor revokes or terminates any guarantee, endorsement or other agreement of such party in favor of Lender; 
(d)    any judgment for the payment of money is rendered against Borrower or any Obligor or any Subsidiary of Borrower in excess of $500,000 in anyone case or in excess of $1,500,000 in the aggregate and shall remain undischarged or unvacated for a period in excess of 

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thirty (30) days or execution shall at any time not be effectively stayed, or any material judgment other than for the payment of money, or injunction, attachment, garnishment or execution is rendered against Borrower or any Obligor or any of their assets which has a material adverse effect on Borrower, any Obligor or any of the Collateral; 
(e)    any Obligor (being a natural person or a general partner of an Obligor which is a partnership) dies or Borrower or any Obligor or any Subsidiary of Borrower, which is a partnership or corporation, dissolves or suspends or discontinues doing business; 
(f)    Borrower or any Obligor or any Subsidiary of Borrower becomes insolvent (however defined or evidenced), makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, makes or sends notice of a bulk transfer or admits in writing its inability to generally pay its debts; 
(g)    a case or proceeding under the bankruptcy laws of the United States of America now or hereafter in effect or under any insolvency, reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect (whether at law or in equity) is filed against Borrower or any Obligor or any Subsidiary of Borrower or all or any part of its properties and such petition or application is not dismissed within thirty (30) days after the date of its filing or Borrower or any Obligor or any Subsidiary of Borrower shall file any answer admitting or not contesting such petition or application or indicates its consent to, acquiescence in or approval of, any such action or proceeding or the relief requested is granted sooner; 
(h)    a case or proceeding under the bankruptcy laws of the United States of America now or hereafter in effect or under any insolvency, reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect (whether at a law or equity) is filed by Borrower or any Obligor or any Subsidiary of Borrower or for all or any part of its property; or 
(i)    any default by Borrower or any Obligor or any Subsidiary of Borrower under any agreement, document or instrument relating to any indebtedness for borrowed money owing to any person other than Lender, or any capitalized lease obligations, contingent indebtedness in connection with any guarantee, letter of credit, indemnity or similar type of instrument in favor of any person other than Lender, in any case in an amount in excess of $500,000, which default continues for more than the applicable cure period, if any, with respect thereto, or any default by Borrower or any Obligor or any Subsidiary of Borrower under any material contract, lease, license or other obligation to any person other than Lender, which default would have a material adverse effect on Borrower, any Obligor or the Collateral and continues for more than the applicable cure period, if any, with respect thereto; 
(j)    any change in the controlling ownership of Borrower or a “change of control” under the New Notes Indenture as in effect on the date hereof;
(k)    any change in the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of Borrower, except if such new chief executive officer has substantial operational managerial experience in the tobacco products industry or such new chief financial officer has substantial financial management experience or such change is otherwise satisfactory to Lender; 

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(l)    the (i) indictment or, to Borrower’s knowledge, threatened indictment of Borrower or Obligor or any Subsidiary of Borrower under any criminal statute, or (ii) commencement of criminal or civil proceedings or, to Borrower’s knowledge, threatened commencement of criminal proceedings against Borrower or any Obligor or any Subsidiary of Borrower, pursuant to which, (A) as to any such proceeding by any governmental agency (which term shall not include for this purpose any Person other than one acting in an official government capacity), the penalties or remedies sought for the acts or omission of Borrower which allegedly are the basis thereof would adversely impair the Collateral in any material respect, including, without limitation, forfeiture of any material portion of the Collateral, or (B) as to any such proceeding by any other Person, in Congress’ good faith judgment, such proceedings are reasonably likely to be adversely determined against Borrower and the penalties or remedies sought for the acts or omissions of Borrower which allegedly are the basis thereof, in Congress’ good faith judgment, would be reasonably likely to adversely impair the Collateral in any material respect, including without limitation, forfeiture of any material portion of the Collateral; 
(m)    there shall be an event of default under any of the other Financing Agreements;
(n)    there shall be a default by Maple under the Mebane Loan; and
(o)    a default occurring and continuing under the New Notes Indenture as a result of the failure of Borrower to pay any principal or interest on the New Notes when due and the expiration of any cure period with respect to such default and demand being made on Borrower and Maple under their respective guaranty of the New Notes and the expiration of ten (10) Business Days from the date of such demand.
10.2    Remedies.  
(a)    At any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing Lender shall have all rights and remedies provided in this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements, the Uniform Commercial Code and other applicable law, all of which rights and remedies may be exercised without notice to or consent by Borrower or any Obligor, except as such notice or consent is expressly provided for hereunder or required by applicable law.  All rights, remedies and powers granted to Lender hereunder, under any of the other Financing Agreements, the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law, are cumulative, not exclusive and enforceable, in Lender’s discretion, alternatively, successively, or concurrently on any one or more occasions, and shall include, without limitation, the right to apply to a court of equity for an injunction to restrain a breach or threatened breach by Borrower of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements.  Lender may, at any time or times, proceed directly against Borrower or any Obligor to collect the Obligations without prior recourse to the Collateral.  
(b)    Without limiting the foregoing, at any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Lender may, in its discretion and without limitation, (i) accelerate the payment of all Obligations and demand immediate payment thereof to Lender; provided, that, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Sections 10.1(g) and 10.1(h), all Obligations shall automatically become immediately due and payable), (ii) with or without judicial process or the aid or assistance of others, enter upon any premises on or in which any of the Collateral may be 

