EX-10 4 exhibit_10-2.txt EXHIBIT 10.2 SECURITY AGREEMENT THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is dated as of the 5th day of October, 2001 between Valence Technology, Inc. (previously Ultracell, Inc.), a Delaware corporation ("BORROWER"), and Berg & Berg Enterprises, LLC ("LENDER"). RECITALS WHEREAS, Lender has made certain loans to Borrower prior to the date hereof and has agreed to make available to Borrower a $20,000,000 non-revolving loan facility pursuant to that certain Loan Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2001 between the Lender and the Borrower, as amended from time to time (the "LOAN AGREEMENT," and capitalized terms used herein without definitions shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement); and WHEREAS, in connection with the previous loans made to Borrower by Lender and the transactions contemplated by the Loan Agreement, Borrower has agreed to grant a security interest in its assets to Borrower, upon and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions set forth herein. AGREEMENT NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Borrower and Lender agree as follows: 1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meaning: "ACCOUNT DEBTOR" shall mean any Person who is or who may become obligated under, with respect to or on account of an Account. "ACCOUNTS" shall mean all of Borrower's currently existing and hereafter arising accounts, as defined in the UCC, including any contract rights to payment arising out of the sale or lease of goods or the rendition of services by Borrower, irrespective of whether earned by performance, and any and all credit insurance, guarantees or security therefor. "COLLATERAL" shall mean all current and hereafter acquired personal property of Borrower, including all insurance relating thereto, and including all Accounts, Deposit Accounts, Equipment, General Intangibles, Inventory and Negotiable Collateral, and any and all proceeds, as defined in the UCC, thereof. "DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS" shall mean all deposit accounts, as defined in the UCC, now or hereafter held in Borrower's name. "EQUIPMENT" shall mean all of Borrower's present and hereafter acquired machinery, machine tools, motors, computers, equipment, furniture, furnishings, fixtures, vehicles (including motor vehicles and trailers), tools, parts, goods, wherever located, including all attachments, accessories, accessions, replacements, substitutions, additions and improvements to any of the foregoing. "GENERAL INTANGIBLEs" shall mean all of Borrower's present and future general intangibles and other personal property (including contract rights, rights arising under common law, statutes or regulations, choses or other things in action, goodwill, patents, trade names, trade secrets, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, blueprints, drawings, purchase orders, customer lists, monies due or recoverable from pension funds, route lists, rights to payment, and other rights under any royalty or licensing agreements, infringement claims, computer programs, information contained on computer disks or tapes, literature, reports, catalogs, deposit accounts, insurance premium rebates, tax refunds and tax refund claims), other than goods, Accounts and Negotiable Collateral. "INVENTORY" shall mean all present and future inventory in which Borrower has any interest, including goods held for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service and all of Borrower's present and future raw materials, work in process, finished goods and packing and shipping materials, wherever located. "NEGOTIABLE COLLATERAL" shall mean all of Borrower's present and future letters of credit, letter of credit rights, notes, drafts, instruments, investment property, securities (including the shares of capital stock or other equity or membership interests of United States subsidiaries of Borrower), documents, personal property leases (wherein Borrower is the lessor) and chattel paper. (Any terms used in the preceding sentence that are defined in the UCC shall have the meanings set forth therein.) Negotiable Collateral shall also include all of the shares of each class of capital stock of Valence Technology Cayman Islands, Inc., a Cayman Islands corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Borrower. "PERMITTED LIENS" means the following types of liens: (i) the security interests granted pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) Liens for taxes assessments or governmental charges or claims (a) for amounts not yet overdue or (b) for amounts that are overdue and that (in the case of any such amounts overdue for a period in excess of five days) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as (A) such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) shall have been made for any such contested amounts and (B) in the case of a lien with respect to any portion of the Collateral, such contest proceedings conclusively operate to stay the sale of any portion of the Collateral on account of such lien; (iii) statutory liens of landlords, statutory liens and rights or set-off of banks, statutory liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, repairmen, workmen and materialmen, and other liens imposed by law, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business (a) for amounts not yet overdue for a period in excess of five days) are being contested in good