Document:

Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This SECURITY AGREEMENT (together with all exhibits and schedules hereto, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), dated as of March 22, 2012, is made by ZaZa Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), ZaZa Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), Toreador Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Toreador”), ZaZa Energy, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“ZaZa LLC”)  and each of the other Persons that from time to time becomes an Additional Grantor pursuant to Section 11(m) of this Agreement (together with the Company, Holdings, Toreador and ZaZa LLC, each, a “Grantor” and, collectively, the “Grantors”)  in favor of the Collateral Agent (as defined below), on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

A.            The Company has entered into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2011 (as the same from time to time hereafter may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company and the Purchasers (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) named therein, pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, the Company issued and sold to such Purchasers, and such Purchasers purchased from the Company, the Notes.  Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

B.            Each of the Grantors identified above is a member of an affiliated group of companies that includes the Company and the each of the other Grantors, and the proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Notes under the Securities Purchase Agreement will be used, in part, to enable the Company and the other Grantors to make transfers among themselves in connection with their respective operations.  Each Grantor will receive direct and indirect benefits from the issuance of the Notes and the other transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

C.            Holdings, Toreador and ZaZa LLC have executed and delivered to the Secured Parties (as defined below) that certain Guaranty Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2012 (as the same from time to time hereafter may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Guaranty”), pursuant to which such Grantors have on a joint and several basis guaranteed the full, complete and final payment and performance of the “Guaranteed Obligations” (as defined in the Guaranty).

 

D.            The Purchasers are willing to purchase the Notes as provided in the Securities Purchase Agreement and otherwise make, extend and maintain certain financial accommodations to the Company as provided in the Transaction Documents, but only upon the condition, among others, that the Company and those Grantors party to the Guaranty shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Collateral Agent, on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to induce the Purchasers to enter into the Securities Purchase Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, to purchase the Notes to be purchased by them, and to otherwise make, extend and maintain financial accommodations to or for the benefit of the Company on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, and for other good and valuable consideration, and intending to be legally bound, each Grantor, jointly and severally, hereby represents, warrants, covenants and agrees as follows:

 

SECTION 1.        Defined Terms.  The following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

 

“Account” means and includes any “account,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now owned or hereafter acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“Account Debtor” means a Person obligated on an Account, Chattel Paper or General Intangible, but does not include a Person obligated to pay on or under an Instrument, even if such Instrument constitutes a part of Chattel Paper.

 

“Additional Grantor”  has the meaning specified for such term in Section 11(m) of this Agreement.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning specified for such term in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Bankruptcy Code” means the provisions of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§101 et seq., as now and hereafter in effect, any successors to such statute and any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law of any jurisdiction including, without limitation, any law of any jurisdiction relating to the reorganization, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, release or other relief of debtors, or providing for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or conservator or other similar official for all or any substantial part of such debtor’s assets, or for the making of an assignment for the benefit of creditors of a debtor.

 

“Certificate of Title” means all certificates of title (or similar ownership documents) with respect to which applicable law provides for a security interest to be identified on such certificate as a condition for the perfection or priority of a security interest over the rights of a lien creditor or other Persons with respect thereto.

 

“Chattel Paper” means and includes any “chattel paper,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now owned or hereafter acquired or received by Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“Collateral” means all of each Grantor’s: (a) Accounts; (b) Chattel Paper; (c) Commercial Tort Claims; (d) Contracts; (e) Deposit Accounts; (f) Documents; (g) Equipment; (h) Fixtures; (i) General Intangibles; (j) Instruments; (k) Inventory; (l) Investment Property (other than the 50,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock of ePsolutions, Inc. owned by Toreador on the date hereof); (m) Letter-of-Credit Rights; (n) Supporting Obligations; (o) other goods and

 

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personal property of such Grantor whether tangible or intangible and whether now or hereafter owned or existing, leased, consigned by or to, or acquired by, such Grantor and wherever located; and (p) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds of each of the foregoing and all accessions to, substitutions and replacements for, and rents, profits and products of each of the foregoing.

 

“Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank National Association in its capacity as collateral agent for the Secured Parties, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity.

 

“Commercial Tort Claims” means any claim arising in tort now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest, including, without limitation, those listed on Schedule III hereto.

 

“Commodity Account” means and includes any “commodity account,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now owned or hereafter acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“Company” has the meaning specified for such term in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Contract” means any contract (including any customer, vendor, supplier, service or maintenance contract), lease, license (including any License), undertaking, purchase order, permit, franchise agreement or other agreement (other than any right evidenced by Chattel Paper, Documents or Instruments), whether in written or electronic form, in or under which any Grantor may now hold or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest, including with respect to an Account, any agreement relating to the terms of payment or the terms of performance thereof.

 

“Copyright” means any of the following now owned or hereafter acquired or created (as a work for hire for the benefit of such Grantor) by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest, in whole or in part:  (a) any copyright, whether registered or unregistered, held pursuant to the laws of the United States of America or of any other country or foreign jurisdiction; (b) registration, application or recording in the United States Copyright Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States of America or any other country or foreign jurisdiction; (c) any continuation, renewal or extension thereof; and (d) any registration to be issued in any pending application, and shall include any right or interest in and to work protectable by any of the foregoing which are presently or in the future owned, created or authorized (as a work for hire for the benefit of such Grantor) or acquired by such Grantor, in whole or in part.

 

“Copyright License” means any agreement, whether in written or electronic form, now owned or hereafter acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest granting any right to use or right not to be sued with respect to the use of any Copyright or any work protectable by Copyright.

 

“Deposit Account” means and includes any “deposit account” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

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“Documents” means and includes any “documents,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now owned or hereafter acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“Equipment” means and includes any “equipment,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified for such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

“Fixtures” means and includes any “fixtures,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“General Intangible” means and includes any “general intangible,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now owned or hereafter acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“Good Faith Contest” has the meaning specified for such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

“Grantors” has the meaning specified for such term in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Guaranty” has the meaning specified for such term in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Holdings” has the meaning specified for such term in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Instrument” means and includes any “instrument,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“Intellectual Property” means any intellectual property, in any medium, of any kind or nature whatsoever, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest, and shall include, in any event, any Copyright, Trademark, Patent, trade secret, customer list, Internet domain name (including any right related to the registration thereof), proprietary or confidential information, mask work, source, object or other programming code, invention (whether or not patented or patentable), technical information, procedure, design, knowledge, know-how, software, data base, data, skill, expertise, recipe, experience, process, model, drawing, material or record.

 

“Inventory” means and includes any “inventory,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, wherever located, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“Investment Property” means and includes any “investment property,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

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“Joinder Agreement” means a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

“Letter-of-Credit Right” means any right now owned or hereafter acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest, in each case to payment or performance under a letter of credit (as such term is defined in Article 5 of the UCC), whether or not the beneficiary has demanded or is at the time entitled to demand payment or performance.

 

“Lien” has the meaning specified for such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

“License” means any Copyright License, Patent License, Trademark License or other license of rights or interests, whether in-bound or out-bound, whether in written or electronic form, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest, and shall include any renewals or extensions of any of the foregoing thereof.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” has the meaning specified for such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

“Patent” means any of the following now hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest: (a) letters patent and right corresponding thereto, of the United States of America or any other country or other foreign jurisdiction, any registration and recording thereof, and any application for letters patent, and rights corresponding thereto, of the United States of America or any other country or other foreign jurisdiction, including, without limitation, registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States of America, any State thereof or any other country or other foreign jurisdiction; (b) any reissue, continuation, continuation-in-part or extension thereof; (c) any petty patent, divisional, and patent of addition; and (d) any patent to issue in any such application.

 

“Patent License” means any agreement, whether in written or electronic form, now hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest granting any right to use or right not to be sued with respect to any Patent or any invention on which a Patent is in existence.

 

“Person” has the meaning specified for such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

“Proceeds” means and includes any “proceeds,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“Requirement of Law” means, as to any Person, any law, treaty, rule, regulation, guideline or determination of an arbitrator, a court or other governmental authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon the Person or any of its property or to which the Person or any of its property is subject.

 

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“Required Noteholders” has the meaning specified for such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

“Secured Obligations” means (a) as to the Company, all obligations of the Company for the payment of the principal amount of the Notes, accrued interest thereon (including, without limitation, interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), all Premiums and all other fees and amounts due to the holders of Notes pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, (b) as to Holdings, Toreador, ZaZa LLC and any other Guarantor, such Person’s “Guaranteed Obligations” as such term is defined in the Guaranty, and (c) any and all other debts, liabilities and reimbursement obligations, indemnity obligations and other obligations for monetary amounts, fees, expenses, costs or other sums (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs) chargeable to the Company or any other Credit Party under or pursuant to any of the Transaction Documents.

 

“Secured Parties” means the Collateral Agent and the holders from time to time of the Notes.

 

“Securities Account” means and includes any “securities account,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“Securities Purchase Agreement” has the meaning specified for such term in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Subsidiary” has the meaning specified for such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

“Supporting Obligations” means and includes any “supporting obligations,” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest.

 

“Toreador” has the meaning specified for such term in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Trademark License” means any agreement, whether in written or electronic form, now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest granting any right to use or right not to be sued for the use of any Trademark or Trademark registration.

 

“Trademarks” means any of the following now or hereafter owned or acquired or received by any Grantor or in which any Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires or receives any right or interest:  (a) any trademark, service mark, trade name, corporate name, business name, trade style, logo, other source or business identifier, print or label on which any of the foregoing have appeared or appear, design or other general intangibles of like nature, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and any applications in connection therewith, including registration, recording and application in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States of America,

 

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any State thereof or any other country or other foreign jurisdiction; and (b) any reissue, extension or renewal of any of the foregoing.

 

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York (and each reference in this Agreement to an Article thereof shall refer to that Article as from time to time in effect; provided, however, in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection or priority of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code (including the Articles, Divisions, Parts, Chapters, Sections and the like, as applicable, thereof) as in effect at such time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment, perfection or priority and for purposes of definitions related to such provisions.

 

“ZaZa LLC” has the meaning specified for such term in the Preamble hereto.