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located and take possession of the Collateral or complete processing, manufacturing and repair of all or any portion of the Collateral, (iii) require Borrower, at Borrower’s expense, to assemble and make available to Lender any part or all of the Collateral at any place and time designated by Lender, (iv) collect, foreclose, receive, appropriate, setoff and realize upon any and all Collateral, (v) remove any or all of the Collateral from any premises on or in which the same may be located for the purpose of effecting the sale, foreclosure or other disposition thereof or for any other purpose, (vi) sell, lease, transfer, assign, deliver or otherwise dispose of any and all Collateral (including, without limitation, entering into contracts with respect thereto, public or private sales at any exchange, broker’s board, at any office of Lender or elsewhere) at such prices or terms as Lender may deem reasonable, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery, with Lender having the right to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral at any such public sale, all of the foregoing being free from any right or equity of redemption of Borrower, which right or equity of redemption is hereby expressly waived and released by Borrower and (vii) terminate this Agreement If any of the Collateral is sold or leased by Lender upon credit terms or for future delivery, the Obligations shall not be reduced as a result thereof until payment therefor is finally collected by Lender.  If notice of disposition of Collateral is required by law, ten (10) days’ prior notice by Lender to Borrower designating the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other intended disposition of Collateral is to be made, shall be deemed to be reasonable notice thereof and Borrower waives any other notice.  In the event Lender institutes an action to recover any Collateral or seeks recovery of any Collateral by way of prejudgment remedy, Borrower waives the posting of any bond which might otherwise be required. At any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, upon Lender’s request, Borrower will either, as Lender shall specify, furnish cash collateral to the issuer to be used to secure and fund Lender’s reimbursement obligations to the issuer in connection with any Letter of Credit Accommodations or furnish cash collateral to Lender for the Letter of Credit Accommodations.  Such cash collateral shall be in the amount equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the amount of the Letter of Credit Accommodations plus the amount of any fees and expenses payable in connection therewith through the end of the expiration of such Letter of Credit Accommodations. 
(c)    Lender may, at any time or times that an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, enforce Borrower’s rights against any account debtor, secondary obligor or other obligor in respect of any of the Accounts or other Receivables that constitute Collateral.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Lender may at such time or times (i) notify any or all account debtors, secondary obligors or other obligors in respect thereof that the Receivables that constitute Collateral have been assigned to Lender and that Lender has a security interest therein and Lender may direct any or all account debtors, secondary obligors and other obligors to make payment of Receivables that constitute Collateral directly to Lender, (ii) extend the time of payment of, compromise, settle or adjust for cash, credit, return of merchandise or otherwise, and upon any terms or conditions, any and all Receivables that constitute Collateral or other obligations included in the Collateral and thereby discharge or release the account debtor or any secondary obligors or other obligors in respect thereof without affecting any of the Obligations, (iii) demand, collect or enforce payment of any Receivables that constitute Collateral or such other obligations, but without any duty to do so, and Lender shall not be liable for its failure to collect or enforce the payment thereof nor for the negligence of its agents or attorneys with respect thereto and (iv) take whatever other action Lender  may deem necessary or desirable for the protection of its interests.  At any time that an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, at Lender’s request, all invoices and statements sent to any account debtor shall state that the Accounts and such other obligations have been assigned to Lender and are payable directly and only to Lender and Borrower shall deliver 

