Exhibit 4.1
THE HERTZ CORPORATION
as Issuer
and
GUARANTORS
from time to time parties hereto
and
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent
---------
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF JUNE 28, 2024
---------
PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF
12.625% FIRST LIEN SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2029
Article I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION | |
Section 101. Definitions | 1 |
Section 102. Other Definitions | 51 |
Section 103. Rules of Construction | 52 |
Section 104. Compliance Certificates and Opinions | 52 |
Section 105. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee | 53 |
Section 106. Acts of Holders; Record Dates | 53 |
Section 107. Notices, etc., to Trustee, Notes Collateral Agent and Company | 56 |
Section 108. Notices to Holders; Waiver | 56 |
Section 109. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents | 56 |
Section 110. Successors and Assigns | 56 |
Section 111. Separability Clause | 57 |
Section 112. Benefits of Indenture | 57 |
Section 113. GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 57 |
Section 114. Legal Holidays | 57 |
Section 115. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators and Stockholders | 57 |
Section 116. Exhibits and Schedules | 57 |
Section 117. Counterparts | 57 |
Section 118. U.S.A. PATRIOT Act | 58 |
Section 119. Force Majeure | 58 |
Section 120. Limited Condition Transaction | 58 |
Section 121. Measuring Compliance | 59 |
Section 122. Intercreditor Agreements. | 61 |
Article II NOTE FORMS | |
Section 201. Forms Generally | 61 |
Section 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication | 62 |
Section 203. Restrictive and Global Note Legends | 63 |
Article III THE NOTES | |
Section 301. Terms | 64 |
Section 302. Denominations | 65 |
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating | 65 |
Section 304. Temporary Notes | 65 |
Section 305. Registrar and Paying Agent | 66 |
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes | 67 |
Section 307. Payment of Interest; Rights to Interest Preserved | 67 |
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners | 68 |
Section 309. Cancellation | 68 |
Section 310. Computation of Interest | 69 |
Section 311. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc. | 69 |
Section 312. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes | 69 |
Section 313. Special Transfer Provisions | 70 |
Section 314. Treasury Notes | 73 |
Article IV COVENANTS | |
Section 401. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 73 |
Section 402. Maintenance of Office or Agency | 73 |
Section 403. Money for Payments to Be Held in Trust | 73 |
Section 404. SEC Reports | 74 |
Section 405. Statement as to Default | 75 |
Section 406. Limitation on Restricted Payments | 75 |
Section 407. Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries | 79 |
Section 408. Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock | 81 |
Section 409. Limitation on Liens | 86 |
Section 410. Future Subsidiary Guarantors | 86 |
Section 411. Purchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event | 87 |
Section 412. [Reserved] | 88 |
Section 413. Limitation on Indebtedness | 88 |
Section 414. After-Acquired Property | 92 |
Section 415. Further Assurances | 93 |
Section 416. Real Property Collateral | 93 |
Article V SUCCESSORS | |
Section 501. When the Company May Merge, etc | 94 |
Section 502. Successor Company Substituted | 95 |
Article VI REMEDIES | |
Section 601. Events of Default | 96 |
Section 602. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 98 |
Section 603. Other Remedies; Collection Suit by Trustee | 100 |
Section 604. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 101 |
Section 605. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes | 101 |
Section 606. Application of Money Collected | 101 |
Section 607. Limitation on Suits | 102 |
Section 608. Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 102 |
Section 609. Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 102 |
Section 610. Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 102 |
Section 611. Control by Holders | 102 |
Section 612. Waiver of Past Defaults | 103 |
Section 613. Undertaking for Costs | 103 |
Section 614. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws | 104 |
Article VII THE TRUSTEE | |
Section 701. Certain Duties and Responsibilities | 104 |
Section 702. Notice of Defaults | 105 |
Section 703. Certain Rights of Trustee | 105 |
ii
Section 704. Trustee’s Disclaimer | 106 |
Section 705. May Hold Notes | 106 |
Section 706. Money Held in Trust | 106 |
Section 707. Compensation and Reimbursement | 107 |
Section 708. Conflicting Interests | 107 |
Section 709. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility | 107 |
Section 710. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor | 108 |
Section 711. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor | 109 |
Section 712. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business | 109 |
Section 713. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company | 109 |
Section 714. Appointment of Authenticating Agent | 109 |
Section 715. Notes Collateral Agent. | 110 |
Article VIII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY | |
Section 801. The Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders | 116 |
Section 802. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders | 116 |
Section 803. Reports by Trustee | 116 |
Article IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT OR WAIVER | |
Section 901. Without Consent of Holders | 116 |
Section 902. With Consent of Holders | 118 |
Section 903. Execution of Amendments, Supplements or Waivers | 119 |
Section 904. Revocation and Effect of Consents | 119 |
Section 905. Notation on or Exchange of Notes | 120 |
Article X REDEMPTION OF NOTES | |
Section 1001. Redemption | 120 |
Section 1002. Selection by Trustee of Notes to Be Redeemed | 121 |
Section 1003. Notice of Redemption | 122 |
Section 1004. Deposit of Redemption Price | 123 |
Section 1005. Notes Payable on Redemption Date | 123 |
Section 1006. Notes Redeemed in Part | 123 |
Article XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | |
Section 1101. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 123 |
Section 1102. Application of Trust Money | 125 |
Article XII DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE | |
Section 1201. The Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 125 |
Section 1202. Defeasance and Discharge | 125 |
Section 1203. Covenant Defeasance | 125 |
Section 1204. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 126 |
Section 1205. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions | 127 |
Section 1206. Reinstatement | 127 |
iii
Section 1207. Repayment to the Company | 128 |
Article XIII NOTES GUARANTEES | |
Section 1301. Guarantees Generally | 128 |
Section 1302. Continuing Guarantees | 129 |
Section 1303. Release of Notes Guarantees | 130 |
Section 1304. Waiver of Subrogation | 131 |
Section 1305. Notation Not Required | 131 |
Section 1306. Successors and Assigns of Guarantors | 132 |
Section 1307. Execution and Delivery of Notes Guarantees | 132 |
Section 1308. Notices | 132 |
Article XIV Collateral | |
Section 1401. Notes Collateral Documents | 132 |
Section 1402. Release of Collateral. | 132 |
Section 1403. Suits to Protect Collateral | 134 |
Section 1404. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent Under the Notes Collateral Documents | 134 |
Section 1405. Purchaser Protected | 134 |
Section 1406. Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee | 134 |
Exhibit A Form of Initial Note
Exhibit B Form of Regulation S Certificate
Exhibit C Form of Supplemental Indenture in Respect of Subsidiary Guarantee
Exhibit D Form of Certificate from Acquiring Institutional Accredited Investors
iv
INDENTURE, dated as of June 28, 2024 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Indenture”), between The Hertz Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of the state of Delaware, as issuer, the Guarantors (as defined below) from time to time parties hereto and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent.
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Notes.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Initial Notes and this Indenture, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:
Article I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 101. Definitions.
“2026 Notes Indenture” means the indenture, dated as of November 23, 2021 (as supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of November 23, 2021, (as supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
“2029 Notes Indenture” means the indenture, dated as of November 23, 2021 (as supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as supplemented by a second supplemental indenture, dated as of November 23, 2021, (as supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
“Accounts” means all accounts (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) of the Company and each Guarantor, including all Accounts (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement) and any right to payment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered, which is not evidenced by an instrument (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) or chattel paper of the Company or such Guarantor, but in any event excluding all Accounts that have been sold or otherwise transferred (and not transferred back to the Company or a Guarantor) in connection with a Special Purpose Financing.
“Acquired Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of a Person (i) existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or (ii) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case other than Indebtedness Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such acquisition. Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to be Incurred on the date of the related acquisition of assets from any Person or the date the acquired Person becomes a Subsidiary.
“Additional Assets” means (i) any property or assets that replace the property or assets that are the subject of an Asset Disposition; (ii) any property or assets (other than Indebtedness and Capital Stock) used or to be used by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise useful in a Related Business
1 |
and any capital expenditures in respect of any property or assets already so used; (iii) the Capital Stock of a Person that is engaged in a Related Business and becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; or (iv) Capital Stock of any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary acquired from a third party.
“Additional Notes” means any notes issued under this Indenture in addition to the Initial Notes (other than any Notes issued pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 312(c), 312(d) or 1006).
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Amex GBT Contracts” mean any contracts, agreements or arrangements (including any preferred partner agreements) by and between GBT Travel Services UK Limited d/b/a American Express Global Business Travel or any of its affiliates (“Amex GBT”) and the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, pursuant to which Amex GBT, among other things, designates the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a preferred supplier.
“Applicable Intercreditor Arrangements” means customary intercreditor arrangements (it being understood that (i) any Intercreditor Agreement (or any substantially similar agreement) and (ii) any intercreditor arrangements satisfactory to the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, are “Applicable Intercreditor Arrangements”).
“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to a Note at any Redemption Date, the greater of (i) 1.00% of the principal amount of such Note on such Redemption Date and (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) the present value at such Redemption Date, calculated as of the date of the applicable redemption notice, of (1) the redemption price of such Note on July 15, 2027 (such redemption price being that described in Section 1001(a)), plus (2) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through July 15, 2027 (excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (B) the principal amount of such Note on such Redemption Date, as calculated by the Company in good faith (which calculation shall be conclusive) or on behalf of the Company by such Person as the Company shall designate; provided that such calculation shall not be a duty or obligation of the Trustee.
“Asset Disposition” means any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of shares of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares, or (in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary) to the extent required by applicable law), property or other assets (each referred to for purposes of this definition as a “disposition”) by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction), other than
(i) | a disposition to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that with respect to any disposition of property or assets pursuant to this clause (i) that constitute Collateral, such dispositions may only be made to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor; |
(ii) | a disposition in the ordinary course of business; |
(iii) | a disposition of Cash Equivalents, Investment Grade Securities or Temporary Cash Investments; |
2 |
(iv) | the sale or discount (with or without recourse, and on customary or commercially reasonable terms, as determined by the Company in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive) of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, or the conversion or exchange of accounts receivable for notes receivable; |
(v) | any Investment or any Restricted Payment Transaction; |
(vi) | a disposition that is governed by Article V; |
(vii) | any Financing Disposition; |
(viii) | any “fee in lieu” or other disposition of assets to any Governmental Authority that continue in use by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may obtain title to such assets upon reasonable notice by paying a nominal fee; |
(ix) | any exchange of property pursuant to or intended to qualify under Section 1031 (or any successor section) of the Code, or any exchange of equipment to be leased, rented or otherwise used in a Related Business, including pursuant to any Rental Car LKE Program; |
(x) | any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any sale/leaseback transaction or asset securitization; |
(xi) | any disposition arising from foreclosure, condemnation, eminent domain or similar action with respect to any property or other assets, or exercise of termination rights under any lease, license, concession or other agreement, or necessary or advisable (as determined by the Company in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive) in order to consummate any acquisition of any Person, business or assets, or pursuant to buy/sell arrangements under any joint venture or similar agreement or arrangement, or of non-core assets acquired in connection with any acquisition of any Person, business or assets or any Investment; |
(xii) | any disposition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other securities of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; |
(xiii) | a disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired, or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), entered into in connection with such acquisition; |
(xiv) | a disposition of not more than 5.0% of the outstanding Capital Stock of a Foreign Subsidiary that has been approved by the Board of Directors; |
(xv) | any disposition or series of related dispositions for aggregate consideration not to exceed the greater of $165.0 million and 12.5% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA; |
3 |
(xvi) | any disposition of all or any part of the Capital Stock or business or assets of (a) Etma, Inc. or any successor in interest thereto or (b) CAR Inc. or any successor in interest thereto; |
(xvii) | the abandonment or other disposition of trademarks, copyrights, patents or other intellectual property that are, in the good faith determination of the Company (which determination shall be conclusive), no longer economically practicable to maintain or useful in the conduct of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; |
(xviii) | any license, sublicense or other grant of rights in or to any trademark, copyright, patent or other intellectual property; |
(xix) | any lease or sublease of real or other property; |
(xx) | any disposition for Fair Market Value to any Franchisee or any Franchise Special Purpose Entity; |
(xxi) | any disposition of securities pursuant to an agreement entered into in connection with any securities lending or other securities financing transaction to the extent such securities were otherwise permitted to be disposed of at the time of entering into the agreement for such securities lending or other securities financing transaction; |
(xxii) | the creation or granting of any Lien permitted under this Indenture; or |
(xxiii) | any other disposition if on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such disposition (including any application of proceeds therefrom) the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio would be equal to or less than 4.50:1.00. |
“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 714 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Notes.
“Bank Products Agreement” means any agreement pursuant to which a bank or other financial institution or other Person agrees to provide (a) treasury services, (b) credit card, debit card, merchant card, purchasing card, stored value card, non-card electronic payable or other similar services (including the processing of payments and other administrative services with respect thereto), (c) cash management or related services (including controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, netting, overdraft, depository, lockbox, stop payment, electronic funds transfer, information reporting, wire transfer and interstate depository network services) and (d) other banking, financial or treasury products or services as may be requested by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than letters of credit and other than loans and advances except indebtedness arising from services described in clauses (a) through (c) of this definition).
“Bank Products Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Bank Products Agreement.
“Bankruptcy Code” means chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq., as amended.
“Board of Directors” means, for any Person, the board of directors or other governing body of such Person or, if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, the board of directors or other governing body of such entity, or, in either case, any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf
4 |
of such board of directors or other governing body. Unless otherwise provided, “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Borrowing Base” means the sum of (1) 95% of the book value of revenue earning equipment of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (2) 95% of the book value of Fleet Receivables and VAT Receivables of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (3) 95% of the book value of Service Vehicles of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (4) Restricted Fleet Cash (in each case, determined as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal month of the Company ending immediately prior to such date of determination for which internal consolidated financial statements of the Company are available, and, in the case of any determination relating to any Incurrence of Indebtedness, on a pro forma basis including (x) any property or assets of a type described above acquired since the end of such fiscal month and (y) any property or assets of a type described above being acquired in connection therewith).
“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City (or any other city in which a Paying Agent maintains its office).
“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares or units of, rights to purchase, warrants or options for, or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.
“Captive Insurance Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is subject to regulation as an insurance company (or any Subsidiary thereof).
“Cash Equivalents” means any of the following: (a) money, (b) securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom or a member state of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality of any thereof, (c) time deposits, certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of (i) any bank or other institutional lender under the First Lien Credit Facility or any affiliate thereof or (ii) any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof as of the date of such investment) and the commercial paper of the holding company of which is rated at least A-2 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least P-2 or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s (or if at such time neither is issuing ratings, then a comparable rating of another rating agency recognized internationally or in the United States of America), (d) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (b) and (c) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c)(i) or (c)(ii), (e) money market instruments, commercial paper or other short-term obligations rated at least A-2 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least P-2 or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s (or if at such time neither is issuing ratings, then a comparable rating of another rating agency recognized internationally or in the United States of America), (f) investments in money market funds subject to the risk limiting conditions of Rule 2a-7 or any successor rule of the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (g) investment funds investing at least 95.0% of their assets in cash equivalents of the types described in clauses (a) through (f) above (which funds may also hold reasonable amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution), (h) investments similar to any of the foregoing denominated in foreign currencies approved by the Board of Directors, and (i) solely with respect to any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, any investment that person is permitted to make in accordance with applicable law.
“Change of Control” means:
(i) | any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders or a Parent, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50.0% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of |
5 |
the Company; provided that so long as the Company is a Subsidiary of any Parent, no “person” or “group” shall be deemed to be or become a “beneficial owner” of more than 50.0% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company unless such “person” or “group” shall be or become a “beneficial owner” of more than 50.0% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Parent (other than a Parent that is a Subsidiary of another Parent); notwithstanding the foregoing, no change of control shall be deemed to have occurred so long as the Permitted Holders shall have the right, directly or indirectly, to appoint directors having more than 50.0% of the aggregate votes of the board of directors of HGH; or
(ii) | the Company sells or transfers (in one or a series of related transactions) all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to another Person (other than one or more Permitted Holders) and any “person” or “group” (as defined in clause (i) above), other than one or more Permitted Holders or any Parent, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as so defined), directly or indirectly, of more than 50.0% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the transferee Person in such sale or transfer of assets, as the case may be; provided that so long as such transferee Person is a Subsidiary of a Parent, no “person” or “group” shall be deemed to be or become a “beneficial owner” of more than 50.0% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person unless such “person” or “group” shall be or become a “beneficial owner” of more than 50.0% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Parent (other than a Parent that is a Subsidiary of another Parent). |
For the purpose of this definition, so long as at the time of any Minority Business Disposition or any Minority Business Offering the Minority Business Disposition Condition is met, the Minority Business Assets shall not be deemed at any time to constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, and any sale or transfer of all or any part of the Minority Business Assets (whether directly or indirectly, whether by sale or transfer of any such assets, or of any Capital Stock or other interest in any Person holding such assets, or by merger or consolidation, or any combination thereof, and whether in one or more transactions, or otherwise, including any Minority Business Offering or any Minority Business Disposition) shall not be deemed at any time to constitute a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
For the purpose of this definition, the Reorganization Assets (whether individually or in the aggregate) shall not be deemed at any time to constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, and any sale or transfer of all or any part of the Reorganization Assets (whether directly or indirectly, whether by sale or transfer of any such assets, or of any Capital Stock or other interest in any Person holding such assets, or of any combination thereof, and whether in one or more transactions, or otherwise) shall not be deemed at any time to constitute a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.
“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or any successor securities clearing agency.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral” means any and all property of the Company or any Guarantor (other than HGH) subject (or purported to be subject) to a Lien securing the Notes Obligations, whether now existing or hereafter acquired, together with all rents, issues, profits, products and proceeds thereof, other than Excluded Property.
6 |
“Commodities Agreement” means, in respect of a Person, any commodity futures contract, forward contract, option or similar agreement or arrangement (including derivative agreements or arrangements), as to which such Person is a party or beneficiary.
“Company” means The Hertz Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any successor in interest thereto.
“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer of the Company.
“Consolidated Coverage Ratio” as of any date of determination means the ratio of (i) the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company ending prior to the date of such determination for which consolidated financial statements of the Company are available to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such four fiscal quarters; provided, that:
(1) if, since the beginning of such period, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has Incurred any Indebtedness or the Company has issued any Designated Preferred Stock that remains outstanding on such date of determination or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is an Incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Designated Preferred Stock of the Company, Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Indebtedness or Designated Preferred Stock as if such Indebtedness or Designated Preferred Stock had been Incurred or issued, as applicable, on the first day of such period (except that in making such computation, the amount of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility outstanding on the date of such calculation shall be computed based on (A) the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during such four fiscal quarters or such shorter period for which such facility was outstanding or (B) if such facility was created after the end of such four fiscal quarters, the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the period from the date of creation of such facility to the date of such calculation);
(2) if, since the beginning of such period, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has repaid, repurchased, redeemed, defeased or otherwise acquired, retired or discharged any Indebtedness or any Designated Preferred Stock of the Company that is no longer outstanding on such date of determination (each, a “Discharge”) or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio involves a Discharge of Indebtedness (in each case other than Indebtedness Incurred under any revolving credit facility except to the extent such Indebtedness has been repaid with an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder) or a Discharge of Designated Preferred Stock of the Company, Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Discharge of such Indebtedness or Designated Preferred Stock, including with the proceeds of such new Indebtedness or new Designated Preferred Stock of the Company, as if such Discharge had occurred on the first day of such period;
(3) if, since the beginning of such period, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have disposed of any company, any business or any group of assets constituting an operating unit of a business, including any such disposition occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder, or designated any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (any such disposition or designation, a “Sale”), the Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the assets that are the subject of such Sale for such period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such period
7 |
and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to (A) the Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, redeemed, defeased or otherwise acquired, retired or discharged with respect to the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Sale for such period (including through the assumption of such Indebtedness by another Person) plus (B) if the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is disposed of in such Sale or any Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the Consolidated Interest Expense for such period attributable to the Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such Sale;
(4) if, since the beginning of such period, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger, consolidation or otherwise) shall have made an Investment in any Person that thereby becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, or otherwise acquired any company, any business or any group of assets constituting an operating unit of a business, including any such Investment or acquisition occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder, or designated any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (any such Investment, acquisition or designation, a “Purchase”), Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the Incurrence of any related Indebtedness) as if such Purchase occurred on the first day of such period; and
(5) if, since the beginning of such period, any Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and since the beginning of such period such Person shall have Discharged any Indebtedness or made any Sale or Purchase that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (2), (3) or (4) above if made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period, Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Discharge, Sale or Purchase occurred on the first day of such period;
provided, that (in the event that the Company shall classify Indebtedness Incurred on the date of determination as Incurred in part under Section 413(a) and in part under Section 413(b) as provided in Section 413(c)) any such pro forma calculation of Consolidated Interest Expense shall not give effect to any such Incurrence of Indebtedness on the date of determination pursuant to such Section 413(b) or to any Discharge of Indebtedness from the proceeds of any such Incurrence pursuant to such Section 413(b).
For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any Sale, Purchase or other transaction, or the amount of income or earnings relating thereto and the amount of Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness Incurred or repaid, Designated Preferred Stock issued, or Indebtedness or Designated Preferred Stock repurchased, redeemed, defeased or otherwise acquired, retired or discharged in connection therewith, the pro forma calculations in respect thereof (including in respect of anticipated cost savings or synergies relating to any such Sale, Purchase or other transaction) shall be as determined in good faith by the Chief Financial Officer or an authorized Officer of the Company, which determination shall be conclusive. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness). If any Indebtedness bears, at the option of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, a rate of interest based on a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate or other fixed or floating rate, and such Indebtedness is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness shall be calculated by applying such optional rate as the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may designate. If any Indebtedness that is being given
8 |
pro forma effect was Incurred under a revolving credit facility, the interest expense on such Indebtedness shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on a Finance Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (which determination shall be conclusive) to be the rate of interest implicit in such Finance Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus:
(a) | the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, without duplication: |
(i) | provision for all taxes (whether or not paid, estimated or accrued) based on income, profits or capital (including penalties and interest, if any); |
(ii) | Consolidated Interest Expense, all items excluded from the definition of Consolidated Interest Expense pursuant to clauses (iii)(b) through (iii)(g) thereof and any Special Purpose Financing Fees, and to the extent not reflected in Consolidated Interest Expense, costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities; |
(iii) | depreciation (excluding Consolidated Vehicle Depreciation), amortization (including amortization of goodwill and intangibles and amortization and write-off of financing costs); |
(iv) | all other noncash charges or noncash losses, including, without limitation, any non-cash asset retirement costs, non-cash compensation charges, non-cash translation (gain) loss and non-cash expense relating to the vesting of warrants; |
(v) | any expenses or charges related to any Equity Offering, Investment or Indebtedness permitted by this Indenture (whether or not consummated or incurred, and including any offering or sale of Capital Stock to the extent the proceeds thereof were intended to be contributed to the equity capital of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries); |
(vi) | the amount of any minority interest expense; |
(vii) | the amount of loss on any Financing Disposition; |
(viii) | any costs or expenses pursuant to any management or employee stock option or other equity-related plan, program or arrangement, or other benefit plan, program or arrangement, or any equity subscription or equityholder agreement, to the extent funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Company or an issuance of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); |
(ix) | realized foreign exchange losses resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes on the valuation of assets or liabilities on the balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
(x) | other accruals, payments and expenses (including rationalization, legal, tax, structuring and other costs and expenses) related to acquisitions (including acquisitions subject to a letter of intent or purchase agreement), including Investments, dividends, Restricted Payments, dispositions, refinancings or issuances of debt or equity permitted hereunder or related to any amendment, |
9 |
modification or waiver in respect of the documentation (including the Loan Documents (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement)) governing the transactions described in this clause (x);
(xi) | charges, losses or expenses to the extent paid for, reimbursable, indemnifiable or insurable, or reasonably expected to be paid for, reimbursable, indemnifiable or insured by a third party; |
(xii) | the amount of any expense or deduction associated with any Restricted Subsidiary that is attributable to any non-controlling interest and/or minority interest of any third party; and |
(xiii) | cash expenses relating to contingent or deferred payments in connection with any acquisition or other Investment permitted under this Indenture or any acquisition or Investment permitted under this Indenture consummated prior to its effective date (including earn-outs, contingent consideration, non-compete payments, consulting payments and similar obligations), to the extent included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income in accordance with GAAP as an accounting adjustment for such period to the extent that the actual amount payable or paid in respect of such contingent or deferred payments exceeds the liability booked by the applicable person; plus |
(b) | the proceeds of any business interruption insurance received or reasonably expected to be received; plus |
(c) | adjustments determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 of Regulation S-X. |
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period:
(i) | the total interest expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income, net of any interest income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including any such interest expense consisting of: |
(a) | interest expense attributable to Finance Lease Obligations; |
(b) | amortization of debt discount; |
(c) | interest in respect of Indebtedness of any other Person that has been Guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, but only to the extent that such interest is actually paid by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; |
(d) | noncash interest expense; |
(e) | the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation; and |
(f) | commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing; plus |
(ii) | Preferred Stock dividends paid in cash in respect of Disqualified Stock of the Company held by Persons other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, or in respect of Designated Preferred Stock of the Company pursuant to Section 406(b)(xiv)(A); minus |
10 |
(iii) | to the extent otherwise included in such interest expense referred to in clause (i) above: |
(a) | Consolidated Vehicle Interest Expense; |
(b) | amortization or write-off of financing costs; |
(c) | accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities not constituting Indebtedness; |
(d) | any expense resulting from discounting of Indebtedness in conjunction with recapitalization or purchase accounting; |
(e) | any “additional interest” in respect of registration rights arrangements for any securities; |
(f) | any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees; and |
(g) | interest with respect to Indebtedness of any Parent appearing upon the balance sheet of the Company solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP, |
in each case under clauses (i) through (iii) as determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (to the extent applicable, in the case of Consolidated Vehicle Interest Expense); provided that gross interest expense shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Interest Rate Agreements.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends; provided that, without duplication, there shall not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:
(i) any net income (loss) of any Person if such Person is not the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, except that (A) the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period shall be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount actually dividended or distributed or that (as determined by the Company in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive) could have been dividended or distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (ii) below) and (B) the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s equity in the net loss of such Person shall be included to the extent of the aggregate Investment of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Person;
(ii) solely for purposes of determining the amount available for Restricted Payment under Section 406(b)(viii)(y), any net income (loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor if such Restricted Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Company by operation of the terms of such Restricted Subsidiary’s charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute or governmental rule or regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders (other than (x) restrictions that have been waived or otherwise released, (y) restrictions pursuant to the Existing Unsecured Notes, the Existing Notes Indentures, the Notes or this Indenture and (z) restrictions in effect on the Issue Date with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary and other restrictions with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary that taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to the Holders than such restrictions in effect on the Issue Date as determined by the Company in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), except that (A) the Company’s equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period shall be included in such Consolidated Net Income up
11 |
to the aggregate amount of any dividend or distribution that was or that could (as determined by the Company in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive) have been made by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary (subject, in the case of a dividend that could have been made to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause (ii)) and (B) the net loss of such Restricted Subsidiary shall be included to the extent of the aggregate Investment of the Company or any of its other Restricted Subsidiaries in such Restricted Subsidiary;
(iii) (x) any gain or loss realized upon the sale, abandonment or other disposition of any asset of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (including pursuant to any sale/leaseback transaction) that is not sold, abandoned or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive) and (y) any gain or loss realized upon the disposal, abandonment or discontinuation of operations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and any income (loss) from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations (but if such operations are classified as discontinued because they are subject to an agreement to dispose of such operations, only when and to the extent such operations are actually disposed of), including in each case any closure of any branch;
(iv) any item classified as an extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring gain, loss or charge (including fees, expenses and charges associated with any acquisition, merger or consolidation after the Existing Notes Issue Date or any accounting change) (other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course);
(v) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;
(vi) all deferred financing costs written off and premiums paid in connection with any early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments;
(vii) any unrealized gains or losses in respect of Hedge Agreements, or any ineffectiveness recognized in earnings related to qualifying hedge transactions or the fair value of changes therein recognized in earnings for derivatives that do not qualify as hedge transactions, in each case, in respect of any Hedging Obligations;
(viii) any unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses, including in respect of Indebtedness of any Person denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of such Person;
(ix) (x) any noncash compensation charge arising from any grant of limited liability company interests, stock, stock options or other equity-based awards and any noncash deemed finance charges in respect of any pension liabilities or other provisions and (y) income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts;
(x) to the extent otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income, any unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses, including in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(xi) any noncash charge, expense or other impact attributable to application of the purchase or recapitalization method of accounting (including the total amount of depreciation and amortization, cost of sales or other noncash expense resulting from the write-up of assets to the extent resulting from such purchase or recapitalization accounting adjustments), noncash charges for deferred tax valuation allowances and noncash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by the applicable standard under GAAP; and
12 |
(xii) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed (or the Company has determined that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will be reimbursed by the insurer and such amount is not denied by the applicable insurer in writing within 180 days and is reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction in any future calculation of Consolidated Net Income for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365-day period)), any expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption;
provided, further, that the exclusion of any item pursuant to the foregoing clauses (i) through (xii) shall also exclude the tax impact of any such item, if applicable.