faith by Page 2 appropriate proceedings, so long as (A) such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made for any such contested amounts and (B) in the case of a lien with respect to any portion of the Collateral, such contest proceedings conclusively operate to stay the sale of any portion of the Collateral on account of such lien; (iv) liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money), so long as no foreclosure, sale or similar proceedings have been commenced with respect to any portion of the Collateral on account thereof; (v) any attachment or judgment lien not constituting an Event of Default; (vi) leases or subleases granted to third parties and not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (vii) any (a) interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease not prohibited by this Agreement, (b) restriction or encumbrance that the interest or title of such lessor or sublessor may be subject to, or (c) subordination of the interest of the lessee or sublessee under such lease to any restriction or encumbrance referred to in the preceding clause (b), so long as the holder of such restriction or encumbrance agrees to recognize the rights of such lessee or sublessee under such lease; (viii) liens arising from filing UCC financing statements relating solely to leases not prohibited by this Agreement; (ix) liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods; and (x) licenses of intellectual property Collateral granted by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Borrower or such Subsidiary. "UCC" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time, of the State of California or of any other state the laws of which are required as a result thereof to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests. 2. CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST; COLLATERAL. 2.1 GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST. Borrower hereby pledges and grants to Lender a first priority (other than Permitted Liens) continuing security interest in all Collateral in order to secure prompt payment and performance of: (i) all debts, liabilities and obligations of Borrower to Lender, now existing or hereafter incurred, arising out of or related to the Loan Agreement, any and all Notes, this Agreement or any other Loan Documents; Page 3 (ii) all debts, liabilities and obligations of Borrower to Lender, now existing or hereafter incurred, arising out of or relating to that certain Loan Agreement dated as of July 17, 1990 (and all amendments and modifications thereto), any and all promissory notes made by Borrower to Lender pursuant thereto (a list of which is attached as Exhibit A) and any security agreements securing any of the foregoing. (iii) any and all other obligations of Borrower to Lender, direct or indirect, whether or not secured, and whether now existing or hereafter incurred. The debts, obligations and liabilities described in the above clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) above are herein referred to as the "OBLIGATIONS." Lender's security interest in the Collateral shall attach to all Collateral without further action on the part of Lender or Borrower. 2.2 TRANSFER OF COLLATERAL. Anything contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, Borrower shall not dispose of any item or portion of the Collateral without the prior written consent of Lender, other than (i) the sale of Inventory to buyers in the ordinary course of business, (ii) the non-exclusive license of General Intangibles in the ordinary course of business and (iii) the sale of worn-out or surplus Equipment. 2.3 NEGOTIABLE COLLATERAL. In the event that any Collateral is evidenced by or consists of Negotiable Collateral, Borrower will, immediately upon request of Lender, endorse and deliver physical possession of such Negotiable Collateral to Lender. 2.4 COLLECTION OF ACCOUNTS, GENERAL INTANGIBLES AND NEGOTIABLE COLLATERAL. LICENSE/SALE OF COLLATERAL. At any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Lender or Lender's designee may (a) notify customers or any Account Debtors of Borrower that the Accounts, General Intangibles or Negotiable Collateral have been assigned to Lender or that Lender has a security interest therein; (b) collect the Accounts, General Intangibles and Negotiable Collateral directly and charge the reasonable collection costs and expenses to the account of the Borrower and treat the same as a Loan hereunder; (c) prepare for license or sale, advertise for license or sale, and license or sell (in the manner provided for herein) the Collateral and Lender is hereby granted a license or other right, solely pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.4, to use, without charge, Borrower's intellectual property as it pertains to the Collateral, in completing production of, advertising for license or sale, and licensing or selling any Collateral and, in connection with Lender's exercise of its rights under this Section 2.4, Borrower's rights under all Collateral shall inure to Lender's benefit; and (d) license or sell the Collateral at either a public or private sale, or both, by way of one or more contracts or transactions, for cash or on terms, in such manner and at such places (including Borrower's premises) as Lender determines is commercially reasonable, and apply any proceeds to the Loan obligations in whatever manner or order Lender deems appropriate. Lender may disclaim any warranties in connection therewith. 