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to Lender  such originals of documents evidencing the sale and delivery of goods or the performance of services giving rise to any Accounts as Lender may require.  In the event any account debtor returns Inventory when an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, Borrower shall, upon Lender’s request, hold the returned Inventory in trust for Lender, segregate all returned Inventory from all of its other property, dispose of the returned Inventory solely according to Lender’s instructions, and  not issue any credits, discounts or allowances with respect thereto without Lender’s prior written consent.
(d)    To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on Lender to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner (which duties cannot be waived under such law), Borrower acknowledges and agrees that it is not commercially unreasonable for Lender (i) to fail to incur expenses reasonably deemed significant by Lender to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to complete raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (ii) to fail to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of, or to obtain or, if not required by other law, to fail to obtain consents of any Governmental Authority or other third party for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (iii) to fail to exercise collection remedies against account debtors, secondary obligors or other persons obligated on Collateral or to remove liens or encumbrances on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (iv) to exercise collection remedies against account debtors and other persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (v) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (vi) to contact other persons, whether or not in the same business as Borrower for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of the Collateral, (vii) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the collateral is of a specialized nature, (viii) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing Internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capability of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (ix) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (x) to disclaim disposition warranties, (xi) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure Lender against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to Lender a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (xii) to the extent deemed appropriate by Lender, to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist Lender in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. Borrower acknowledges that the purpose of this Section is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by Lender would not be commercially unreasonable in Lender’s exercise of remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by Lender shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section. Without limitation of the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to grant any rights to Borrower or to impose any duties on Lender that would not have been granted or imposed by this Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section.

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	SECTION 11.
	JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS AND 
CONSENTS; GOVERNING LAW 

11.1    Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver.  
(a)    The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements (other than the Mortgages to the extent provided therein) and any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York. 
(b)    Borrower and Lender irrevocably consent and submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and waive any objection based on venue or forum non conveniens with respect to any action instituted therein arising under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties hereto in respect of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or the transactions related hereto or thereto, in each case whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, and agree that any dispute with respect to any such matters shall be heard only in the courts described above (except, that, Lender shall have the right to bring any action or proceeding against Borrower or its property in the courts of any other jurisdiction which Lender deems necessary or appropriate in order to realize on the Collateral or to otherwise enforce its rights against Borrower or its property).  
(c)    Borrower hereby waives personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by certified mail (return receipt requested) directed to its address set forth on the signature pages hereof and service so made shall be deemed to be completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so deposited in the U.S. mails, or, at Lender’s option, by service upon Borrower in any other manner provided under the rules of any such courts.  Within the longer of (i) thirty (30) days after such service or (ii) the applicable statutory period of time, Borrower shall appear in answer to such process, failing which Borrower shall be deemed in default and judgment may be entered by Lender against Borrower for the amount of the claim and other relief requested.
(d)    BORROWER AND LENDER EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION (i) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR (ii) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE.  BORROWER AND LENDER EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT BORROWER OR LENDER MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE 

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PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.  
(e)    Lender shall not have any liability to Borrower (whether in tort, contract, equity or otherwise) for losses suffered by Borrower in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the transactions or relationships contemplated by this Agreement, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection herewith, unless it is determined by a final and non-appealable judgment or court order binding on Lender, that the losses were the result of acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct.  In any such litigation, Lender shall be entitled to the benefit of the rebuttable presumption that it acted in good faith and with the exercise of ordinary care in the performance by it of the terms of this Agreement.  Except as prohibited by law, Borrower waives any right which it may have to claim or recover in any litigation with Lender any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages or any damages other than, or in addition to, actual damages.  Borrower:  (i) certifies that neither Lender nor any representative, agent or attorney acting for or on behalf of Lender has represented, expressly or otherwise, that Lender would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce any of the waivers provided for in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements and (ii) acknowledges that in entering into this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, Lender is relying upon, among other things, the waivers and certifications set forth in this Section 11.1 and elsewhere herein and therein.
11.2     Waiver of Notices.  Borrower hereby expressly waives demand, presentment, protest and notice of protest and notice of dishonor with respect to any and all instruments and commercial paper, included in or evidencing any of the Obligations or the Collateral, and any and all other demands and notices of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the Obligations, the Collateral and this Agreement, except such as are expressly provided for herein.  No notice to or demand on Borrower which Lender may elect to give shall entitle Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.  
11.3    Amendments and Waivers.  Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof shall be amended, modified, waived or discharged orally or by course of conduct, but only by a written agreement signed by an authorized officer of the party against whom the amendment, modification, waiver or discharge is sought to be enforced Lender shall not, by any act, delay, omission or otherwise be deemed to have expressly or impliedly waived any of its rights, powers and/or remedies unless such waiver shall be in writing and signed by an authorized officer of Lender.  Any such waiver shall be enforceable only to the extent specifically set forth therein.  A waiver by Lender of any right, power and/or remedy on anyone occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any such right, power and/or remedy which Lender would otherwise have on any future occasion, whether similar in kind or otherwise.  
11.4    Waiver of Counterclaims.  Borrower waives all rights to interpose any claims, deductions, setoffs or counterclaims of any nature (other then compulsory counterclaims) in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, the Obligations, the Collateral or any matter arising therefrom or relating hereto or thereto.  