 

SECTION 2.        Grant of Security Interest.  As security for the full, complete and final payment and performance when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of all the Secured Obligations and in order to induce the Purchasers to enter into the Securities Purchase Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to purchase the Notes and make, extend and maintain financial accommodations to and for the benefit of the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Transaction Documents, each Grantor hereby assigns, conveys, mortgages, pledges, hypothecates and transfers to the Collateral Agent, on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in and to all of such Grantor’s respective right, title and interest in, to and under the Collateral, whether now existing or hereafter arising or acquired, except for any asset or right to the extent that at the time of effectiveness the grant of a security interest therein is prohibited or restricted by any contract, indenture, instrument or other agreement or would give another party to any contract, indenture, instrument or other agreement the right to terminate its obligations thereunder, provided, however, that such exclusion shall not apply with respect to any such prohibition or restriction that is deemed ineffective under the UCC or applicable law.

 

SECTION 3.        Assignment of Contracts; Rights of the Collateral Agent; Collection of Accounts.

 

(a)           In furtherance of Section 2 and the purposes of this Agreement, each Grantor hereby assigns, conveys, mortgages, pledges, hypothecates and transfers to the Collateral Agent, on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in and to, all right, title and interest of such Grantor in and to, and all benefits accruing to such Grantor pursuant to, each of the Contracts (subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2), Instruments, Chattel Paper and Investment Property, provided, however, that, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such Grantor shall have the right to exercise any of its rights under the Contracts, Instruments, Chattel Paper or Investment Property to which it is a party or by which it is bound (including the right to enter into possession of and use any and all property leased or licensed to such Grantor, as lessee or licensee, the right to use any or all of the facilities

 

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made available to such Grantor and the right to make all waivers and agreements, to give all notices, consents and releases, to take all action upon the happening of any default giving rise to a right in favor of such Grantor, under any of the Contracts, Instruments, Chattel Paper or Investment Property to which it is a party or by which it is bound, and to do any and all other things whatsoever which such Grantor is or may become entitled to do under any of the Contracts, Instruments, Chattel Paper or Investment Property to which it is a party or by which it is bound); and provided, further, that during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall have the right (but not the obligation) to exercise any and all rights under the Contracts (including all rights set forth in the parenthetical in the immediately preceding proviso and in Section 3(d)).

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, each Grantor expressly agrees that it shall not default under any of its Contracts, Instruments, Chattel Paper or Investment Property, it shall observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder and that it shall perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder, all in accordance with and pursuant to the terms and provisions of each such Contract, Instrument, Chattel Paper or Investment Property unless and to the extent such default(s) or other failure(s) could not, individually or in the aggregate, with reasonable likelihood, be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that Grantor may suspend performance of its obligations under any such Contract, Instrument, Chattel Paper or Investment Property in the event of a material breach of such Contract, Instrument, Chattel Paper or Investment Property by a third party.  Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any Contract, Instrument, Chattel Paper or Investment Property by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the granting to the Collateral Agent of a security interest therein or the receipt by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any payment relating to any Contract, Instrument, Chattel Paper or Investment Property pursuant hereto, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party be required or obligated in any manner to perform or fulfill any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Contract, Instrument, Chattel Paper or Investment Property, or to make any payment, or to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Contract, Instrument, Chattel Paper or Investment Property, or to present or file any claim, or to take any action to collect or enforce any performance or the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

 

(c)           The Collateral Agent authorizes each Grantor to collect its Accounts and to deposit all of the proceeds of such Accounts and any other amounts received by such Grantor into a Deposit Account subject to a control agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Noteholders (other than amounts used for payroll, payroll taxes or employee benefits as set forth on Schedule II-B); provided that the Collateral Agent may, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default and without notice, limit or terminate said authority at any time.  If required by the Collateral Agent at any time during the continuation of any Event of Default, any Proceeds, when first collected by any Grantor, received in payment of any such Account or in payment for any of its Inventory or on account of any of its Contracts shall be promptly deposited by such Grantor in precisely the form received (with all necessary endorsements) in a special bank account maintained by the Collateral Agent subject to withdrawal by the Collateral Agent only, as hereinafter provided, and until so turned

 

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over shall be deemed to be held in trust by such Grantor for and as the Collateral Agent’s property, on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and shall not be commingled with such Grantor’s other funds or properties.  Such Proceeds, when deposited, shall continue to be collateral security for all of such Grantor’s Secured Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as hereinafter provided.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may, in its sole discretion, after consultation with the Required Noteholders, apply all or a part of the funds on deposit in said special account to the principal of or interest on, or both, in respect of any of the Secured Obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(h), and any part of such funds which the Collateral Agent elects not so to apply and deem not required as collateral security for the Secured Obligations shall be paid over from time to time by the Collateral Agent to the appropriate Grantor.  If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at the request of the Collateral Agent, each Grantor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent all original and other documents evidencing, and relating to, the sale (or other disposition) and delivery of such Inventory and such Grantor shall deliver all original and other documents evidencing and relating to, the performance of labor or service which created such Accounts, including, without limitation, all original orders, invoices and shipping receipts.

 

(d)           The Collateral Agent may at any time, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default, notify Account Debtors of such Grantor, parties to the Contracts of such Grantor, obligors in respect of Instruments, Chattel Paper and Investment Property of such Grantor that the Accounts and the right, title and interest of such Grantor in and under such Contracts, Instruments, Chattel Paper and Investment Property have been assigned as collateral security to the Collateral Agent, on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and that payments shall be made directly to the Collateral Agent pursuant to its written instructions.  Upon the request of the Collateral Agent, such Grantor shall so notify such Account Debtors, parties to such Contracts and obligors in respect of such Instruments, Chattel Paper and Investment Property.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may, in its name, or in the name of others communicate with such Account Debtors, parties to such Contracts and Licenses and obligors in respect of such Instruments, Chattel Paper and Investment Property to verify with such parties, to the Collateral Agent’s satisfaction, the existence, amount and terms of any such Accounts, Contracts, Licenses, Instruments, Chattel Paper or Investment Property.

 

SECTION 4.        Representations and Warranties.  Each of the Grantors represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent that:

 

(a)           Such Grantor is the sole legal and equitable owner of, or, as to Intellectual Property licensed from other Persons, licensee of, each item of the Collateral in which it purports to grant a security interest hereunder, and such Grantor has good, merchantable and insurable title or rights thereto free and clear of any and all Liens, except for the Liens permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(b)           No effective security agreement, collateral control agreement, financing statement, equivalent security or lien instrument or continuation statement covering all or any part of the Collateral exists, except such as may have been filed by such Grantor in favor of the

 

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Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement or such as relate to the Liens expressly permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(c)           The security interest in the Collateral created hereunder in favor of the Collateral Agent, on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, constitutes a valid security interest in the Collateral securing the payment of the Secured Obligations.  Upon (i) the due filing of UCC financing statements naming the applicable Grantor as “debtor”, naming the Collateral Agent as “secured party” and describing the Collateral in the filing offices set forth on Schedule I, and (ii) in the case of the Collateral comprising Trademarks, Patents or Copyrights, in addition, the due recordation of a “Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Intellectual Property,” substantially in the form of Exhibit B, with respect to such Trademarks or Patents, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and with respect to Copyrights, with the United States Copyright Office, then the security interest in the Collateral granted to the Collateral Agent, on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, will, to the extent a security interest in the Collateral may be perfected by filing UCC financing statements and, in the case of the Collateral comprising Intellectual Property, in addition to the filing of such UCC financing statements, by the recordation of the “Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Intellectual Property” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, constitute perfected security interests therein prior to all other Liens (except for Liens expressly permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement); provided, however, additional actions, filings, recordings or registrations in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office may be required with respect to the perfection of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in Intellectual Property acquired by any Grantor after the date hereof.

 

(d)           Such Grantor has previously delivered to the Secured Parties a certificate signed by such Grantor and entitled “Perfection Certificate” (collectively, the “Perfection Certificates”).  Such Grantor’s complete name and organizational identification numbers are, and chief executive office, principal place of business, and the place where such Grantor maintains its records concerning the Collateral are presently located at the address(es), set forth on such Grantor’s Perfection Certificate.  If such Grantor is a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, corporate trust or other registered organization, the state (or if not a state, the other jurisdiction) under whose law such registered organization was organized is set forth such Grantor’s Perfection Certificate.  The Collateral of such Grantor, other than Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodity Accounts, is presently located, within the meaning of the UCC, at the address(es) further set forth for such Grantor on such Grantor’s Perfection Certificate and such Grantor, to the extent not delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof, will not move such Collateral from such locations without providing at least fifteen (15) days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent.  All Collateral of such Grantor in the possession of a Person other than a Grantor and the location thereof is set forth on such Grantor’s Perfection Certificate, and such Grantor will not move Collateral, having an aggregate value in excess of $100,000 from such locations without providing at least fifteen (15) days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent.  Such Grantor does not use and has not during the last five years used any other company name, corporate name, trade name, doing business name or fictitious name, except for names first used after the date of this Agreement and set forth in a notice delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 5(a).

 

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(e)                                  All Collateral of such Grantor comprising Chattel Paper, Instruments or Investment Property comprising certificated securities for such Grantor is set forth on such Grantor’s Perfection Certificate.  All action necessary or desirable to protect and perfect such security interest in each item set forth on such Perfection Certificate, including the delivery of all originals thereof, duly indorsed in favor of the Collateral Agent, to the Collateral Agent, has been duly taken.  The security interest of the Collateral Agent in each Grantor’s Collateral listed on such Grantor’s Perfection Certificate is prior in right and interest to all other Liens (other than Liens expressly permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement) and is enforceable as such against creditors of and purchasers from such Grantor.

 

(f)                                   All Copyrights, Copyright Licenses, Patents, Patent Licenses, Trademarks and Trademark Licenses owned, held or in which such Grantor otherwise has acquired or received any rights or interest are listed on such Grantor’s Perfection Certificate.  Such Grantor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent and amend such Grantor’s Perfection Certificate from time to time to reflect any additions to or deletions from this list.  Except as set forth on such Grantor’s Perfection Certificate, none of the Patents, Trademarks or Copyrights has been licensed to any third party.

 

(g)                                 The name and address of each depository institution at which such Grantor maintains any Deposit Account and the account number and account name of each such Deposit Account is listed on Schedule II-A.  The name and address of each securities intermediary or commodity intermediary at which such Grantor maintains any Securities Account or Commodity Account and the account number and account name is listed on Schedule II-A.  Such Grantor agrees to amend Schedule II-A from time to time within five (5) Business Days after opening any additional Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account, or closing or changing the account name or number on any existing Deposit Account, Securities Account, or Commodity Account.

 

(h)                                 Such Grantor has no fee simple interest in any real property.