“Consolidated Total Corporate Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to:
(1) | the aggregate principal amount of outstanding funded Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date consisting of (without duplication) Indebtedness for borrowed money (including Purchase Money Obligations and unreimbursed outstanding drawn amounts under funded letters of credit, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, undrawn letters of credit); the amount of outstanding Finance Lease Obligations in excess of $20.0 million; debt obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments; Disqualified Stock; and (in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor) Preferred Stock, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding items eliminated in Consolidation, and for the avoidance of doubt, excluding Hedging Obligations); minus |
(2) | the amount of such Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness (A) of a Special Purpose Subsidiary secured by a Lien on all or part of the assets disposed of in, or otherwise Incurred in connection with, a Financing Disposition or (B) otherwise Incurred in connection with a Special Purpose Financing, in each case to the extent not Incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition of Rental Car Vehicles; provided that such Indebtedness is not recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Special Purpose Subsidiary (other than with respect to Special Purpose Financing Undertakings); minus |
(3) | the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness as of such date; and minus |
(4) | cash, Cash Equivalents, Investment Grade Securities and Temporary Cash Investments held by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal period prior to the date of such determination for which consolidated financial statements of the Company are available. |
“Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (x) (i) Consolidated Total Corporate Indebtedness as at such date (after giving effect to any Incurrence or Discharge of Indebtedness on such date) minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash minus (iii) amounts in the Term C Loan Collateral Accounts to (y) the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such determination for which consolidated financial statements of the Company are available; provided that:
(1) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made a Sale (including any Sale occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder), the Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the assets that are the
13 |
subject of such Sale for such period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such period;
(2) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger, consolidation or otherwise) shall have made a Purchase (including any Purchase occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder), Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Purchase occurred on the first day of such period; and
(3) if since the beginning of such period any Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and since the beginning of such period such Person shall have made any Sale or Purchase that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above if made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period, Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Sale or Purchase occurred on the first day of such period.
For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any Sale, Purchase or other transaction, or the amount of income or earnings relating thereto, the pro forma calculations in respect thereof (including in respect of anticipated cost savings or synergies relating to any such Sale, Purchase or other transaction) shall be as determined in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive.
“Consolidated Vehicle Depreciation” means, for any period, depreciation on all Rental Car Vehicles (after adjustments thereto), to the extent deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period.
“Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, in connection with the acquisition, sale, leasing, financing or refinancing of, or secured by, Vehicles and/or related rights (including under leases, manufacturer warranties and buy-back programs and insurance policies) and/or assets, as determined in good faith by the Company.
“Consolidated Vehicle Interest Expense” means, for any period, the aggregate interest expense for such period on any Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness, as determined in good faith by the Company (which determination shall be conclusive).
“Consolidation” means the consolidation of the accounts of each of the Restricted Subsidiaries with those of the Company in accordance with GAAP; provided that “Consolidation” will not include consolidation of the accounts of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an investment. The term “Consolidated” has a correlative meaning.
“Contribution Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not greater than twice the aggregate amount of cash contributions (other the proceeds from the issuance of Disqualified Stock or contributions by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) made to the capital of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary after the Existing Notes Issue Date (whether through the issuance or sale of Capital Stock or otherwise), in each case, not otherwise applied.
“Controlled Investment Affiliate” means as to any person, any other person which directly or indirectly is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person and is organized
14 |
by such person (or any person controlling such person) primarily for making equity or debt investments in the Company or its direct or indirect parent company or other portfolio companies of such person.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office initially shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 107, and for purposes of Section 305 shall also mean the office of the Trustee located at Computershare Trust Company, N.A., Attn: CCT Administrator for the Hertz Corporation, 1505 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, MN 55108 or such other address in the contiguous United States of America as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the designated corporate trust office in the contiguous United States of America of any successor trustee (or such other address in the contiguous United States of America as such successor trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).
“Credit Facilities” means one or more of (i) the First Lien Credit Facility and (ii) any other facilities or arrangements designated by the Company, in each case with one or more banks or other lenders or institutions providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables, fleet or other financings (including through the sale of receivables, fleet and/or other assets to such institutions or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such institutions against such receivables, fleet and/or other assets or the creation of any Liens in respect of such receivables, fleet and/or other assets in favor of such institutions), letters of credit or other Indebtedness, in each case, including all agreements, instruments and documents executed and delivered pursuant to or in connection with any of the foregoing, including any notes and letters of credit issued pursuant thereto and any guarantee and collateral agreement, patent, trademark or copyright security agreement, mortgages or letter of credit applications and other guarantees, pledge agreements, security agreements and collateral documents, in each case as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, or refunded, refinanced, restructured, replaced, renewed, repaid, increased, decreased or extended from time to time (whether in whole or in part, whether with the original banks, lenders or institutions or other banks, lenders or institutions or otherwise, and whether provided under any original Credit Facility or one or more other credit agreements, indentures, financing agreements or other Credit Facilities or otherwise). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “Credit Facility” shall include any agreement (i) changing the maturity of any Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby, (ii) adding Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder, (iii) increasing or decreasing the amount of Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or available to be borrowed thereunder or (iv) otherwise altering the terms and conditions thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any agreement that is not secured by Liens on the Collateral).
“Credit Facility Indebtedness” means any and all amounts, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred, payable under or in respect of any Credit Facility, including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees, other monetary obligations of any nature and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.
“Currency Agreement” means, in respect of a Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangements (including derivative agreements or arrangements), as to which such Person is a party or a beneficiary.
“Default” means any event or condition that is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depositary” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and successors.
15 |
“Derivative Instrument” with respect to a Person, means any contract, instrument or other right to receive payment or delivery of cash or other assets to which such Person or any Affiliate of such Person that is acting in concert with such Person in connection with such Person’s investment in the Notes (other than a Screened Affiliate) is a party (whether or not requiring further performance by such Person), the value and/or cash flows of which (or any material portion thereof) are materially affected by the value and/or performance of the Notes and/ or the creditworthiness of the Company and/or any one or more of the Guarantors (the “Performance References”).
“Designated Noncash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of noncash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Disposition that is so designated as Designated Noncash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Company, setting forth the basis of such valuation.
“Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or any Parent that is issued after the Issue Date for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Company.
“Designated Senior Indebtedness” means with respect to a Person (i) the Credit Facility Indebtedness under or in respect of the First Lien Credit Facility and (ii) any other Senior Indebtedness of such Person that, at the date of determination, has an aggregate principal amount equal to or under which, at the date of determination, the holders thereof are committed to lend up to, at least $25.0 million and is specifically designated by such Person in an agreement or instrument evidencing or governing such Senior Indebtedness as “Designated Senior Indebtedness” for purposes of this Indenture.
“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock (other than Management Stock) that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable or exercisable) or upon the happening of any event (other than following the occurrence of a Change of Control or other similar event described under such terms as a “change of control,” or an Asset Disposition or other “disposition”) (i) matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (ii) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or (iii) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than following the occurrence of a Change of Control or other similar event described under such terms as a “change of control,” or an Asset Disposition or other “disposition”), in whole or in part, in each case on or prior to the final Stated Maturity of the Notes; provided that Capital Stock issued to any employee benefit plan, or by any such plan to any employees of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased or otherwise acquired or retired in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.
“Dollars” or “$” means dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other than a Foreign Subsidiary.
“Equity Offering” means a sale of Capital Stock (x) that is a sale of Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), or (y) proceeds of which, in an amount equal to or exceeding the Redemption Amount, are contributed to the equity capital of the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, or any successor securities clearing agency.
16 |
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided that for purposes of the definitions of Change of Control and Permitted Holders, “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on the Existing Notes Issue Date.
“Exchangeable Notes” means the 8.000% Exchangeable Senior Second-Lien Secured PIK Notes due 2029 to be issued by the Company.
“Exchangeable Notes Offering” means the concurrent offering of Exchangeable Notes.
“Excluded Contribution” means Net Cash Proceeds, or the Fair Market Value (as of the date of contribution) of property or assets, received by the Company as capital contributions to the Company after the Existing Notes Issue Date, or from the issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, in each case to the extent designated as an Excluded Contribution pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Company.
“Excluded Property” means:
(a) | any interest in leased real property (including fixtures related thereto) in which a security interest is not perfected by filing a financing statement in the applicable Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization (and there shall be no requirement to deliver landlord lien waivers, estoppels or collateral access letters or any other third party consents); |
(b) | any fee interest in owned real property (including fixtures related thereto) if the fair market value of such fee interest is less than $10.0 million individually (or, in the case of fee-owned real property that is located in a flood zone, if the fair market value of such fee interest is less than $15.0 million individually); |
(c) | any contracts, general intangibles, copyright licenses, patent licenses, trademark licenses, trade secret licenses or other contracts or agreements with or issued by Persons other than Holdings, a Subsidiary of Holdings or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing, (collectively, “Restrictive Agreements”) that would otherwise be included in the Collateral (and such Restrictive Agreements shall not be deemed to constitute a part of the Collateral) for so long as, and to the extent that, the granting of such a security interest pursuant hereto would result in a breach, default or termination of such Restrictive Agreements or would require third party consent with respect to such Restrictive Agreement (in each case, except to the extent that, pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law, the granting of security interests therein can be made without resulting in a breach, default or termination of such Restrictive Agreements) (provided that there shall be no obligation to seek such consent); |
(d) | any assets over which the granting of such a security interest in such assets by the applicable Grantor would be prohibited by any contract permitted under this Indenture, any applicable law, regulation, permit, order or decree or the organizational or joint venture documents of any non-wholly owned Subsidiary (including permitted liens, leases and licenses), or requires a consent of any Governmental Authority that has not been obtained (in each case after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, other than proceeds and receivables thereof to the extent that their assignment is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform |
17 |
Commercial Code notwithstanding such prohibitions) (provided that there shall be no obligation to seek such consent);
(e) | any assets constituting Collateral, to the extent that such security interests would result in material adverse tax consequences to HGH or Holdings or any one or more of their respective Subsidiaries, as reasonably determined by the Company; |
(f) | any assets, to the extent that the granting or perfecting of a security interest in such assets or obtaining title insurance would result in costs or consequences to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries as reasonably determined by the Company and the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, that are excessive in view of the benefits that would be obtained by the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders; |
(g) | any (i) equipment and/or inventory (and/or related rights and/or assets) that would otherwise be included in the Collateral (and such equipment and/or inventory (and/or related rights and/or assets) shall not be deemed to constitute a part of the Collateral) if such equipment and/or inventory (and/or related rights and/or assets) is subject to a Permitted Lien and designated by the Company to the Notes Collateral Agent (but only for so long as such Permitted Lien remains in place) and (ii) other property that would otherwise be included in the Collateral (and such other property shall not be deemed to constitute a part of the Collateral) if such other property is subject to a Permitted Lien securing Hedging Obligations, Bank Product Obligations, Purchase Money Obligations or capitalized lease obligations or permitted Refinancing Indebtedness under this Indenture (but only with respect to a Lien securing Hedging Obligations, Bank Product Obligations, Purchase Money Obligations or capitalized lease obligations) and designated by the Company to the Notes Collateral Agent (but, in each case only for so long as such Liens are in place) and, if such Lien is in respect of Hedging Obligations, such other property consists solely of (x) cash, Cash Equivalents or Temporary Cash Investments, together with proceeds, dividends and distributions in respect thereof, (y) any assets relating to such assets, proceeds, dividends or distributions or to any Hedging Obligations, and/or (z) any other assets consisting of, relating to or arising under or in connection with (1) any agreements in respect of Hedging Obligations or (2) any other agreements, instruments or documents related to any Hedging Obligations or to any of the assets referred to in any of subclauses (x) through (z) of this clause (ii); |
(h) | any property (and/or related rights and/or assets) that (x) would otherwise be included in the Collateral (and such property (and/or related rights and/or assets) shall not be deemed to constitute a part of the Collateral) if such property has been sold or otherwise transferred in connection with (i) a Special Purpose Financing (or constitutes the proceeds or products of any property that has been sold or otherwise transferred in connection with a Special Purpose Financing permitted under this Indenture (except as provided in the proviso to this subsection)) or (ii) a sale and leaseback transaction permitted under this Indenture, or (y) is subject to any Permitted Lien and consists of property subject to any such sale and leaseback transaction or general intangibles related thereto (but only for so long as such Liens are in place); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, a security interest of the Notes Collateral Agent shall attach to any money, securities or other consideration received by any Grantor as consideration for the sale or other disposition of such property as and to the extent such consideration would otherwise constitute Collateral; |
(i) | equipment and/or inventory (and/or related rights and/or assets) subject to any Permitted Lien that secures Indebtedness permitted by this Indenture that is Incurred to finance or |
18 |
refinance such equipment and/or inventory and designated by the Company to the Notes Collateral Agent (but only for so long as such Permitted Lien is in place);
(j) | Capital Stock (including for these purposes any investment deemed to be equity for U.S. tax purposes) which is specifically excluded from the definition of Pledged Stock by virtue of the proviso contained in such definition or any margin stock; |
(k) | Vehicle Rental Concession Rights in which a security interest is not perfected by filing a financing statement in the applicable Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization and/or to the extent that such security interests would result in adverse business consequences to Holdings or any one or more of its Subsidiaries as determined in good faith by the Company (which determination shall be conclusive) (and there shall be no requirement to obtain Public Facility Operator consents or any other third party consents); |
(l) | any assets covered by a certificate of title; |
(m) | any aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines or helicopters, or any equipment or other assets constituting a part of any thereof; |
(n) | without duplication, Fleet Receivables (and related Accounts and/or related rights and cash, Cash Equivalents and deposit accounts related to any Special Purpose Financing) arising from or otherwise relating to fleet management services to the extent such Fleet Receivables secure or support any Special Purpose Financing permitted under this Indenture; |
(o) | for the avoidance of doubt, any deposit account and any money, cash, checks, other negotiable instrument, funds and other evidence of payment therein held by any “qualified intermediary” in connection with the Rental Car LKE Program; |
(p) | any money, cash, checks, other negotiable instrument, funds and other evidence of payment held in any deposit account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) for the benefit of customers of Hertz Claim Management Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and (ii) in the nature of a security deposit with respect to obligations for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which must be held for or returned to the applicable counterparty under applicable law or pursuant to contractual obligations; |
(q) | any property that would otherwise be included in the Collateral (and such property shall not be deemed to constitute a part of the Collateral) if such property is subject to other Permitted Liens securing Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture (but only for so long as such Permitted Liens are in place); |
(r) | any Capital Stock and other securities of a Subsidiary of the Company to the extent that the pledge of or grant of any other Lien on such Capital Stock and other securities for the benefit of any holders of securities would result in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries being required to file separate financial statements for such Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental authority) pursuant to either Rule 3-10 or 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, or any other law, rule or regulation as in effect from time to time, but only to the extent necessary to not be subject to such requirement; |
(s) | any right, title or interest in or to any copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent applications, patent licenses, trade secrets, trade secret licenses, trademarks, service marks, trademark and service mark applications, trade names, trade dress, trademark |
19 |
licenses, technology, know-how and processes or any other intellectual property governed by or arising or existing under, pursuant to or by virtue of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any state thereof;
(t) | any “intent to use” applications for trademark or service mark registrations filed pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, unless and until an Amendment to Allege Use or a Statement of Use under Sections 1(c) and 1(d) of said Act has been filed with and accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, but only if and for so long as a grant or enforcement of a security interest in such intent to use application would invalidate or otherwise jeopardize the applicable Grantor’s rights therein or in the resulting registration; |
(u) | Letter-of-Credit Rights (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) (other than supporting obligations); |
(v) | any assets specifically requiring perfection through control (including cash, Cash Equivalents, deposit accounts or other bank or securities accounts) to the extent the security interest in such asset is not automatically perfected or perfected by filings under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction or, in the case of Pledged Stock, by being held by the Notes Collateral Agent; |
(w) | any assets, including any stock or equity interests in another entity, owned by a Foreign Subsidiary or a Foreign Subsidiary Holdco; |
(x) | any trust and tax withholding accounts; |
(y) | any Commercial Tort Claim (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) for which no claim has been made or with a value of less than $5.0 million for which a claim has been made; |
(z) | assets owned or held by any Special Purpose Entity (including any formed in connection with a funded letter of credit facility) and securitization entities (including, without limitation, Hertz Vehicle Financing III LLC, Hertz Vehicles LLC and Hertz General Interest LLC) and each other Subsidiary that issues, or holds collateral supporting, asset backed securities issued pursuant to the HVF III Base Indenture; and |
(aa) | any vehicles beneficially owned by any entity set forth in subclause (z) above and on consignment to, or to be sold by, a dealer owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and subject to a perfected security interest in favor of a Special Purpose Subsidiary (or the creditors thereof); |
provided that in each case set forth above, such assets will immediately cease to constitute Excluded Property when the relevant property ceases to meet this definition and, with respect to any such property, a security interest hereunder shall attach immediately and automatically without further action; provided, further, that Excluded Property shall not include any property or asset that is pledged to secure other First Lien Obligations or Junior Lien Obligations (whether pursuant to the agreements governing such Obligations (and any related documents) or any amendment or otherwise).
“Existing Notes Indentures” means, collectively, the 2026 Notes Indenture and the 2029 Notes Indenture.
“Existing Notes Issue Date” means November 23, 2021.
20 |
“Existing Unsecured Notes” means (i) the Company’s 4.625% Senior Notes due 2026, issued pursuant to the 2026 Notes Indenture and (ii) the Company’s 5.000% Senior Notes due 2029, issued pursuant to the 2029 Notes Indenture.
“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the fair market value of such asset or property as determined in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive.
“Finance Lease Obligation” means an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a finance lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. The Stated Maturity of any Finance Lease Obligation shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under the related lease.
“Financing Disposition” means any sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of, or creation or incurrence of any Lien on, property or assets by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof to or in favor of any Special Purpose Entity, or by any Special Purpose Subsidiary, in each case in connection with the Incurrence by a Special Purpose Entity of Indebtedness, or obligations to make payments to the obligor on Indebtedness, which may be secured by a Lien in respect of such property or assets.
“First Lien” means a Lien granted, or purported to be granted, by the Company or any other Grantor in favor of any First Lien Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any property of the Company or any other Grantor to secure First Lien Obligations.
“First Lien Collateral Agent” means each of (i) the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, (ii) the Notes Collateral Agent and (iii) each collateral agent or other representative of lenders or holders of First Lien Obligations designated pursuant to the terms of the First Lien Documents from time to time.
“First Lien Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2021, among the Company; the subsidiary borrowers party thereto from time to time; Barclays Bank PLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent; Barclays Bank PLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., RBC Capital Markets, Citizens Bank, N.A., BMO Capital Markets Corp., Mizuho Bank, Ltd., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and Natixis, New York Branch, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and BofA Securities, Inc., as senior co-manager, and as such agreement may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time or refunded, refinanced, restructured, replaced, renewed, repaid, increased, decreased or extended from time to time (whether in whole or in part, whether with the original administrative agent and lenders or other agents and lenders or otherwise, and whether provided under the original First Lien Credit Agreement or one or more other credit agreements or otherwise and whether or not secured by Liens on the Collateral).
“First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent” means the collateral agent under the First Lien Credit Agreement and its successors.
“First Lien Credit Facility” means the collective reference to the First Lien Credit Agreement, any Loan Documents (as defined therein), any notes and letters of credit issued pursuant thereto and any guarantee and collateral agreement, patent, trademark or copyright security agreement, mortgages, letter of credit applications and other guarantees, pledge agreements, security agreements and collateral documents, and other instruments and documents, executed and delivered pursuant to or in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case as the same may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, or refunded, refinanced, restructured, replaced, renewed, repaid, increased, decreased or extended from time to time (whether in whole or in part, whether with the original agent and lenders or other agents and lenders or otherwise, and whether provided under the original First Lien Credit Agreement or one or more other credit agreements, indentures (including this Indenture) or financing agreements or otherwise). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “First Lien
21 |
Credit Facility” shall include any agreement (i) changing the maturity of any Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby, (ii) adding Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder, (iii) increasing or decreasing the amount of Indebtedness Incurred thereunder or available to be borrowed thereunder or (iv) otherwise altering the terms and conditions thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any agreement that is not secured by Liens on the Collateral).
“First Lien Credit Facility Security Documents” means the “Security Documents” as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement.
“First Lien Documents” means, collectively, (i) the First Lien Credit Facility, the First Lien Credit Agreement, the First Lien Credit Facility Security Documents, (ii) the Notes Documents and (iii) any additional indenture, supplemental indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other series of First Lien Indebtedness and any security documents in respect thereof (other than any security documents that do not secure First Lien Obligations).
“First Lien Indebtedness” means (i) Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors under the First Lien Credit Facility and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto, (ii) the Notes Obligations and (iii) any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is secured by a First Lien on the Collateral; provided that the holders of such Indebtedness or their collateral agent shall become party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any other applicable Intercreditor Agreements.
“First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated on or about the Issue Date, by and among, inter alios, the Company, the other grantors party thereto, the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, the Notes Collateral Agent and each additional authorized representative for the holders of other Indebtedness that ranks pari passu with the Notes Obligations from time to time party thereto, as amended, restated, replaced, supplemented, modified or otherwise changed (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time.
“First Lien Obligations” means the First Lien Indebtedness and all other Obligations in respect thereof.
“First Lien Representative” means any duly authorized representative of any holders of First Lien Obligations, which representative is named as “Senior Priority Representative” (or equivalent) in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any joinder thereto.
“First Lien Secured Parties” means any holders from time to time of any First Lien Obligations (including the Obligations under the First Lien Credit Agreement and the Notes Obligations), each First Lien Collateral Agent and each other First Lien Representative.
“Fixed GAAP Date” means December 31, 2020; provided that at any time after the Issue Date, the Company may by written notice to the Trustee elect to change the Fixed GAAP Date to be the date specified in such notice, and upon such notice, the Fixed GAAP Date shall be such date for all periods beginning on and after the date specified in such notice.
“Fixed GAAP Terms” means (a) the definitions of the terms “Consolidated Coverage Ratio,” “Consolidated EBITDA,” “Consolidated Interest Expense,” “Consolidated Net Income,” “Consolidated Total Corporate Indebtedness,” “Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio,” “Consolidated Vehicle Depreciation,” “Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness,” “Consolidated Vehicle Interest Expense,” “Finance Lease Obligation,” “Inventory,” and “Receivable,” (b) all defined terms in this Indenture to the extent used in or relating to any of the foregoing definitions, and all ratios and computations based on any of the foregoing definitions, and (c) any other term or provision of this Indenture or the Notes that, at the Company’s election, may be specified by the Company by written notice to the Trustee from time to time.
22 |
“Fleet Receivables” means Receivables of the Company and its Subsidiaries consisting of original equipment manufacturer program Receivables, original equipment manufacturer incentive Receivables, Receivables arising from or otherwise relating to fleet leasing services and, at the election of the Company, Receivables arising from or otherwise relating to fleet management services.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means (a) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (b) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that has no material assets other than securities (including equity interests), Indebtedness or receivables of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries (or Subsidiaries thereof), intellectual property relating to such Foreign Subsidiaries (or Subsidiaries thereof), and/or other assets (including cash, Cash Equivalents, Investment Grade Securities and Temporary Cash Investments) relating to an ownership interest in any such securities, Indebtedness, receivables, intellectual property or Subsidiaries, (c) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is organized under the laws of Puerto Rico or any other territory of the United States of America and (d) any Subsidiary of an entity described in clause (a) through (c). As of the date hereof, Hertz International Ltd. is a Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (b) of the foregoing sentence.
“Foreign Subsidiary Holdco” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary substantially all the assets of which directly or indirectly consist of the stock, or the stock and indebtedness (including, for this purpose, any indebtedness or other instrument treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes), of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries or one or more Foreign Subsidiary Holdcos, and cash or Cash Equivalents from distributions and payments on such stock and indebtedness.
“Franchise Financing Disposition” means any sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of, or creation or incurrence of any Lien on, property or assets by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof to or in favor of any Franchise Special Purpose Entity, in connection with the Incurrence by a Franchise Special Purpose Entity of Indebtedness, or obligations to make payments to the obligor on Indebtedness, which may be secured by a Lien in respect of such property or assets.
“Franchise Lease Obligation” means any Finance Lease Obligation, and any other lease, of any Franchisee relating to any property used, occupied or held for use or occupation by any Franchisee in connection with any of its Franchise Vehicle operations.
“Franchise Rental Car Vehicles” means all passenger Franchise Vehicles owned by or leased to any Franchisee or any Franchise Special Purpose Entity that are or have been offered for lease or rental by any Franchisee in its car rental operations, including any such Franchise Vehicles being held for sale.
“Franchise Special Purpose Entity” means any Person (a) that is engaged in the business of (i) acquiring, selling, collecting, financing or refinancing Receivables, accounts (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any jurisdiction from time to time), other accounts and/or other receivables, and/or related assets, and/or (ii) acquiring, selling, leasing, financing or refinancing Franchise Rental Car Vehicles and/or other Franchise Vehicles, and/or related rights (including under leases, manufacturer warranties and buy-back programs, and insurance policies) and/or assets (including managing, exercising and disposing of any such rights and/or assets), and (b) is designated as a “Franchise Special Purpose Entity” by the Company.
“Franchise Vehicle Indebtedness” as of any date of determination means (a) Indebtedness of any Franchise Special Purpose Entity directly or indirectly Incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition of, or secured by, Franchise Rental Car Vehicles and/or other Franchise Vehicles and/or related rights and/or assets, (b) Indebtedness of any Franchisee or any Affiliate thereof that is attributable to the financing or refinancing of Franchise Rental Car Vehicles and/or other Franchise Vehicles and/or related rights and/or assets, as determined in good faith by the Company (which determination shall be conclusive) and (c) Indebtedness of any Franchisee.