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11.5    Indemnification.  Borrower shall indemnify and hold Lender, and its directors, agents, employees and counsel, harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any of them in connection with any litigation, investigation, claim or proceeding commenced or threatened related to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of this Agreement, any other Financing Agreements, or any undertaking or proceeding related to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or any act, omission, event or transaction related or attendant thereto, including, without limitation, amounts paid in settlement, court costs, and the fees and expenses of counsel, except as a result of Lender’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section may be unenforceable because it violates any law or public policy, Borrower shall pay the maximum portion which it is permitted to pay under applicable law to Lender in satisfaction of indemnified matters under this Section.  The foregoing indemnity shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement 
SECTION 12.    TERM OF AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS 
12.1    Term.
(c)    This Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall become effective as of the date set forth on the first page hereof and shall continue in full force and effect for a term ending on March 8, 2015 (the “Maturity Date”).  In addition, Borrower may terminate this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements prior to the Maturity Date at any time by giving to the other party at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Lender (which notice shall be irrevocable) and Lender may, at its option, terminate this Agreement at any time upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default.  Upon the Maturity Date or any other effective date of termination of the Financing Agreements, Borrower shall pay to Lender, in full, all outstanding and unpaid Obligations and shall furnish cash collateral to Lender (or at Lender’s option, a letter of credit issued for the account of Borrower and at Borrower’s expense, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, by an issuer acceptable to Lender and payable to Lender as beneficiary) in such amounts as Lender determines are reasonably necessary to secure Lender from loss, cost, damage or expense, including attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, in connection with any contingent Obligations, including issued and outstanding Letter of Credit Accommodations and checks or other payments provisionally credited to the Obligations and/or as to which Lender has not yet received final and indefeasible payment and any continuing obligations of Lender to any bank or other financial institution under or pursuant to any Deposit Account Control Agreement and for any of the Obligations arising under or in connection with any Bank Products in such amounts as Lender may require (unless such Obligations arising under or in connection with any Bank Products are paid in full in cash and terminated in a manner satisfactory to Lender).  The amount of such cash collateral (or letter of credit, as Lender may determine) as to any Letter of Credit Accommodations shall be in the amount equal to one hundred five (105%) of the amount of the Letter of Credit Accommodations plus the amount of any fees and expenses payable in connection therewith through the end of the latest expiration date of the Letters of Credit giving rise to such Letter of Credit Accommodations.  Such payments in respect of the Obligations and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire transfer in Federal funds to the Lender Payment Account or such other bank account of Lender, as Lender may, in its discretion, designate in writing to Borrower for such purpose.  Interest shall be due until and including the next Business Day, if the amounts so paid by Borrower to the 

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Lender Payment Account or other bank account designated by Lender are received in such bank account later than 12:00 noon, New York City time.
(d)    No termination of this Agreement or the other Financing Agreements shall relieve or discharge Borrower of its respective duties, obligations and covenants under this Agreement or the other Financing Agreements until all Obligations have been fully and finally discharged and paid, and Lenders continuing security interest in the Collateral and the rights and remedies of Lender hereunder, under the other Financing Agreements and applicable law, shall remain in effect until all such Obligations have been fully and finally discharged and paid.
12.2    Notices.
(a)    All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be in writing and (i) made to Lender at its address set forth below and to Borrower at its chief executive office set forth below, or to such other address as either party may designate by written notice to the other in accordance with this provision, and (ii) deemed to have been given or made: if delivered in person, immediately upon delivered; if by telex, telegram or facsimile transmission, immediately upon sending and upon confirmation of receipt; if by nationally recognized overnight courier service with instructions to deliver the next Business Day, one (1) Business Day after sending; and if by certified mail, (postage prepaid) return receipt requested, five (5) days after mailing.  Notices delivered through electronic communications shall be effective to the extent set forth in Section 12.2(b) below.  All notices, requests and demands upon the parties are to be given to the following addresses (or to such other address as any party may designate by notice in accordance with this Section):
	
		
	If to Borrower or Maple:
	c/o Liggett Group LLC
100 Maple Lane
Mebane, North Carolina 27302
Attention:  John Long, Frank Wall
Telephone No.:  919-990-3516
Telecopy No.:  919-990-3505
Email:  jlong@vlbrands.com
Email:  fwall@vlbrands.com

	with a courtesy copy to:
	Vector Group Ltd.
100 S.E. 2nd Street, 32nd Floor
Miami, Florida 33131
Attention:  Marc Bell
Telephone No.:  305-579-8000
Telecopy No.:  305-579-8016
Email:  mbell@vectorgroupltd.com