 

(i)                                    Such Grantor has no Commercial Tort Claims other than those set forth on Schedule III hereto.  Such Grantor shall promptly amend Schedule III from time to time to reflect any additions to or deletions from this list.

 

(j)                                    There are no Accounts or Chattel Paper of such Grantor which arise out of a contract or contracts with the United States of America or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, except for those listed on Schedule IV hereto.  Such Grantor shall promptly amend Schedule IV from time to time (and, in any event, in accordance with Section 5(o) hereof) to reflect any additions to or deletions from this list.

 

(k)                                 Such Grantor is the sole holder of record and the sole beneficial owner of all certificated securities and uncertificated securities pledged to the Collateral Agent by such Grantor under Section 2 of this Agreement, free and clear of any adverse claim, as defined in Section 8102(a)(1) of the UCC, except for Liens created in favor of the Collateral Agent by this Agreement or as expressly permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

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(l)                                    None of the Investment Property of such Grantor has been transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such transfer may be subject.

 

SECTION 5.                         Covenants.  Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Collateral Agent that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding and so long thereafter as any of the Secured Obligations shall remain unpaid:

 

(a)                                 Legal Status; Location.  Such Grantor shall not change its name, its jurisdiction of organization, its type of organization, its taxpayer identification number or its chief executive office or principal place of business or remove or cause to be removed, the records concerning the Collateral from those premises without at least fifteen (15) days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent.  In the event that any Grantor shall change its chief executive office or principal place of business (provided that the new location is leased to the Grantor), then, concurrently with entering into the lease for such new chief executive office or principal place of business, such Grantor shall furnish to the Collateral Agent, an executed and delivered access agreement in favor of the Collateral Agent with respect to such new location, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall such Grantor change its jurisdiction of organization to a jurisdiction outside the United States of America or any State thereof without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent.

 

(b)                                 Further Assurances; Pledge of Instruments.  At any time and from time to time, upon the written request of the Collateral Agent, and at the sole expense of such Grantor, such Grantor shall promptly and duly execute and deliver any and all such further instruments and documents and take such further action as the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable to obtain the full benefits of this Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted, including (i) using commercially reasonable efforts to secure all consents and approvals necessary or appropriate for the grant of a security interest to the Collateral Agent in any Contract held by such Grantor or in which such Grantor has any right or interest not heretofore assigned, (ii) executing, delivering and causing to be filed any financing or continuation statements under the UCC with respect to the security interests granted hereby, (iii) filing or cooperating with the Collateral Agent in filing any forms or other documents required to be recorded with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office, or any actions, filings, recordings or registrations in any foreign jurisdiction or under any intentional treaty, required to secured or protect the Collateral Agent’s security interest in such Grantor’s Collateral, (iv) transferring such Grantor’s Collateral to the Collateral Agent’s possession (if a security interest in such Collateral can be perfected by possession), (v) executing and delivering and causing the applicable depository institution, securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or issuer or nominated party under a letter of credit to execute and deliver a collateral control agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent with respect to each Deposit Account, Securities Account, Commodity Account or Letter-of-Credit Right in or to which such Grantor has any right or interest in order to perfect the security interest created hereunder in favor of the Collateral Agent (including giving the Collateral Agent “control” over such Collateral within the meaning of the applicable provisions of Article 8 and Article 9 of the UCC), but excluding the Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts identified on Schedule II-B, which are used exclusively for employee payroll or

 

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employee trust accounts, (vi) executing and delivering or causing to be delivered written notice to insurers of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in, or claim in or under, any policy of insurance (including unearned premiums), (vii) using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain acknowledgments from bailees having possession of any Collateral and waivers of liens from landlords and mortgagees of any location where any of the Collateral in an aggregate amount in excess of $500,000 may from time to time be stored or located, and (viii) placing the interest of the Collateral Agent as lienholder (or other similar designation) on the Certificate of Title of any motor vehicle or other Equipment constituting Collateral owned by such Grantor which is covered by a Certificate of Title and delivering the original thereof to the Collateral Agent or its designated agent to the extent that the value of such motor vehicle or other Equipment exceeds $500,000.  Such Grantor also hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party to file any such financing or continuation statement, and any amendments thereto, all without the signature of such Grantor.  A carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any financing statement covering the Collateral or any part thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by law, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral Agent is expressly authorized to use a collateral description that encompasses “all assets” or “all personal property” or words of similar import in any such financing statement.  If any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral in respect of the Eagle Ford Assets is or shall become evidenced by any Instrument, such Instrument, other than checks and notes received in the ordinary course of business and any Instrument in the outstanding or stated amount of less than $100,000, shall be duly endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and delivered to the Collateral Agent promptly and in any event within five (5) Business Days of such Grantor’s receipt thereof.  If at any time any Grantor shall hold any Investment Property comprised of certificated or uncertificated securities, such Grantor shall promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days of such Grantor’s acquisition or receipt thereof, pledge such Investment Property to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the terms of a pledge agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

 

(c)                                  Maintenance of Records.  Such Grantor shall keep and maintain, at its own cost and expense, satisfactory and complete records of its Collateral, including a record of all payments received and all credits granted with respect to such Collateral and all other dealings with such Collateral.  At the Collateral Agent’s reasonable request, such Grantor shall mark its books and records pertaining to its Collateral with a legend, approved by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion, to identify and evidence this Agreement and the security interests granted hereby.

 

(d)                                 Indemnification. In any suit, proceeding or action brought by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party relating to any of such Grantor’s Accounts, Chattel Papers, Deposit Accounts, General Intangibles (including any Contracts), Instruments, Letter-of-Credit Rights or Investment Properties for any sum owing thereunder, or to enforce any provision of any of such Grantor’s Accounts, Chattel Paper, Deposit Accounts, General Intangibles (including any Contracts), Instruments, Letter-of-Credit Rights or Investment Properties, such Grantor shall save, indemnify and keep the Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party harmless from and against any and all liabilities, expenses, losses or damages suffered by reason of any defense, setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or reduction of liability whatsoever of the obligor thereunder arising out of a breach by such Grantor of any obligation

 

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thereunder or arising out of any other agreement, indebtedness or liability at any time owing to, or in favor of, such obligor or its successors from such Grantor, and all such obligations of such Grantor shall be and remain enforceable against and only against such Grantor and shall not be enforceable against the Collateral Agent or such other Secured Party.  Each Grantor hereby further shall save, indemnify and keep the Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party harmless from, any and all liabilities, expenses, losses or damages which any such Person may or might incur by reason of any and all claims and demands whatsoever which may be asserted against any such Person arising out of, as a result of, or otherwise connected with, the security interest created hereby granted to the Collateral Agent by such Grantor under or in respect of any of the Collateral by reason of (a) the failure by such Grantor to perform any obligations or undertakings required to be performed by such Grantor under or in connection with the Collateral (including the failure of any warranty or representation (express or implied) in respect of the sale of any Inventory), (b) any failure by such Grantor, in connection with any of the Collateral, to comply with any applicable Requirement of Law, or (c) any bodily injury, death or property damage occurring in connection with the use, sale or other disposition of the Collateral; provided that such Grantor shall not be liable to any Person pursuant to this Section 5(d) solely to the extent any such liability, expense, loss or damage arises from such Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

(e)                                  Limitation on Liens on Collateral.  Such Grantor shall not create, permit or suffer to exist, and shall defend its Collateral against and take such other action as is necessary to remove, any Lien on such Collateral, except for Liens expressly permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement.  Such Grantor shall further defend the right, title and interest of the Collateral Agent in and to any of such Grantor’s rights under the Collateral and in and to the Proceeds thereof against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever.

 

(f)                                   Limitations on Modifications of Accounts, Etc.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default, such Grantor shall not, without the Collateral Agent’s prior written consent, grant any extension of the time of payment of any Account, Chattel Paper or Instrument or amounts due under any Contract, Deposit Account, Letter-of-Credit Right or Investment Property, compromise, compound or settle the same for less than the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any Person liable for the payment thereof, or allow any credit or discount whatsoever thereon other than trade discounts granted in the ordinary course of business of such Grantor.

 

(g)                                 Maintenance of Insurance.  Such Grantor shall maintain, with financially sound and reputable companies, the insurance policies with limits and coverage provisions as required the Securities Purchase Agreement (including paragraph 6G thereof).  In addition, such Grantor shall maintain, with financially sound and reputable companies, insurance policies insuring (i) its Equipment, Fixtures and Inventory that are usually insured by companies in the same or similar businesses against loss by fire, explosion, theft and such other casualties as are usually insured against by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses, and satisfactory to the Required Noteholders, and (ii) against liability for personal injury and property damage relating to such Equipment, Fixtures and Inventory, and satisfactory to the Required Noteholders.  If any Grantor maintains any property insurance, the Grantor shall (i) at its expense, obtain a loss payable endorsement (form BFU-438 or equivalent) to each policy of property insurance in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and each

 

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policy of liability insurance shall name the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties as an additional insured, and (ii) if so requested by the Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent a report of a reputable insurance broker satisfactory to the Collateral Agent with respect to the insurance on its Equipment, Fixtures and Inventory, provided such request shall not be made more than one time per year.  All policies of insurance maintained by any Grantor shall contain a clause which provides that the Collateral Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ interests under the policy shall not be invalidated by any act or omission to act of, or any breach of warranty by, the insured, or by any change in the title, ownership or possession of the insured property, or by the use of the property for purposes more hazardous than is permitted in the policy.  All policies of insurance required to be maintained pursuant to this Section 5(g) shall provide that no cancellation, termination or lapse shall be effective until at least 30 days after receipt by the Collateral Agent of written notice thereof (or 10 days in the case of any cancellation, termination or lapse resulting from any failure by such Grantor to pay any amounts due under any such policy of insurance).

 

(h)                                 Taxes, Assessments, Etc. Such Grantor shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay (i) all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or in respect of any of its franchises, business, income or profits before any penalty or interest accrues thereon, and (ii) all claims (including, without limitation, claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums that have become due and payable; provided, that no such charge or claim need be paid if subject to a Good Faith Contest.

 

(i)                                    Limitations on Disposition.  Such Grantor shall not sell, lease, license, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of such Collateral, or attempt or contract to do so, except as permitted by the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(j)                                    Further Identification of Collateral.  Such Grantor shall, if so requested by the Collateral Agent, furnish to the Collateral Agent, as often as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request, statements and schedules further identifying and describing its Collateral and such other reports in connection with such Collateral as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.