23 |
“Franchise Vehicles” means vehicles owned or operated by, or leased or rented to or by, any Franchisee, including automobiles, trucks, tractors, trailers, vans, sport utility vehicles, buses, campers, motor homes, motorcycles and other motor vehicles.
“Franchisee” means any Person that is a franchisee or licensee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or of any other Franchisee), or any Affiliate of such Person.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect on the Fixed GAAP Date (for purposes of the Fixed GAAP Terms) and as in effect from time to time (for all other purposes of this Indenture), including those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, and subject to the following sentence. If at any time the SEC permits or requires U.S.-domiciled companies subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act to use IFRS in lieu of GAAP for financial reporting purposes, the Company may elect by written notice to the Trustee to so use IFRS in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such notice, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean (a) for periods beginning on and after the date specified in such notice, IFRS as in effect on the date specified in such notice (for purposes of the Fixed GAAP Terms) and as in effect from time to time (for
all other purposes of this Indenture) and (b) for prior periods, GAAP as defined in the first sentence of this definition. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.
“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including the European Union and the United Kingdom.
“Grantor” means the Company and any Guarantor that shall have granted any Lien in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent on any of its assets or properties to secure the Notes Obligations.
“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person; provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Guarantor” means HGH, Holdings and any Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Guarantor Subordinated Obligations” means, with respect to a Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of such Guarantor under its Notes Guarantee pursuant to a written agreement.
“Hedge Agreements” means, collectively, Interest Rate Agreements, Currency Agreements and Commodities Agreements.
“Hedging Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement or Commodities Agreement.
“HGH” means Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor in interest thereto.
“Holder” or “Noteholder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered in the Note Register.
24 |
“Holdings” means Rental Car Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successor in interest thereto.
“HVF III Base Indenture” means that certain Base Indenture, dated as of June 29, 2021, between Hertz Vehicle Financing III LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, exclusive of Series Supplements (as defined therein) creating a new Series of Notes (as defined therein).
“IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards and applicable accounting requirements set by the International Accounting Standards Board or any successor thereto (or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or any successor to either such board, or the SEC, as the case may be), as in effect from time to time.
“Incur” means issue, assume, enter into any Guarantee of, incur or otherwise become liable for; and the terms “Incurs,” “Incurred” and “Incurrence” shall have a correlative meaning; provided, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary. Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of
interest in the form of additional Indebtedness and the payment of dividends on Capital Stock constituting Indebtedness in the form of additional shares of the same class of Capital Stock will be deemed not to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness. Any Indebtedness issued at a discount (including Indebtedness on which interest is payable through the issuance of additional Indebtedness) shall be deemed Incurred at the time of original issuance of the Indebtedness at the initial accreted amount thereof.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):
(i) the principal of indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;
(ii) the principal of obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;
(iii) all reimbursement obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments (the amount of such obligations being equal at any time to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other instruments plus the aggregate amount of drawings thereunder that have not then been reimbursed) (except to the extent such reimbursement obligations relate to Trade Payables and such obligations are expected to be satisfied within 30 days of becoming due and payable);
(iv) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property, which purchase price is due more than one year after the date of placing such property in final service or taking final delivery and title thereto (in each case, except (x) Trade Payables and (y) any earn-out obligations until such obligation is reflected as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and if not expected to be paid within 60 days after becoming due and payable);
(v) all Finance Lease Obligations of such Person;
(vi) the redemption, repayment or other repurchase amount of such Person with respect to any Disqualified Stock of such Person or (if such Person is a Subsidiary of the Company other than a Subsidiary Guarantor) any Preferred Stock of such Subsidiary, but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends (the amount of such obligation to be equal at any time to the maximum fixed involuntary redemption, repayment or repurchase price for such Capital Stock, or if less (or if such Capital Stock has no such fixed price), to the involuntary redemption, repayment or repurchase price therefor calculated in
25 |
accordance with the terms thereof as if then redeemed, repaid or repurchased, and if such price is based upon or measured by the fair market value of such Capital Stock, such fair market value shall be as determined in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive);
(vii) all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person; provided that the amount of Indebtedness of such Person shall be the lesser of (A) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Persons;
(viii) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of other Persons, to the extent so Guaranteed by such Person; and
(ix) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, net Hedging Obligations of such Person (the amount of any such obligation to be equal at any time to the termination value of such agreement or arrangement giving rise to such Hedging Obligation that would be payable by such Person at such time);
provided that Indebtedness shall exclude any Indebtedness of any Parent appearing upon the balance sheet of the Company solely by reason of push-down accounting under GAAP.
The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be determined as set forth above or as otherwise provided for in this Indenture, or otherwise shall equal the amount thereof that would appear as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person (excluding any notes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Initial Additional Notes” means Additional Notes issued in an offering not registered under the Securities Act (and any Notes issued in respect thereof pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 312(c), 312(d) or 1006).
“Initial Notes” means the Company’s 12.625% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2029 issued on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount of $750.0 million (and any Notes issued in respect thereof pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 312(c), 312(d) or 1006).
“Intellectual Property” means any trademark, copyright, patent or other intellectual property (or rights therein).
“Intercreditor Agreement” means the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement entered into from time to time pursuant to this Indenture or any Notes Document.
“interest,” with respect to the Notes, means interest on the Notes.
“Interest Payment Date” means January 15 and July 15 of each year to the Stated Maturity of the Notes.
“Interest Rate Agreement” means, with respect to any Person, any interest rate protection agreement, future agreement, option agreement, swap agreement, cap agreement, collar agreement, hedge agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement (including derivative agreements or arrangements), as to which such Person is a party or a beneficiary.
“Inventory” means goods held for sale, lease or use by a Person in the ordinary course of business, net of any reserve for goods that have been segregated by such Person to be returned to the applicable vendor for credit, as determined in accordance with GAAP.
26 |
“Investment” in any Person by any other Person means any direct or indirect advance, loan or other extension of credit (other than to customers, dealers, licensees, franchisees, suppliers, consultants, directors, officers or employees of any Person in the ordinary course of business) or capital contribution (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others) to, or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by, such Person. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 406 only, (i) “Investment” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of any Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Restricted Investment” in an amount (if positive) equal to (x) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (y) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation and (ii) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer. Guarantees shall not be deemed to be Investments. The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced (at the Company’s option) by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount or value received in respect of such Investment; provided, that to the extent that the amount of Restricted Payments outstanding at any time is so reduced
by any portion of any such amount or value that would otherwise be included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, such portion of such amount or value shall not be so included for purposes of calculating the amount of Restricted Payments that may be made pursuant to Section 406(b)(viii)(y).
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating of Baa3 or better (or, in the case of short-term obligations, P-3 or better) by Moody’s and BBB- or better (or, in the case of short-term obligations, A-3 or better) by S&P (or, in either case, the equivalent of such rating by such organization), or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.
“Investment Grade Securities” means (i) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents); (ii) debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Company and its Subsidiaries; (iii) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (i) and (ii), which fund may also hold cash pending investment or distribution; and (iv) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States of America customarily utilized for high quality investments.
“Issue Date” means June 28, 2024.
“Junior Lien Collateral Agent” means any duly authorized representative of any holders of Junior Lien Obligations, which representative is named as “Junior Priority Agent” (or equivalent) in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any joinder thereto.
“Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain First Lien/Second Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated on or about the Issue Date, by and among, inter alios, the Company, the other grantors party thereto, the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent, the Notes Collateral Agent and each additional authorized representative from time to time party thereto, as amended, restated, replaced, supplemented, modified or otherwise changed (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time.
“Junior Lien Obligations” means any Obligations (including the Exchangeable Notes and the guarantees thereof) with respect to Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, which is
27 |
by its terms intended to be secured by the Collateral with a Junior Lien Priority relative to the First Lien Obligations (including the Notes Obligations and the Obligations under the First Lien Credit Agreement); provided that the holders of such Indebtedness or their Junior Lien Collateral Agent shall become party to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any other applicable Intercreditor Agreements.
“Junior Lien Priority” means, relative to specified Indebtedness, having junior Lien priority on specified Collateral.
“Junior Lien Representative” means the Junior Lien Collateral Agent that is the “Junior Priority Representative” under and as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
“Junior Lien Security Agreement” means any security agreement covering a portion of the Collateral to be entered into by the Grantors and a Junior Lien Collateral Agent.
“Junior Lien Security Documents” means, collectively, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Security Agreement, other security agreements relating to the Collateral and the mortgages and instruments filed and recorded in appropriate jurisdictions to preserve and protect the Liens on the Collateral (including, without limitation, financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant states), in each case, relating to any Junior Lien Obligations, as amended, amended and restated, modified, renewed or replaced from time to time.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof).
“Limited Condition Transaction” means (x) any acquisition, including by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or the acquisition of Capital Stock or otherwise, by one or more of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of any assets, business or Person or any other Investment permitted by this Indenture whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing or (y) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or prepayment.
“Long Derivative Instrument” means a Derivative Instrument (i) the value of which generally increases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally decrease, with positive changes to the Performance References and/or (ii) the value of which generally decreases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally increase, with negative changes to the Performance References.
“LTM Consolidated EBITDA” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA for the Most Recent Four Quarter Period (determined for any fiscal quarter (or portion thereof) ending prior to the Issue Date); provided that:
(1) | if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made a Sale (including any Sale occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder), the Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the assets that are the subject of such Sale for such period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such period; |
(2) | if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger, consolidation or otherwise) shall have made a Purchase (including any Purchase occurring in connection with a transaction causing a calculation to be made hereunder), |
28 |
Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Purchase occurred on the first day of such period; and |
(3) | if since the beginning of such period any Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and since the beginning of such period such Person shall have made any Sale or Purchase that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above if made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period, Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Sale or Purchase occurred on the first day of such period. |
For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any Sale, Purchase or other transaction, or the amount of income or earnings relating thereto, the pro forma calculations in respect thereof (including in respect of anticipated cost savings or synergies relating to any such Sale, Purchase or other related transaction (subject, in each case, to the provisions and limitations set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”)) shall be as determined in good faith by the Company.
“Management Advances” means (1) loans or advances made to directors, officers, employees or consultants of any Parent, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (x) in respect of travel, entertainment or moving-related expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business, (y) in respect of moving-related expenses incurred in connection with any closing or consolidation of any facility, or (z) in
the ordinary course of business and (in the case of this clause (z)) not exceeding $65.0 million in the aggregate outstanding at any time, (2) promissory notes of Management Investors acquired in connection with the issuance of Management Stock to such Management Investors, (3) Management Guarantees, or (4) other Guarantees of borrowings by Management Investors in connection with the purchase of Management Stock.
“Management Guarantees” means guarantees (x) of up to an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time of $65.0 million of borrowings by Management Investors in connection with their purchase of Management Stock or (y) made on behalf of, or in respect of loans or advances made to, directors, officers, employees or consultants of any Parent, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (1) in respect of travel, entertainment and moving-related expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business or (2) in the ordinary course of business and (in the case of this clause (2)) not exceeding $65.0 million in the aggregate outstanding at any time.
“Management Investors” means the officers, directors, employees and other members of the management of any Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or family members or relatives of any of the foregoing (provided that, solely for purposes of the definition of “Permitted Holders,” such relatives shall include only those Persons who are or become Management Investors in connection with estate planning for or inheritance from other Management Investors, as determined in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive), or trusts, partnerships or limited liability companies for the benefit of any of the foregoing, or any of their heirs, executors, successors and legal representatives, who at any date beneficially own or have the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, Capital Stock of the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent.
“Management Stock” means Capital Stock of the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent (including any options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof) held by any of the Management Investors.
“Market Capitalization” means, an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company or any Parent (including all shares of Capital Stock of such Parent reserved for issuance upon conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of another Parent outstanding on such date) on the date of declaration of the relevant dividend or making of any other Restricted Payment,
29 |
as applicable, multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such capital stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market (or, if the primary listing of such capital stock is on another exchange, on such other exchange) for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding such date.
“Minority Business” means any business unit of the Company that represents less than 50.0% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Minority Business Assets” means the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including Capital Stock of Subsidiaries, that relate to or form part of a Minority Business.
“Minority Business Disposition” means (i) any sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of any Minority Business Subsidiary (whether by issuance or sale of Capital Stock, merger, or otherwise) to one or more Persons (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) in any transaction or series of related transactions following the consummation of which such Minority Business Subsidiary is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (excluding any Minority Business Offering) or (ii) any sale or other disposition of any assets of any Minority Business Subsidiary or other Minority Business Assets, including all or substantially all of the assets of any Minority Business Subsidiary, to one or more Persons (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) in any transaction or series of related transactions.
“Minority Business Disposition Condition” means at any date of determination after giving effect to the Minority Business Disposition or Minority Business Offering, either the (1) Consolidated Coverage
Ratio would be greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00, (2) Consolidated Coverage Ratio is equal or exceeds the Consolidated Coverage Ratio or (3) Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio would not exceed the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio, in the case of each of (2) and (3) immediately prior to giving effect thereto.
“Minority Business Offering” means a public offering of Capital Stock of any Minority Business Subsidiary pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC.
“Minority Business Subsidiary” means any of the Subsidiaries and successors in interest thereto to the extent any of such Subsidiaries form part of the relevant Minority Business.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
“Most Recent Four Quarter Period” means, the four fiscal quarter period of the Company ending on the last date of the most recently completed fiscal year or quarter for which financial statements of the Company have been (or have been required to be) delivered under this Indenture; provided that, at the election of the Company, for purpose of determining the permissibility of any transaction hereunder by reference to the Most Recent Four Quarter Period, the Company may for any four fiscal quarter period ended at the fiscal year end, deliver internal unaudited financial statements of the Company for the last quarter of such four fiscal quarter period.
“Net Available Cash” from an Asset Disposition means an amount equal to the cash payments received (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition or received in any other noncash form) therefrom, in each case net of (i) all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all U.S. federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or to be accrued as a liability under GAAP, in each case as a consequence of, or in respect of, such Asset Disposition (including as a consequence of any transfer of funds in connection with the application thereof in accordance with Section 408), (ii) all payments made, and all installment payments required to be made, on any Indebtedness (x) that is secured by any assets subject to
30 |
such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon such assets or (y) that must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Disposition, or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition, including any payments required to be made to increase borrowing availability under any revolving credit facility, (iii) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Disposition, or to any other Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) owning a beneficial interest in the assets disposed of in such Asset Disposition, (iv) any liabilities or obligations associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Disposition and retained, indemnified or insured by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental matters, and liabilities relating to any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Disposition and (v) the amount of any purchase price or similar adjustment (x) claimed by any Person to be owed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, until such time as such claim shall have been settled or otherwise finally resolved or (y) paid or payable by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in either case in respect of such Asset Disposition.
“Net Cash Proceeds” with respect to any issuance or sale of any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary by the Company or any Subsidiary, or any capital contribution, or any Incurrence of Indebtedness, means the cash proceeds of such issuance, sale, contribution or Incurrence net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage,
consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection with such issuance, sale, contribution or Incurrence and net of taxes paid or payable as a result, or in respect, thereof.
“Net Short” means, with respect to a Holder or beneficial owner, as of a date of determination, either (i) the value of its Short Derivative Instruments exceeds the sum of (x) the value of its Notes plus (y) the value of its Long Derivative Instruments as of such date of determination or (ii) it is reasonably expected that such would have been the case were a “Failure to Pay” or “Bankruptcy Credit Event” (each as defined in the 2014 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions) to have occurred with respect to the Company or any Guarantor immediately prior to such date of determination.
“Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. person, as defined in Regulation S.
“Notes” means the Initial Notes, any Additional Notes and any notes issued in respect thereof pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 312(c), 312(d) or 1006.
“Notes Collateral Agent” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A. in its capacity as “Notes Collateral Agent” or “Collateral Agent” under this Indenture and under the Notes Collateral Documents or any successor or assign thereto in such capacity.
“Notes Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Intercreditor Agreements entered into from time to time, the Notes Security Agreement and the supplements thereto and each other mortgage, instrument and document pursuant to which the Company or a Guarantor grants (or purports to grant) a Lien on any Collateral as security for payment of the Notes Obligations (including, without limitation, financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of relevant states applicable to the Collateral).
“Notes Documents” means, collectively, (a) the Notes (including Additional Notes), (b) the Notes Guarantees, (c) the Notes Collateral Documents and (d) this Indenture.
“Notes Guarantee” means the HGH Guarantee, Holdings’ guarantee of the Notes and any Subsidiary Guarantee.
“Notes Liens” means all Liens securing the Notes Obligations.
31 |
“Notes Obligations” means all Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture and the Notes Collateral Documents.
“Notes Security Agreement” means that certain Notes Collateral Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Notes Collateral Agent, as it may be amended, supplemented, restated, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to this Indenture.
“Obligations” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, any principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company, the Guarantors or any Restricted Subsidiary whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, Guarantees of such Indebtedness (or of Obligations in respect thereof), other monetary obligations of any nature and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.
“Offering Memorandum” means the confidential Offering Memorandum of the Company, dated June 20, 2024, relating to the offering of the Initial Notes.
“Officer” means, with respect to the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Controller, the Treasurer or the Secretary (a) of such Person or (b) if such Person is owned or
managed by a single entity, of such entity (or any other individual designated as an “Officer,” “Authorized Party” or “Authorized Officer” for the purposes of this Indenture by the Board of Directors).
“Officer’s Certificate” means, with respect to the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, a certificate signed by one Officer of such Person.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
“Outstanding,” when used with respect to any Notes means, as of the date of determination, all such Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) any such Note theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) any such Note for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the Holders of such Notes; provided that, if such Notes are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and
(iii) any such Note in exchange for or in lieu of which other Notes have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture.
A Note does not cease to be Outstanding because the Company or any Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; provided that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of outstanding Notes have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Notes owned by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any other obligor on the Notes shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding (but the Notes owned of record or beneficially by any other Affiliates shall be deemed outstanding for all purposes under this Indenture), except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Notes which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding. Notes so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the
32 |
reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
“Parent” means any of HGH, Holdings and any Other Parent and any other Person that is a Subsidiary of HGH, Holdings or any Other Parent and of which the Company is a Subsidiary. As used herein, “Other Parent” means a Person of which the Company becomes a Subsidiary after the Issue Date; provided that either (x) immediately after the Company first becomes a Subsidiary of such Person, more than 50.0% of the Voting Stock of such Person shall be held by one or more Persons that held more than 50.0% of the Voting Stock of the Company or a Parent of the Company immediately prior to the Company first becoming such Subsidiary or (y) such Person shall be deemed not to be an Other Parent for the purpose of determining whether a Change of Control shall have occurred by reason of the Company first becoming a Subsidiary of such Person.
“Parent Expenses” means (i) costs (including all professional fees and expenses) incurred by any Parent in connection with maintaining its existence or in connection with its reporting obligations under, or in connection with compliance with, applicable laws or applicable rules of any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory body or stock exchange, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument relating to Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including in respect of any reports filed with respect to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (ii) expenses incurred by any Parent in connection with the acquisition, development, maintenance, ownership, prosecution, protection and defense of its intellectual property and associated rights (including trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress, domain names, social media identifiers and accounts, patents, copyrights and similar rights, including registrations and registration or renewal applications in respect thereof; inventions, processes, designs, formulae, trade secrets, know-how, confidential information, computer software, data, databases and documentation, and any other intellectual property rights; and licenses of any of the foregoing) to the extent such intellectual property and associated rights relate to the business or businesses of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (iii) indemnification obligations of any Parent owing to directors, officers, employees or other Persons under its charter or by-laws or pursuant to written agreements with or for the benefit of any such Person, or obligations in respect of director and officer insurance (including premiums therefor), (iv) other administrative and operational expenses of any Parent incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (v) fees and expenses incurred by any Parent in connection with any offering of Capital Stock or Indebtedness, (w) which offering is not completed, or (x) where the net proceeds of such offering are intended to be received by or contributed or loaned to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, or (y) in a prorated amount of such expenses in proportion to the amount of such net proceeds intended to be so received, contributed or loaned, or (z) otherwise on an interim basis prior to completion of such offering so long as any Parent shall cause the amount of such expenses to be repaid to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary out of the proceeds of such offering promptly if completed.
“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Notes on behalf of the Company; provided that neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall act as Paying Agent for purposes of Section 1102 or Section 1205.
“Performance References” has the meaning set forth for such term in the definition of “Derivative Instrument.”
“Permitted Holder” means any of the following: (i) any of the Management Investors; (ii) the Plan Sponsors, (iii) any “group” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) of which any of the Persons specified in clause (i) or (ii) above is a member (provided that (without giving effect to the existence of such “group” or any other “group”) one or more of such Persons collectively have beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the relevant Parent entity held by such “group”), and any other Person that is a member
33 |
of such “group” and (iv) any Person acting in the capacity of an underwriter in connection with a public or private offering of Capital Stock of HGH or any Subsidiary thereof or any Parent entity. In addition, any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) whose status as a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) constitutes or results in a Change of Control in respect of which the Company consummates a Change of Control Offer, together with its Affiliates, shall thereafter constitute a Permitted Holder.
“Permitted Investment” means an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in, or consisting of, any of the following:
(a) a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company or a Person that will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (and any Investment held by such Person that was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of so becoming a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that with respect to any Investment pursuant to this clause (a) of property or assets that constitute Collateral, such Investment shall only be made in the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor;
(b) another Person if as a result of such Investment such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (and, in each case, any Investment held by such other Person that was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or transfer);
(c) Temporary Cash Investments, Investment Grade Securities or Cash Equivalents;
(d) receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business;
(e) any securities or other Investments received as consideration in, or retained in connection with, sales or other dispositions of property or assets, including Asset Dispositions made in compliance with Section 408;
(f) securities or other Investments received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to, or of other claims asserted by, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or as a result of foreclosure, perfection or enforcement of any Lien, or in satisfaction of judgments, including in connection with any bankruptcy proceeding or other reorganization of another Person;
(g) Investments in existence or made pursuant to legally binding written commitments in existence on the Issue Date;
(h) Hedge Agreements and related Hedging Obligations;
(i) pledges or deposits (x) with respect to leases or utilities provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business or (y) otherwise described in, or made in connection with Liens permitted under Section 409;
(j) (1) Investments in or by any Special Purpose Subsidiary, or in connection with a Financing Disposition by, to, in or in favor of any Special Purpose Entity, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Financing Disposition or any related Indebtedness, or (2) any promissory note issued by the Company, or any Parent; provided that if such Parent receives cash from the relevant Special Purpose Entity in exchange for such note, an equal cash amount is contributed by any Parent to the Company;
34 |
(k) bonds secured by assets leased to and operated by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that were issued in connection with the financing of such assets so long as the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may obtain title to such assets at any time by paying a nominal fee, cancelling such bonds and terminating the transaction;
(l) any Investment to the extent made using Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), or Capital Stock of any Parent, as consideration;
(m) Management Advances;
(n) Investments consisting of, or arising out of or related to, Vehicle Rental Concession Rights, including any Investments referred to in the definition of “Vehicle Rental Concession Rights,” and any Investments in Franchisees arising as a result of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary being party to any Vehicle Rental Concession or any related agreement jointly with any Franchisee, or leasing or subleasing any part of a Public Facility or other property to any Franchisee, or guaranteeing any obligation of any Franchisee in respect of any Vehicle Rental Concession or any related agreement;
(o) any transaction between or among any of the Company, one or more Restricted Subsidiaries or one or more Special Purpose Entities;
(p) any transaction arising out of agreements or instruments in existence on the Issue Date, and any payments made pursuant thereto;
(q) Investments in Related Businesses in an aggregate amount not to exceed $225.0 million;
(r) (1) Investments in Franchise Special Purpose Entities directly or indirectly to finance or refinance the acquisition of Franchise Vehicles and/or related rights and/or assets, (2) Investments in Franchisees attributable to the acquisition, sale, leasing, financing or refinancing of Franchise Vehicles and/or related rights and/or assets, as determined in good faith by the Company, (3) Investments in Franchisees, (4) Investments in Capital Stock of Franchisees and Franchise Special Purpose Entities (including pursuant to capital contributions), and (5) Investments in Franchisees arising as the result of Guarantees of Franchise Vehicle Indebtedness or Franchise Lease Obligations;
(s) any Investment by any Captive Insurance Subsidiary in connection with the provision of insurance to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which Investment is made in the ordinary course of business of such Captive Insurance Subsidiary, or by reason of applicable law, rule, regulation or order, or that is required or approved by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Captive Insurance Subsidiary or its business, as applicable;
(t) any Investment pursuant to an agreement entered into in connection with any securities lending or other securities financing transaction to the extent such securities lending or other securities financing transaction is otherwise permitted by the provisions of Section 408;
(u) Investments made as part of an Islamic financing arrangement, including Sukuk, if such arrangement, if structured as Indebtedness, would be permitted hereunder; provided that, the amount that would constitute Indebtedness if such arrangement were structured as Indebtedness, as determined in good faith by the Company, shall be treated by the Company as Indebtedness (including, to the extent applicable, with respect to the calculation of any amounts of Indebtedness outstanding thereunder);
35 |
(v) Investments for bona fide tax (or similar) planning activities; provided that the security interest of the Notes Collateral Agent in the Collateral is not materially impaired thereby, in each case, as determined by the Company in good faith;
(w) (1) payments, compensation, performance of indemnification or contribution obligations, the making or cancellation of loans or any issuance, grant or award of stock, options, other equity-related interests or other securities, to any current or former employees, officers, directors or consultants of or to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent in the ordinary course of business, and (2) any transaction with an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent in the ordinary course of business (x) not involving more than $1.0 million in any one case or (y) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors;
(x) any issuance or sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any Parent or capital contribution to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(y) transactions between the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Plan Sponsors, on the other hand, with respect to the Amex GBT Contracts;
(z) Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $317.5 million, plus any amounts reallocated (and not otherwise utilized) from clause (xvii) of the definition of Permitted Payments;
(aa) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $160.0 million; and
(bb) Investments in joint ventures in an aggregate amount not to exceed $160.0 million.
If any Investment pursuant to clause (viii) of the definition of Permitted Payments is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary and such Person thereafter (A) becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) is merged or consolidated into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, then such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above, respectively, and not clause (viii) of the definition of Permitted Payments.