	If to Lender:
	100 Park Avenue, 14th Floor
New York, New York 10017
MAC J0149-030
Attention:  Portfolio Manager - Liggett
Telephone No.:  212-545-4491
Telecopy No.:  (212) 545-4283
Email:  andrew.rogow@wellsfargo.com
Email:  marc.breier@wellsfargo.com

(b)    Notices and other communications to Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Lender or as otherwise determined by Lender.  Unless Lender otherwise 

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requires, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided, that, if such notice or other communication is not given during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communications is available and identifying the website address therefore.
12.3    Interpretative Provisions.
(q)    All terms used herein which are defined in Article 1 or Article 9 of the UCC shall have the meanings given therein unless otherwise defined in this Agreement.  
(r)    All references to the plural herein shall also mean the singular and to the singular shall also mean the plural unless the context otherwise requires.  
(s)    All references to Borrower and Lender pursuant to the definitions set forth in the recitals hereto, or to any other person herein, shall include their respective successors and assigns.  
(t)    The words “hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder”, “this Agreement” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not any particular provision of this Agreement and as this Agreement now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.  
(u)    The word “including” when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation”.  
(v)    All references to the term “good faith” used herein when applicable to Lender shall mean, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the UCC,  honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned.  Borrower shall have the burden of proving any lack of good faith on the part of Lender alleged by Borrower at any time. 
(w)    An Event of Default shall exist or continue or be continuing until such Event of Default is waived in accordance with Section 11.3 or is cured in a manner satisfactory to Lender, if such Event of Default is capable of being cured as determined by Lender.  
(x)    Any accounting term used in this Agreement shall have, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, the meaning customarily given in accordance with GAAP, and all financial computations hereunder shall be computed unless otherwise specifically provided herein, in accordance with GAAP as consistently applied and using the same method for inventory valuation as used in the preparation of the financial statements of Borrower most recently received by Lender prior to the date hereof. 
(y)    In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified 

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date, the word “from” means “from and including”, the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including”.
(z)    Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references herein to any agreement, document or instrument shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, modifications, supplements, extensions, renewals, restatements or replacements with respect thereto, but only to the extent the same are not prohibited by the terms hereof or of any other Financing Agreement, and (ii) references to any statute or regulation are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, recodifying, supplementing or interpreting the statute or regulation.
(aa)    The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
(bb)    This Agreement and other Financing Agreements may use several different limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters.  All such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and shall each be performed in accordance with their terms.
(cc)    This Agreement and the other Financing Agreements are the result of negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to Lender and the other parties, and are the products of all parties.  Accordingly, this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements shall not be construed against Lender merely because of Lender’s involvement in their preparation.
12.4    Partial Invalidity.  If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not invalidate this Agreement as a whole, but this Agreement shall be construed as though it did not contain the particular provision held to be invalid or unenforceable and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced only to such extent as shall be permitted by applicable law.  
12.5    Successors.  This Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and any other document referred to herein or therein shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Lender, Borrower and their respective successors and assigns; except, that, Borrower may not assign its rights under this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and any other document referred to herein or therein without the prior written consent of Lender.  Lender may, after notice to Borrower, assign its rights and delegate its obligations under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and further may assign, or sell participations in, all or any part of the Loans, the Letter of Credit Accommodations or any other interest herein to another financial institution or other person, in which event, the assignee or participant shall have, to the extent of such assignment or participation, the same rights and benefits as it would have if it were Lender hereunder, except as otherwise provided by the terms of such assignment or participation.  