 

(k)                                 Notices.  Such Grantor shall advise the Collateral Agent promptly upon, and in any event within five (5) Business Days of, obtaining knowledge thereof, in reasonable detail, of (a) any material Lien, other than Liens expressly permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement, attaching to or asserted against any of its Collateral, (b) the occurrence of any other event which could have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Collateral or on the security interest created hereunder, and (c) the acquisition of any Commercial Tort Claim having a value (as reasonably estimated by such Grantor) in excess of $500,000 and grant to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, of a security interest therein and in the Proceeds thereof.

 

(l)                                    Right of Inspection and Audit.  Such Grantor shall permit the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties such rights of visitation, inspection and audit of the Collateral as provided in the Securities Purchase Agreement (including as set forth in paragraph 6F thereof) or any other Transaction Document.

 

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(m)                             Maintenance of Properties.  Such Grantor shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their respective properties, assets and facilities, including its Equipment and Fixtures in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear and tear), so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, and (ii) maintain and preserve all material rights, privileges and franchises that such Grantor or its Subsidiaries now have, in each case, except to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(n)                                 Covenants Regarding Intellectual Property.

 

(i)                                    Such Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent promptly if (A) it knows or has reason to know that any application or registration relating to any Patent or Trademark of such Grantor which is material to the conduct of such Grantor’s business may become abandoned, (B) if a terminal disclaimer is filed with respect to any Patent in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or (C) of any other adverse determination or development (including the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office, or any court) regarding such Grantor’s ownership or license of any Copyright, Patent or Trademark which is material to the conduct of such Grantor’s business, its right to register the same, or to keep and maintain the same.

 

(ii)                                Such Grantor shall take all commercially reasonable steps necessary to prevent any misuse, infringement, invalidation, misappropriation, unauthorized use or abandonment of its Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks or other Intellectual Property, whether owned or licensed.  Such Grantor’s efforts pursuant to this Section 5(n) shall include, but not be limited to: (A) establishing prudent security measures and procedures governing access to, and use of, property protected by such Copyrights, Trademarks or Patents or of such Intellectual Property owned or licensed by such Grantor or developed by any Person on behalf of such Grantor; (B) establishing and maintaining in force any agreements with employees and consultants or any written terms of employment, as are customarily used in such Grantor’s industry for the protection of such Intellectual Property; and (C) vigorous enforcement of such Grantor’s rights in any such Intellectual Property.

 

(iii)                            In no event shall such Grantor, either itself or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, file an application for the registration of any Patent or Trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, any Copyright with the United States Copyright Office, or any similar office or agency in any other country or any political subdivision thereof unless it promptly informs the Collateral Agent and, upon request of the Collateral Agent, executes and delivers any and all agreements, instruments, documents, and papers as the Collateral Agent may request to evidence the Collateral Agent’s security interest in such Copyright, Patent or Trademark, including, with respect to Trademarks, the goodwill of such Grantor, relating thereto or represented thereby.

 

(iv)                             Such Grantor shall take all necessary action to maintain and pursue each application (and to obtain the relevant registration) and to maintain the registration of each of the Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks of such Grantor which is material to the conduct of

 

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such Grantor’s business, including the filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of noncontestability and opposition and interference and cancellation proceedings.

 

(v)                                 In the event that any Copyright, Patent or Trademark of such Grantor is infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent promptly after such Grantor learns thereof and shall, unless such Grantor shall reasonably determine that such Copyright, Patent or Trademark is not material to the conduct of such Grantor’s business, promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution and take such other actions as such Grantor shall reasonably deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Copyright, Patent or Trademark.

 

(vi)                             Such Grantor covenants and agrees that in the event any Patent is or becomes subject to a terminal disclaimer, the security interest granted in this Agreement shall extend to the Patent necessitating the disclaimer and such Patent shall not be sold, transferred or otherwise alienated without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent.

 

(o)                                 Covenants Regarding Federal Government Contracts.  If any Account or Chattel Paper of any Grantor arises out of a contract or contracts with the United States of America or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, such Grantor shall (i) promptly notify the Collateral Agent thereof in writing, and execute and deliver in connection therewith (A) a collateral assignment of claims in favor of the Collateral Agent, and (B) a notice of collateral assignment of claims directed to the appropriate federal government agencies and agents thereof as required under applicable law, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, (ii) promptly take any other steps reasonably required by the Collateral Agent in order to ensure that all moneys due or to become due under such contract or contracts shall be collaterally assigned to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and notice thereof given under the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. 3727; 41 U.S.C. 15), or other applicable law, and (iii) promptly update Schedule IV hereto and deliver a copy of such revised schedule to the Collateral Agent, together with copies of all related contracts evidencing such Accounts and/or Chattel Paper.

 

SECTION 6.                         The Collateral Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact.

 

(a)                                 Subject to Section 6(b), below, each Grantor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent and any officer, co-agent or sub-agent thereof with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or in its own name, from time to time at the Collateral Agent’s discretion, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, hereby gives the Collateral Agent the power and right, on behalf of such Grantor, without notice to or assent by such Grantor to do the following:

 

(i)                                    to ask, demand, collect, receive and give acquittances and receipts for any and all monies due or to become due under any of such Grantor’s Collateral and, in the

 

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name of such Grantor in its own name or otherwise to take possession of, endorse and collect any checks, drafts, notes, acceptances or other Instruments for the payment of monies due under any such Collateral and to file any claim or to take or commence any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent for the purpose of collecting any and all such monies due under any such Collateral whenever payable;

 

(ii)                                to pay or discharge any Liens, including any tax lien, levied or placed on or threatened against such Collateral, to effect any repairs or any insurance called for by the terms of this Agreement and to pay all or any part of the premiums therefor and the costs thereof, which actions shall be on behalf and for the benefit of the other Secured Parties and the Collateral Agent and not such Grantor; and

 

(iii)                            to (A) direct any Person liable for any payment under or in respect of any of such Collateral to make payment of any and all monies due or to become due thereunder directly to the Collateral Agent or as the Collateral Agent shall direct, (B) receive payment of any and all monies, claims and other amounts due or to become due at any time arising out of or in respect of any such Collateral, (C) sign and endorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications and notices in connection with Accounts and other Instruments and Documents constituting or relating to such Collateral, (D) commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect such Collateral or any part thereof and to enforce any other right in respect of any such Collateral, (E) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against such Grantor with respect to any such Collateral, (F) settle, compromise or adjust any suit, action or proceeding described above and, in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as the Collateral Agent may deem appropriate, (G) license or, to the extent permitted by an applicable license, sublicense, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis, any Patent, Copyright, Trademark or other Intellectual Property throughout the world for such term or terms, on such conditions and in such manner as the Collateral Agent shall in its sole discretion determine, and (H) sell, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of such Collateral as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and to do, at the Collateral Agent’s option and such Grantor’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things which the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon such Collateral and the Collateral Agent’s security interest therein in order to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as such Grantor might do.

 

(b)                                 The Collateral Agent agrees that, except upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, it shall not exercise the power of attorney or any rights granted to the Collateral Agent, on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to this Section 6.  Each Grantor hereby ratifies, to the extent permitted by law, all that said attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  The power of attorney granted pursuant to this Section 6 is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until the Secured Obligations are finally and completely paid and performed in full under the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement; provided that the foregoing power of attorney shall terminate upon the full, complete and final payment and performance of the Secured Obligations under the Transaction Documents.

 

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(c)                                  The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect the Collateral Agent’s and each other Secured Party’s interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Collateral Agent to exercise any such powers.  The Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral, including any responsibility for (i) taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral, or (ii) ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any Investment Property, whether or not the Collateral Agent has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters.  Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any of the Collateral if it takes such action for that purpose as the applicable Grantor reasonably requests in writing at times other than upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default.  Failure of the Collateral Agent to comply with any such request at any time shall not in itself be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care.  The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers and neither it nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act.

 

(d)                                 Each Grantor also authorizes the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, at any time and from time to time upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default, to (i) communicate in its own name with any party to any Contract of such Grantor with regard to the assignment of the right, title and interest of such Grantor in and under the Contracts hereunder and other matters relating thereto, and (ii) execute, in connection with the sale of such Grantor’s Collateral provided for in Section 6, any endorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to such Collateral.

 

(e)                                  If any Grantor fails to perform or comply with any of its agreements contained herein and the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, as provided for by the terms of this Agreement, shall perform or comply, or otherwise cause performance or compliance, with such agreement, the reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, of the Collateral Agent or such other Secured Party, shall be payable by such Grantor to the Collateral Agent within (3) three days of written demand and shall constitute Secured Obligations secured hereby.

 

SECTION 7.                         Rights and Remedies Upon Default.  It shall be an “Event of Default” hereunder if any Event of Default (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) shall occur.  If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent shall have the following rights and remedies as set forth in this Section 7:

 

(a)                                 If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may exercise in addition to all other rights and remedies granted to it under this Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Guaranty, the other Transaction Documents and under any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or relating to the Secured Obligations, all rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC and other applicable law.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor expressly agrees that in any such event the Collateral Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, advertisement or notice of

 

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any kind (except the notice specified below of time and place of public or private sale) to or upon such Grantor or any other Person (all and each of which demands, advertisements and notices are hereby expressly waived to the maximum extent permitted by the UCC and other applicable law), may (i) reclaim, take possession, recover, store, maintain, finish, repair, prepare for sale or lease, shop, advertise for sale or lease and sell or lease (in the manner provided herein) the Collateral, and in connection with the liquidation of the Collateral and collection of the accounts receivable pledged as Collateral, use any Trademark, Copyright, or process used or owned by such Grantor, and (ii) forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, and may forthwith sell, lease, assign, give an option or options to purchase or sell or otherwise dispose of and deliver said Collateral (or contract to do so), or any part thereof, in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange or broker’s board or at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk.  To the extent any Grantor has the right to do so, such Grantor authorizes the Collateral Agent, on the terms set forth in this Section 7, to enter the premises where the Collateral is located, to take possession of the Collateral, or any part of it, and to pay, purchase, contact, or compromise any encumbrance, charge, or lien which, in the opinion of the Collateral Agent, appears to be prior or superior to its security interest.  The Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of said Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption, which equity of redemption each Grantor hereby releases.  Each Grantor further agrees, at the Collateral Agent’s request, to assemble its Collateral and make it available to the Collateral Agent at places which the Collateral Agent shall reasonably select, whether at such Grantor’s premises or elsewhere.  The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall apply the net proceeds of any such collection, recovery, receipt, appropriation, realization or sale as provided in Section 7(h) below, with each Grantor remaining jointly and severally liable for any deficiency remaining unpaid after such application, and only after so paying over such net proceeds and after the payment by the Collateral Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, need the Collateral Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any Grantor.  To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages, and demands against the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of the Collateral.  Each Grantor agrees that the Collateral Agent need not give more than ten (10) days’ notice (which notification shall be deemed given if sent in care of the Company in accordance with paragraph 13H of the Securities Purchase Agreement) of the time and place of any public sale or of the time after which a private sale may take place and that such notice is reasonable notification of such matters.  Each Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or disposition of its Collateral are insufficient to pay all amounts to which the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties are entitled from such Grantor, such Grantor also being liable for the attorneys’ fees and expenses of any attorneys employed by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to collect such deficiency.