“Permitted Liens” means:
(a) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges (i) not yet delinquent or the nonpayment of which in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, as the case may be, in accordance with GAAP or (iii) that are excused or prohibited by the Bankruptcy Code or not otherwise authorized by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware with respect to periods prior to the Issue Date;
(b) Liens with respect to outstanding motor vehicle fines and carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, landlords’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations that are not known to be overdue for a period of more than 60 days or that are bonded or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;
(c) pledges, deposits or Liens in connection with workers’ compensation, professional liability insurance, unemployment insurance and other social security and other
36 |
similar legislation or other insurance related obligations (including pledges or deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements);
(d) pledges, deposits or Liens to secure the performance of bids, tenders, trade, government or other contracts (other than for borrowed money), obligations for utilities, leases, licenses, statutory obligations, completion guarantees, surety, judgment, appeal or performance bonds, other similar bonds, instruments or obligations, and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(e) easements (including reciprocal easement agreements), rights-of-way, building, zoning and similar restrictions, utility agreements, covenants, reservations, restrictions, encroachments, charges and other similar encumbrances or title defects incurred, or leases or subleases granted to others, in the ordinary course of business, which do not in the aggregate materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(f) Liens existing on, or provided for under written arrangements existing on, the Issue Date, including Liens securing the Exchangeable Notes, the guarantees related thereto and any paid-in-kind interest thereon (other than any additional notes issued after the original issue date of the Exchangeable Notes that do not constitute paid-in-kind interest and the guarantees related to any such additional notes), or (in the case of any such Liens securing Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries existing or arising under written arrangements existing on the Issue Date, including Liens securing the Exchangeable Notes and the guarantees related thereto (other than any additional notes issued after the original issue date of the Exchangeable Notes and the guarantees related to any such additional notes)) securing any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such Indebtedness so long as (i) the Lien securing such Refinancing Indebtedness is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or under such written arrangements could secure) the original Indebtedness and (ii) the Lien securing such Refinancing Indebtedness has the same or junior priority as the Lien securing the Indebtedness being refinanced or replaced;
(g) (i) mortgages, liens, security interests, restrictions, encumbrances or any other matters of record that have been placed by any developer, landlord or other third party on property over which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has easement rights or on any leased property and subordination or similar agreements relating thereto and (ii) any condemnation or eminent domain proceedings affecting any real property;
(h) Liens securing Indebtedness (including Liens securing any Obligations in respect thereof) consisting of (i) Hedging Obligations or Bank Products Obligations and (ii) Purchase Money Obligations or Finance Lease Obligations Incurred under Section 413(b)(iv);
(i) Liens arising out of judgments, decrees, orders or awards in respect of which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review, which appeal or proceedings shall not have been finally terminated, or if the period within which such appeal or proceedings may be initiated shall not have expired;
(j) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses to or from third parties;
37 |
(k) Liens securing Indebtedness (including Liens securing any Obligations in respect thereof) consisting of:
(i) Liens on the Collateral securing Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to any Credit Facility (including in respect of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued or created thereunder) and Indebtedness Incurred other than under any Credit Facility, and (without limiting the foregoing), in each case, any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, in a maximum principal amount at any time outstanding not exceeding in the aggregate the amount equal to the sum of (A) $4,045.0 million, plus (B) $500.0 million, plus (C) in the event of any refinancing of any such Indebtedness, the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses (including accrued and unpaid interest) incurred in connection with such refinancing; provided that, prior to August 31, 2025, (1) no Indebtedness shall be secured pursuant to subclause (B) of this clause (i) to purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise refinance any Unsecured Senior Indebtedness and (2) no revolving credit facility borrowings shall be secured pursuant to this clause (i) to purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise refinance any Unsecured Senior Indebtedness;
(ii) Indebtedness consisting of (w) Indebtedness supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to any Credit Facility in a principal amount not exceeding the face amount of such letter of credit, (x) accommodation guarantees for the benefit of trade creditors of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (y) Guarantees in connection with the construction or improvement of all or any portion of a Public Facility to be used by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (z) any Guarantee in respect of any Franchise Vehicle Indebtedness or Franchise Lease Obligation;
(iii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) arising from the honoring of a check, draft or similar instrument of such Person drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, or (B) consisting of guarantees, indemnities, obligations in respect of earn-outs or other purchase price adjustments or similar obligations Incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or Person;
(iv) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of (A) letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments or obligations issued, or relating to liabilities or obligations incurred, in the ordinary course of business (including those issued to governmental entities in connection with self-insurance under applicable workers’ compensation statutes), or (B) completion guarantees, surety, judgment, appeal or performance bonds, or other similar bonds, instruments or obligations, provided, or relating to liabilities or obligations incurred, in the ordinary course of business, or (C) Management Guarantees, or (D) the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business, or (E) take-or-pay obligations under supply arrangements incurred in the ordinary course of business, or (F) netting, overdraft protection and other arrangements arising under standard business terms of any bank at which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary maintains an overdraft, cash pooling or other similar facility or arrangement;
(v) the Notes Obligations (other than Notes Obligations in respect of any Additional Notes); or
(vi) Indebtedness or other obligations in respect of Management Advances or Management Guarantees,
38 |
in each case under the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) including Liens securing any Guarantee of any thereof;
(l) Liens existing on property or assets of a Person at, or provided for under written arrangements existing at, the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company (or at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquires such property or assets, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however, that such Liens and arrangements are not created in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary (or such acquisition of such property or assets), and that such Liens are limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which such Liens arose, could secure) the obligations to which such Liens relate; provided, further, that for purposes of this clause (l), if a Person other than the Company is the Successor Company with respect thereto, any Subsidiary thereof shall be deemed to become a Subsidiary of the Company, and any property or assets of such Person or any such Subsidiary shall be deemed acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, when such Person becomes such Successor Company;
(m) Liens on Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other securities of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that no Lien on such Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other securities is granted to secure any Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture);
(n) (i) any encumbrance or restriction (including pursuant to put and call agreements or buy/sell arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement or (ii) Liens on Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other securities of any joint venture that is not a Subsidiary securing Indebtedness or other obligations of such joint venture;
(o) Liens securing Indebtedness (including Liens securing any Obligations in respect thereof) consisting of Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in respect of any Indebtedness secured by, or securing any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (in whole or in part) of any other obligation secured by, any other Permitted Liens; provided that (i) any such new Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the obligations to which such Liens relate and (ii) any such new Lien has the same or junior priority as the Lien securing the Indebtedness being refinanced or replaced;
(p) Liens (1) arising by operation of law (or by agreement to the same effect) in the ordinary course of business, (2) on property or assets under construction (and related rights) in favor of a contractor or developer or arising from progress or partial payments by a third party relating to such property or assets, (3) on receivables (including related rights) not securing any Indebtedness for borrowed money, (4) on cash set aside at the time of the Incurrence of any Indebtedness or government securities purchased with such cash, in either case to the extent that such cash or government securities prefund the payment of interest on such Indebtedness and are held in an escrow account or similar arrangement to be applied for such purpose, (5) securing or arising by reason of any netting or set-off arrangement entered into in the ordinary course of banking or other trading activities (including in connection with purchase orders and other agreements with customers), (6) in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than Liens on property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in favor of any Subsidiary that is
39 |
not a Subsidiary Guarantor), (7) arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business, (8) on inventory or goods and proceeds securing the obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods, (9) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts to permit satisfaction of overdraft, cash pooling or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (10) attaching to commodity trading or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, (11) arising in connection with repurchase agreements on assets that are the subject of such repurchase agreements, (12) [reserved], (13) in favor of any Franchise Special Purpose Entity in connection with any Franchise Financing Disposition, (14) [reserved], or (15) evidenced by the filing of Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent) financing statements solely as a precautionary measure in connection with leases or consignment of goods;
(q) Liens on or under, or arising out of or relating to, any Vehicle Rental Concession Rights (including Liens securing Indebtedness consisting of Guarantees required (in the good faith determination of the Company, which determination shall be conclusive) in connection with Vehicle Rental Concession Rights); and
(r) Liens securing Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness; provided that such Liens are granted on property or assets that do not constitute Collateral and such property or assets are of a type securing the Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date or consistent with past practice.
For purposes of determining compliance with this definition, (i) a Lien need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Permitted Liens described in this definition but may be incurred under any combination of such categories (including in part under one such category and in part under any other such category); (ii) in the event that a Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of such categories of Permitted Liens, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this definition; (iii) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by a Lien outstanding under any category of Permitted Liens shall be determined after giving effect to the application of proceeds of any such Indebtedness to refinance any such other Indebtedness; (iv) any Lien securing Indebtedness that was permitted to secure such Indebtedness at the time of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness shall also be permitted to secure any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with the accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness and the payment of dividends on Capital Stock constituting Indebtedness in the form of additional shares of the same class of Capital Stock; (v) if any Indebtedness or other obligation is secured by any Lien outstanding under any category of Permitted Liens measured by reference to a Dollar-denominated restriction, the Dollar-equivalent principal amount of such Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date that such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit or deferred draw Indebtedness; provided that (x) the Dollar-equivalent principal amount of any such Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the Issue Date, (y) if such Indebtedness is refinanced by any Indebtedness or other obligation secured by any Lien incurred by reference to such category of Permitted Liens, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect of the date of such refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall not be deemed to have been exceeded (and such refinancing Lien shall be deemed permitted) so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness or other obligation does not exceed (a) an amount equal to the outstanding or committed principal amount (whichever is higher) of such Indebtedness being refinanced, plus (b) the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses (including accrued and unpaid interest) incurred or payable in connection with such refinancing and
40 |
(z) the Dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency and Incurred pursuant to the First Lien Credit Facility shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on, at the Company’s option, (i) the Issue Date, (ii) any date on which any of the respective commitments under the First Lien Credit Facility shall be reallocated between or among facilities or subfacilities thereunder, or on which such rate is otherwise calculated for any purpose thereunder or (iii) the date of such Incurrence; and (vi) the principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or any other entity of whatever nature.
“Place of Payment” means a city or any political subdivision thereof in which any Paying Agent appointed pursuant to Article III is located.
“Plan Sponsors” means, collectively, certain funds and accounts managed or advised by Knighthead Capital Management, LLC or one of its Controlled Investment Affiliates and certain funds
and accounts managed or advised by Certares Opportunities LLC or one of its Controlled Investment Affiliates and CK Amarillo LP, a Delaware limited partnership formed by Certares and Knighthead.
“Pledged Stock” means, with respect to the Company or any Guarantor, the shares of Capital Stock that constitute Collateral, together with any other shares of Capital Stock required to be pledged by such entity (a “Pledgor”) pursuant to this Indenture, as well as any other shares, stock certificates, options or rights of any nature whatsoever in respect of the Capital Stock of any Person that may be issued or granted to, or held by, such Pledgor; provided that in no event shall there be pledged, nor shall any Pledgor be required to pledge, directly or indirectly, (i) more than 65% of the voting stock of any series of the outstanding Capital Stock (including for these purposes any investment deemed to be equity for U.S. tax purposes) of any first-tier Foreign Subsidiary, (ii) any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary (including for these purposes any investment deemed to be equity for U.S. tax purposes), (iii) de minimis shares of a Foreign Subsidiary held by any Pledgor as a nominee or in a similar capacity, (iv) any Capital Stock of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (v) any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of a Special Purpose Subsidiary, (vi) any Capital Stock of any Captive Insurance Subsidiary (or any Subsidiary thereof), (vii) any Capital Stock of HIRE Bermuda Limited, (viii) any Capital Stock of Hertz International RE Limited, (ix) any Capital Stock of Navigation Solutions, LLC, (x) any Capital Stock of Hertz Vehicle Sales Corporation, (xi) any Capital Stock of any joint ventures or any non-wholly owned Subsidiaries, (xii) any Capital Stock of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of HGH (other than Holdings) that is formed solely for the purpose of (A) becoming an indirect or direct parent of Holdings, or (B) merging with the Company in connection with another Subsidiary becoming such a parent entity, in each case, to the extent such entity becomes a parent of Holdings or is merged with the Company within 60 days of the formation thereof, (xiii) any Capital Stock of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary Holdco (including for these purposes any investment deemed to be equity for U.S. tax purposes), (xiv) any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary formed in connection with a funded letter of credit facility or (xv) without duplication, any Excluded Property.
“Predecessor Notes” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in lieu of a mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note.
41 |
“Preferred Stock” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation or company means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) that by its terms is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation or company, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation or company.
“Public Company Costs” means any costs, fees and expenses associated with, in anticipation of, or in preparation for, compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith and costs, fees and expenses relating to compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (as applicable to companies with equity or debt securities held by the public), the rules of national securities exchanges for companies with listed equity or debt securities, directors’ or managers’ compensation, fees and expense reimbursements, charges relating to investor relations, shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders and debtholders, directors’ and officers’ insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees and listing fees.
“Public Facility” means (i) any airport; marine port; rail, subway, bus or other transit stop, station or terminal; stadium; convention center; or military camp, fort, post or base or (ii) any other facility owned or operated by any nation or government or political subdivision thereof, or agency, authority or other instrumentality of any thereof, or other entity exercising regulatory, administrative or other functions of or pertaining to government, or any organization of nations (including the United Nations, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
“Public Facility Operator” means a Person that grants or has the power to grant a Vehicle Rental Concession.
“Purchase” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Coverage Ratio.”
“Purchase Money Obligations” means any Indebtedness Incurred to finance or refinance the acquisition, leasing, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or assets, and whether acquired through the direct acquisition of such property or assets or the acquisition of the Capital Stock of any Person owning such property or assets, or otherwise; provided that for purposes of the definition of “Consolidated Total Corporate Indebtedness,” the term “Purchase Money Obligations” shall not include Indebtedness to the extent Incurred to finance or refinance the direct acquisition of Inventory or Vehicles (not acquired through the acquisition of Capital Stock of any Person owning property or assets, or through the acquisition of property or assets, that include Inventory or Vehicles).
“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer,” as that term is defined in Rule 144A.
“Qualified IPO” means any transaction or series of transactions that results in the issuance, sale or listing of common equity interests of the Company or any Parent pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act (whether alone, in connection with an underwritten or secondary public offering or otherwise) including by merger, consolidation or otherwise with and into a special purpose acquisition company or other Person that has consummated (or will consummate) an offering of the common Capital Stock of HGH or any Parent and such equity interests are listed on a nationally-recognized stock exchange or over-the-counter market in the U.S. or any analogous exchange or other recognized securities exchange in Canada, the United Kingdom or any country of the European Union.
“Rating Agency” means Moody’s or S&P or, if Moody’s or S&P or both shall not make a rating on the Notes publicly available, a rating agency or agencies recognized internationally or in the United States of America, as the case may be, selected by the Company which shall be substituted for Moody’s or S&P or both, as the case may be.
42 |
“Rating Event” means a decrease of one or more gradations (including gradations within rating categories as well as between rating categories and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, changes in ratings outlook) in the rating of the Notes by both Rating Agencies or a withdrawal of the rating of the Notes by both Rating Agencies on, or within 30 days following, the earlier of (x) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (y) the date of public announcement of the occurrence of a Change of Control or of the intention by the Company to effect a Change of Control, which period shall be extended for a period not longer than 30 days so long as the rating of the Notes relating to the Change of Control is under publicly announced consideration for downgrade by the applicable Rating Agency; provided, however, that a downgrade of the Notes by the applicable Rating Agency shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a downgrade for purposes of this definition of Rating Event) if such Rating Agency making the downgrade in rating does not publicly announce or confirm or inform the Company or the Trustee in writing at the request of the Company that the downgrade is a result of the transactions constituting or occurring simultaneously with the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of such downgrade).
“Receivable” means a right to receive payment pursuant to an arrangement with another Person pursuant to which such other Person is obligated to pay, as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Redemption Date” means, when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed or purchased, the date fixed for such redemption or purchase by or pursuant to this Indenture.
“refinance” means refinance, refund, replace, renew, repay, modify, restate, defer, substitute, supplement, reissue, resell or extend (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) and the terms “refinances,” “refinanced” and “refinancing” as used for any purpose in this Indenture shall have a correlative meaning.
“Refinancing Credit Facility” means any syndicated Credit Facility under which the Company incurs Indebtedness to refinance all or any portion of its Indebtedness under the First Lien Credit Facility.
“Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is Incurred to refinance any Indebtedness (or unutilized commitment in respect of Indebtedness) existing on the Issue Date or Incurred (or established) in compliance with this Indenture (including Indebtedness of the Company that refinances Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) including Indebtedness that refinances Refinancing Indebtedness, and Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to a commitment that refinances any Indebtedness or unutilized commitment; provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced, plus (y) an amount equal to any unutilized commitment relating to the Indebtedness being refinanced or otherwise then outstanding under a Credit Facility or other financing arrangement being refinanced to the extent the unutilized commitment being refinanced could be drawn in compliance with this Indenture immediately prior to such refinancing, plus (z) fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses (including accrued and unpaid interest) incurred or payable in connection with such Refinancing Indebtedness.
“Regular Record Date” means for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means January 1 or July 1 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
“Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.
43 |
“Regulation S Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
“Related Business” means those businesses in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is engaged on the Issue Date, or that are similar, related, complementary, incidental or ancillary thereto or extensions, developments or expansions thereof.
“Related Taxes” means (i) any taxes, charges or assessments, including sales, use, transfer, rental, ad valorem, value added, stamp, property, consumption, franchise, license, capital, net worth, gross receipts, excise, occupancy, intangibles or similar taxes, charges or assessments (other than U.S. federal, state or local taxes measured by income and U.S. federal, state or local withholding imposed by any government or other taxing authority on payments made by any Parent other than to another Parent), required to be paid by any Parent by virtue of its being incorporated, organized or having Capital Stock outstanding (but not by virtue of owning stock or other equity interests of any corporation or other entity other than the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent), or being a holding company parent of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent or receiving dividends from or other distributions in respect of the Capital Stock of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent, or having guaranteed any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, or having made any payment in respect of any of the items for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is permitted to make payments to any Parent pursuant to Section 406, or acquiring, developing, maintaining, owning, prosecuting, protecting or
defending its intellectual property and associated rights (including receiving or paying royalties for the use thereof) relating to the business or businesses of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, or (ii) any other U.S. federal, state, foreign, provincial, territorial or local taxes measured by income up to an amount not to exceed, with respect to U.S. federal taxes, the amount of any such taxes that the Company and its Subsidiaries would have been required to pay on a separate company basis, or on a consolidated basis as if the Company had filed a consolidated return on behalf of an affiliated group (as defined in Section 1504 of the Code) of which it were the common parent, or with respect to state, foreign, provincial, territorial and local taxes, the amount of any such taxes that the Company and its Subsidiaries would have been required to pay on a separate company basis, or on a consolidated, combined, unitary or affiliated basis as if the Company had filed a consolidated, combined, unitary or affiliated return on behalf of an affiliated group (as defined in the applicable state, foreign, provincial, territorial or local tax laws for filing such return) consisting only of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Taxes include all interest, penalties and additions relating thereto.
“Rental Car LKE Account” means any deposit, trust, investment or similar account maintained by, for the benefit of, or under the control of, the “qualified intermediary” in connection with the Rental Car LKE Program.
“Rental Car LKE Program” means a “like-kind-exchange program” with respect to certain of the Vehicles of the Company and its Subsidiaries, under which such Vehicles will be disposed from time to time and proceeds of such dispositions will be held in a Rental Car LKE Account and used to acquire replacement Vehicles and/or repay Indebtedness secured by such Vehicles, in a series of transactions intended to qualify as a “like-kind-exchange” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code (or comparable term pursuant to a substantially similar program under the Uniform Commercial Code).
“Rental Car Vehicles” means all Vehicles owned by or leased to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that are or have been offered for lease or rental by any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in their vehicle rental operations, including any such Vehicles being held for sale.
“Reorganization Assets” means any assets sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of to any Franchisee or any Franchise Special Purpose Entity.
44 |
“Resale Restriction Termination Date” means, with respect to any Note, the date that is one year (or such other period as may hereafter be provided under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any successor provision thereto as permitting the resale by non-affiliates of Restricted Securities without restriction) after the later of the original issue date in respect of such Note and the last date on which the Company or any Affiliate of the Company was the owner of such Note (or any Predecessor Note thereto).
“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, who has direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, including any vice president or assistant vice president, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Restricted Fleet Cash” means cash, Cash Equivalents, Investment Grade Securities and Temporary Cash Investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are classified as “restricted” for financial statement purposes to be used for the purchase of revenue earning vehicles and other specified uses under the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ fleet financing facilities, including any Rental Car LKE Program.
“Restricted Investment” means any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Permitted Investment.
“Restricted Payment Transaction” means any Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 406, any Permitted Payment or any transaction specifically excluded from the definition of “Restricted Payment” (including pursuant to the exception contained in clause (i) of such definition and the parenthetical exclusions contained in clauses (ii) and (iii) of such definition).
“Restricted Security” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act; provided, however, that the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, at its request, and conclusively rely on an Opinion of Counsel with respect to whether any Note constitutes a Restricted Security.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings (a division of S&P Global Inc.) and its successors.
“Sale” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Coverage Ratio.”
“Screened Affiliate” means any Affiliate of a Holder (i) that makes investment decisions independently from such Holder and any other Affiliate of such Holder that is not a Screened Affiliate, (ii) that has in place customary information screens between it and such Holder and any other Affiliate of such Holder that is not a Screened Affiliate and such screens prohibit the sharing of information with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries, (iii) whose investment policies are not directed by such Holder or any other Affiliate of such Holder that is acting in concert with such Holder in connection with its investment in the Notes, and (iv) whose investment decisions are not influenced by the investment decisions of such Holder or any other Affiliate of such Holder that is acting in concert with such Holders in connection with its investment in the Notes.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
45 |
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Senior Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than (x) in the case of the Company, Subordinated Obligations and (y) in the case of any Subsidiary Guarantor, Guarantor Subordinated Obligations.
“Service Vehicles” means all Vehicles owned by the Company or a Subsidiary thereof that are classified as “plant, property and equipment” in the consolidated financial statements of the Company that are not rented or offered for rental by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including any such Vehicles being held for sale.
“Short Derivative Instrument” means a Derivative Instrument (i) the value of which generally decreases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally increase, with positive changes to the Performance References and/or (ii) the value of which generally increases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally decrease, with negative changes to the Performance References.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC, as such Regulation is in effect on the Existing Notes Issue Date.
“Special Purpose Entity” means (x) any Special Purpose Subsidiary or (y) any other Person that is engaged in the business of (i) acquiring, selling, collecting, financing or refinancing Receivables, accounts (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any jurisdiction from time to time), other accounts and/or other receivables, and/or related assets, and/or (ii) acquiring, selling, leasing, financing or refinancing Vehicles and/or related rights (including under leases, manufacturer warranties and buy-back programs, and insurance policies) and/or assets (including managing, exercising and disposing of any such rights and/or assets).
“Special Purpose Financing” means any financing or refinancing of assets consisting of or including Receivables and/or Vehicles of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that have been transferred to a Special Purpose Entity or made subject to a Lien in a Financing Disposition.
“Special Purpose Financing Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Special Purpose Financing.
“Special Purpose Financing Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities, guarantees of performance and (subject to clause (y) of the proviso below) other agreements and undertakings entered into or provided by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that the Company determines in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive) are customary or otherwise necessary or advisable in connection with a Special Purpose Financing or a Financing Disposition; provided that (x) it is understood that Special Purpose Financing Undertakings may consist of or include (i) reimbursement and other obligations in respect of notes, letters of credit, surety bonds and similar instruments provided for credit enhancement purposes or (ii) Hedging Obligations, or other obligations relating to Interest Rate Agreements, Currency Agreements or Commodities Agreements entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in respect of any Special Purpose Financing or Financing Disposition, and (y) subject to the preceding clause (x), any such other agreements and undertakings shall not include any Guarantee of Indebtedness of a Special Purpose Subsidiary by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Special Purpose Subsidiary.
“Special Purpose Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Company that (a) is engaged solely in (x) the business of (i) acquiring, selling, collecting, financing or refinancing Receivables, accounts (as
46 |
defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any jurisdiction from time to time) and other accounts and receivables (including any thereof constituting or evidenced by chattel paper, instruments or general intangibles), all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual and other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and/or (ii) acquiring, selling, leasing, financing or refinancing Vehicles and/or related rights (including under leases, manufacturer warranties and buy-back programs, and insurance policies) and/or assets (including managing, exercising and disposing of any such rights and/or assets), all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual and other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and (y) any business or activities incidental or related to such business; and (b) is designated as a “Special Purpose Subsidiary” by the Company.
“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, the date specified in such Indebtedness as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such Indebtedness is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase or repayment of such Indebtedness at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency).
“Subordinated Obligations” means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter Incurred) that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the
Notes pursuant to a written agreement and, as such term is used in the covenants described under Article IV herein, in an aggregate amount in excess of the greater of $100.0 million and 15.0% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA.
“Subsidiary” of any Person means any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other equity interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person or (ii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
“Subsidiary Guarantee” means any guarantee of the Notes that may from time to time be entered into by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company on or after the Issue Date pursuant to Section 410. As used in this Indenture, “Subsidiary Guarantee” refers to a Subsidiary Guarantee of the Notes.
“Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that enters into a Subsidiary Guarantee, in each case, unless and until such Subsidiary is released from such Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. As used in this Indenture, “Subsidiary Guarantor” refers to a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Notes.
“Temporary Cash Investments” means any of the following: (i) any investment in (x) direct obligations of the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, a member state of the European Union or any country in whose currency funds are being held pending their application in the making of an investment or capital expenditure by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in that country or with such funds, or any agency or instrumentality of any thereof or obligations Guaranteed by the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, a member state of the European Union or any country in whose currency funds are being held pending their application in the making of an investment or capital expenditure by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in that country or with such funds, or any agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing, or obligations guaranteed by any of the foregoing or (y) direct obligations of any foreign country recognized by the United States of America rated at least “A” by S&P or “A-1” by Moody’s (or, in either case, the equivalent of such rating by such organization or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any rating agency recognized internationally or in the United States of America); (ii) overnight bank deposits, and
47 |
investments in time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and money market deposits (or, with respect to foreign banks, similar instruments) maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition thereof issued by (x) any bank or other institutional lender under a Credit Facility or any affiliate thereof or (y) a bank or trust company that is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America having capital and surplus aggregating in excess of $250.0 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof); (iii) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities or instruments of the types described in clause (i) or (ii) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (ii) above; (iv) Investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than 270 days after the date of acquisition, issued by a Person (other than that of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), with a rating at the time as of which any Investment therein is made of “P-2” (or higher) according to Moody’s or “A-2” (or higher) according to S&P (or, in either case, the equivalent of such rating by such organization or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any rating agency recognized internationally or in the United States of America); (v) Investments in securities maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least “A-2” by S&P or “P-2” by Moody’s (or, in either case, the equivalent of such rating by such organization or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any rating agency recognized internationally or in the United States of America); (vi) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock (other than of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) having a rating of “A” or higher by S&P or “A2” or higher by Moody’s (or, in either case, the equivalent of such rating by such organization or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any rating agency recognized internationally or in the United States of America); (vii) investment funds investing 95.0% or more of their assets in securities of the type described in clauses (i) through (vi) above (which funds may also hold cash pending investment and/or distribution); (viii) any money market deposit accounts issued or offered by a domestic commercial bank or a commercial bank organized and located in a country recognized by the United States of America, in each case, having capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof), or investments in money market funds subject to the risk limiting conditions of Rule 2a-7 (or any successor rule) of the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and (ix) similar investments approved by the Board of Directors in the ordinary course of business. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this definition and the definitions of “Cash Equivalents” and “Investment Grade Rating,” rating identifiers, watches and outlooks will be disregarded in determining whether any obligations satisfy the rating requirement therein.
“Term C Loan Collateral Accounts” means the cash collateral accounts or securities accounts established pursuant to, and subject to the terms of, the First Lien Credit Agreement for the purpose of cash collateralizing the Term L/C Obligations in respect of Term Letters of Credit (as each such term is defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement).
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-7bbbb), as amended.
“Trade Payables” means, with respect to any Person, any accounts payable or any indebtedness or monetary obligation to trade creditors created, assumed or guaranteed by such Person arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the acquisition of goods or services.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to a Redemption Date, the weekly average yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the date of the applicable redemption notice (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such Redemption Date to July 15, 2027; provided, however, that if the period from the
48 |
Redemption Date to such date is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the Redemption Date to such date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used, in each case, as determined by the Company in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive).
“Trustee” means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.