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12.6    Participant’s Right of Setoff.  If a Participant shall at any time participate with Lender in the Loans, Letter of Credit Accommodations or other Obligations, Borrower hereby grants to such Participant and such Participant shall have and is hereby given.  a continuing right of setoff ill any money, securities and other property of Borrower in the custody or possession of the Participant, to the extent of the Participant’s participation in the Obligations, and such Participant shall be deemed to have the same right of setoff to the extent of its participation in the Obligations, as it would have if it were a direct lender.  
12.7    Confidentiality.
(c)    Lender shall use all reasonable efforts to keep confidential, in accordance with its customary procedures for handling confidential information and safe and sound lending practices, any non-public information supplied to it by Borrower pursuant to this Agreement which is clearly and conspicuously marked as confidential at the time such information is furnished by Borrower to Lender; provided, that, nothing contained herein shall limit the disclosure of any such information: (i) to the extent required by statute, rule, regulation, subpoena or court order, (ii) to bank examiners and other regulators, auditors and/or accountants, (iii) in connection with any litigation to which Lender is a party, (iv) to any assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or participant) so long as such assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or participant) shall have first agreed in writing to treat such information as confidential in accordance with this Section 12.7, or (v) to counsel for Lender or any participant or assignee (or prospective participant or assignee).  
(d)    In no event shall this Section 12.7 or any other provision of this Agreement or applicable law be deemed: (i) to apply to or restrict disclosure of information that has been or is made public by Borrower or any third party without breach of this Section 12.7 or otherwise become generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure in violation hereof, (ii) to apply to or restrict disclosure of information that was or becomes available to Lender on a non-confidential basis from a person other than Borrower, (iii) to require Lender to return any materials furnished by Borrower to Lender or (iv) to prevent Lender from responding to routine informational requests in accordance with the Code of Ethics for the Exchange of Credit Information promulgated by the Robert Morris Associates or other applicable industry standards relating to the exchange of credit information.  The obligations of Lender under this Section 12.7 shall supersede and replace the obligations of Lender under any confidentiality letter signed prior to the date hereof.  
(e)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any of the other Financing Agreements or any other written or oral understanding or agreement,  any obligations of confidentiality contained herein, in any of the other Financing Agreements or any such other understanding or agreement do not apply and have not applied from the commencement of discussions between the parties to the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated herein (and any related transactions or arrangements), and  each party (and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents) may disclose to any and all persons the tax treatment and tax structuring of the transactions contemplated herein and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to such party relating to such tax treatment and tax structure, all within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4; provided, that, each party recognizes that the privilege that it may, in its discretion, maintain with respect to the confidentiality of a communication relating to the transactions contemplated herein, including a confidential communication with its attorney or a confidential communication with a federally authorized tax 

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practitioner under Section 7525 of the Internal Revenue Code, is not intended to be affected by the foregoing.  Borrower does not intend to treat the Loans and related transactions as being a “reportable transaction” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4).  In the event Borrower determines to take any action inconsistent with such intention, it will promptly notify Lender thereof.  Borrower acknowledges that Lender may treat the Loans as part of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4 or Section 301.6112-1, and Lender may file such IRS forms or maintain such lists and other records as they may determine is required by such Treasury Regulations.
12.8    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, the other Financing Agreements, any supplements hereto or thereto, and any instruments or documents delivered or to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith represents the entire agreement and understanding concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof between the parties hereto, and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, representations, warranties, commitments, proposals, offers and contracts concerning the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written; provided, that, the parties’ entry into and performance under this Agreement shall not amend or affect in any manner any of the consents, approvals or waivers granted by either party prior to the date of this Agreement.
12.9    USA Patriot Act.  To the extent applicable, Borrower is in compliance, in all material respects, with the (a) Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, and (b) Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001) (the “Patriot Act”).  No part of the proceeds of the loans made hereunder will be used by Borrower or any of its Affiliates directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
12.10    Counterparts, Etc.  This Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements by facsimile or other electronic method of transmission shall have the same force and effect as the delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of such other Financing Agreements.  Any party delivering an executed counterpart of any such agreement by facsimile or other electronic method of transmission shall also deliver an original executed counterpart, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of such agreement.

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	SECTION 13.
	ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RESTATEMENT

13.1    Existing Obligations.  Borrower hereby acknowledges, confirms and agrees that Borrower and Maple are indebted to Lender under the Existing Loan Agreement as of the close of business on February 17, 2012 in respect of the Loans (other than the Mebane Loan) in the principal amount of $0 and in respect of the Mebane Loan in the principal amount of $5,600,000.24, which indebtedness, together with all interest accrued and accruing thereon (to the extent applicable), and all fees, costs, expenses and other charges relating thereto, all of which are unconditionally owing by Borrower and Maple to Lender, without offset, defense or counterclaim of any kind, nature or description whatsoever.
13.2    Acknowledgment of Security Interest.  Each of Borrower and Maple hereby acknowledges, confirms and agrees that: (a) Lender has and shall continue to have a security interest in, and lien upon, the Collateral of Borrower and Maple heretofore granted to Lender pursuant to the Existing Loan Agreement, as well as any Collateral granted hereunder or under the other Financing Agreements or otherwise granted to or held by Lender and (b) the liens and security interests of Lender in the Collateral shall be deemed to be continuously granted and perfected from the earliest date of the granting and perfection of such liens and security interests.
13.3    Existing Agreements.  Each of Borrower and Maple hereby acknowledges, confirms and agrees that immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement: (a) the Existing Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements have been duly executed and delivered by Borrower and Maple (as applicable) and are in full force and effect as of the date hereof; (b) the agreements and obligations of Borrower and Maple contained in the Existing Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower and Maple, enforceable against them in accordance with their terms, and Borrower and Maple have no valid defense to the enforcement of such obligations except to the extent that enforcement of certain rights and remedies may be limited by the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended from time to time, or other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally; and (c) Lender is entitled to all of the rights, remedies and benefits provided for in or arising pursuant to the Existing Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements.
13.4    Restatement 
(a)    Except as otherwise stated in Section 13.2 hereof and this Section 13.4, as of the date hereof, the terms, conditions, agreements, covenants, representations and warranties set forth in the Existing Loan Agreement are simultaneously amended and restated in their entirety, and as so amended and restated, replaced and superseded by the terms, conditions agreements, covenants, representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements executed and/or delivered on or after the date hereof; except, that, nothing herein or in the other Financing Agreements shall, in any manner, be construed to constitute payment of, or impair, limit, cancel or extinguish, or constitute a novation in respect of any of the obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of Borrower, Maple and any other Obligor evidenced by or arising under the Existing Loan Agreement or impair or adversely affect the continuation of the security interests, liens, and other interests in the Collateral heretofore granted, pledged and/or assigned by Borrower, 