 

(b)                                 As to any Collateral constituting certificated securities or uncertificated securities, if, at any time when the Collateral Agent shall determine to exercise its right to sell the whole or any part of such Collateral hereunder, such Collateral or the part thereof to be sold shall not, for any reason whatsoever, be effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (as so amended the “Act”), the Collateral Agent may, in its discretion (subject only to applicable Requirements of Law), sell such Collateral or part thereof by private sale in such

 

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manner and under such circumstances as the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or advisable, but subject to the other requirements of this Section 7(b), and shall not be required to effect such registration or cause the same to be effected.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in any such event the Collateral Agent may, in its sole discretion: (i) in accordance with applicable securities laws, proceed to make such private sale notwithstanding that a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Collateral or part thereof could be or shall have been filed under the Act; (ii) approach and negotiate with a single possible purchaser to effect such sale; and (iii) restrict such sale to a purchaser who will represent and agree that such purchaser is purchasing for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or sale of such Collateral or part thereof.  In addition to a private sale as provided above in this Section 7(b), if any of such Collateral shall not be freely distributable to the public without registration under the Act at the time of any proposed sale hereunder, then the Collateral Agent shall not be required to effect such registration or cause the same to be effected but may, in its sole discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), require that any sale hereunder (including a sale at auction) be conducted subject to such restrictions as the Collateral Agent may, in its sole discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in order that such sale (notwithstanding any failure so to register) may be effected in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and the Act and all applicable state securities laws.

 

(c)                                  Each Grantor agrees that in any sale of any of such Collateral, whether at a foreclosure sale or otherwise, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to comply with any limitation or restriction in connection with such sale as it may be advised by counsel is necessary in order to avoid any violation of applicable law (including compliance with such procedures as may restrict the number of prospective bidders and purchasers, require that such prospective bidders and purchasers have certain qualifications and restrict such prospective bidders and purchasers to Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale of such Collateral), or in order to obtain any required approval of the sale or of the purchaser by any governmental authority, and each Grantor further agrees that such compliance shall not result in such sale being considered or deemed not to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner, nor shall the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party be liable nor accountable to such Grantor for any discount allowed by reason of the fact that such Collateral is sold in compliance with any such limitation or restriction.

 

(d)                                 Each Grantor also agrees to pay all fees, costs, and reasonable expenses of the Collateral Agent or any of the other Secured Parties, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred in connection with the enforcement of any of its rights and remedies hereunder.

 

(e)                                  Upon the Collateral Agent’s request, each Grantor agrees that it will promptly execute assignments of its entire right, title and interest in and to each its Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, and Licenses.  Such assignments shall be in form and content which is recordable in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or Copyright Office, or any similar office or agency in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, as applicable, and otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent.

 

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(f)                                   Except as otherwise expressly permitted herein, each Grantor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with this Agreement or any Collateral.

 

(g)                                 Each Grantor agrees that a breach of any covenants contained in this Section 7 will cause irreparable injury to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, that in such event the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties would have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, agrees that in such event each and every covenant contained in this Section 7 shall be specifically enforceable against such Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except for a defense that the Secured Obligations are not then due and payable.

 

(h)                                 The Proceeds of any sale, disposition or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be distributed by the Collateral Agent in the following order of priorities:

 

First, to the Collateral Agent in an amount sufficient to pay in full the reasonable costs of the Collateral Agent in connection with such sale, disposition or other realization, including all fees, costs, expenses, liabilities and advances incurred or made by the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties in connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses;

 

Second, to the Secured Parties in an amount sufficient to pay in full the reasonable costs of the Secured Parties in connection with such sale, disposition or other realization, including all fees, costs, expenses, liabilities and advances incurred or made by the Secured Parties in connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses;

 

Third, to the Secured Parties in an amount equal to the then unpaid principal of and accrued interest, all Premiums and all other fees and charges payable on the Secured Obligations;

 

Fourth, to the Secured Parties in an amount equal to any other Secured Obligations under any of the Transaction Documents which are then unpaid; and

 

Finally, upon payment in full in cash of all of the Secured Obligations under the terms of the Transaction Documents, to the Grantors or their representatives according to their interests or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

SECTION 8.                         Grant of License to Intellectual Property.  For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise its rights and remedies under Section 7, at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent an irrevocable, non-exclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to such Grantor) to use, license or sublicense any Copyright, Patent or Trademark, and to exercise any rights held by such Grantor under any License, now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now holds or hereafter acquires any interest, and wherever the same may be located, and including in such

 

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license reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer and automatic machinery software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof, subject to any applicable restrictions or limitations contained in such License.

 

SECTION 9.                         Limitation on the Collateral Agent’s Duty in Respect of Collateral.  The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have acted reasonably in the custody, preservation and disposition of any of the Collateral if it takes such action as the applicable Grantor requests in writing, but failure of the Collateral Agent to comply with any such request shall not in itself be deemed a failure to act reasonably, and no failure of the Collateral Agent to do any act not so requested shall be deemed a failure to act reasonably.

 

SECTION 10.                  Reinstatement.  This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective against each Grantor should any petition be filed by or against such Grantor for liquidation or reorganization, should such Grantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of such Grantor’s property and assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made.  In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

SECTION 11.                  Miscellaneous.

 

(a)                                 Notices.  Any notice or other communication hereunder shall be addressed and delivered (i) to any Grantor by delivering such notice care of the Company in accordance with paragraph 13H of the Securities Purchase Agreement, and (ii) to the Collateral Agent at the address and telefacsimile number set forth under the Collateral Agent’s signature block of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

(c)                                  Headings. The various headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this agreement or any provisions hereof.

 

(d)                                 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

 

(i)                                    The Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party shall not by any act, delay, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any of its respective rights or remedies hereunder, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy hereunder on

 

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any one occasion preclude the further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy.

 

(ii)                                The rights and remedies hereunder provided are cumulative and may be exercised singly or concurrently, and are not exclusive of any rights and remedies provided by law.

 

(iii)                            None of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be waived, altered, modified or amended except by an instrument in writing, duly executed by each of the Grantors and the Collateral Agent.

 

(e)                                  Time is of the Essence.  Time is of the essence for the performance of each of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

(f)                                   Termination of this Agreement.  Subject to Section 10, this Agreement shall terminate upon the full, complete and final payment and performance of the Secured Obligations under the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(g)                                 Release of Collateral.  Upon any sale or other disposition of title in or to any assets of any Grantor constituting Collateral permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Collateral Agent, at the reasonable request and at the expense of the applicable Grantor, will execute and deliver to such Grantor such instruments (including UCC partial release statements) acknowledging the release of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in such Collateral so sold or otherwise disposed of, provided that such security interest shall continue to attach to and be perfected in the Proceeds of such Collateral, and will record such instruments with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office as may be necessary to evidence the release of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in such Collateral.

 

(h)                                 Successor and Assigns.  This Agreement and all obligations of each of the Grantors hereunder shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each such Grantor, and shall, together with the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder, inure to the benefit of such Collateral Agent and other Secured Parties, any future holder of any Note and their respective successors and assigns.  No sales of participations, other sales, assignments, transfers or other dispositions of any agreement governing or instrument evidencing the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner affect the security interest created herein and granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder.

 

(i)                                    Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, EXCLUDING CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF SUCH STATE THAT WOULD PERMIT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN SUCH STATE., EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE VALIDITY OR PERFECTION OF THE SECURITY INTERESTS OR REMEDIES HEREUNDER IN RESPECT OF ANY PARTICULAR

 

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COLLATERAL IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(j)                                    Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH GRANTOR AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT, DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH OR THE ACTIONS OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT OR THE OTHER SECURED PARTIES IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF.

 

(k)                                 Jurisdiction; Venue.  Each Grantor irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York state or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the agreements, documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(l)                                    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument.  Each such agreement shall become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof or thereof by each of the parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier or pdf shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

(m)                             Additional Grantors.  From time to time subsequent to the date hereof, additional Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates of the Company may become parties hereto, as additional Grantors (each, an “Additional Grantor”), by executing a Joinder Agreement.  Upon the delivery of the Joinder Agreement to the Collateral Agent, such Additional Grantor shall be a Grantor and shall be as fully a party hereto as if such Additional Grantor were an original signatory hereof.

 

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized signatory on the date first set forth above.

 

 

	
 
    	
GRANTORS:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ZAZA   ENERGY CORPORATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Todd Alan Brooks
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Todd   Alan Brooks
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ZAZA   HOLDINGS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   John E. Hearn, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
John   E. Hearn, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ZAZA   ENERGY, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Todd Alan Brooks
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Todd   Alan Brooks
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Manager
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
TOREADOR   RESOURCES CORPORATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Craig M. McKenzie
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Craig   M. McKenzie
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
President   and Chief Executive Officer
    

 

 

Accepted and acknowledged by:

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Agent

 

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Mauri J. Cowen
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Mauri J. Cowen
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address for Notices:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 1150
    	
 
    
	
Houston, TX    77056
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Mauri Cowen
    	
 
    
	
Facsimile:
    	
713-235-9213Exhibit 10.3

 

Execution Version

 

PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

This PLEDGE AGREEMENT (together with all exhibits and schedules hereto, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), dated as of March 22, 2012, is made by ZaZa Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ZaZa Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings” and together with the Company and any other entity subsequently added as a Pledgor hereunder in accordance with Section 7.12 hereof, each, a “Pledgor” and collectively, the “Pledgors”), in favor of U.S. Bank National Association, in it capacity as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                    The Company has entered into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2012 (as the same from time to time hereafter may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company and the Purchasers (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) named therein, pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, the Company issued and sold to such Purchasers, and such Purchasers purchased from the Company, the Notes.  Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

B.                                    The Guarantors have executed and delivered that certain Guaranty Agreement, dated as of February 21, 2012 (as the same from time to time hereafter may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Guaranty”), pursuant to which the Guarantors have jointly and severally guaranteed the full, complete and final payment and performance of the “Guaranteed Obligations” (as such term is defined in the Guaranty).