“Uniform Commercial Code” means, except as otherwise provided herein, the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York from time to time.
“Unrestricted Cash” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of cash, Cash Equivalents and Temporary Cash Investments included in the cash accounts listed on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the last day of the Company’s fiscal month ending immediately prior to such date of determination for which a consolidated balance sheet is available to the extent such cash is not classified as “restricted” for financial statement purposes (unless so classified solely (w) because of any provision under this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument governing other Indebtedness that is subject to any Intercreditor Agreement or (x) because they are subject to a Lien securing the Notes Obligations or other Indebtedness that is subject to any Intercreditor Agreement or (y) because they are (or will be) used to cash collateralize or otherwise support any funded letter of credit facility or (z) because they are to be used for specified purposes in connection with a Special Purpose Financing relating to, or other financing secured by, customer Receivables); provided that (i) Unrestricted Cash shall not include any amounts on deposit in or credited to any Term C Loan Collateral Account and (ii) for purposes of any calculation of the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio, “Unrestricted Cash” shall not include any proceeds of such Indebtedness borrowed at the time of determination of such ratio.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, as designated by the Board of Directors in the manner provided below, and (ii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided that (A) such designation was made at or prior to the Issue Date or (B) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less or (C) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 406. The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that immediately after giving effect to such designation (x) the Consolidated Coverage Ratio would be equal to or greater than 2.00:1.00 or (y) such Subsidiary shall be a Special Purpose Subsidiary with no Indebtedness outstanding other than Indebtedness that is not recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Special Purpose Subsidiary (other than with respect to Special Purpose Financing Undertakings). Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate of the Company certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions. Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, (i) the Board of Directors shall not designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) that owns, or holds an exclusive license to, any Intellectual Property to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (ii) the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
49 |
Restricted Subsidiaries to, sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of (including pursuant to an Investment) any Intellectual Property that is owned by, or exclusively licensed to, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Unsecured Senior Indebtedness” means Senior Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien on any property or assets (other than property or assets held in a defeasance or similar trust or arrangement for the benefit of the Indebtedness secured thereby).
“U.S. Government Obligation” means (x) any security that is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case under the preceding clause (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation that is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation that is so specified and held; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“VAT” means (a) any tax imposed in compliance with (but subject to the derogations from) the council directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112) and Sixth Council directive of 17 May 1977 on the harmonization of the laws of member states relating to turnover taxes-common system of value added tax: uniform basis of assessment (EC Directive 77/388); and (b) any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in paragraph (a) or elsewhere.
“VAT Receivables” means, with respect to any Person, the net position of VAT receivables (less VAT payables) such Person is entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority.
“Vehicle Rental Concession” means any right, whether or not exclusive, to conduct a Vehicle rental business at a Public Facility, or to pick up or discharge persons or otherwise to possess or use all or part of a Public Facility in connection with such a business, and any related rights or interests.
“Vehicle Rental Concession Rights” means any or all of the following: (a) any Vehicle Rental Concession; (b) any rights of the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Franchisee under or relating to (i) any law, regulation, license, permit, request for proposals, invitation to bid, lease, agreement or understanding with a Public Facility Operator in connection with which a Vehicle Rental Concession has been or may be granted to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Franchisee and (ii) any agreement with, or Investment or other interest or participation in, any Person, property or asset required (x) by any such law, ordinance, regulation, license, permit, request for proposals, invitation to bid, lease, agreement or understanding or (y) by any Public Facility Operator as a condition to obtaining or maintaining a Vehicle Rental Concession; and (c) any liabilities or obligations relating to or arising in connection with any of the foregoing.
“Vehicles” means vehicles owned or operated by, or leased or rented to or by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including automobiles, trucks, tractors, trailers, vans, sport utility vehicles, buses, campers, motor homes, motorcycles and other motor vehicles.
50 |
“Vice President,” when used with respect to any Person, means any vice president of such Person, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president.”
“Voting Stock” of an entity means all classes of Capital Stock of such entity then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of directors or all interests in such entity with the ability to control the management or actions of such entity.
Section 102. Other Definitions.
Term | Defined in Section |
“Act” | 106 |
“Action” | 715 |
“Agent Members” | 312 |
“Amendment” | 407 |
“Authentication Order” | 303 |
“Bankruptcy Law” | 601 |
“Certificate of Beneficial Ownership” | 313 |
“Change of Control Offer” | 411 |
“Covenant Defeasance” | 1203 |
“Custodian” | 601 |
“Declined Excess Proceeds” | 408 |
“Default Direction” | 602 |
“Defaulted Interest” | 307 |
“Defeasance” | 1202 |
“Defeased Notes” | 1201 |
“Directing Holder” | 602 |
“Distribution Compliance Period” | 201 |
“Event of Default” | 601 |
“Excess Proceeds” | 408 |
“Expiration Date” | 106 |
“Global Notes” | 201 |
“HGH Guarantee” | 1301 |
“HGH Guaranteed Obligations” | 1301 |
“Indenture” | Preamble |
“Initial Agreement” | 407 |
“Initial Lien” | 409 |
“LCT Election” | 120 |
“LCT Test Date” | 120 |
“Minimum Denomination” | 302 |
“Note Register” and “Note Registrar” | 305 |
“Noteholder Direction” | 602 |
“Notes Guaranteed Obligations” | 1301 |
“Notice of Default” | 601 |
“Offer” | 408 |
“Permitted Payment” | 406 |
“Physical Notes” | 201 |
“Pledged Notes” | 414 |
“Position Representation” | 602 |
“Private Placement Legend” | 203 |
“Redemption Amount” | 1001 |
“Redemption Price” | 1001 |
51 |
Term | Defined in Section |
“Refinancing Agreement” | 407 |
“Refunding Capital Stock” | 406 |
“Regulation S Global Notes” | 201 |
“Regulation S Physical Notes” | 201 |
“Related Person” | 715 |
“Reporting Date” | 405 |
“Restricted Payment” | 406 |
“Rule 144A Global Note” | 201 |
“Rule 144A Physical Notes” | 201 |
“Successor Company” | 501 |
“Termination Date” | 412 |
“Title Policy” | 416 |
“Total Leverage Excess Proceeds” | 408 |
“Treasury Capital Stock” | 406 |
“Verification Covenant” | 602 |
Section 103. Rules of Construction. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) the terms defined in this Indenture have the meanings assigned to them in this Indenture;
(2) “or” is not exclusive;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;
(4) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereto” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;
(5) the words “include,” “included” and “including,” as used herein, shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the phrase “without limitation,” if not expressly followed by such phrase or the phrase “but not limited to”;
(6) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular;
(7) references to sections of, or rules under, the Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time;
(8) any reference to a Section, Article or clause refers to such Section, Article or clause of this Indenture; and
(9) notwithstanding any provision of this Indenture, no provision of the TIA shall apply or be incorporated by reference into this Indenture or the Notes, except as specifically set forth in this Indenture.
Section 104. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Upon any application or request by the Company or by any other obligor upon the Notes (including any Guarantor) to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or such other obligor (including any Guarantor), as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be
52 |
required under this Indenture. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of one or more Officer’s Certificates, if to be given by an Officer, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of any such request or application as to which the furnishing of any Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular request or application, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 405) shall include:
(1) a statement that the individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such condition or covenant, as applicable, and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he or she made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such condition or covenant, as applicable, has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such individual, such condition or covenant, as applicable, has been complied with;
provided that no Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection with the issuance of the Initial Notes on the date hereof under this Indenture.
Section 105. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an Officer may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such Officer knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers to the effect that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
Section 106. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by or pursuant to this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company, as the case may be. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the
53 |
Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 701) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and any other obligor upon the Notes, if made in the manner provided in this Section 106.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by an officer of a corporation or a member of a partnership or other legal entity other than an individual, on behalf of such corporation or partnership or entity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such Person’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.
(c) The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.
(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act by the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of anything done, suffered or omitted to be done by the Trustee, the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.
(e)
(i) The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Notes entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Notes; provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this clause (i) shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in clause (ii) below. If any record date is set pursuant to this clause (i), the Holders of Outstanding Notes on such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Persons remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Notes on such record date. Nothing in this clause (i) shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this clause (i) (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this clause (i) shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Notes on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this clause (i), the Company, at its expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Notes in the manner set forth in Section 108.
(ii) The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Notes entitled to join in the giving or making of (A) any Notice of Default, (B) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 602, (C) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 607(ii) or (D) any direction referred to in Section 611, in each case with respect to the Notes. If any record date is set pursuant to this clause (ii), the Holders of Outstanding Notes on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such
54 |
notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Notes on such record date. Nothing in this clause (ii) shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this clause (ii) (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this clause (ii) shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Notes on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this clause (ii), the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Notes in the manner set forth in Section 108.
(iii) With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 106, the party hereto that sets such record dates may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the Company or the Trustee, whichever such party is not setting a record date pursuant to this Section 106(e) in writing, and to each Holder of Notes in the manner set forth in Section 108, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 106, the party hereto that set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this clause (iii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.
(iv) Without limiting this Section 106, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.
(v) Without limiting the generality of this Section 106, a Holder, including the Depositary, that is the Holder of a Global Note, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and the Depositary, as the Holder of a Global Note, may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Note through such Depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.
(vi) The Company may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by the Depositary entitled under the procedures of such Depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization direction, notice consent, waiver or other Act, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.
55 |
Section 107. Notices, etc., to Trustee, Notes Collateral Agent and Company. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:
(1) the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent by any Holder or by the Company or by any other obligor upon the Notes shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent at 1505 Energy Park Drive, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, Attn: CCT Administrator for The Hertz Corporation or at any other address furnished in writing to the Company by the Trustee; or
(2) the Company by the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company at The Hertz Corporation, 8501 Williams Road, Estero, Florida 33928, Attention: Katherine Lee Martin and Adrian Nasr; with a copy to Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention: Richard D. Truesdell and Pedro J. Bermeo (telephones: (212) 450-4674 and (212) 450-4091), or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent by the Company.
(3) The Company, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, by notice to the other, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Section 108. Notices to Holders; Waiver. Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to each Holder affected by such event, at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Note Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service, or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impossible to mail notice of any event as required by any provision of this Indenture, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Note (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary (including delivery by electronic mail).
Section 109. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 110. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
56 |
Section 111. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in any Note shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 112. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in any Note, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, any Paying Agent and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
Section 113. GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE TRUSTEE, THE COMPANY, ANY OTHER OBLIGOR IN RESPECT OF THE NOTES AND (BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOTES) THE HOLDERS AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE NOTES. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 114. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Note shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of such Notes) payment of interest or principal and premium (if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next day that is a Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity, and no interest shall accrue on the amount payable on such date or at such time for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, to such next succeeding Business Day.
Section 115. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Incorporators and Stockholders. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary of any thereof shall have any liability for any obligation of the Company or any Guarantor under this Indenture, the Notes, any Notes Guarantee or the Notes Collateral Documents, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, any such obligation or its creation. Each Holder, by accepting the Notes, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
Section 116. Exhibits and Schedules. All exhibits and schedules attached hereto are by this reference made a part hereof with the same effect as if herein set forth in full.
Section 117. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, PDF or other electronic means shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. The words “signed”, “signature” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures.
This Indenture (or to any document delivered in connection with this Indenture) shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) any electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures
57 |
in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (collectively, “Signature Law”); (ii) an original manual signature; or (iii) a faxed, scanned or photocopied manual signature. Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof.
Section 118. U.S.A. PATRIOT Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
Section 119. Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, strikes, work stoppages, labor disputes, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes, disease, epidemic or pandemic, quarantine, national emergency or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, communications system failure, malware or ransomware or unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex system or other wire or other funds transfer systems or unavailability of any securities clearing system; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 120. Limited Condition Transaction. In connection with any Limited Condition Transaction and any related transactions (including any financing, Incurrence or Discharge of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds of any such Incurrence), for purposes of determining compliance with any provision of this Indenture which requires that no Default, Event of Default or specified Event of Default, as applicable, has occurred, is continuing or would result from any such action, as applicable, such provision shall, at the election of the Company, be deemed satisfied, so long as no Default, Event of Default or specified Event of Default, as applicable, exists on the date a definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into or irrevocable notice of redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is given and not as of any later date as would otherwise be required under this Indenture. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company has exercised its option under the first sentence of this Section 120, and any Default or Event of Default occurs following the date the definitive agreements for the applicable Limited Condition Transaction were entered into or irrevocable notice of redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is given, and prior to the consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to not have occurred or be continuing for purposes of determining whether any action being taken in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction is permitted hereunder.
58 |
In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, for purposes of:
(i) determining compliance with any provision of this Indenture which requires the calculation of the Consolidated Coverage Ratio or the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio;
(ii) determining compliance with any baskets or ratios set forth in this Indenture; or
(iii) determining whether any such Limited Condition Transaction and any related transactions (including any financing, Incurrence or Discharge of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds of any such Incurrence) complies with the covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture,
in each case, at the option of the Company (the Company’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination of whether any such action is permitted hereunder shall be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (the “LCT Test Date”), and if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and any related transactions (including any Incurrence or Discharge of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds of any such Incurrence) as if they had occurred at the beginning of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company ending prior to the LCT Test Date for which consolidated financial statements of the Company are available, the Company could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such ratio or basket, such ratio or basket shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company has made an LCT Election and any of the ratios, baskets or amounts for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such basket, ratio or amount (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of the Company or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction or any applicable currency exchange rate) subsequent to such date of calculation or determination and, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Transaction, such basket, ratio or amount will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations. If the Company has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction permitted under this Indenture, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to the Incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens, or the making of Restricted Payments, mergers, the conveyance, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction expires or is terminated without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any Incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated.
Section 121. Measuring Compliance
If (a) any of the baskets set forth in this Indenture are exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations to LTM Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed fiscal quarter after the last time such baskets were calculated for any purpose under this Indenture, such baskets will not be deemed to have been exceeded solely as a result of such fluctuations or (b) any of the baskets is exceeded or any undertaking would be breached, or any event that would constitute a Default or an Event of Default, in each case, solely as a result of fluctuations in applicable currency exchange rates, shall not be deemed to be exceeded, untrue, inaccurate, breached, exceeded or so constituted, as applicable, solely as a result of such fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
59 |
With respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Indenture that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio or the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio) (any such amounts (but excluding any amounts incurred under any revolving facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced), the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision in this Indenture that requires compliance with a financial ratio or test (including a test based on the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio or the Consolidated Coverage Ratio) (any such amounts, the “Incurrence-Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that (i) the Fixed Amounts shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence-Based Amounts, and (ii) except as provided in clause (i), pro forma effect shall be given to all applicable and related transactions (including the use of proceeds of all applicable Indebtedness incurred and any repayments, repurchases and redemptions of Indebtedness) and all other adjustments as to which pro forma effect may be given under this Indenture.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event any item of Lien, Permitted Lien or Restricted Payment or other transaction or action (any of the foregoing in a single transaction or a series of substantially concurrent related transactions) meets the criteria of one or more than one categories (or subcategories within any category) of exceptions, thresholds or baskets under this Indenture (including within any defined terms), including any financial ratio-based exceptions, thresholds or baskets (including the Consolidated Coverage Ratio or the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio), the Company shall, in its sole discretion, be entitled to divide and classify and later re-divide and reclassify on or more occasions (based on circumstances existing on the date of any such re-division and reclassification) any such item of Lien, Permitted Lien, Restricted Payment or other transaction or action, in whole or in part, among one or more than one categories (or subcategories within any category) of exceptions, thresholds or baskets under this Indenture; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall only be permitted to be made pursuant to clause (aa) of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and the Company will not be permitted to divide and classify or later re-divide and reclassify any such Investment, in whole or in part, among one or more than one categories (or subcategories within any category) of exceptions, thresholds or baskets under this Indenture.
If any item of Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, Lien, Permitted Lien, Restricted Payments or other transaction or action (or any portion of the foregoing) previously divided and classified (or re-divided and reclassified) as set forth above under any category (or subcategories within any category) of non-financial ratio based exceptions, thresholds or baskets could subsequently be re-divided and reclassified under a category (or subcategories within any category) of financial ratio based exceptions, thresholds or baskets (including the Consolidated Coverage Ratio or the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio), such re-division and reclassification shall be deemed to occur automatically and such item of Lien, Permitted Lien, Restricted Payment or other transaction or action (or any portion of the foregoing) shall cease to be deemed made or outstanding for purposes of any category (or subcategories within any category) of exceptions, thresholds and baskets that are not financial ratio-based. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) is incurred or issued, any Lien is incurred or other transaction is undertaken in reliance on a ratio basket based on the Consolidated Coverage Ratio or the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio, such ratio(s) shall be calculated without regard to the incurrence of any Indebtedness under any revolving facility (1) prior to or in connection therewith or (2) used to finance working capital needs of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
If any item of Indebtedness, Lien, Permitted Lien, Restricted Payment or other transaction or action (any of the foregoing in a single transaction or a series of substantially concurrent related transactions) is incurred, issued, taken or consummated in reliance on categories (or subcategories within
60 |
any category) of exceptions, thresholds or baskets measured by reference to a percentage of LTM Consolidated EBITDA on the relevant testing date pursuant to this Indenture, and such Indebtedness, Lien, Permitted Lien, Restricted Payment or other transaction or action (including in connection with refinancing thereof) would subsequently exceed the applicable percentage of LTM Consolidated EBITDA if calculated based on the LTM Consolidated EBITDA on a later date (including the date of any refinancing), such percentage of LTM Consolidated EBITDA will not be deemed to be exceeded (and in the case of refinancing any Indebtedness, to the extent the principal amount or the liquidation preference of such newly incurred or issued Indebtedness or Preferred Stock does not exceed the maximum principal amount, liquidation preference or amount of permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refinanced, extended, replaced, refunded, renewed or defeased).
Section 122. Intercreditor Agreements.
Reference is made to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and each other Intercreditor Agreement (if any). Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Note, (a) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any other Intercreditor Agreement and (b) authorizes and instructs the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and such other Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable, and any joinders to any of the foregoing as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent, as the
case may be, and on behalf of such Holder. It is expressly agreed that the other parties to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and each other Intercreditor Agreement shall be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 122.
Article II
NOTE FORMS
Section 201. Forms Generally. (a) The Initial Notes and Initial Additional Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication relating thereto shall be in substantially the forms set forth, or referenced, in this Article II and Exhibit A annexed hereto. Any Additional Notes that are not Initial Additional Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication relating thereto shall be in substantially the forms set forth, or referenced, in this Article II and Exhibit A annexed hereto. The Notes may have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have imprinted or otherwise reproduced thereon such legends or endorsements, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, as may be required to comply with any law, or with any rules of any securities exchange or usage, all as may be determined by the Officers of the Company executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution of such Notes. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. Any portion of the text of any Note may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Note.
Initial Notes and any Initial Additional Notes offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A shall, unless the Company otherwise notifies the Trustee in writing, be issued in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, except as otherwise permitted herein. Such global Notes shall be referred to collectively herein as the “Rule 144A Global Notes.” The Rule 144A Global Notes shall be deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, and shall be duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of a Rule 144A Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee as hereinafter provided.
61 |
Initial Notes and any Initial Additional Notes offered and sold in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act shall, unless the Company otherwise notifies the Trustee in writing, be issued in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, except as otherwise permitted herein. Such global Notes will be referred to collectively herein as the “Regulation S Global Notes.” The Regulation S Global Notes shall be deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee for credit to the account of an Agent Member, and shall be duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of a Regulation S Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee as hereinafter provided.
Subject to the limitations on the issuance of certificated Notes set forth in Sections 312 and 313, Initial Notes and any Initial Additional Notes issued pursuant to Section 305 in exchange for or upon transfer of beneficial interests (x) in a Rule 144A Global Note shall be in the form of permanent certificated Notes substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto (the “Rule 144A Physical Notes”) or (y) in a Regulation S Global Note (if any) shall be in the form of permanent certificated Notes substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto (the “Regulation S Physical Notes”), as hereinafter provided.
The Rule 144A Physical Notes and Regulation S Physical Notes shall be construed to include any certificated Notes issued in respect thereof pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306 or 1006, and the Rule 144A Global Notes and Regulation S Global Notes shall be construed to include any global Notes issued in respect thereof pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306 or 1006. The Rule 144A Physical Notes and the Regulation S Physical Notes, together with any other certificated Notes issued and authenticated pursuant to this Indenture, are sometimes collectively herein referred to as the “Physical Notes.” The Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes, together with any other global Notes that are issued and authenticated pursuant to this Indenture, are sometimes collectively referred to as the “Global Notes.”
Section 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Notes will have endorsed thereon a Trustee’s certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., | |
as Trustee | |
By: ___________________________________ | |
Authorized Signatory | |
Dated: |
If an appointment of an Authenticating Agent is made pursuant to Section 714, the Notes may have endorsed thereon, in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee | |
By: ___________________________________ | |
As Authenticating Agent | |
62 |
By: ___________________________________ | |
As Authorized Signatory | |
Dated: |
Section 203. Restrictive and Global Note Legends. Each Global Note and Physical Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the following legend set forth below (the “Private Placement Legend”) on the face thereof until the Private Placement Legend is removed or not required in accordance with Section 313(d):
“THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE NEXT SENTENCE.
BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER: (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A “QIB”) OR (B) IT IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN “INSTITUTIONAL” ACCREDITED INVESTOR (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER REGULATION D PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR”)), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN [ONE YEAR—FOR NOTES ISSUED PURSUANT TO RULE 144A][40 DAYS—FOR NOTES ISSUED IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S] AFTER THE LATER OF THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE AND THE DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OWNED THIS NOTE, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT IS ACQUIRING THE NOTES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE NOTES OF $250,000, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR THE OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, AND THAT PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON ITS BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER-DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE FOR THIS NOTE), (D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY
63 |
TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE PURSUANT TO SUBCLAUSES (C) TO (F) ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IF BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.
AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” AND “UNITED STATES” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING.”
Each Global Note, whether or not an Initial Note, shall also bear the following legend on the face thereof:
“UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO. OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN SECTIONS 312 AND 313 OF THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN).”
Article III
THE NOTES
Section 301. Terms. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered and Outstanding under this Indenture is not limited. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes shall initially be $750.0 million.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
The Notes shall be subject to repurchase by the Company pursuant to an Offer as provided in Section 408 hereof or a Change of Control Offer as provided in Section 411 hereof. The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article X.
Additional Notes ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes may be created and issued from time to time by the Company without notice to or consent of the Holders and shall be consolidated with and form a single series with the other Notes (including any Initial Notes or other Additional Notes) and shall
64 |
have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as such Notes; provided that (1) the issuance of any Additional Notes shall comply with Section 409 and Section 413 hereof and (2) Additional Notes will not be issued with the same CUSIP, ISIN or other identifying number as the Initial Notes unless they are fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any Additional Notes shall be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture.
Section 302. Denominations. The Notes shall be issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, and only in minimum denominations of $2,000 (the “Minimum Denomination”) and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by one Officer of the Company. The signature of any such Officer on the Notes may be manual or by facsimile.
Notes bearing the manual or facsimile signature of an individual who was at any time an Officer of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individual has ceased to hold such office prior to the authentication and delivery of such Notes or did not hold such office at the date of original issuance of such Notes.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes, executed by the Company, to the Trustee for authentication; and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver (i) Initial Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in the aggregate principal amount of $750.0 million and (ii) any Additional Notes for an aggregate principal amount specified by the Company, in each case specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above, upon a written order of the Company in the form of an Officer’s Certificate of the Company (an “Authentication Order”). Such Authentication Order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated, the “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar identification numbers of such Notes, if any, whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes or Additional Notes and whether the Notes are to be issued as one or more Global Notes or Physical Notes and such other information as the Company may include or the Trustee may reasonably request; provided, that if any Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes shall have a separate “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar identification number, if any, from the Initial Notes, as specified by the Company.
All Notes shall be dated the date of their authentication.
No Note shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Note a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Note shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Note has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 304. Temporary Notes. Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes. If temporary Notes are issued, the Company will cause definitive Notes to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Notes, the temporary Notes shall be exchangeable for definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Notes the Company shall execute and upon receipt of an Authentication Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary
65 |
Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes of the same series and tenor.
Section 305. Registrar and Paying Agent. With respect to the Notes, the Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (each such register being herein sometimes referred to as the “Note Register”) at an office or agency in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and of transfers of Notes. Such office or agency shall be the “Note Registrar” for the Notes. The Company may have one or more co-registrars, and the term “Note Registrar” includes any co-registrars.
The Company shall also maintain, with respect to the Notes, an office or agency within the United States where Notes may be presented for payment; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest on a Note may be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account designated to the Company by the Person entitled thereto or by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Note Register. The Company may have one or more additional paying agents, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional Paying Agent.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee as “Note Registrar” and “Paying Agent” in connection with the Notes until such time as it has resigned or a successor has been appointed. The Company may change the Paying Agent or Note Registrar for the Notes without prior notice to the Holders of Notes. The Company may enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Note Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. Any such agency agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such agent. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain a Note Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 707. The Company or any wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Company may act as Paying Agent, Note Registrar or transfer agent.
Upon surrender for transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment, in compliance with all applicable requirements of this Indenture and applicable law, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.
At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes, of any authorized denominations and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at the office or agency. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Notes that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange of Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitling the Holders thereof to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
Every Note presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Note Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.
In connection with any proposed transfer outside the book-entry system, the transferor shall also provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information in its possession that is reasonably necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Code. The Trustee may rely on
66 |
the information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, transfer or exchange Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 Business Days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption (or purchase) of Notes selected for redemption (or purchase) under Section 1002 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to transfer or exchange any such Notes so selected for redemption (or purchase) in whole or in part.
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes. If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Note Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Company or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Note Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Company or the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Company or the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of (i) the Trustee to protect the Trustee and (ii) the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Note Registrar from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.
Upon the issuance of any new Note under this Section 306, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Note issued pursuant to this Section 306 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 306 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.
Section 307. Payment of Interest; Rights to Interest Preserved. Interest on any Note that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.
Any interest on any Note that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the
67 |
registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder; and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:
(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee and Paying Agent in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or Paying Agent an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or Paying Agent for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as provided in this clause (1). Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee and the Paying Agent of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Note Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee and the Paying Agent of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause (2), such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 307, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Note.
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners. The Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and any agent of any of them may treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any), and (subject to Section 307) interest on, such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note be overdue, and none of the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee, the Paying Agent nor any agent of any of them shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Section 309. Cancellation. All Notes surrendered for payment, redemption, transfer, exchange or conversion shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not already cancelled, shall be cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Notes so delivered shall be cancelled by the Trustee. No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Notes cancelled as provided in this Section 309, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Notes held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act).
68 |
Section 310. Computation of Interest. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30 day months.
Section 311. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc. The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers and/or “ISINs” (if then generally in use), and if so, the Trustee may use the CUSIP numbers and/or ISINs in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of such numbers printed in the notice or on the Notes, that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Notes, and that any redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP number, but any failure to notify the Trustee shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default by the Company.
Section 312. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes.
(a) Each Global Note initially shall be (i) registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or the nominee of such Depositary, in each case for credit to the account of an Agent Member, and (ii) delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary. Neither the Company nor any agent of the Company shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary, or its custodian, or under such Global Notes. The Depositary may be treated by the Company, any other obligor upon the Notes, the Trustee and any agent of any of them as the absolute owner of the Global Notes for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, any other obligor upon the Notes, the Trustee or any agent of any of them from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a beneficial owner of any Note.