2.5 DELIVERY OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED. At any time upon the request of Lender, Borrower shall at its sole expense execute and deliver to Lender all financing statements, continuation financing statements, fixture filings, security agreements, pledges, assignments, control agreements, endorsements of certificates of title, applications for title, affidavits, reports, notices, schedules of accounts, letters of authority and all other documents Page 4 that Lender reasonably may request, in form satisfactory to Lender, to perfect and continue perfected Lender's security interests in the Collateral, and in order to fully consummate all of the transactions contemplated hereby. 2.6 POWER OF ATTORNEY. Borrower hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints Lender (and any of Lender's officers, employees or agents designated by Lender) as Borrower's true and lawful attorney in fact, with power to (a) if Borrower refuses to, or fails timely to execute and deliver any of the documents described in Section 2.5, sign the name of Borrower to any of the documents described in Section 2.5, (b) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, sign Borrower's name on any invoice or bill of lading relating to any Account, drafts against Account Debtors, schedules and assignments of Accounts, verifications of Accounts, and notices to Account Debtors, (c) send requests for verification of Accounts, (d) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, endorse Borrower's name on any Collateral in the possession of the Lender, (e) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, notify the post office authorities to change the address for delivery of Borrower's mail to an address designated by Lender, to receive and open all mail addressed to Borrower, and to retain all mail relating to the Collateral and forward all other mail to Borrower, (f) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, make, settle and adjust all claims under Borrower's policies of insurance and make all determinations and decisions with respect to such policies of insurance, and (g) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, settle and adjust disputes and claims in respect of the Accounts directly with Account Debtors, for amounts and upon terms that Lender determines to be reasonable, and Lender may cause to be executed and delivered any documents and releases that Lender determines to be necessary. The appointment of Lender as Borrower's attorney, and each and every one of Lender's rights and powers, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable until all of the Obligations have been fully paid and performed and Lender's obligations to extend credit under the Loan Agreement have terminated. 2.7 RIGHT TO INSPECT. Lender (through any of its officers, employees or agents) shall have the right, from time to time hereafter, during regular business hours and upon reasonable prior notice, to inspect any of Borrower's books and records and to check, test and appraise the Collateral in order to verify Borrower's financial condition or the amount, quality, value, condition of or any other matter relating to the Collateral. 3. TITLE; PERMITTED LIENS. Borrower represents and warrants and agrees that, other than Permitted Liens, Borrower and each Subsidiary is or will be lawfully possessed and the sole owner of its Property, free and clear of any mortgage, pledge or other secured debt and, all such Property is free and clear of any lien or encumbrance of any kind or character, legal or equitable, other than Permitted Liens. 4. LOCATION OF COLLATERAL. Borrower represents and warrants to Lender that: (a) Exhibit B is a correct and complete list of the location of Borrower's chief executive office, the location of its books and records, the locations of the Collateral, and the locations of all of its other places of business; and (b) Exhibit B correctly identifies any of such facilities and locations that are not owned by Borrower and sets Page 5 forth the names of the owners and lessors or sublessors of such facilities and locations. Borrower covenants and agrees that it will not (i) maintain any Collateral at any location other than those locations listed for Borrower on Exhibit B, (ii) otherwise change or add to any of such locations, or (iii) change the location of its principal office from the location identified in Exhibit B, unless it gives Lender at least 30 days' prior written notice thereof and executes any and all financing statements and other documents that Lender reasonably requests in connection therewith. Without limiting the foregoing, Borrower represents that all of its Inventory (other than Inventory in transit) is, and covenants that all of its Inventory will be, located either (a) on premises owned by Borrower, (b) on premises leased by Borrower, provided that Lender has received an executed landlord waiver from the landlord of such premises in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, or (c) in a warehouse or with a bailee, provided that Lender has received an executed bailee letter in form and substance satisfactory to Lender. 