 

C.                                    The Pledgors are the record and beneficial owners of the equity interests shown on Exhibit A attached hereto (the “Pledged Equity”), which Exhibit is incorporated herein by this reference and may be amended or supplemented pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

D.                                    The Purchasers under the Securities Purchase Agreement are willing to purchase the Notes, but only upon the condition, among others, that the Pledgors shall have executed this Agreement, and delivered this Agreement and the certificates representing the Pledged Equity to the Collateral Agent, on behalf and for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, each Pledgor hereby represents, warrants, covenants and agrees as follows:

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1       Definitions.  The following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

 

“Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Charter Documents” shall mean, collectively, the certificate or articles of incorporation, limited partnership, organization or formation (including any certificates of designation), the bylaws, the operating agreement, the partnership agreement and/or any other similar constituent documents, as applicable, of the Pledged Entities.

 

“Collateral Agent” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Company” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Equity Interests” has the meaning specified in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 6.1, below.

 

“Guaranty” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Holdings” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Indemnified Persons” has the meaning specified in Section 6.5, below.

 

“Joinder Agreement” means a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.

 

“Securities Purchase Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Pledged Collateral” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1, below.

 

“Pledged Entities” means (a) each of Holdings, ZaZa Energy, LLC and Toreador Resources Corporation, and (b) any other entity from time to time identified as a “Pledged Entity” on Exhibit A hereto.

 

“Pledged Equity” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Pledgors” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Secured Obligations” means (a) as to the Company, all obligations of the Company for the payment of the principal amount of the Notes, accrued interest thereon (including, without limitation, interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), all Premiums and all other fees and amounts

 

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due to the holders of Notes pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, (b) as to Holdings, ZaZa Energy, LLC, Toreador Resources Corporation, and any other Guarantor, such Person’s “Guaranteed Obligations” as such term is defined in the Guaranty, and (c) any and all other debts, liabilities and reimbursement obligations, indemnity obligations and other obligations for monetary amounts, fees, expenses, costs or other sums (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs) chargeable to the Company or any other Credit Party under or pursuant to any of the Transaction Documents.

 

“Secured Parties” means the Collateral Agent and the holders from time to time of the Notes.

 

“UCC”  means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may, from time to time, be in effect in the State of New York; provided, however, in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection or priority of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in any collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment, perfection of priority and for purposes of definitions related to such provisions.

 

1.2       UCC Definitions.  Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms for which meanings are provided in the UCC are used in this Agreement, including its preamble and recitals, with such meanings.

 

ARTICLE II

 

PLEDGE

 

2.1       Grant Of Security Interest.  As security for the full, prompt and complete payment when due (whether at stated maturity, by demand, acceleration or otherwise) of the Secured Obligations, each Pledgor hereby pledges, hypothecates, assigns, charges, mortgages, delivers, and transfers as collateral security to the Collateral Agent, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in all of the following, whether now or hereafter existing or acquired (collectively, the “Pledged Collateral”):

 

(a)                                 all of such Pledgor’s present and future rights, authority and powers as a shareholder or member of each applicable Pledged Entity (whether arising under the Charter Documents of such Pledged Entity, at law or otherwise);

 

(b)                                 all right, title and interest of such Pledgor, whether now existing or hereafter arising or acquired, in, to and under the Charter Documents and the Pledged Equity and the certificates representing the Pledged Equity (if any), and all dividends, cash, instruments, and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable, or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such Pledged Equity, including, without limitation:

 

(i)                                    all voting trust certificates held by such Pledgor evidencing its beneficial interest in any Pledged Equity subject to any voting trust;

 

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(ii)                                all additional partnership interests, shares of capital stock, membership interests or other equity interests, as the case may be, of the Pledged Entities and voting trust certificates from time to time acquired by such Pledgor in any manner (which additional interests shall be deemed to be part of the Pledged Equity), and the certificates representing such partnership interests, shares of capital stock, membership interests or other equity interests (if any), and all dividends, cash, instruments, and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable, or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such membership interests, shares of capital stock or other equity interests; and

 

(c)                                  the rents, issues, profits, returns, income, allocations, distributions and proceeds of and from any and all of the foregoing.

 

Each of the Pledgors hereby instructs the applicable Pledged Entities to register the pledge of the Pledged Collateral under this Section 2.1 pursuant to the UCC.

 

2.2       Additional Pledged Equity.  (a) In case any Pledgor shall acquire any additional Equity Interests of any Pledged Entity or any other direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Pledgors or any Person which is the successor of any Pledged Entity or Subsidiary, or any securities exchangeable for or convertible into Equity Interests of any class of any Pledged Entity or Subsidiary, by purchase, stock dividend, stock split or otherwise; provided that, to the extent any Pledgor owns or becomes the owner of Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, such Pledgor shall only be required to pledge Equity Interests representing 65% of all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of such Foreign Subsidiary (subject to clause (b) below), and (b) at such time as the Company obtains the necessary consent or approval from the applicable Governmental Authority to pledge more than 49% of the Equity Interests of Toreador Resources Corporation owned by the Company, as required by paragraph 6K of the Securities Purchase Agreement, then, in each case, such shares or other securities shall be subject to the pledge, assignment and security interest granted to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, under this Agreement and such Pledgor shall, within ten (10) Business Day of receiving such Equity Interests, deliver to the Collateral Agent forthwith any certificates therefor, accompanied by stock powers or other appropriate instruments of assignment duly executed in blank by such Pledgor.  Each Pledgor agrees to amend Exhibit A from time to time within ten (10) Business Days of receiving any such additional Equity Interests and shall cause the Pledged Entity whose shares are being pledged to execute an acknowledgement in form and substance substantially similar to the “Acknowledgement” attached hereto to the extent such Pledged Entity has not previously executed an acknowledgment.

 

2.3       Continuing Security Interest.  This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Pledged Collateral and shall:

 

(a)                                 remain in full force and effect until the full and complete and final payment of all of the Secured Obligations in cash under the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement;

 

(b)                                 be binding upon each Pledgor and its successors, transferees and assigns; and

 

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(c)                                  inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder, to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties.

 

2.4       Termination of Security Interest.  Upon the complete, full and final payment of the Secured Obligations in cash under the Securities Purchase Agreement, the security interest in the Pledged Collateral granted in Section 2.1 shall revert to the applicable Pledgors.  Upon any such termination, the Collateral Agent shall, at the Pledgors’ sole expense, promptly deliver to the applicable Pledgors, without any representations, warranties or recourse of any kind whatsoever, any and all certificates or other instruments representing or evidencing the Pledged Equity previously delivered to the Collateral Agent, together with all other Pledged Collateral held by the Collateral Agent hereunder, and execute and deliver to the applicable Pledgors, at the Pledgors’ sole expense, such documents and take such other actions as any Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination.

 

2.5       No Assumption.  This Agreement is executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of itself and the other Secured Parties, for collateral security purposes only.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:

 

(a)                                 each Pledgor shall remain liable under the contracts and agreements included in the Pledged Collateral to the extent set forth therein, and shall perform all of its duties and obligations under such contracts and agreements to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed;

 

(b)                                 the exercise by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of any of its rights hereunder shall not release any Pledgor from any of its duties or obligations under any such contracts or agreements included in the Pledged Collateral; and

 

(c)                                  the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall not have any obligation or liability under any such contracts or agreements included in the Pledged Collateral by reason of this Agreement, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of any Pledgor thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned hereunder, and the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall not hereunder or otherwise (i) assume any obligation or liability under or in connection with the Charter Documents or the certificates representing the Pledged Equity to any Person, and any such assumption is hereby expressly disclaimed, or (ii) have or be deemed to have the duties, responsibilities or powers of the management of any of the Pledged Entities.

 

2.6       Delivery of Certificates and Instruments.  Each Pledgor shall deliver at Closing, and thereafter agrees to deliver to the Collateral Agent, immediately upon receipt thereof, any and all certificates and instruments evidencing or representing any of the Pledged Equity, in each case properly endorsed in blank and in suitable form for transfer by delivery and accompanied by instruments of transfer endorsed in blank, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.  The Collateral Agent will hold such certificates and instruments until the full and complete and final payment of all of the Secured Obligations in cash under the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement.  At any time and from time to time, the Collateral Agent shall

 

5

 

have the right to exchange certificates or instruments evidencing or representing the Pledged Equity for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations.  Without the prior written consent of the Required Noteholders, no Pledgor shall permit (a) Article 8 of the UCC of any applicable jurisdiction to govern the Pledged Equity of any Pledged Entity and (b) the Pledged Equity of any Pledged Entity to be certificated or otherwise evidenced by a “security certificate” (as that term is used in Article 8 of the UCC) unless in each case such Pledgor delivers such security certificate, together with a duly executed transfer power or other instrument of transfer (in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) executed in blank, promptly (but in any event within one Business Day after receipt thereof) to the Collateral Agent or otherwise causes the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein to be perfected by “control” under the UCC.