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Maple or any other Obligor to Lender.
(b)    All Obligations of Borrower, Maple and each other Obligor to Lender that are outstanding and unpaid as of the date hereof pursuant to the Existing Loan Agreement or the other Financing Agreements shall be deemed Obligations of Borrower, Maple and each other Obligor pursuant to the terms hereof, and shall constitute and be deemed Loans and the Mebane Loan (as applicable) hereunder. 
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Lender and Borrower have caused these presents to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.  
	
					
	LENDER
	 
	BORROWER

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, successor by merger to Wachovia Bank, National Association

	 
	LIGGETT GROUP LLC

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	By:
	/s/ Andrew Rogow
	 
	By:
	/s/ Ronald J. Bernstein

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Name:
	Andrew Rogow
	 
	Name:
	Ronald J. Bernstein

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Title:
	Vice President
	 
	Title:
	Manager

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	MAPLE

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	100 MAPLE LLC

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	By:
	/s/ Ronald J. Bernstein

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	Name:
	Ronald J. Bernstein

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	Title:
	Manager

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

[Signature Page to Second A&R Loan and Security Agreement]VGR-2.27.2012 EX10.2 Mebane Note

AMENDED AND RESTATED TERM PROMISSORY NOTE

$4,425,000    New York, New York
February 21, 2012

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, 100 MAPLE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Debtor”), hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the order of WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, successor by merger to Wachovia Bank, National Association (“Payee”), at the offices of Payee at 100 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10017, or at such other place as Payee or any holder hereof may from time to time designate, the principal sum of FOUR MILLION FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($4,425,000) in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, in thirty-six (36) consecutive monthly installments of principal (or earlier as hereinafter provided) on the first day of each month commencing March 1, 2012 of which the first thirty-five (35) installments shall each be in the amount of TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE AND 33/100 DOLLARS ($24,583.33), and the last and thirty-sixth (36th) installment shall be in the amount of the entire unpaid balance of this Note. 
Debtor hereby further promises to pay interest to the order of Payee on the unpaid principal balance hereof at the Interest Rate (as hereinafter defined).  Such interest shall be paid in like money at said office or place from the date hereof, commencing March 1, 2012 and on the first day of each month thereafter until the indebtedness evidenced by this Note is paid in full.  Interest payable upon and after an Event of Default (as hereinafter defined) or termination or non‐renewal of the Loan Agreement (as hereinafter defined) shall be payable upon demand.
For purposes hereof, (a) the term “Interest Rate” shall mean a rate of one and three-quarters percent (1.75%) per annum in excess of the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate (as hereinafter defined); provided, that, at Payee’s option, the Interest Rate shall mean a rate of three and three-quarters percent (3.75%) per annum in excess of the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate upon and after an Event of Default or termination or non‐renewal of the Loan Agreement (as hereinafter defined), (b) the term “Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” shall mean the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for a one (1) month Interest Period, as such terms are defined in the Loan Agreement, (c) the term “Event of Default” shall mean an Event of Default as such term is defined in the Fee and Leasehold Deed of Trust and Security Agreement (as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced, the “Deed of Trust”), dated November 22, 1999 and recorded on December 3, 1999 in Book 1349, Page 713, in the Office of the Register of Deeds, Alamance County, North Carolina, by and among Payee, Debtor and Liggett Group LLC, as successor to Liggett Group Inc. (“Liggett”), and (d) the term “Loan Agreement” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Liggett, Debtor and Payee, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.  Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.
The Interest Rate payable hereunder shall be adjusted on the first day of each Interest Period and shall be equal to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate as calculated on the first day of each such Interest Period.  In no event shall the interest charged hereunder exceed the maximum permitted under the laws of the State of North Carolina or other applicable law.