5. NAME; JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION. Borrower represents and warrants that (a) it is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware, (b) is qualified to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions in which such qualification is required for the conduct of its business, (c) has all requisite power and authority to own and operate its properties and carry on its business as now conducted or presently proposed to be conducted, and (d) its exact legal name is as set forth on the first page hereof. Borrower shall not change its name or reorganize itself under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in which it is organized as of the date hereof or change its type of entity. 6. ACCOUNTS. 6.1 VALIDITY. Borrower hereby represents and warrants, with respect to its Accounts, that: (a) each existing Account represents, and each future Account will represent, a bona fide sale or lease and delivery of goods by Borrower, or rendition of services by Borrower, in the ordinary course of Borrower's business; (b) each existing Account is, and each future Account will be, for a liquidated amount payable by the Account Debtor thereon on the terms set forth in the invoice therefor or in the schedule thereof delivered to Lender, without any offset, deduction, defense, or counterclaim except those known to Borrower and disclosed to Lender pursuant to this Agreement; (c) each copy of an invoice delivered to Lender by Borrower will be a genuine copy of the original invoice sent to the Account Debtor named therein; and (d) all goods described in any invoice representing a sale of goods will have been delivered to the Account Debtor and all services of Borrower described in each invoice will have been performed. 6.2 CERTAIN ACTIONS. Borrower shall not re-date any invoice or sale or make sales on extended dating beyond that customary in Borrower's business or extend or modify any Account. If Borrower becomes aware of any matter adversely affecting the collectibility of any Account involving an amount greater than $100,000, including information regarding the Account Debtor's creditworthiness, Borrower will promptly so advise Lender. 6.3 DISPUTES; ALLOWANCES. Upon request of Lender, Borrower shall notify Lender promptly of all disputes and claims in excess of $25,000 with any Account Debtor, and Page 6 agrees to settle, contest, or adjust such dispute or claim at no expense to Lender. No discount, credit or allowance shall be granted to any Account Debtor, except for discounts, credits and allowances made or given in the ordinary course of Borrower's business when no Event of Default exists hereunder. 7. REMEDIES. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, Lender, in addition to availing itself of any remedies conferred upon it by law or equity or by the terms of the Notes or any of the other Loan Documents, may pursue any available remedy under the UCC. 8. RIGHT TO CURE. Lender may, in its discretion, pay any amount or do any act required of Borrower hereunder in order to preserve, protect, maintain or enforce the Obligations, the Collateral or Lender's Liens therein, and which Borrower fails to pay or do, including payment of any judgment against Borrower, any insurance premium, any warehouse charge, any finishing or processing charge, any landlord's or bailee's claim, and any other lien upon or with respect to the Collateral. All payments that Lender makes under this Section 8 and all out-of-pocket costs and expenses that Lender pays or incurs in connection with any action taken by it hereunder shall be charged to Borrower. Any payment made or other action taken by Lender under this Section 8 shall be without prejudice to any right to assert the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder and to proceed thereafter as herein provided. 9. LENDER'S RIGHTS, DUTIES AND LIABILITIES. 9.1 NO IMPAIRMENT OF OBLIGATIONS. Borrower assumes all responsibility and liability arising from or relating to the use, license, sale or other disposition of the Collateral. The Obligations shall not be affected by any failure of Lender to take any steps to perfect Lender's Liens or to collect or realize upon the Collateral, nor shall loss of or damage to the Collateral release Borrower from any of the Obligations. 9.2 BORROWER REMAINS LIABLE. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Borrower shall remain liable under each of its contracts and each of its licenses to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder. Lender shall not have any obligation or liability under any contract or license by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the granting herein of a lien thereon or the receipt by Lender of any payment relating to any contract or license pursuant hereto. Lender shall not be required or obligated in any manner to perform or fulfill any of the obligations of Borrower under or pursuant to any contract or license, 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 or license, or to present or file any claims, 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. Page 7 10. INDEMNIFICATION. In any suit, proceeding or action brought by Lender relating to any Collateral for any sum owing with respect thereto or to enforce any rights or claims with respect thereto, Borrower will save, indemnify and keep Lender harmless from and against all expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), loss or damage suffered by reason of any defense, setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or reduction of liability whatsoever of the Account Debtor or other individual or entity obligated on the Collateral, arising out of a breach by Borrower of any obligation 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 Borrower, except in the case of Lender, to the extent such expense, loss, or damage is attributable solely to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Lender as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. All such obligations of Borrower shall be and remain enforceable against and only against Borrower and shall not be enforceable against Lender. 