 

2.7       Amendment and Waiver of Certain Charter Document Provisions.  Each Pledgor irrevocably waives any and all provisions of the Charter Documents of each Pledged Entity, as applicable, or applicable law that (a) prohibit, restrict, condition or otherwise affect the grant hereunder of any Lien on any of the Pledged Equity or any enforcement action which may be taken in respect of any such Lien or the transfer of the Pledged Equity by the Collateral Agent or any of its transferees, (b) would operate to limit or restrict the ability of the Collateral Agent or any of its transferees from becoming a full voting member of any Pledged Entity, as the case may be, or (c) otherwise conflict with the terms of this Agreement.  Each of the Pledgors pledging the equity interests of each Pledged Entity hereby agrees that, notwithstanding anything contained therein to the contrary, the Charter Documents of such Pledged Entity are hereby amended to provide that (w) each member of such Pledged Entity may, in order to secure financing for the Company or its affiliates, encumber, collaterally assign, mortgage or pledge its membership interests and all of its rights under such Pledged Entity’s Charter Documents in favor of the lenders (or an agent on their behalf) providing such financing, (x) each member of such Pledged Entity consents to any Transfer of all or a portion of its or any other member’s membership interests and similar rights in connection with any foreclosure or other exercise of remedies by such lenders (or an agent on their behalf) in respect of such pledged membership interests and rights, (y) in the event of the Transfer of less than all of a member’s membership interests and rights, the transferee shall become an additional member of such Pledged Entity and in the event of the Transfer of all of a member’s membership interests of such Pledged Entity and rights thereunder, the transferee shall succeed to all such member’s rights and interests under the applicable Pledged Entity’s Charter Documents (including, in the case of the Transfer of the managing or sole member’s membership interests, all of such managing or sole member’s rights and interests under the Charter Documents of such Pledged Entity in its capacity as managing member), and (z) upon the Transfer of a member’s membership interests in such Pledged Entity, the transferee shall become a member of such Pledged Entity upon the completion of the Transfer without any further action or consent of any member.  Each Pledgor hereby grants all consents and waivers that may be required under the applicable Pledged Entity’s Charter Documents to which such Pledgor is a party and any applicable law to permit the Collateral Agent to become admitted as a member of any Pledged Entity in which such Pledgor holds membership interests in connection with any Transfer and agrees that no such Transfer nor any such admission will cause the Company to dissolve.  Each Pledgor agrees to execute all such further documents, instruments and agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to further evidence the amendments contemplated above.  Each Pledgor agrees that it shall not (and each Pledgor agrees that it shall not cause or permit any Pledged Entity in which such

 

6

 

Pledgor holds any equity interests to) issue any equity interests to any Person other than the holders of its equity interests on the date hereof unless such Person shall have agreed to be bound by the provisions of this Section 2.7 pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Noteholders and the Collateral Agent.

 

As used herein, “Transfer” means, with respect to any sale, assignment (other than a collateral assignment) or conveyance and any transfer occurring as a result of or in connection with the enforcement or realization by a lender or other secured party of its security interest granted by means of any encumbrance, collateral assignment, mortgage or pledge by a Pledgor of all or any portion of its membership interests of any Pledged Entity, whether occurring voluntarily or by operation of law or the disposition of any membership interests pursuant to a foreclosure or sale in lieu of a foreclosure.

 

ARTICLE III

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

3.1       Representations And Warranties.  Each Pledgor hereby represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent as of the date of each pledge and delivery hereunder by such Pledgor to the Collateral Agent of any Pledged Collateral, that:

 

(a)                                 Organization.  Such Pledgor is duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the state of its organization and has all requisite organizational power to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Due Authorization; Non-Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by such Pledgor of this Agreement and each other Transaction Documents to which such Pledgor is a party have been duly authorized by all requisite action.  Such Transaction Documents do not contravene Pledgor’s organizational documents and do not conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in any violation of, or result in the creation of any Lien (except the Liens granted herein to the Collateral Agent and any Liens permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement) upon any of the properties or assets of Pledgor pursuant to its organizational documents, any award of any arbitrator or any agreement (including any agreement with equityholders of such Pledgor), instrument, order, judgment, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation to which such Pledgor is subject.

 

(c)                                  Binding Obligations.  This Agreement constitutes, and each other Transaction Document executed by such Pledgor will, on the due execution and delivery thereof, constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Pledgor, enforceable against such Pledgor in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

(d)                                 Filing.  No presently effective UCC financing statement or any other Lien covering any of the Pledged Collateral is on file in any public office, except for UCC financing statements in favor of the Collateral Agent.

 

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(e)                                  Ownership; No Liens.  Such Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of, and has good and merchantable title to (and has full right and authority to pledge and assign) all Pledged Collateral pledged by the Pledgor hereunder, free and clear of all Liens, except the Lien granted herein to the Collateral Agent and Liens permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement.  None of the Pledged Collateral has been transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such transfer may be subject.

 

(f)                                   Charter Documents.  The Pledgor has furnished to the Collateral Agent a true and correct copy of the Charter Documents and all amendments thereto, which Charter Documents have not been further amended or modified and remain in full force and effect.

 

(g)                                 Equity Interests.  The class, certificate numbers, number of shares, partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interest, and percentage ownership of each Pledged Equity is set forth on Exhibit A.

 

(h)                                 Certificate.  (i) No Pledged Equity of any Pledged Entity that is a limited liability company are governed by Article 8 of the UCC of any applicable jurisdiction and no Pledged Equity of any Pledged Entity are evidenced by any certificate unless such certificate, together with a duly executed transfer power or other instrument of transfer (each in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) duly executed in blank, has been delivered to the Collateral Agent; (ii) the certificates of the Pledged Equity, to the extent that such interests are represented by certificates, together with duly executed transfer powers or other instruments of transfer (each in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) duly executed in blank by such Pledgor, have been delivered to the Collateral Agent; and (iii) as of the Closing Day, no Pledged Equity of any Pledged Entity held and owned by such Pledgor are represented by certificates, except to the extent identified on Exhibit A hereto;

 

(i)                                    Compliance With Securities Laws.  The offering and sale of all the Pledged Equity has been conducted, in all material respects, in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities laws and regulations and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no offering document furnished to any Person in connection therewith contained any misstatement of a material fact or omitted to state any fact necessary to make such document not materially misleading.

 

(j)                                    Information.  All information with respect to the Pledged Collateral set forth in any schedule, certificate or other writing at any time furnished by such Pledgor to the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, and all other written information at any time furnished by such Pledgor to the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, is and shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date furnished.

 

(k)                                 Records.  The address of the location of the records of such Pledgor concerning the Pledged Collateral and the address of such Pledgor’s principal place of business and chief executive office (or residence, if Pledgor is an individual) is set forth in Schedule I to this Agreement.

 

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(l)                                    Authorization; Approval.  No authorization, approval, or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority, or any other Person is required (other than any consents which have already been obtained) either:

 

(i)                                    for the pledge by such Pledgor of any Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Agreement or for the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by such Pledgor; or

 

(ii)                                for the exercise by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party of (a) the voting or other rights provided for in this Agreement, or (b) the remedies in respect of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Agreement, except, in the case of this clause (ii)(b), as may be required in connection with a disposition of any partnership interests, membership interests, shares of capital stock or other equity interest, as the case may be, by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally, or as may be required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and regulations issued relating thereto.

 

(m)                             First Priority Lien.  The pledge and grant of a security interest in, and delivery of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Pledge Agreement, will create a valid first priority perfected Lien (subject to the Liens permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement) on and in the Pledged Collateral pledged by such Pledgor, and the proceeds thereof, securing the payment of the Secured Obligations, subject to no prior Lien (subject to the Liens permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement), assuming continued possession of the original certificates evidencing the Pledged Equity (if any) constituting Pledged Collateral by the Collateral Agent.  Separately, the Lien on and in the Pledged Collateral will become a valid first priority Lien (subject to the Liens permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement) upon the due filing of a UCC financing statement describing the Pledged Collateral in the applicable filing offices in the state in which such Pledgor is “located” for purposes of the UCC.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

COVENANTS

 

4.1       Protect Pledged Collateral; Further Assurances.  No Pledgor shall sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber the Pledged Collateral in any manner (except for the pledge granted herein to the Collateral Agent), except to the extent permitted by the Securities Purchase Agreement.  Each Pledgor shall warrant and defend the right and title granted by this Agreement to the Collateral Agent in and to the Pledged Collateral (and all right, title and interest represented by the Pledged Collateral) against the claims and demands of all Persons (other than Liens permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement) whomsoever.  Each Pledgor agrees, at any time, and from time to time, at the expense of such Pledgor, to promptly execute and deliver all further instruments, and take all further action that may be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent in order to perfect and protect any security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any of the Pledged Collateral as set forth in Article VI hereof.

 

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4.2       Voting Rights.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Collateral Agent shall have notified the applicable Pledgor of the Collateral Agent’s intention to exercise its voting power under this Section 4.2, such notified Pledgor agrees:

 

(a)                                 that the Collateral Agent may exercise (to the exclusion of such Pledgor) the voting power and all other incidental rights of ownership with respect to the Pledged Collateral pledged by such Pledgor, and such Pledgor hereby grants the Collateral Agent, from the date hereof until the complete, full and final repayment of the Secured Obligations in cash under the Securities Purchase Agreement, an irrevocable proxy, coupled with an interest exercisable under such circumstances, to vote such Pledged Collateral; and

 

(b)                                 promptly to deliver to the Collateral Agent such additional proxies and other documents as may be necessary to allow the Collateral Agent to exercise such voting power.

 

All payments and proceeds which may at any time and from time to time be held by any of the Pledgors, but which such Pledgor is obligated to deliver to the Collateral Agent on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, shall be held by such Pledgor separate and apart from its other property in trust for the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties.  Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Collateral Agent shall have given the notice referred to in this Section 4.2, the Pledgors shall have the exclusive voting power with respect to the Pledged Collateral and the Collateral Agent shall, upon the written request of any Pledgor, promptly deliver such proxies and other documents, if any, as shall be reasonably requested by such Pledgor which are necessary to allow such Pledgor to exercise voting power with respect to the Pledged Collateral; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast, or consent, waiver or ratification given or action taken by any Pledgor that would impair any Pledged Collateral or be inconsistent with or violate any provision of the Securities Purchase Agreement or any Transaction Document without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties.

 

4.3       Filings; Recordings.  Each Pledgor hereby authorizes UCC-1 financing statements and similar documents to be filed by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent (and hereby agrees to promptly pay the cost of filing or recording the same in all public offices deemed necessary by the Collateral Agent), and agrees to promptly do such other acts and things, all as the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request to establish and maintain a valid, perfected pledge of, and security interest in, the Pledged Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent.

 

4.4       Maintenance Of Records.  Subject to the provisions of Section 4.5, each Pledgor shall keep at its address indicated on Schedule I all its records concerning the Pledged Collateral.

 

4.5       Notice Of Change Of Address.  Each Pledgor shall furnish to the Collateral Agent at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of any change in the address of such Pledgor’s principal place of business or chief executive office (as described on Schedule I), the name of such Pledgor, or its state of formation.

 

4.6       Information.  Each Pledgor shall furnish the Collateral Agent such information concerning the Pledged Collateral as the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably

 

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request, and will permit the Collateral Agent and its designees, from time to time during normal business hours, to inspect, audit and make copies of and extracts from all records and all other papers in the possession of such Pledgor which pertain to the Pledged Collateral, and shall upon the request of the Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent copies of all of such records and papers.