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This Note is secured by the Property, as defined in the Deed of Trust, and all guarantees, security agreements and other agreements, documents and instruments now or at any time hereafter executed and/or delivered by Debtor or any other party in connection therewith (all of the foregoing, together with the Loan Agreement, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, renewed, extended, restated or replaced, being collectively referred to herein as the “Financing Agreements”), and Payee is entitled to all of the benefits and rights thereof and of the other Financing Agreements.  
Debtor may prepay this Note at any time, in whole or in part, without any premium, penalty, fee, charge or other cost or expense of any kind whatsoever. 
If any payment of principal or interest is not made when due hereunder, or if any other Event of Default shall occur for any reason, or if the Loan Agreement shall be terminated or not renewed for any reason whatsoever, then and in any such event, in addition to all rights and remedies of Payee under the Financing Agreements, applicable law or otherwise, all such rights and remedies being cumulative, not exclusive, and enforceable alternatively, successively and concurrently, Payee may, at its option, declare any or all of Debtor’s obligations, liabilities and indebtedness owing to Payee under the Loan Agreement and the other Financing Agreements (the “Obligations”), including, without limitation, all amounts owing under this Note, to be due and payable, whereupon the then unpaid balance hereof, together with all interest accrued thereon, shall forthwith become due and payable, together with interest accruing thereafter at the then applicable Interest Rate stated above until the indebtedness evidenced by this Note is paid in full, plus the costs and expenses of collection hereof, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses actually incurred.
Debtor (a) waives diligence, demand, presentment, protest and notice of any kind, (b) agrees that it will not be necessary for Payee to first institute suit in order to enforce  payment of this Note and (c) consents to any one or more extensions or postponements of time of payment, release, surrender or substitution of collateral security, or forbearance or other indulgence, without notice or consent.  Upon any Event of Default or termination or non‐renewal of the Loan Agreement, Payee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to setoff against this Note all money owed by Payee to Debtor.
Payee shall not be required to resort to the Property, as defined in the Deed of Trust, or any Collateral for payment, but may proceed against Debtor and any guarantors or endorsers hereof in such order and manner as Payee may choose.  None of the rights of Payee shall be waived or diminished by any failure or delay in the exercise thereof.
The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Note and the other Financing Agreements and any dispute arising in connection herewith or therewith shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law).
Debtor irrevocably consents and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and waives any objection based on venue or forum non conveniens with respect to any action instituted therein arising under this Note or any of the other Financing Agreements or in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of Debtor and Payee in respect of this Note or any of the other Financing Agreements or the transactions related hereto or thereto, in each case whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, and agrees that any dispute arising out of the relationship between Debtor and Payee or the conduct of such persons in connection with this Note or otherwise shall be heard only in the courts described above (except that Payee shall have the right to bring 

2

any action or proceeding against Debtor or its property in the courts of any other jurisdiction which Payee deems necessary or appropriate in order to realize on the Property, as defined in the Deed of Trust, or Collateral or to otherwise enforce its rights against Debtor or its property).
Debtor hereby waives personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by certified mail (return receipt requested) directed to it and service so made shall be deemed to be completed upon delivery to Debtor, or, at Payee’s option, by service upon Debtor in any other manner provided under the rules of any such courts.  
DEBTOR HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION (i) ARISING UNDER THIS NOTE OR (ii) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS BETWEEN DEBTOR AND PAYEE IN RESPECT OF THIS NOTE OR THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE.  DEBTOR AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY.
The execution and delivery of this Note has been authorized by the manager of Debtor and by any necessary vote or consent of the members of Debtor.  
This Note shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of Debtor and inure to the benefit of Payee and its successors, endorsees and assigns.  Whenever used herein, the term “Debtor” shall be deemed to include its successors and assigns and the term “Payee” shall be deemed to include its successors, endorsees and assigns.  If any term or provision of this Note shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity of all other terms and provisions hereof shall in no way be affected thereby.
This Note amends and restates in its entirety that certain Term Promissory Note dated August 10, 2007 heretofore executed and delivered by Debtor in favor of Payee (the “Existing Note”), and evidences the outstanding principal balance of the Mebane Loan outstanding as of the date hereof.  This Note is being delivered in substitution for and replacement of, and not in satisfaction of, the Existing Note.  This Note is not intended to extinguish, release or otherwise discharge the Debtor’s obligations under the Existing Note and is not intended to be a novation of the Debtor’s obligations thereunder.
[Signature Page Follows]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Debtor has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
100 MAPLE LLC

By:    /s/ Ronald J. Bernstein            
Name:    Ronald J. Bernstein
Title:    Manager

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Term Promissory Note]

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