(b) Transfers of a Global Note shall be limited to transfers of such Global Note in whole, but, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in a Global Note may not be transferred or exchanged for Physical Notes unless (i) the Company has consented thereto in writing, or such transfer or exchange is made pursuant to the next sentence, and (ii) such transfer or exchange is in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary and the provisions of Sections 305 and 313. Subject to the limitation on issuance of Physical Notes set forth in Section 313(c), Physical Notes shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in the relevant Global Note, if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed within 120 days; (ii) the Depositary ceases to be registered as a “Clearing Agency” under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 120 days; (iii) the Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee that it elects to cause the issuance of Physical Notes; or (iv) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to the Notes and the Trustee has received a written request from the Depositary to issue Physical Notes.
(c) In connection with any transfer or exchange of a portion of the beneficial interest in any Global Note to beneficial owners for Physical Notes pursuant to Section 312(b), the Note Registrar shall record on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred, and the Company shall
69 |
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Physical Notes of like tenor and principal amount of authorized denominations.
(d) In connection with a transfer of an entire Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to Section 312(b), the applicable Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, in exchange for its beneficial interest in the applicable Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount at maturity of Rule 144A Physical Notes (in the case of any Rule 144A Global Note) or Regulation S Physical Notes (in the case of any Regulation S Global Note), as the case may be, of authorized denominations.
(e) The transfer and exchange of a Global Note or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 313) and the procedures therefor of the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be. Any beneficial interest in one of the Global Notes that is transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a different Global Note will, upon transfer, cease to be an interest in such Global Note and become an interest in the other Global Note and, accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer restrictions, if any, and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Note for as long as it remains such an interest. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Note Registrar a written order given in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, containing information regarding the participant account of the Depositary to be credited with a beneficial interest in the relevant Global Note. Subject to Section 313, the Note Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions, instruct the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, to credit to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in such Global Note and to debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.
(f) Any Physical Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to Section 312(b) shall, unless such exchange is made on or after the Resale Restriction Termination Date applicable to such Note and except as otherwise provided in Section 203 and Section 313, bear the Private Placement Legend.
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Distribution Compliance Period, a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note may be held only through Euroclear or Clearstream, or designated Agent Members holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream unless delivery is made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 313.
(h) The Holder of any Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.
(i) Neither the Trustee nor any agent of the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any action taken by, or any failure to act by, the Depositary.
(j) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among participants in the Depositary or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Section 313. Special Transfer Provisions.
70 |
(a) Transfers to Non-U.S. Persons. The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Note that is a Restricted Security to any Non-U.S. Person: The Note Registrar shall register such transfer if it complies with all other applicable requirements of this Indenture (including Section 305) and:
(i) if (x) such transfer is after the relevant Resale Restriction Termination Date with respect to such Note or (y) the proposed transferor has delivered to the Note Registrar, the Company and the Trustee a Regulation S Certificate and, unless otherwise agreed by the Company and the Trustee, an opinion of counsel, certifications and other information satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee; and
(ii) if the proposed transferor is or is acting through an Agent Member holding a beneficial interest in a Global Note, upon receipt by the Note Registrar, the Company and the Trustee of (x) the certificate, opinion, certifications and other information, if any, required by clause (i) above and (y) written instructions given in accordance with the procedures of the Note Registrar and of the Depositary;
whereupon (A) the Note Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and (if the transfer does not involve a transfer of any Outstanding Physical Note) a decrease in the principal amount of the relevant Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the relevant Global Note to be transferred, and (B) either (1) if the proposed transferee is or is acting through an Agent Member holding a beneficial interest in a relevant Regulation S Global Note, the Note Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of such Regulation S Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest being so transferred or (2) otherwise the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or more Physical Notes of like tenor and amount.
(b) Transfers to QIBs. The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Note that is a Restricted Security to a QIB (excluding transfers to Non-U.S. Persons): The Note Registrar shall register such transfer if it complies with all other applicable requirements of this Indenture (including Section 305) and:
(i) if such transfer is being made by a proposed transferor who has checked the box provided for on the form of such Note stating, or has otherwise certified to the Note Registrar, the Company and the Trustee in writing, that the sale has been made in compliance with the provisions of Rule 144A to a transferee who has signed the certification provided for on the form of such Note stating, or has otherwise certified to Note Registrar, the Company and the Trustee in writing, that it is purchasing such Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a QIB within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as it has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A; and
(ii) if the proposed transferee is an Agent Member, and the Note to be transferred consists of a Physical Note that after transfer is to be evidenced by an interest in a Global Note or consists of a beneficial interest in a Global Note that after the transfer is to be evidenced by an interest in a different Global Note, upon receipt by the Note Registrar of written instructions given in accordance with the procedures of the Note Registrar and of the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, whereupon the Note Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the transferee Global Note in an amount equal
71 |
to the principal amount of the Physical Note or such beneficial interest in such transferor Global Note to be transferred, and the Trustee shall cancel the Physical Note so transferred or reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of such transferor Global Note, as the case may be.
(c) Limitation on Issuance of Physical Notes. No Physical Note shall be exchanged for a beneficial interest in any Global Note, except in accordance with Section 312 and this Section 313.
(d) Private Placement Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes not bearing the Private Placement Legend, the Note Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend, the Note Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear the Private Placement Legend unless (i) the requested transfer is after the relevant Resale Restriction Termination Date with respect to such Notes, (ii) upon written request of the Company after there is delivered to the Note Registrar an opinion of counsel (which opinion and counsel are satisfactory to the Company) to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) with respect to a Regulation S Global Note or Regulation S Physical Note (for the avoidance of doubt, after the Distribution Compliance Period), in each case with the agreement of the Company, or (iv) such Notes are sold or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
(e) Other Transfers. The Note Registrar shall effect and register, upon receipt of a written request from the Company to do so, a transfer not otherwise permitted by this Section 313, such registration to be done in accordance with the otherwise applicable provisions of this Section 313, upon the furnishing by the proposed transferor or transferee of a written opinion of counsel (which opinion and counsel are satisfactory to the Company) to the effect that, and such other certifications or information as the Company or the Trustee may require (including, in the case of a transfer to an Accredited Investor (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act), a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D) to confirm that, the proposed transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
A Note that is a Restricted Security may not be transferred other than as provided in this Section 313. A beneficial interest in a Global Note that is a Restricted Security may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in another Global Note other than through a transfer in compliance with this Section 313.
(f) General. By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Private Placement Legend, each Holder of such a Note acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend and agrees that it will transfer such Note only as provided in this Indenture.
The Note Registrar shall, subject to its retention policies, retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 312 or this Section 313 (including all Notes received for transfer pursuant to this Section 313). The Company shall have the right to require the Note Registrar to deliver to the Company, at the Company’s expense, copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable written notice to the Note Registrar.
In connection with any transfer of any Note, the Trustee, the Note Registrar and the Company shall be entitled to receive, shall be under no duty to inquire into, may conclusively presume the correctness of, and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, the certificates, opinions and other information referred to herein (or in the forms provided herein, attached hereto or to the Notes, or
72 |
otherwise) received from any Holder and any transferee of any Note regarding the validity, legality and due authorization of any such transfer, the eligibility of the transferee to receive such Note and any other facts and circumstances related to such transfer.
Section 314. Treasury Notes. In determining (i) whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, notice, direction, amendment, supplement, waiver or consent, Notes owned of record or beneficially by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any other obligor on the Notes shall be considered as though they are not outstanding (but the Notes owned of record or beneficially by any other Affiliates shall be deemed outstanding for all purposes under this Indenture) and (ii) whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, notice, direction, amendment, supplement, waiver or consent, only Notes owned by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any other obligor on the Notes which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be considered as though they are not outstanding.
Article IV
COVENANTS
Section 401. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. The Company shall duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes and this Indenture. Principal amount (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes shall be considered paid on the date due if the Company shall have deposited with the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Company) as of 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on the due date money in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal amount (and premium, if any) and interest then due. At the option of the Company, payment of interest on a Note may be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account designated to the Company by the Person entitled thereto or by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Note Register.
Section 402. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
(a) The Company shall maintain in the United States one or more offices or agencies where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Notes may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company relating to the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and of any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee; provided that no service of legal process may be made against the Company at any office of the Trustee.
(b) The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as such office or agency of the Company where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment or for transfer or exchange for so long as such Corporate Trust Office remains a Place of Payment in accordance with Section 305 hereof.
Section 403. Money for Payments to Be Held in Trust. If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to the Notes, it shall, on or before 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Notes, segregate and hold
73 |
in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
If the Company is not acting as its own Paying Agent with respect to the Notes, it shall, on or prior to 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Notes, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
If the Company is not acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company shall cause any Paying Agent for the Notes other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 403, that such Paying Agent shall:
(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Notes in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture;
(2) give the Trustee written notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes) in the making of any such payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest;
(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent; and
(4) acknowledge, accept and agree to comply in all respects with the provisions of this Indenture relating to the duties, rights and liabilities of such Paying Agent.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.
Section 404. SEC Reports. Notwithstanding that the Company may not be required to be or remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall file with the SEC (unless such filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act or by the SEC), so long as any Notes are outstanding, the annual reports, information, documents and other reports that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to such Section 13(a) or 15(d) or would be so required to file if the Company were so subject to SEC reporting requirements as a non-accelerated filer.
74 |
The Company will be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of this Section 404 if any Parent files reports, documents and information of the types otherwise so required, in each case within the applicable time periods. If such Parent has material operations separate and apart from its ownership of the Company, then the Company or such Parent will provide consolidating information, which need not be audited, that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such Parent and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.
If any audited or reviewed financial statements or information required to be included in any such filing are not reasonably available on a timely basis as a result of the Company’s or any such Parent’s accountants not being “independent” (as defined pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder), the Company or such Parent may, in lieu of making such filing, elect to make a filing on an alternative form or transmit or make available unaudited or unreviewed financial statements or information substantially similar to such required audited or reviewed financial statements or information; provided that (a) the Company or such Parent shall in any event be required to make such filing no later than the first anniversary of the date on which the same was otherwise required pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section 404 (such initial date, the “Reporting Date”) and (b) if the Company or such Parent makes such an election and such filing has not been made, within 90 days after such Reporting Date, liquidated damages will accrue on the Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum from the date that is 90 days after such Reporting Date to the earlier of (x) the date on which such filing has been made, and (y) the first anniversary of such Reporting Date (provided that not more than 0.50% per annum in liquidated damages shall be payable for any period regardless of the number of such elections by the Company).
Reports by the Company or Guarantors delivered to the Trustee are for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder or the Notes (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, its compliance with the covenants or with respect to any reports or other documents filed with the SEC or EDGAR or any website under this Indenture, or participate in any conference calls.
The Trustee shall have no obligation to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed pursuant to the SEC’s EDGAR filing system (or its successor) or postings to any website have occurred. The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the filing, timeliness, or content of such reports.
Section 405. Statement as to Default. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company commencing with the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that to the best knowledge of the signer thereof (on behalf of the Company) the Company is or is not in Default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture applicable to the Company (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in Default, specifying all such Defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such signer may have knowledge.
Section 406. Limitation on Restricted Payments.
(a) | The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly: |
75 |
(i) | declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on or in respect of its Capital Stock (including any such payment in connection with any merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party) except (x) dividends or distributions payable solely in its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) and (y) dividends or distributions payable to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (and, in the case of any such Restricted Subsidiary making such dividend or distribution, to other holders of its Capital Stock on no more than a pro rata basis, measured by value); |
(ii) | purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of the Company held by Persons other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than any acquisition of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of options if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price thereof); |
(iii) | voluntarily purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise voluntarily acquire or retire for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations (other than Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations owed to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary and other than a purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement); or |
(iv) | make any Restricted Investment, |
any such dividend, distribution, purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, other acquisition or retirement or Restricted Investment being herein referred to as a “Restricted Payment.”
(b) | The provisions of Section 406(a) do not prohibit any of the following (each, a “Permitted Payment”): |
(i) | (x) any purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Capital Stock of the Company (“Treasury Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Obligations made by exchange (including any such exchange pursuant to the exercise of a conversion right or privilege in connection with which cash is paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares) for, or out of the proceeds of the issuance or sale of, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary) (“Refunding Capital Stock”) or a capital contribution to the Company, in each case other than Excluded Contributions and (y) if immediately prior to such acquisition or retirement of such Treasury Capital Stock, dividends thereon were permitted pursuant to Section 406(b)(xiv), dividends on such Refunding Capital Stock in an aggregate amount per annum not exceeding the aggregate amount per annum of dividends so permitted on such Treasury Capital Stock; |
(ii) | any purchase, redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Obligations (w) made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the Incurrence of, Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (x) from Net Available Cash or an equivalent amount to the extent permitted by Section 408, (y) following the occurrence of a Change of Control |
76 |
(or other similar event described therein as a “change of control”), but only if the Company shall have complied with Section 411, and, if required, purchased all Notes tendered pursuant to the offer to repurchase all the Notes required thereby, prior to purchasing or repaying such Subordinated Obligations or (z) constituting Acquired Indebtedness; |
(iii) | any dividend paid or redemption made within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or of the giving of notice thereof, as applicable, if at such date of declaration or notice, such dividend or redemption would have complied with this Section 406; |
(iv) | Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time not to exceed the amount of Excluded Contributions; |
(v) | [reserved]; |
(vi) | loans, advances, dividends or distributions by the Company to any Parent (whether made directly or indirectly) to permit any Parent to repurchase or otherwise acquire its Capital Stock (including any options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof), or payments by the Company to repurchase or otherwise acquire Capital Stock of any Parent or the Company (including any options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof), in each case from current or former Management Investors (including any repurchase or acquisition by reason of the Company or any Parent retaining any Capital Stock, option, warrant or other right in respect of tax withholding obligations, and any related payment in respect of any such obligation), such payments, loans, advances, dividends or distributions not to exceed an amount (net of repayments of any such loans or advances and net of any amount thereof repurchased or otherwise acquired due to death, termination, retirement, or disability or stockholder incentive plan) equal to (x) the greater of $65.0 million and 10.0% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA per fiscal year (with any unused amounts being permitted to be carried forward to succeeding fiscal years), plus (y) the net proceeds received by the Company since the Existing Notes Issue Date from, or as a capital contribution from, the issuance or sale to Management Investors of Capital Stock (including any options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof), plus (z) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (or by any Parent and contributed to the Company) since the Existing Notes Issue Date; provided that any cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary by any current or former Management Investor in connection with any repurchase or other acquisition of Capital Stock (including any options, warrants or other rights in respect thereof) from any current or former Management Investor shall not constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 406 or any provision of this Indenture; |
(vii) | Restricted Payments following a Qualified IPO in an amount not to exceed in any fiscal year of the Company the sum of (x) 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds received by the Company (whether directly, or indirectly through a contribution to common equity capital) in or from such Qualified IPO and (y) 7.0% of Market Capitalization; |
(viii) | Restricted Payments (including loans or advances) made since the Issue Date in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time not to exceed an amount (net of |
77 |
repayments of any such loans or advances) equal to (x) $250.0 million plus (y) 50.0% of Consolidated Net Income accrued during the period (treated as one accounting period) beginning on July 1, 2024 to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the date of such Restricted Payment for which consolidated financial statements of the Company are available (or, in case Consolidated Net Income shall be a negative number, 100.0% of such negative number); |
(ix) | loans, advances, dividends or distributions to any Parent or other payments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) pursuant to a tax sharing agreement or (B) to pay or permit any Parent to pay any Parent Expenses or any Related Taxes; |
(x) | payments by the Company, or loans, advances, dividends or distributions by the Company to any Parent to make payments, to holders of Capital Stock of the Company or any Parent in lieu of issuance of fractional shares of such Capital Stock; |
(xi) | dividends or other distributions of, or other Restricted Payments paid for or made with, Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other securities of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; |
(xii) | any Restricted Payments in respect of seller notes and other deferred purchase price obligations in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $317.5 million and 50.0% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA; |
(xiii) | the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock, or of any Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary; |
(xiv) | (A) dividends on any Designated Preferred Stock of the Company issued after the Issue Date; provided that at the time of such issuance and after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis, the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio would be equal to or less than 3.00:1.00, for the Most Recent Four Quarter Period, (B) loans, advances, dividends or distributions to any Parent to permit dividends on any Designated Preferred Stock of any Parent issued after the Issue Date if the net proceeds of the issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock have been contributed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the aggregate amount of all loans, advances, dividends or distributions paid pursuant to this subclause (B) shall not exceed the net proceeds of such issuance of Designated Preferred Stock received by or contributed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (C) any dividend on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock; provided that at the time of the declaration of such dividend and after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis, (x) the Consolidated Coverage Ratio would be equal to or greater than 2.00:1.00 and (y) the Company would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.9(a) and (b) of the First Lien Credit Agreement, as such sections may be amended from time to time, so long as such sections are in effect; |
(xv) | Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time not to exceed an amount equal to Declined Excess Proceeds; |
(xvi) | [reserved]; and |
(xvii) | Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $112.5 million; |
78 |
provided, that (A) in the case of clause (iii), the net amount of any such Permitted Payment shall be included in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments, (B) in all cases other than pursuant to clause (A) immediately above, the net amount of any such Permitted Payment shall be excluded in subsequent calculations of the amount of Restricted Payments and (C) solely with respect to clauses (viii), (xiv) and (xvi), no Event of Default under any of Section 601(i), Section 601(ii), Section 601(viii) or Section 601(ix) shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any such Permitted Payment after giving effect thereto.
The Company, in its sole discretion, may classify any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment as being made in part under one of the clauses or subclauses of this Section 406 or under one of the clauses or subclauses of the definition of “Permitted Investments” and in part under one or more other such clauses or subclauses; provided, further, that, notwithstanding anything in this Section 406 to the contrary, Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall only be permitted to be made pursuant to clause (aa) of the definition of “Permitted Investments.”
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 406 to the contrary, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make any Restricted Payments pursuant to clauses (vi), (vii), (viii), (xii), (xiv), (xv) and (xvii) of this Section 406(b) unless, at the time of making such Restricted Payment and after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis, the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio would be equal to or less than 6.25:1.00 for the Most Recent Four Quarter Period.
Section 407. Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company, (ii) make any loans or advances to the Company or (iii) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company (provided that dividend or liquidation priority between classes of Capital Stock, or subordination of any obligation (including the application of any remedy bars thereto) to any other obligation, will be deemed not to constitute such an encumbrance or restriction), except any encumbrance or restriction:
(1) | pursuant to an agreement or instrument in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date, any Credit Facility, the Existing Notes Indentures, the Existing Unsecured Notes, this Indenture, the Notes, the Notes Collateral Documents, the indenture governing the Exchangeable Notes, the Exchangeable Notes or the collateral documents related to the liens securing the Exchangeable Notes; |
(2) | pursuant to any agreement or instrument of a Person, or relating to Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person, which Person is acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or which agreement or instrument is assumed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition of assets from or other transaction with such Person, or any other transaction entered into in connection with any such acquisition, merger or consolidation, as in effect at the time of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or transaction (except to the extent that such Indebtedness was incurred to finance, or otherwise in connection with, such acquisition, merger, consolidation or transaction); provided that for purposes of this clause (2), if a Person other than the Company is the Successor Company with respect thereto, any Subsidiary thereof or agreement or instrument of such Person or any such Subsidiary shall be deemed acquired or assumed, as the case may be, by the Company or a |
79 |
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, when such Person becomes such Successor Company; |
(3) | pursuant to an agreement or instrument (a “Refinancing Agreement”) effecting a refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred or outstanding pursuant or relating to, or that otherwise extends, renews, refunds, refinances or replaces, any agreement or instrument referred to in clause (1) or (2) of this Section 407 or this clause (3) (an “Initial Agreement”) or that is, or is contained in, any amendment, supplement or other modification to any Initial Agreement or Refinancing Agreement (an “Amendment”); provided, however, that the encumbrances and restrictions contained in any such Refinancing Agreement or Amendment taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to the Holders of the Notes than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the Initial Agreement or Initial Agreements to which such Refinancing Agreement or Amendment relates (as determined in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive); |
(4) | (A) pursuant to any agreement or instrument that restricts in a customary manner (as determined in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive) the assignment or transfer thereof, or the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset subject thereto, (B) by virtue of any transfer of, agreement to transfer, option or right with respect to, or Lien on, any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture, (C) contained in mortgages, pledges or other security agreements securing Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent restricting the transfer of the property or assets subject thereto, (D) pursuant to customary provisions (as determined in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive) restricting dispositions of real property interests set forth in any reciprocal easement agreements of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (E) pursuant to Purchase Money Obligations that impose encumbrances or restrictions with respect to the property or assets so acquired, (F) on cash or other deposits, net worth or inventory imposed by customers or suppliers under agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, (G) pursuant to customary provisions (as determined in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive) contained in agreements and instruments entered into in the ordinary course of business (including leases and licenses) or in joint venture and other similar agreements or in shareholder, partnership, limited liability company and other similar agreements in respect of non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries, (H) that arises or is agreed to in the ordinary course of business and does not detract from the value of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, (I) pursuant to Hedging Obligations, (J) in connection with or relating to any Vehicle Rental Concession Right or (K) pursuant to Bank Products Obligations; |
(5) | with respect to any agreement for the direct or indirect disposition of Capital Stock or property or assets of any Person, imposed with respect to such Person, Capital Stock, property or assets pending the closing of such disposition; |
(6) | any agreement governing or relating to Indebtedness and/or other obligations and liabilities secured by a Lien permitted under provisions of Section 409 (in which case any restriction shall only be effective against the assets subject to such Lien, except as may be otherwise permitted under this Section 407); |
80 |
(7) | by reason of any applicable law, rule, regulation or order, or required by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their businesses, including any such law, rule, regulation, order or requirement applicable in connection with such Subsidiary’s status (or the status of any Subsidiary of such Subsidiary) as a Captive Insurance Subsidiary; |
(8) | pursuant to an agreement or instrument (A) relating to any Indebtedness Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date (i) if the encumbrances and restrictions contained in any such agreement or instrument taken as a whole are not materially less favorable to the Holders of the Notes than the encumbrances and restrictions contained in the Initial Agreements (as determined in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive), or (ii) if such encumbrance or restriction is not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes than is customary in comparable financings (as determined in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive) and either (x) the Company determines in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive) that such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make principal or interest payments on the Notes or (y) such encumbrance or restriction applies only if a default occurs in respect of a payment or financial covenant relating to such Indebtedness, (B) relating to any sale of receivables by or Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary, (C) relating to Indebtedness of or a Franchise Financing Disposition by or to or in favor of any Franchisee or Franchise Special Purpose Entity or to any Franchise Lease Obligation or (D) relating to Indebtedness of or a Financing Disposition by or to or in favor of any Special Purpose Entity; |
(9) | any agreement evidencing any replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of any of the foregoing (or any agreement described in this Section 407) that is in compliance with this Section 407; or |
(10) | any agreement relating to intercreditor arrangements and related rights and obligations, to or by which the Holders and/or the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or any other agent, trustee or representative on their behalf may be party or bound at any time or from time to time, and any agreement providing that in the event that a Lien is granted for the benefit of the Holders another Person shall also receive a Lien, which Lien is permitted under provisions of Section 409. |
Section 408. Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock(a).
(a) | The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any Asset Disposition unless: |
(i) | the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) at the time of such Asset Disposition at least equal to the fair market value (as of the date on which a legally binding commitment for such Asset Disposition was entered into) of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition, as such fair market value shall be determined (including as to the value of all noncash consideration) in good faith by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive, |
(ii) | in the case of any Asset Disposition (or series of related Asset Dispositions) having a Fair Market Value (as of the date on which a legally binding commitment for such Asset Disposition was entered into) in excess of the greater of $135.0 million and 10.0% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, at least 75.0% of |
81 |
the consideration therefor (excluding, in the case of an Asset Disposition (or series of related Asset Dispositions), any consideration by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise, that are not Indebtedness) for such Asset Disposition, together with all other Asset Dispositions since the Issue Date (on a cumulative basis), received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash, and |
(iii) | an amount equal to 100.0% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition is applied by the Company (or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) as follows: |
(A) | first, either (x) to the extent the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary elects (or is required by the terms of the relevant Indebtedness), to prepay, redeem, repay or purchase first, (i) any First Lien Obligations, including any Credit Facility Indebtedness constituting First Lien Obligations and the Notes, of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, provided, that any repayment or purchase of any First Lien Obligations pursuant to this clause (A)(x)(i) shall not be made unless an offer to purchase or repay the Notes has been made to the Holders on a pro rata basis with such First Lien Obligations (it being understood that to the extent any Holders shall decline such offer, such First Lien Obligations may be repaid or purchased on a more than pro rata basis than the Notes), second, (ii) any other secured Obligations other than First Lien Obligations so long as the Net Available Cash used for such prepayment, repayment or purchase are from an Asset Disposition of assets securing such other secured Obligations and not constituting Collateral and third, (iii) any Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor so long as the Net Available Cash used for such prepayment, repayment or purchase are from an Asset Disposition of assets not constituting Collateral, or in each case to prepay, redeem, repay or purchase any Obligations in respect thereof or (in the case of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments) cash collateralize any such Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof (in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) within 18 months after the later of the date of such Asset Disposition and the date of receipt of such Net Available Cash (or if later, 6 months following the date on which a reinvestment commitment or letter of intent is entered into (so long as such reinvestment commitment or letter of intent was entered into during such 18-month period)) or (y) to the extent the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary elects, to invest in Additional Assets (including by means of an investment in Additional Assets by a Restricted Subsidiary with an amount equal to Net Available Cash received by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) within 18 months from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition and the date of receipt of such Net Available Cash (or if later, 6 months following the date on which a reinvestment commitment or letter of intent is entered into (so long as such reinvestment commitment or letter of intent was entered into during such 18-month period)), or, if such investment in Additional Assets is a project authorized by the Board of Directors that will take longer than such 18 months to complete, the period of time necessary to complete |
82 |
such project; provided that such Additional Assets shall be pledged as Collateral (unless such Additional Assets are Excluded Property and are not pledged to secure any other First Lien Obligations) under the Notes Collateral Documents and in accordance with this Indenture substantially simultaneously with such investment to the extent the assets disposed of constituted Collateral;
(B) | second, to the extent of the balance of such Net Available Cash after application in accordance with clause (A) above (such balance, the “Excess Proceeds”), to make an offer to purchase Notes and (to the extent the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary elects, or is required by the terms thereof) to prepay, redeem, repay or purchase any other First Lien Obligations of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, pursuant and subject to the conditions of this Indenture and the agreements governing such other Indebtedness; and |
(C) | third, to the extent of the balance of such Net Available Cash after application in accordance with clauses (A) and (B) above (the amount of such balance, “Declined Excess Proceeds”), to fund (to the extent consistent with any other applicable provision of this Indenture) any general corporate purpose (including the repurchase, repayment or other acquisition or retirement of any Junior Lien Obligations or Unsecured Senior Indebtedness or Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations or the making of other Restricted Payments); |
provided, however, that (1) in connection with any prepayment, repayment or purchase of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 408(iii)(A)(x) or Section 408(iii)(B) above, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary shall retire such Indebtedness and shall cause the related loan commitment (if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid or purchased; (2) clause (ii) above shall not apply to any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other securities of, or any other Investments in, or the business or assets of, any Person that is not organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (3) the foregoing percentage in clause (iii) shall be reduced to (x) 50.0% if, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Asset Disposition and the use of proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio would be equal to or less than 4.00:1.00 and (y) 0% if, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Asset Disposition and the use of proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio would be equal to or less than 3.00:1.00 (any Net Available Cash in respect of Asset Dispositions not required to be applied in accordance with clause (iii) as a result of the application of one or more stepdowns in this clause (3) of this proviso shall collectively constitute “Total Leverage Excess Proceeds”); and (4) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may elect to invest in Additional Assets prior to receiving the Net Available Cash attributable to any given Asset Disposition (provided that such investment shall be made no earlier than the earliest of notice to the Trustee of the relevant Asset Disposition, execution of a definitive agreement for the relevant Asset Disposition, and consummation of the relevant Asset Disposition) and deem the amount so invested to be applied pursuant to and in accordance with Section 408(iii)(A)(y) above with respect to such Asset Disposition.