11. MISCELLANEOUS. 11.1 ADDITIONAL ACTS. Borrower shall, upon request, execute and deliver such further instruments and documents and do such further acts and things as may be reasonably required to provide to Lender the evidence of and security for the Obligations as well as the perfection of Lender's security interest in the Collateral and its priority against all other parties. 11.2 AMENDMENT: WAIVER; APPROVAL. This Agreement shall not be amended, modified or supplemented without the written agreement of Borrower and Lender at the time of such amendment, modification or supplement. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be effective unless set forth in writing signed by the party making such waiver, and any such waiver shall be effective only to the extent therein set forth. Failure by Lender to insist upon full and prompt performance of any provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, or to take action upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, shall not constitute a waiver of any rights of Lender, and Lender may at any time thereafter exercise all available rights and remedies with respect to such Event of Default. Receipt by Lender of any instrument or document shall not constitute or be deemed to be an approval thereof. Any approvals required under any of the Loan Documents must be in writing, signed by Lender. 11.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents hereto constitute the entire agreement and understanding among the Borrower and the Lender, and supersede any prior agreement and understanding relating to the subject matter of this Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall not supersede any previous security agreement, or security interest or pledge, given by Borrower to secure any or all of the Obligations. 11.4 NOTICE. Any notice which any party hereto gives to any other party hereunder shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Agreement relating thereto. 11.5 BENEFIT; ASSIGNMENT. The rights, powers and remedies of Lender and Borrower under this Agreement shall inure to their respective benefits and to the benefit of their Page 8 respective successors and permitted assigns. The rights and obligations of either Borrower or Lender under this Agreement may not be assigned and any purported assignment by one party shall be null and void without prior written approval of the other party. 11.6 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, as applied to agreements among residents made and to be performed entirely within the State of California. 11.7 HEADINGS. The titles and headings of the articles, sections and paragraphs of this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement. 11.8 NO PARTNERSHIP OR JOINT VENTURE. Lender, by executing and performing this Agreement (or any of the Loan Documents), shall not become a partner or joint venturer with Borrower or any of its respective associates or affiliates and all inspections herein provided for are for the sole benefit of Lender. 11.9 TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. Time is of the essence for the payment of all amounts due Lender under the Loan Documents and performance and observance by Borrower of each covenant, agreement, provision and term of the Loan Documents. 11.10 INVALID PROVISIONS. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and this Agreement and the other Loan Document shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been in the Loan Documents. 11.11 ACTS PROHIBITED UNDER LAW. Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, Lender will not be required to make any disbursement or perform any other act under this Agreement if, as a result thereof, Lender will violate any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation or judicial decision applicable thereto. Lender shall use its reasonable efforts to promptly notify Borrower of Lender's inability to make such disbursement or perform such act due to such violation. 11.12 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be executed in counterparts, and all said counterparts when taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. 11.13 NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are only for the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their permitted successors and assigns. No other person or entity shall be entitled to rely on any matter set forth herein or therein or shall gain any rights herein whether by subrogation or otherwise without the prior written consent of such parties. * * * Page 9 SIGNATURE PAGE OF SECURITY AGREEMENT IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Security Agreement has been entered into as of the date first written above. BORROWER: VALENCE TECHNOLOGY, INC. a Delaware corporation By: /S/ STEPHAN B. GODEVAIS -------------------------------- Its: CEO AND PRESIDENT ------------------------------- LENDER: BERG & BERG ENTERPRISES, LLC By: /S/ CARL E. BERG -------------------------------- Its: MEMBER ------------------------------- Page 10