 

4.7       Notice Of Dissolution.  Each Pledgor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent in writing upon learning of the occurrence of any event which might reasonably be expected to or would cause termination and/or dissolution of any of the Pledged Entities.

 

ARTICLE V

 

THE COLLATERAL AGENT

 

5.1       The Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact.  Until termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.4, each Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent to be such Pledgor’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Pledgor and in the name of such Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time in the Collateral Agent’s discretion after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to take any action and to execute any instrument which the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation:

 

(a)                                 to ask, demand, collect, sue for, recover, compromise, receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in respect of any of the Pledged Collateral;

 

(b)                                 to receive, endorse, and collect any drafts or other instruments, documents and chattel paper, in connection with clause (a) above; and

 

(c)                                  to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings which the Collateral Agent may deem necessary for the collection of any of the Pledged Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights of the Collateral Agent with respect to any of the Pledged Collateral.

 

Each Pledgor hereby acknowledges, consents and agrees that the power of attorney granted pursuant to this Section 5.1 is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

 

5.2       The Collateral Agent May Perform.  If any Pledgor fails to perform any agreement contained herein, the Collateral Agent may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement for the benefit of the Secured Parties and itself and not for such Pledgor and the expenses of the Collateral Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by the Pledgors pursuant to Section 6.5.

 

5.3       The Collateral Agent Has No Duty.  The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Pledged Collateral and shall not impose any duty on it to exercise any such powers.  The Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Pledged Collateral or responsibility for (a) ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions,

 

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exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any Pledged Collateral, whether or not the Collateral Agent has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or (b) taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any Pledged Collateral.  Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any of the Pledged Collateral if it takes such action for that purpose as any Pledgor reasonably requests in writing at times other than upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default.  Failure of the Collateral Agent to comply with any such request at any time shall not in itself be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

6.1       Events Of Default.  It shall be an “Event of Default” hereunder if any Event of Default (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) shall occur.

 

6.2       Certain Remedies.  If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

 

(a)                                 The Collateral Agent may exercise in respect of the Pledged Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Pledged Collateral) and also may, without notice except as specified below, sell the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable.  Each Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten (10) days’ prior notice to such Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification.  The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of Pledged Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given.  The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.

 

(b)                                 The Collateral Agent may:

 

(i)                                    transfer all or any part of the Pledged Collateral into the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee, with or without disclosing that such Pledged Collateral is subject to the Lien hereunder;

 

(ii)                                notify the parties obligated on any of the Pledged Collateral to make payment to the Collateral Agent of any amount due or to become due thereunder;

 

(iii)                            enforce collection of any of the Pledged Collateral by suit or otherwise, and surrender, release or exchange all or any part thereof, or compromise or extend or renew for any period (whether or not longer than the original period) any obligations of any nature of any party with respect thereto;

 

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(iv)                             endorse any checks, drafts, or other writings in any Pledgor’s name to allow collection of the Pledged Collateral;

 

(v)                                 take control of any proceeds of the Pledged Collateral; or

 

(vi)                             execute (in the name, place and stead of any Pledgor) endorsements, assignments and other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to all or any of the Pledged Collateral.

 

(c)                                  If, at any time when the Collateral Agent shall determine to exercise its right to sell the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral hereunder, such Pledged Collateral or the part thereof to be sold shall not, for any reason whatsoever, be effectively registered under the Securities Act, the Collateral Agent may, in its discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), sell such Pledged Collateral or part thereof by private sale in such manner and under such circumstances as the Collateral Agent may deem necessary, but subject to the other requirements of this Section 6.2(c), and shall not be required to effect such registration or cause the same to be effected.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in any such event the Collateral Agent may, in its sole discretion: (i) in accordance with applicable securities laws, proceed to make such private sale notwithstanding that a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged Collateral or part thereof could be or shall have been filed under the Securities Act; (ii) approach and negotiate with a single possible purchaser to effect such sale; or (iii) restrict such sale to a purchaser who will represent and agree that such purchaser is purchasing for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or sale of such Pledged Collateral or part thereof.  In addition to a private sale as provided above in this Section 6.2(c), if any of the Pledged Collateral shall not be freely distributable to the public without registration under the Securities Act at the time of any proposed sale hereunder, then the Collateral Agent shall not be required to effect such registration or cause the same to be effected but may, in its sole discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), require that any sale hereunder (including a sale at auction) be conducted subject to such restrictions as the Collateral Agent may, in its sole discretion, deem necessary in order that such sale (notwithstanding any failure so to register) may be effected in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws.

 

(d)                                 Each Pledgor agrees that a breach of any covenants contained in this Agreement will cause irreparable injury to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties, that in such event the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties would have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, agrees that in such event each and every covenant contained in this Article VI shall be specifically enforceable against such Pledgor, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Pledgor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except for a defense that the Secured Obligations are not then due and payable.

 

6.3       Compliance With Restrictions.  Each Pledgor agrees that in any sale of any of the Pledged Collateral, whether at a foreclosure sale or otherwise, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to comply with any limitation or restriction in connection with such sale as it may be advised by counsel is necessary in order to avoid any violation of applicable law (including

 

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compliance with such procedures as may restrict the number of prospective bidders and purchasers, require that such prospective bidders and purchasers have certain qualifications and restrict such prospective bidders and purchasers to persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale of such Pledged Collateral), or in order to obtain any required approval of the sale or of the purchaser by any governmental authority, and such Pledgor further agrees that such compliance shall not result in such sale being considered or deemed not to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner, nor shall the Collateral Agent nor the Secured Parties be liable nor accountable to such Pledgor for any discount allowed by the reason of the fact that such Pledged Collateral is sold in compliance with any such limitation or restriction.

 

6.4       Application Of Proceeds.  All cash proceeds received by the Collateral Agent in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, all or any part of the Pledged Collateral shall be applied: first, to the payment of all reasonable costs and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of holding and selling the Pledged Collateral, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, fees of any accountants and court costs of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties; second, to the full and complete payment of all of the Secured Obligations; and third, to, after payment in full of all of the Secured Obligations in cash under the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Pledgors as required by law.

 

6.5       Indemnity And Expenses.  Each Pledgor hereby indemnifies and holds harmless the Collateral Agent, each other Secured Party, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all claims, losses, and liabilities arising out of or resulting from this Agreement (including enforcement of this Agreement), except claims, losses, or liabilities resulting from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of any Indemnified Person.  Upon demand, the Pledgors shall pay to the Collateral Agent or such other Secured Party the amount of any and all reasonable expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of its counsel and of any experts and agents (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, whether related to a suit or action or any reviews of or appeals from a judgment or decree therein or in connection with non-judicial action) which the Collateral Agent or such other Secured Party may incur in connection with (a) the custody, preservation, use, or operation of, or the sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, any of the Pledged Collateral, (b) the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of the Collateral Agent or the other Secured Parties hereunder, or (c) the failure by the Pledgor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

7.1       Transaction Document.  This Agreement is one of the Transaction Documents executed pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement and shall (unless otherwise expressly indicated herein) be construed, administered and applied in accordance with the terms and provisions thereof.

 

7.2       Reinstatement.  This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective if at any time payment of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to

 

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applicable law, avoided, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made.  In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is avoided, rescinded, reduced, restored, or returned, the Secured Obligations, shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so avoided, rescinded, reduced, restored, or returned.

 

7.3       Amendments; Waivers.  No amendment to or waiver of any provision of this Agreement nor consent to any departure by any Pledgor from any provision in this Agreement shall in any event be effective unless the same shall have been consented to in writing by each Pledgor and the Collateral Agent (with the consent of the Required Noteholders).

 

7.4       Protection Of Pledged Collateral.  The Collateral Agent may from time to time, at its option, perform any act which any Pledgor agrees hereunder to perform and which such Pledgor shall fail to perform after being requested in writing so to perform (it being understood that no such request need be given after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default) and the Collateral Agent may from time to time take any other action which the Collateral Agent reasonably deems necessary for the maintenance, preservation or protection of any of the Pledged Collateral or of its security interest therein, all such actions being for the express benefit of the Secured Parties and the Collateral Agent and not any of the Pledgors.

 

7.5       Addresses For Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and addressed and delivered to (a) the Pledgors care of the Company at its address set forth in paragraph 13H of the Securities Purchase Agreement, and (b) to the Collateral Agent at the address set forth under the Collateral Agent’s signature block of this Agreement.  Any notice, if mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid or if properly addressed and sent by pre-paid courier service, shall be deemed given when received.

 

7.6       Section Captions.  Section captions used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.

 

7.7       Severability.  Wherever possible each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

 

7.8       Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument.  Each such agreement shall become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof or thereof by each of the parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier or pdf shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

7.9       Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, EXCLUDING

 

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CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF SUCH STATE THAT WOULD PERMIT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN SUCH STATE.

 

7.10                        Waiver of Jury Trial.  THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT, DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH OR THE ACTIONS OF THE HOLDERS OF THE NOTES OR THE COLLATERAL AGENT IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF.

 

7.11                        Jurisdiction; Venue. Each Pledgor irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the agreements, documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Pledgor irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.  Nothing in this Section 7.11 shall affect the right of any holder of any Note or the Collateral Agent to serve process in any manner permitted by law, or limit any right that the holders of any of the Notes or the Collateral may have to bring proceedings against any Pledgor in the courts of any appropriate jurisdiction or to enforce in any lawful manner a judgment obtained in one jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction.

 

7.12                        Additional Pledgor.  From time to time on or after the date hereof, additional Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates of the Company may become parties hereto, as additional Pledgors (each, an “Additional Pledgor”), by executing a Joinder Agreement hereto.  Upon the delivery of the Joinder Agreement to the Collateral Agent, such Additional Pledgor shall be deemed a Pledgor hereunder and shall be as fully a party hereto as if such Additional Pledgor were an original signatory hereof.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

	
PLEDGORS:
    	
ZAZA   ENERGY CORPORATION,
    
	
 
    	
a   Delaware corporation
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Todd Alan Brooks
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Todd   Alan Brooks
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ZAZA   HOLDINGS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   John E. Hearn, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
John   E. Hearn, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
President
    

 

 

	
ACCEPTED   AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
    	
U.S.   BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as   Collateral Agent
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Mauri J. Cowen
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Mauri   J. Cowen
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Address   for Notices:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
5555   San Felipe Street, Suite 1150
    
	
 
    	
Houston,   TX 77056
    
	
 
    	
Attention:   Mauri Cowen, Vice President

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