83 |
(b) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 408, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be required to apply any Net Available Cash or equivalent amount in accordance with this Section 408 except to the extent that the aggregate Net Available Cash from all Asset Dispositions or equivalent amount that is not applied in accordance with this Section 408 (excluding all Total Leverage Excess Proceeds) exceeds (x) the greater of $165.0 million and 12.5% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, individually, and (y) the greater of $330.0 million and 25.0% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA, in the aggregate on an annual basis. If the aggregate principal amount of the Notes and/or other Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary validly tendered and not withdrawn (or otherwise subject to purchase, redemption or repayment) in connection with an offer pursuant to clause (iii)(B) of paragraph (a) above exceeds the Excess Proceeds, the Excess Proceeds shall be apportioned between the Notes and such other Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, with the portion of the Excess Proceeds payable in respect of the Notes to equal the lesser of (x) the Excess Proceeds amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of the Notes and the denominator of which is the sum of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes and the outstanding principal amount of the relevant other Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, and (y) the aggregate principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn. |
(c) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 408, to the extent that repatriating or transferring to the United States any or all of the Net Available Cash from any Asset Disposition by a Foreign Subsidiary (w) could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to HGH, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries, (x) is prohibited or delayed by applicable local law, (y) could reasonably be expected to give rise to or result in (A) any violation of applicable law, (B) any liability (criminal, civil, administrative or other) for any of the officers, directors or shareholders of the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent, (C) any violation of the provisions of any joint venture or other material agreement governing or binding upon the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (D) any material risk of any such violation or liability referred to in clauses (A), (B) and (C) or (z) could reasonably be expected to give rise to or result in any cost, expense, liability or obligation (including any tax) other than routine and immaterial out-of-pocket expenses (in the case of the foregoing clauses (w), (x), (y) and (z), as determined by the Company in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), the portion of such Net Available Cash so affected will not be required to be applied in compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 408, and such amounts may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary or invested in, distributed to or otherwise transferred to any other Foreign Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of the foregoing clause (y), the Company shall take commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to take all actions reasonably required by the applicable local law, applicable organizational impediments or other impediment to permit such repatriation or transfer, and if such repatriation or transfer of any of such affected Net Available Cash can be achieved such repatriation or transfer shall be promptly effected and such repatriated Net Available Cash shall be applied (whether or not repatriation or transfer actually occurs) in compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 408. The time periods set forth in this Section 408 shall not start until such time as the Net Available Cash may be repatriated or transferred whether or not such repatriation or transfer actually occurs |
84 |
(d) | For the purposes of clause (ii) of paragraph (a) above, the following are deemed to be cash: (1) Temporary Cash Investments, Investment Grade Securities and Cash Equivalents, (2) the assumption of Indebtedness of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock of the Company) or any Restricted Subsidiary and the release of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from all liability on payment of the principal amount of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Disposition, (3) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Disposition, to the extent that the Company and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any Guarantee of payment of the principal amount of such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Disposition, (4) securities received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 180 days, (5) consideration consisting of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (6) Additional Assets and (7) any Designated Noncash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an Asset Disposition having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Noncash Consideration received pursuant to this clause, not to exceed an aggregate amount at any time outstanding equal to the greater of $330.0 million and 25.0% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Noncash Consideration being measured as of the date on which a legally binding commitment for such Asset Disposition (or, if later, for the payment of such item) was entered into and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value). |
(e) | In the event of an Asset Disposition that requires the purchase of Notes pursuant to Section 408(a)(iii)(B) above, the Company shall be required to purchase Notes tendered pursuant to an offer by the Company for the Notes (the “Offer”) at a purchase price of 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase in accordance with the procedures (including prorating in the event of oversubscription) set forth in this Indenture. If the aggregate purchase price of the Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer is less than the Net Available Cash allotted to the purchase of Notes, the remaining Net Available Cash shall be available to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries for use in accordance with Section 408(a)(iii)(B) above (to repay such other Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) or Section 408(a)(iii)(C) above. The Company shall not be required to make an Offer for Notes pursuant to this Section 408 if the Net Available Cash (excluding all Total Leverage Excess Proceeds) available therefor (after application of the proceeds as provided Section 408(a)(iii)(A) above) is less than (i) $150.0 million for any particular Asset Disposition or (ii) $300.0 million in the aggregate in any fiscal year. No Note shall be repurchased in part if less than the Minimum Denomination in original principal amount of such Note would be left outstanding. |
(f) | The Company shall, not later than 45 days after the Company becomes obligated to make an Offer pursuant to this Section 408, mail a notice to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee stating: (1) that an Asset Disposition that requires the purchase of a portion of the Notes has occurred and that such Holder has the right (subject to the prorating described below) to require the Company to purchase a portion of such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the purchase date pursuant to Section 307); (2) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, except that such notice may be delivered more than 60 days prior to the |
85 |
purchase date if the purchase is delayed as provided in clause (5) of this Section 408(f)); (3) the instructions determined by the Company, consistent with this Section 408, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased; (4) the amount of the Offer, which amount may be contingent upon the Net Available Cash remaining following the application of Net Available Cash pursuant to Section 408(a)(iii)(A) and (5) if such notice is sent prior to the date the Net Available Cash attributable to such Asset Disposition is received, that such offer is conditioned upon receipt of such Net Available Cash and that the repurchase date may, in the Company’s discretion, be delayed until such time as the Net Available Cash is received. If, upon the expiration of the period for which the Offer remains open, the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the amount of the Offer, the Company shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof shall be purchased). |
(g) | An Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes and/or Notes Guarantees (but the Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents). |
(h) | The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section 408. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 408, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will be deemed not to have breached its obligations under this Section 408 by virtue thereof. |
Section 409. Limitation on Liens. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist any Lien on any of its property or assets (including (i) any Capital Stock that does not constitute Pledged Stock or (ii) any property or asset (including Capital Stock of any other Person) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not Collateral (including, without limitation, any such property or assets of any Foreign Subsidiary)), whether owned on the date of this Indenture or thereafter acquired, securing any Indebtedness (the “Initial Lien”), unless:
(a) | in the case of Initial Liens on any asset or property that is Collateral, such Initial Lien is a Permitted Lien; or |
(b) | in the case of Initial Liens on any asset or property that is not Collateral, (i) the Notes (or a Notes Guarantee, in the case of Initial Liens on any asset or property of a Guarantor) are equally and ratably secured with or are secured on a senior basis to, in the case such Initial Lien secures any Indebtedness junior in Lien priority to the Notes or any Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations, the obligations secured by such Initial Lien until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien or (ii) such Initial Lien is a Permitted Lien. |
Any Lien on the Collateral created in favor of the Notes or any Notes Guarantee will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged as described under Section 1402.
Section 410. Future Subsidiary Guarantors. After the Issue Date, the Company shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary that is a borrower or guarantees payment by the Company of any Indebtedness of the Company under a First Lien Credit Facility or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture) to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture or other instrument pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall
86 |
guarantee payment of the Notes on a first-priority, secured basis, whereupon such Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes under this Indenture.
In addition, the Company may, at its option, elect to cause any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor to guarantee payment of the Notes and become a Subsidiary Guarantor.
Section 411. Purchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event(a).
(a) Upon the occurrence after the Issue Date of a Change of Control Triggering Event, each Holder of Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of such Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101.0% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date of repurchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the repurchase date pursuant to Section 307); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to repurchase Notes pursuant to this Section 411 in the event that it has exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes as provided in Article X.
(b) In the event that, at the time of such Change of Control Triggering Event, the terms of any Credit Facility Indebtedness constituting Designated Senior Indebtedness restrict or prohibit the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to this Section 411, then prior to the sending of the notice to Holders provided for in Section 411(c) but in any event not later than 30 days following the date the Company obtains actual knowledge of any Change of Control Triggering Event having occurred (unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes as described in Article X), the Company shall, or shall cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to, (i) repay in full all such Credit Facility Indebtedness subject to such terms or offer to repay in full all such Credit Facility Indebtedness and repay the Credit Facility Indebtedness of each lender who has accepted such offer or (ii) obtain the requisite consent under the agreements governing such Credit Facility Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of the Notes as provided for in Section 411(c). The Company shall first comply with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence before it shall be required to repurchase Notes pursuant to the provisions set forth in this Section 411. The Company’s failure to comply with the provisions of the second preceding sentence or Section 411(c) shall constitute an Event of Default described in Section 601(iv) and not in Section 601(ii).
(c) Unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes as described in Article X, the Company shall, not later than 30 days following the date the Company obtains actual knowledge of any Change of Control Triggering Event having occurred, send a notice (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee stating: (1) that a Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred or may occur and that such Holder has, or upon such occurrence will have, the right to require the Company to repurchase such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101.0% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date of repurchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date falling prior to or on the repurchase date); (2) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent, except that such notice may be sent more than 60 days prior to the repurchase date if the repurchase date is delayed as provided in clause (4) of this paragraph); (3) the instructions determined by the Company, consistent with this Section 411, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Notes repurchased; and (4) if such notice is sent prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, that such offer is conditioned on the occurrence of such Change of Control Triggering Event and that the repurchase date may, in the Company’s discretion, be delayed until such time as the Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred. No Note shall be repurchased in part if less than the Minimum Denomination in original principal amount of such Note would be left outstanding.
87 |
(d) A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event, conditional upon such Change of Control Triggering Event. If the Company, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of a Change of Control Offer made by the Company, purchases on or after the date of consummation of the Change of Control all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such tender, the Company will have satisfied its obligations to make a Change of Control Offer regardless as to whether or not a Change of Control Triggering Event subsequently occurs.
(e) The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
(f) A Change of Control Offer may be made at the same time as consents are solicited with respect to an amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes and/or Notes Guarantees (but the Change of Control Offer may not condition tenders on the delivery of such consents).
(g) The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section 411. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 411, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will be deemed not to have breached its obligations under this Section 411 by virtue thereof.
Section 412. [Reserved].
Section 413. Limitation on Indebtedness.
(a) | The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur any Indebtedness; provided, however, that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur Indebtedness if on the date of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness, after giving effect to the Incurrence thereof, either (i) the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio would be equal to or less than 5.25:1.00 or (ii) the Consolidated Coverage Ratio would be equal to or greater than 2.00:1.00. |
(b) | Notwithstanding Section 413(a), the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur the following Indebtedness: |
(i) | Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to any Credit Facility (including in respect of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued or created thereunder) and Indebtedness Incurred other than under any Credit Facility, and (without limiting the foregoing), in each case, any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, in a maximum principal amount at any time outstanding not exceeding in the aggregate the amount equal to the sum of (A) $4,045.0 million, plus (B) $500.0 million, plus (C) in the event of any refinancing of any such Indebtedness, the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses (including accrued unpaid interest) incurred in connection with such refinancing; |
(ii) | Indebtedness (A) of any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or (B) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary to which such Indebtedness is owed, or other event, that results in |
88 |
such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (except to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) will be deemed, in each case, an Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the issuer thereof not permitted by this clause (ii); |
(iii) | Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the Notes Guarantees (other than any Additional Notes), the Exchangeable Notes offered in the concurrent Exchangeable Notes Offering and Guarantees thereof and any Exchangeable Notes issued in the form of paid-in-kind interest thereon and Guarantees thereof (other than any additional notes not constituting paid-in-kind interest issued after the original issue date of the Exchangeable Notes), any Indebtedness (other than the Indebtedness described in clauses (i) and (ii) above) outstanding on the Issue Date, including the Existing Unsecured Notes, and any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in respect of any Indebtedness described in this clause (iii) or paragraph (a) above; |
(iv) | (A) Finance Lease Obligations in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (x) an amount equal to $50.0 million and (y) 10.0% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA and (B) Purchase Money Obligations, and in each case any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect thereto; |
(v) | Indebtedness consisting of (w) accommodation guarantees for the benefit of trade creditors of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (x) Guarantees in connection with the construction or improvement of all or any portion of a Public Facility to be used by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (y) Guarantees required (in the good faith determination of the Company) in connection with Vehicle Rental Concession Rights or (z) any Guarantee in respect of any Franchise Vehicle Indebtedness or Franchise Lease Obligation; |
(vi) | (A) Guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or any other obligation or liability of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in violation of this Section 413), or (B) without limiting Section 409, Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising by reason of any Lien granted by or applicable to such Person securing Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in violation of this Section 413 or Section 409); provided that any Guarantees or other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred pursuant to this clause (vi) in respect of any Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness shall be of a type consistent with that Incurred in respect of the Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date; |
(vii) | Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) arising from the honoring of a check, draft or similar instrument of such Person drawn against insufficient funds; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its Incurrence, or (B) consisting of guarantees, indemnities, obligations in respect of earnouts or other purchase price adjustments, or similar obligations, Incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or Person; |
89 |
(viii) | Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of (A) letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments or obligations issued, or relating to liabilities or obligations incurred, in the ordinary course of business (including those issued to governmental entities in connection with self-insurance under applicable workers’ compensation statutes), (B) completion guarantees, surety, judgment, appeal or performance bonds, or other similar bonds, instruments or obligations, provided, or relating to liabilities or obligations incurred, in the ordinary course of business, (C) Hedging Obligations, entered into for bona fide hedging purposes, (D) Management Guarantees, (E) the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business, (F) take-or-pay obligations under supply arrangements incurred in the ordinary course of business, (G) netting, overdraft protection and other arrangements arising under standard business terms of any bank at which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary maintains an overdraft, cash pooling or other similar facility or arrangement or (H) Bank Products Obligations; |
(ix) | [reserved]; |
(x) | Indebtedness of (A) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred to finance or refinance, or otherwise Incurred in connection with, any acquisition of assets (including Capital Stock), business or Person, or any merger or consolidation of any Person with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (B) any Person that is acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (including Indebtedness thereof Incurred in connection with any such acquisition, merger or consolidation); provided that on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation, after giving effect thereto, either (1) the Company could Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to paragraph (a) above or (2) either (i) the Consolidated Coverage Ratio of the Company would equal or be greater than the Consolidated Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to giving effect thereto or (ii) the Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio of the Company would equal or be less than Consolidated Total Net Corporate Leverage Ratio of the Company immediately prior to giving effect thereto; and any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to any such Indebtedness; |
(xi) | Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness in a maximum principal amount at any time outstanding not exceeding in the aggregate an amount equal to the sum of (A) an amount equal to the Borrowing Base, plus (B) in the event of any refinancing of any such Indebtedness, the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with such refinancing; |
(xii) | Contribution Indebtedness, and any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect thereto; provided that any such Contribution Indebtedness, and any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect thereto, constitutes Subordinated Obligations or Guarantor Subordinated Obligations; and |
(xiii) | Indebtedness issuable upon the conversion or exchange of shares of Disqualified Stock issued in accordance with paragraph (a) above, and any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect thereto. |
90 |
(c) | For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to and in compliance with, this Section 413, (i) any other obligation of the obligor on such Indebtedness (or of any other Person who could have Incurred such Indebtedness under this Section 413) arising under any Guarantee, Lien or letter of credit, bankers’ acceptance or other similar instrument or obligation supporting such Indebtedness shall be disregarded to the extent that such Guarantee, Lien or letter of credit, bankers’ acceptance or other similar instrument or obligation secures the principal amount of such Indebtedness; (ii) in the event that Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 413(b), the Company, in its sole discretion, shall classify such item of Indebtedness and may include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the clauses of Section 413(b) (including in part under one such clause and in part under another such clause); provided that (if the Company shall so determine) any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clause (b)(xiv) of this Section 413 shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of such clause but shall be deemed Incurred for the purposes of Section 413(a) from and after any date designated by the Company on which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 413(a) without reliance on such clause, (iii) in the event that Indebtedness could be Incurred in part under Section 413(a), the Company, in its sole discretion, may classify a portion of such Indebtedness as having been Incurred under Section 413(a) and thereafter the remainder of such Indebtedness as having been Incurred under Section 413(b); (iv) the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal amount thereof shall be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; (v) the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under any clause of Section 413(b) shall be determined after giving effect to the application of proceeds of any such Indebtedness to refinance any such other Indebtedness; (vi) if any Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance Indebtedness initially Incurred (or, Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness initially Incurred) in reliance on any provision of Section 413(b) measured by reference to a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA at the time of Incurrence, and such refinancing would cause such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA restriction to be exceeded if calculated based on the Consolidated EBITDA on the date of such refinancing, such percentage of Consolidated EBITDA shall not be deemed to be exceeded (and such refinancing Indebtedness shall be deemed permitted) so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced, plus the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses (including accrued and unpaid interest) Incurred or payable in connection with such refinancing; and (vii) if any Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance Indebtedness initially Incurred (or, Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness initially Incurred) in reliance on any provision of Section 413(b) measured by a dollar amount, such dollar amount shall not be deemed to be exceeded (and such refinancing Indebtedness shall be deemed permitted) to the extent the principal amount of such newly Incurred Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced, plus the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses (including accrued and unpaid interest) Incurred or payable in connection with such refinancing. |
(d) | For purposes of determining compliance with any dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens denominated in a foreign currency, the dollar-equivalent principal amount of such Indebtedness Incurred pursuant thereto shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date that such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the |
91 |
case of revolving or deferred draw Indebtedness; provided that (x) the dollar-equivalent principal amount of any such Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the Issue Date, (y) if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign1in currency (or in a different currency from such Indebtedness so being Incurred), and such refinancing would cause the applicable dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed (i) the outstanding or committed principal amount (whichever is higher) of such Indebtedness being refinanced plus (ii) the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with such refinancing and (z) the dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency and Incurred pursuant to a Credit Facility shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on, at the Company’s option, (i) the Issue Date, (ii) any date on which any of the respective commitments under such Credit Facility shall be reallocated between or among facilities or subfacilities thereunder, or on which such rate is otherwise calculated for any purpose thereunder, or (iii) the date of such Incurrence. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.
Section 414. After-Acquired Property.
(a) | Subject to the applicable limitations and exceptions set forth in the Notes Collateral Documents and this Indenture, if the Company or any other Grantor acquires any property or rights which are of a type constituting Collateral under any Notes Collateral Document (excluding any Excluded Property or assets not required to be Collateral pursuant to this Indenture or the Notes Collateral Documents), it will be required, within the time periods specified therefor or, if not so specified, concurrently with the grant in favor of any other First Lien Collateral Agent, to execute and deliver such security instruments, surveys, title insurance policies, opinions, financing statements and such certificates as are required under this Indenture or any Notes Collateral Document to vest in the Notes Collateral Agent a valid and perfected first-priority security interest (subject to Permitted Liens) in such after-acquired Collateral and to take such actions to add such after-acquired Collateral to the Collateral. |
(b) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or any other Notes Document: |
(i) | the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time (including after the expiration of any relevant period, which may apply retroactively) for the creation and perfection of security interests in, or obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions, surveys or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets and such extension shall automatically apply to this Indenture and the equivalent provisions under the Notes Collateral Documents; |
(ii) | any Lien required to be granted from time to time pursuant to this Indenture and/or any action requested in connection therewith shall be subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth in the Notes Collateral Documents; |
92 |
(iii) | none of the Company nor any other Grantor nor any of their respective Subsidiaries shall be required, nor shall the Notes Collateral Agent be authorized with respect to the Collateral, to (1) take any action in any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, or required by the laws of any such non-U.S. jurisdiction, or enter into any security agreement or pledge agreement governed by the laws of any such non-U.S. jurisdiction, in order to create any security interests (or other Liens) in assets located or titled outside of the United States of America or to perfect any security interests (or other Liens) in any Collateral, (2) deliver control agreements with respect to, or confer perfection by “control” over, any deposit accounts, bank or securities account or other Collateral, except in the case of Collateral that constitutes Capital Stock or intercompany notes at any time issued to, or held or owned by the Company or any other Grantor (“Pledged Notes”), in certificated form, delivering such Capital Stock or Pledged Notes to the Notes Collateral Agent (or another Person as required under any applicable Intercreditor Agreement), (3) take any action in order to perfect any security interests in any assets specifically requiring perfection through control (including cash, cash equivalents, deposit accounts or securities accounts) (except, in each case, to the extent perfected automatically or by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or, in the case of Pledged Stock, by being held by the Notes Collateral Agent (or another Person as required under any applicable Intercreditor Agreement)), (4) deliver landlord lien waivers, estoppels, collateral access letters or any other third party consents or (5) file any fixture filing with respect to any security interest in fixtures affixed to or attached to any real property constituting Excluded Property; |
(iv) | all Notes Collateral Documents shall be documented under, and governed by, New York law (and to the extent applicable, federal law governing the intellectual property Collateral), and no foreign law legal opinions shall be required with respect to the Collateral; and |
(v) | opinions of counsel will not be required in connection with the addition of new Guarantors or in connection with such Guarantors entering into the Notes Collateral Documents or to vest in the Notes Collateral Agent (or its bailee) a perfected security interest in after-acquired Collateral owned by Grantors (in each case, unless such opinions are delivered, to the First Lien Credit Agreement Collateral Agent pursuant to corresponding provisions of the First Lien Credit Agreement). |
Section 415. Further Assurances. Subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the provisions of this Indenture and each other Notes Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 414(b)), the Company and each other Grantor shall promptly and duly execute and deliver such further instruments and documents and take such further actions as the Notes Collateral Agent may reasonably request for the purpose of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of the Notes Collateral Documents and of the rights and powers herein granted by each applicable Grantor, including the filing of any financing or continuation statements under the Uniform Commercial Code (or other similar laws) as in effect from time to time in any United States jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created hereby.
Section 416. Real Property Collateral. With respect to any real property owned by a Grantor that constitutes Collateral on the Issue Date, within 150 days after the Issue Date (or as soon as practical thereafter using commercially reasonable efforts), and with respect to any real property owned
93 |
or acquired by a Grantor that constitutes Collateral after the Issue Date, within 150 days after the date of such real property first constituting Collateral or being acquired (or as soon as practical thereafter using commercially reasonable efforts), the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received the following with respect to each such real property:
(a) | a mortgage or deed of trust duly executed and acknowledged by the holder of such real property, in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent for its benefit and the benefit of the Trustee and the holders of the Notes, in proper form for recording in the land records in the jurisdiction in which such property is located, and sufficient to create a valid and enforceable mortgage lien on such property in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent for its benefit and the benefit of the Trustee and the holders of the Notes; |
(b) | a title policy (or policies) or an unconditional binding commitment from the title company to issue for such insurance to be replaced by a final title policy in the form of a pro forma policy or marked up commitment, which policy shall (i) be in the same amount as the title insurance policies issued under the First Lien Credit Agreement, (ii) insure that the mortgage or deed of trust created thereby creates a valid lien on the real property encumbered thereby free and clear of all defects and encumbrances, except Permitted Liens; (iii) name the Notes Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Trustee and the holders of the Notes; (iv) be in the form of an ALTA Loan Policy, and (v) contain such endorsements, coinsurance, reinsurance, and affirmative coverage as provided in the title insurance policies issued under the First Lien Credit Agreement (“Title Policy”); |
(c) | an American Land Title Association survey (or survey update) or such existing survey together with a no-change affidavit sufficient for the title company to remove all standard survey exceptions from the Title Policy related to such real property and issue the survey related endorsements; and |
(d) | legal opinions of local counsel in the states where the real properties are located relating to the mortgages or deeds of trust, which opinions shall be in form and substance substantially similar to those provided under the First Lien Credit Agreement. |
Article V
SUCCESSORS
Section 501. When the Company May Merge, etc.
(a) The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:
(i) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”) is a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company (if not the Company) and expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture and the Notes Collateral Documents by executing and delivering to the Trustee a supplemental indenture or one or more other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default will have occurred and be continuing;
94 |
(iii) each Guarantor (other than (x) any Guarantor that will be released from its obligations under its Notes Guarantee in connection with such transaction and (y) any party to any such consolidation or merger) shall have delivered a supplemental indenture or other document or instrument (in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee), confirming its Guarantee (other than any Notes Guarantee that will be discharged or terminated in connection with such transaction); and
(iv) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that such consolidation, merger or transfer complies with the provisions described in this Section 501(a); provided that (x) in giving such opinion such counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate as to compliance with the foregoing clause (ii) and as to any matters of fact, and (y) no Opinion of Counsel will be required for a consolidation, merger or transfer described in Section 501(b).
(b) Clause (ii) of Section 501(a) shall not apply to any transaction in which the Company consolidates or merges with or into or transfers all or substantially all its properties and assets to (x) an Affiliate incorporated or organized for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the Company in another jurisdiction or changing its legal structure to a corporation or other entity or (y) a Subsidiary Guarantor so long as all assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction (other than Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor) are owned by such Subsidiary Guarantor and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately after the consummation thereof. Section 501(a) shall not apply to any transaction in which any Restricted Subsidiary consolidates with, merges into or transfers all or part of its assets to the Company.
(c) For the purpose of this Section 501, so long as at the time of any Minority Business Disposition or any Minority Business Offering the Minority Business Disposition Condition is met, the Minority Business Assets shall not be deemed at any time to constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, and any sale or transfer of all or any part of the Minority Business Assets (whether directly or indirectly, whether by sale or transfer of any such assets, or of any Capital Stock or other interest in any Person holding such assets, or any consolidation or merger, or any combination thereof, and whether in one or more transactions, or otherwise, including any Minority Business Offering or any Minority Business Disposition) shall not be deemed at any time to constitute a consolidation with or merger with or into, or conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to, any Person.
(d) For the purpose of this Section 501, the Reorganization Assets (whether individually or in the aggregate) shall not be deemed at any time to constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, and any sale or transfer of all or any part of the Reorganization Assets (whether directly or indirectly, whether by sale or transfer of any such assets, or of any Capital Stock or other interest in any Person holding such assets, or of any combination thereof, and whether in one or more transactions, or otherwise) shall not be deemed at any time to constitute a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Section 502. Successor Company Substituted. Upon any transaction involving the Company in accordance with Section 501 in which the Company is not the Successor Company, the Successor Company shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture and the Notes Collateral Documents, and thereafter the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes Collateral Documents, except that the predecessor Company in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes.
95 |
Article VI
REMEDIES
Section 601. Events of Default. “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to the Notes, means any one of the following events:
(i) a default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, continued for a period of 30 days;
(ii) a default in the payment of principal of any Note when due, whether at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;
(iii) the failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 501(a);
(iv) the failure by the Company to comply for 30 days after the notice specified in the penultimate paragraph of this Section 601 with any of its obligations under Section 411 (other than a failure to purchase the Notes);
(v) the failure by the Company to comply for (x) 180 days after notice with any of its obligations under Section 404 or (y) 60 days after the notice specified in the penultimate paragraph of this Section 601 with its other agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes;
(vi) the failure by any Guarantor to comply for 60 days after the notice specified in the penultimate paragraph of this Section 601 with its obligations under its Notes Guarantee;
(vii) the failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, if the total amount of such Indebtedness so unpaid or accelerated exceeds the greater of (i) $100.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent and (ii) 15.0% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA; provided that no Default or Event of Default will be deemed to occur with respect to any such Indebtedness that is paid or otherwise acquired or retired (or for which such failure to pay or acceleration is waived or rescinded) within 20 Business Days after such failure to pay or such acceleration;
(viii) the taking of any of the following actions by the Company, a Significant Subsidiary or, during any period in which it is required to Guarantee the Notes, HGH or Holdings, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(A) the commencement of a voluntary case;
(B) the consent to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;
(C) the consent to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or
(D) the making of a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
96 |
(ix) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(A) is for relief against the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or, during any period in which it is required to Guarantee the Notes, HGH or Holdings, in an involuntary case;
(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or, during any period in which it is required to Guarantee the Notes, HGH or Holdings or for any substantial part of its property; or
(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or, during any period in which it is required to Guarantee the Notes, HGH or Holdings;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;
(x) the rendering of any judgment or decree for the payment of money in an amount (net of any insurance or indemnity payments actually received in respect thereof prior to or within 90 days from the entry thereof, or to be received in respect thereof in the event any appeal thereof shall be unsuccessful) in excess of the greater of (i) $100.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent and (ii) 15.0% of LTM Consolidated EBITDA against the Company or a Significant Subsidiary, that is not discharged, supported by a letter of credit or bonded or insured by a third Person, if such judgment or decree remains outstanding for a period of 90 days following such judgment or decree and is not discharged, waived or stayed;
(xi) the failure of any Notes Guarantee by HGH or Holdings or of any Subsidiary Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof or of this Indenture) or the denial or disaffirmation in writing by HGH, Holdings or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary of its obligations under this Indenture or any Subsidiary Guarantee (other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or such Notes Guarantee or the release of such Notes Guarantee in accordance with such Notes Guarantee or this Indenture), if such Default continues for 10 days; or
(xii) the Liens created by the Notes Collateral Documents shall at any time not constitute a valid and perfected Lien with the priority purported to be created thereby on any material portion of the Collateral intended to be covered thereby (to the extent perfection by filing, registration, recordation or possession is required by this Indenture or the Notes Collateral Documents), or, except for expiration in accordance with its terms or amendment, modification, waiver, termination or release in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such relevant Notes Collateral Document, any such Notes Collateral Document shall for whatever reason be terminated or cease to be in full force and effect, if in either case, such default continues for 45 days after notice, or the enforceability thereof shall be contested by the Company or any Guarantor.
The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.
97 |
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
However, a Default under Section 601(iv), Section 601(v), or Section 601(vi) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30.0% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Company in writing of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified in such clause after receipt of such notice; provided that a notice of Default may not be given with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to Holders, more than two years prior to such notice of Default, and any such notice shall be invalid and have no effect. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.” When a Default or an Event of Default is cured, it ceases.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officer’s Certificate of any Event of Default under Section 601(vii) or Section 601(x) and any event that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become an Event of Default under Section 601(iv), Section 601(v) or Section 601(vi), its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 602. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 601(viii) or Section 601(ix) with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 30.0% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, in either case specifying in such notice the respective Event of Default and that such notice is a “notice of acceleration,” may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon the effectiveness of such a declaration, such principal and interest will be due and payable immediately.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default with respect to the Notes specified in Section 601(viii) or Section 601(ix) with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Outstanding Notes will ipso facto become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes by notice to the Company and the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except non-payment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of such acceleration. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.
If the Notes are accelerated or otherwise become due prior to their stated maturity, in each case as a result of an Event of Default (including, but not limited to, an Event of Default under Section 601(viii) or Section 601(ix) (including the acceleration of any portion of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes by operation of law)), the amount that shall then be due and payable shall be equal to:
(x) (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes then outstanding plus the Applicable Premium in effect on the date of such acceleration or (ii) the applicable redemption price in effect on the date of such acceleration, as applicable, plus
(y) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of such acceleration, in each case as if such acceleration were an optional redemption of the Notes so accelerated.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that if the Notes are accelerated or otherwise become due prior to their stated maturity, in each case, as a result of an Event of Default (including, but not limited to, an Event of Default under Section 601(viii) or Section 601(ix)
98 |
(including the acceleration of any portion of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes by operation of law)), the Applicable Premium or the amount by which the applicable redemption price exceeds the principal amount of the Notes (the “Redemption Price Premium”), as applicable, with respect to an optional redemption of the Notes shall also be due and payable as though the Notes had been optionally redeemed on the date of such acceleration and shall constitute part of the Notes Obligations in view of the impracticability and difficulty of ascertaining actual damages and by mutual agreement of the parties as to a reasonable calculation of each Holder’s lost profits as a result thereof. If the Applicable Premium or the Redemption Price Premium, as applicable, becomes due and payable, it shall be deemed to be principal of the Notes, and interest shall accrue on the full principal amount of the Notes (including the Applicable Premium or the Redemption Price Premium, as applicable) from and after the applicable triggering event, including in connection with an Event of Default under Section 601(viii) or Section 601(ix). Any premium payable pursuant to this paragraph shall be presumed to be liquidated damages sustained by each Holder as the result of the acceleration of the Notes, and the Company agrees that it is reasonable under the circumstances currently existing. The premium shall also be payable in the event the Notes or this Indenture are satisfied, released or discharged through foreclosure, whether by judicial proceeding, deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other means. THE COMPANY AND EACH GUARANTOR EXPRESSLY WAIVES (TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THEY MAY LAWFULLY DO SO) THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE FOREGOING PREMIUM IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH ACCELERATION. The Company expressly agrees (to the fullest extent they may lawfully do so) that: (A) the premium is reasonable and is the product of an arm’s length transaction between sophisticated business entities ably represented by counsel; (B) the premium shall be payable notwithstanding the then prevailing market rates at the time acceleration occurs; (C) there has been a course of conduct between the Holders and the Company giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the premium; and (D) the Company shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently than as agreed to in this paragraph. The Company expressly acknowledges that its agreement to pay the premium to the Holders as herein described is a material inducement to the Holders to purchase the Notes.
Any notice of Default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee to provide a notice of Default, notice of acceleration or take any other action (a “Noteholder Direction”) provided by any one or more Holders (each a “Directing Holder”) must be accompanied by a written representation from each such Holder to the Company and the Trustee that such Holder is not (or, in the case such Holder is the Depositary or its nominee, that such Holder is being instructed solely by beneficial owners that are not) Net Short (a “Position Representation”), which representation, in the case of a Noteholder Direction relating to a notice of Default (a “Default Direction”) shall be deemed repeated at all times until the resulting Event of Default is cured or otherwise ceases to exist or the Notes are accelerated. In addition, each Directing Holder must, at the time of providing a Noteholder Direction, covenant to provide the Company with such other information as the Company may reasonably request from time to time in order to verify the accuracy of such Holder’s Position Representation within five Business Days of request therefor (a “Verification Covenant”). In any case in which the Holder is the Depositary or its nominee, any Position Representation or Verification Covenant required hereunder shall be provided by the beneficial owner of the Notes in lieu of the Depositary or its nominee. The Trustee shall have no duty whatsoever to provide this information to the Company or to obtain this information for the Company.
If, following the delivery of a Noteholder Direction, but prior to the acceleration of the Notes, the Company determines in good faith that there is a reasonable basis to believe that a Directing Holder providing such Noteholder Direction was, at any relevant time, in breach of its Position Representation and provides to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Company has initiated litigation in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking a determination that such Directing Holder was, at such time, in breach of its Position Representation, and seeking to invalidate any Event of Default or acceleration (or
99 |
notice thereof) that resulted from the applicable Noteholder Direction, the cure period with respect to such Default shall be automatically stayed and the cure period with respect to such Event of Default shall be automatically reinstituted and any remedy stayed pending a final and non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction on such matter.
If, following the delivery of a Noteholder Direction, but prior to the acceleration of the Notes, the Company provides to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate that a Directing Holder failed to satisfy its Verification Covenant, the cure period with respect to such Default shall be automatically stayed and the cure period with respect to any Event of Default that resulted from the applicable Noteholder Direction shall be automatically reinstituted and any remedy stayed pending satisfaction of such Verification Covenant. Any breach of the Position Representation as confirmed by a final and non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction on such matter shall result in such Holder’s participation in such Noteholder Direction being disregarded; and, if, without the participation of such Holder, the percentage of Notes held by the remaining Holders that provided such Noteholder Direction would have been insufficient to validly provide such Noteholder Direction, such Noteholder Direction shall be void ab initio, with the effect that such Event of Default shall be deemed never to have occurred, acceleration shall be voided and the Trustee shall be deemed not to have received such Noteholder Direction or any notice of such Default or Event of Default; provided, however, this shall not invalidate any indemnity or security provided by the Directing Holders to the Trustee which obligations shall continue to survive.
With their acquisition of the Notes, each Holder and subsequent purchaser of the Notes consents to the delivery of its Position Representation by the Trustee to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. Each Holder and subsequent purchaser of the Notes waives any and all claims, in law and/or in equity, against the Trustee and agrees not to commence any legal proceeding against the Trustee in respect of, and agrees that the Trustee will not be liable for any action that the Trustee takes in accordance with this Indenture, or arising out of or in connection with following instructions or taking actions in accordance with a Noteholder Direction.
The Company will waive any and all claims, in law and/or in equity, against the Trustee, and agrees not to commence any legal proceeding against the Trustee in respect of, and agrees that the Trustee will not be liable for any action that the Trustee takes in accordance with this Section 602, or arising out of or in connection with following instructions or taking actions in accordance with a Noteholder Direction.
The Trustee will treat all Holders equally with respect to their rights described under this Indenture, and in connection with the requisite percentages required under this Indenture, the Trustee will also treat all outstanding Notes equally irrespective of any Position Representation in determining whether the requisite percentage has been obtained with respect to the initial delivery of the Noteholder Direction. The Company confirms that any and all other actions that the Trustee takes or omits to take under this Section 602 and all fees, costs and expenses of the Trustee and its agents and counsel arising hereunder and in connection herewith shall be covered by the Company’s indemnification obligations under Section 707.
Section 603. Other Remedies; Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may, but is not obligated under this Section 603 to, pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture. If an Event of Default specified in Section 601(i) or 601(ii) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in Section 707.
100 |
Section 604. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, its creditors or its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 707. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 707 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.
No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 605. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Notes may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 606. Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, pursuant to this Article VI (including upon any realization of any Lien upon Collateral) shall be applied in the following order, subject to the terms of the Notes Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Notes and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, their agents and attorneys under Section 707, including payment of all reasonable compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, and the costs and expenses of collection;
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company.
101 |
Section 607. Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Notes may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:
(i) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;
(ii) Holders of at least 30.0% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy;
(iii) such Holder or Holders have provided the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, cost, liability, damage, fee, claim or expense;
(iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(v) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.
A Holder may not use this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of another Holder, to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder or to enforce any right under this Indenture except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all Holders (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).
Section 608. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture or any Note and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Company, any other obligor upon the Notes, the Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 609. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 610. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 611. Control by Holders. Subject to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
102 |
Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent with respect to the Notes; provided that:
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, any Notes Collateral Document or with the Notes; and
(2) the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent which is not inconsistent with such direction.
However, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 701, that the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
Section 612. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of not less than 60.0% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes, waive any past Default hereunder and its consequences, except a Default:
(1) in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note (which may only be waived with the consent of each Holder of Notes); or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 902 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note.
Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. In case of any such waiver, the Company, any other obligor upon the Notes, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder and under the Notes, respectively.
When a Default or an Event of Default is cured, it ceases for every purpose under this Indenture. Any time period in this Indenture to cure any actual or alleged Default or Event of Default may be extended or stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction to the extent such actual or alleged Default or Event of Default is the subject of litigation.
Section 613. Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Note by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or the Notes, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant. This Section 613 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Note on or after the respective Stated Maturity or Interest Payment Dates expressed in such Note.
103 |
Section 614. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws. The Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury or other similar law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Notes contemplated herein or in the Notes or that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
Article VII
THE TRUSTEE
Section 701. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture, but need not verify the contents thereof.
(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(c) Reports by the Company or Guarantors delivered to the Trustee should be considered for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).
(d) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that (i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of Section 701(a); (ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and (iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 611.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.
104 |
(f) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 701 and Section 703.
Section 702. Notice of Defaults. If a Default with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee must mail within the later of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after the Trustee obtains knowledge thereof, to all Holders of Notes as their names and addresses appear in the Note Register, notice of such Default hereunder known to the Trustee unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.
Section 703. Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 701:
(1) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order thereof, and any resolution of any Person’s Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced if certified by an Officer of such Person as having been duly adopted and being in full force and effect on the date of such certificate;
(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate of the Company;
(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by or pursuant to this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Notes pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have provided the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses, claims and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document;
(7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(8) to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to
105 |
be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture and the Notes Collateral Documents;
(9) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture;
(10) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, the Notes Collateral Agent and each other agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;
(11) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;
(12) the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder; and
(13) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 704. Trustee’s Disclaimer. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Notes, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Notes and perform its obligations hereunder. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or the proceeds thereof. Under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Notes or the Notes Guarantees. The Trustee shall have no obligation to independently (i) determine or verify if any event has occurred, (ii) notify the Holders of any event dependent upon the rating of the Notes or (iii) determine or verify if the rating on the Notes has been changed, suspended or withdrawn by any Rating Agency. The Trustee shall have no obligation to independently determine or verify if any Change of Control, Rating Event, Change of Control Triggering Event, or any other event, has occurred or notify the Holders of any such event.
Section 705. May Hold Notes. The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Note Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and, subject to Section 708 and Section 713, may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Note Registrar or such other agent.
Section 706. Money Held in Trust. Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.
106 |
Section 707. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and severally:
(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing for all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct; and
(3) to indemnify the Trustee and its directors, officers, agents and employees for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the Trustee’s part, arising out of or in connection with the administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, and including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and court costs incurred in connection with any action, claim or suit brought to enforce the Trustee’s right to compensation, reimbursement or indemnification, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct as finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder.
The Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes as to all property and funds held or collected by it hereunder for any amount owing it or any predecessor Trustee pursuant to this Section 707, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Notes.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 601(viii) or Section 601(ix), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent. The provisions of this Section 707 shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
For the avoidance of doubt, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee in this Section 707, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and each other agent, custodian and other Person employed to act on behalf of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent hereunder.
Section 708. Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA, then the Trustee shall eliminate such interest, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as Trustee with such conflict or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the TIA and this Indenture. The Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Notes, or a trustee under any other indenture between the Company and the Trustee.
Section 709. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder. The Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the TIA to act as such
107 |
and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 709 and to the extent permitted by the TIA, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 709, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VII.
Section 710. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article VII shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 711.
The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Notes by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 711 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes.
The Trustee may, upon 30 days advance written notice, be removed at any time with respect to the Notes by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, delivered to the Trustee and the Company.
If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 708 with respect to the Notes after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Note who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months;
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 709 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder; or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (A) the Company may, upon 30 days advance written notice, remove the Trustee with respect to all Notes, or (B) subject to Section 613, any Holder of a Note who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Notes and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Notes, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Notes and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 711. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 711, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Notes and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Notes shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted
108 |
appointment in the manner required by Section 711, then, subject to Section 613, any Holder of a Note who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note for at least six months may, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes.
The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Notes and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders in the manner provided in Section 108. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Notes and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
Section 711. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to above.
No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article VII.
Section 712. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion, sale or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder; provided that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VII, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Notes shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Notes so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Notes.
Section 713. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company. If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the TIA regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor) or realizing on certain property received by it in respect of such claims.
Section 714. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. With respect to the Notes, the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer, a copy of which instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an Authenticating Agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication (or execution of a certificate of authentication) by the Trustee includes authentication (or execution of a certificate of authentication) by such Authenticating Agent. An Authenticating Agent has the same rights as any Note Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.
109 |
Section 715. Notes Collateral Agent.
(1) Each of the Company, the Trustee and each Holder by acceptance of the Notes hereby designates and appoints the Notes Collateral Agent as its agent under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Notes Collateral Documents, and each of the Company, the Trustee and each Holder by acceptance of the Notes hereby irrevocably authorizes the Notes Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Notes Collateral Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Notes Collateral Agent by the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Notes Collateral Documents, including for the purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by the Issuer and Guarantors thereunder to secure the Notes Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto, and consents and agrees to the terms of each Notes Collateral Document and each Intercreditor Agreement, as the same may be in effect or may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their respective terms. The Notes Collateral Agent agrees to act as such on the express conditions contained in this Section 715. Each Holder agrees that any action taken by the Notes Collateral Agent in accordance with the provision of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Notes Collateral Documents, and the exercise by the Notes Collateral Agent of any rights or remedies set forth herein and therein shall be authorized and binding upon all Holders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Indenture, any Intercreditor Agreement or any other the Notes Collateral Document, the duties of the Notes Collateral Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, in the Intercreditor Agreements and in the other Notes Collateral Documents to which the Notes Collateral Agent is a party, nor shall the Notes Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any trust or other fiduciary relationship with the Trustee, any Holder, the Company or any Guarantor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Notes Collateral Documents or otherwise exist against the Notes Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Indenture with reference to the Notes Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.
(2) The Notes Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Notes Collateral Documents by or through receivers, agents, employees, attorneys-in-fact or with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates, and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and attorneys-in-fact of such Person and its Affiliates (a “Related Person”), and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in taking action in reliance upon any advice or opinion given by legal counsel. The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any receiver, agent, employee, attorney-in-fact or Related Person that it selects as long as such selection was made in good faith and with due care.
(3) None of the Notes Collateral Agent nor any of its respective Related Persons shall (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross
110 |
negligence or willful misconduct) or under or in connection with any Notes Collateral Document or Intercreditor Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (ii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Trustee or any Holder for any recital, statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Company or any Guarantor or Affiliate of any Guarantor, or any Officer or Related Person thereof, contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Notes Collateral Documents, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Notes Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Notes Collateral Documents, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Notes Collateral Documents, or for any failure of the Company, any Guarantor or any other party to this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Notes Collateral Documents to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. None of the Notes Collateral Agent nor any of its respective Related Persons shall be under any obligation to the Trustee or any Holder to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Notes Collateral Documents or to inspect the properties, books, or records of the Company or any Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates.
(4) The Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing or document (including those by telephone or e-mail) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Company or any Guarantor), independent accountants and other experts and advisors selected by the Notes Collateral Agent. The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any such writing or document. The Notes Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Notes Collateral Documents unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes as it determines and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Holders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Notes Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Notes Collateral Documents in accordance with a request, direction, instruction or consent of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (or any such consent otherwise required under Article IX) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Holders.
(5) The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, unless a Responsible Officer of the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received written notice referring to this Indenture, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Notes Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Trustee in accordance with Article VI or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (subject to this Section 715).
(6) The Notes Collateral Agent may resign at any time by 30 days’ written notice to the Trustee and the Company, such resignation to be effective upon the acceptance of a successor agent to its appointment as Notes Collateral Agent. If the Notes Collateral Agent resigns under this Indenture, the Company shall appoint a successor collateral agent. If no successor collateral agent is appointed prior to the intended effective date of the resignation of the Notes Collateral Agent (as stated in the notice of resignation), the Trustee, at the direction of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, may appoint a
111 |
successor collateral agent, subject to the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and which shall not be required during a continuing Event of Default). If no successor collateral agent is appointed and consented to by the Company pursuant to the preceding sentence within thirty (30) days after the intended effective date of resignation (as stated in the notice of resignation) the Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Notes Collateral Agent, and the term “Notes Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring Notes Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Notes Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Notes Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 715 (and Section 707) shall continue to inure to its benefit and the retiring Notes Collateral Agent shall not by reason of such resignation be deemed to be released from liability as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Notes Collateral Agent under this Indenture.
(7) Computershare Trust Company, N.A. shall initially act as Notes Collateral Agent and shall be authorized to appoint co-Notes Collateral Agents as necessary in its sole discretion. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein or in the Notes Collateral Documents, neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents or other Related Persons shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The Notes Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. For the avoidance of doubt, the Notes Collateral Agent shall have no discretion under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Notes Collateral Documents and shall not be required to make or give any determination, consent, approval, request or direction without the written direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes or the Trustee, as applicable.
(8) The Notes Collateral Agent is authorized and directed to (i) enter into the Notes Collateral Documents to which it is party, whether executed on or after the Issue Date, (ii) make the representations of the Holders set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Notes Collateral Documents, (iii) bind the Holders on the terms as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Notes Collateral Documents and (iv) perform and observe its obligations under the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Notes Collateral Documents.
(9) Except as otherwise set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements, the Notes Collateral Agent is each Holder’s agent for the purpose of perfecting the Holders’ security interest in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, can be perfected only by possession. Should the Trustee obtain possession of any such Collateral, upon request from the Company, the Trustee shall notify the Notes Collateral Agent thereof and promptly shall deliver such Collateral to the Notes Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Notes Collateral Agent’s instructions.
(10) The Notes Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Trustee or any of the Holders to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by the Company or any Guarantor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Notes Collateral Agent’s Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, maintained or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to determine
112 |
whether all of the Company’s or such other Guarantor’s property constituting Collateral intended to be subject to the Lien and security interest of the Notes Collateral Documents has been properly and completely listed or delivered, as the case may be, or the genuineness, validity, marketability or sufficiency thereof or title thereto, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities, and powers granted or available to the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture, any Intercreditor Agreement or any other Notes Collateral Document other than pursuant to the instructions of the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes or as otherwise provided in the Notes Collateral Documents. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall have any duty or obligation to monitor the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company or any Guarantor.
(11) If the Company or any Guarantor (i) incurs any First Lien Obligations at any time when no applicable intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting First Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of an existing intercreditor agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Notes Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the Intercreditor Agreements) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the First Lien Obligations so incurred, together with an Opinion of Counsel, the Holders acknowledge and agree that the Notes Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement (including any Intercreditor Agreement) (at the sole expense and cost of the Company, including legal fees and expenses of the Notes Collateral Agent), bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.
(12) No provision of this Indenture, any Intercreditor Agreement or any other Notes Collateral Document shall require the Notes Collateral Agent (or the Trustee) to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or thereunder or to take or omit to take any action hereunder or thereunder or take any action at the request or direction of Holders (or the Trustee in the case of the Notes Collateral Agent) unless it shall have received indemnity satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee against potential costs and liabilities incurred by the Notes Collateral Agent relating thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Notes Collateral Documents, in the event the Notes Collateral Agent is entitled or required to commence an action to foreclose or otherwise exercise its remedies to acquire control or possession of the Collateral, the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be required to commence any such action or exercise any remedy or to inspect or conduct any studies of any property under the mortgages or take any such other action if the Notes Collateral Agent has determined that the Notes Collateral Agent may incur personal liability as a result of the presence at, or release on or from, the Collateral or such property, of any hazardous substances. The Notes Collateral Agent shall at any time be entitled to cease taking any action described in this clause if it no longer reasonably deems any indemnity, security or undertaking from the Company or the Holders to be sufficient.
(13) The Notes Collateral Agent (i) shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in connection with this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Notes Collateral Documents or any instrument referred to herein or therein, except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its own gross negligence or wilful misconduct, (ii) shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Notes Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Company (and money held in trust by the Notes Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law) and (iii) may consult with
113 |
counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel. The grant of permissive rights or powers to the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be construed to impose duties to act.
(14) Neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters. Neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be liable for any indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages (included but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if it has been informed of the likelihood thereof and regardless of the form of action.
(15) The Notes Collateral Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by the Company or any Guarantor under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Notes Collateral Documents. The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be responsible to the Holders or any other Person for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements, the other Notes Collateral Documents, any Notes or in any certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Notes Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or any Notes Collateral Document; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of this Indenture, any Intercreditor Agreement and any other Notes Collateral Documents of any other party thereto; the genuineness, enforceability, collectability, value, sufficiency, location or existence of any Collateral, or the validity, effectiveness, enforceability, sufficiency, extent, perfection or priority of any Lien therein; the validity, enforceability or collectability of any Notes Obligations; the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any obligor; or for any failure of any obligor to perform its Notes Obligations under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Notes Collateral Documents. The Notes Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to any Holder or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into the existence of any Default or Event of Default, the observance or performance by any obligor of any terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Notes Collateral Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in this Indenture, any Intercreditor Agreement and any other Notes Collateral Document. The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection or other proceeding under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the other Notes Collateral Documents unless expressly set forth hereunder or thereunder. The Notes Collateral Agent shall have the right at any time to seek instructions from the Holders with respect to the administration of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements and the other Notes Collateral Documents.
(16) Subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and the other applicable Notes Collateral Documents, each Holder, by acceptance of the Notes, agrees that the Notes Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver the Intercreditor Agreements and the Notes Collateral Documents to which it is a party and all agreements, documents and instruments incidental thereto, and act in accordance with the terms thereof.
(17) The Notes Collateral Agent is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of itself, the Trustee and the Holders distributed under the Intercreditor Agreements and the Notes Collateral Documents and to the extent not prohibited under the Intercreditor Agreements, for turnover to the Trustee to make further distributions of such funds to itself, the Trustee and the
114 |
Holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 606 and the other provisions of this Indenture.
(18) In each case that the Notes Collateral Agent may or is required hereunder or under any Intercreditor Agreement or any Notes Collateral Document to take any action (an “Action”), including without limitation to make any determination, to give consents, to exercise rights, powers or remedies, to release or sell Collateral or otherwise to act hereunder or under any Intercreditor Agreement or any Notes Collateral Document, the Notes Collateral Agent may seek direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable with respect to any Action taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. If the Notes Collateral Agent shall request direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes with respect to any Action, the Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such Action unless and until the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received direction from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.
(19) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, any Intercreditor Agreement or any Notes Collateral Document, in no event shall the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, or have any duty or obligation with respect to, the recording, filing, registering, perfection, protection or maintenance of the security interests or Liens intended to be created by this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Notes Collateral Documents (including without limitation the filing or continuation of any UCC financing or continuation statements or similar documents or instruments), nor shall the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee be responsible for, and neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor the Trustee makes any representation regarding, the validity, effectiveness or priority of any Intercreditor Agreement or any of the Notes Collateral Documents or the security interests or Liens intended to be created thereby.
(20) Before the Notes Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting in each case at the request or direction of the Company or the Guarantors, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which shall conform to the provisions of Section 104. The Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion.
(21) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Notes Collateral Agent shall act pursuant to the instructions of the Holders and the Trustee solely with respect to the Notes Collateral Documents and the Collateral.
(22) The rights, privileges, benefits, immunities, indemnities and other protections given to the Trustee are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Notes Collateral Agent as if the Notes Collateral Agent were named as the Trustee herein and the Notes Collateral Documents were named as this Indenture herein.
115 |
Article VIII
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY
TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY
Section 801. The Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(1) semi-annually, not more than 10 days after each Regular Record Date, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Notes as of such Regular Record Date; and
(2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;
provided, however, that if and to the extent and so long as the Trustee shall be the Note Registrar, no such list need be furnished pursuant to this Section 801.
Section 802. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list, if any, furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 801 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Note Registrar; provided, however, that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Note Registrar, the Note Register shall satisfy the requirements relating to such list. None of the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or any other Person shall be under any responsibility with regard to the accuracy of such list. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 801 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Notes, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the TIA.
Every Holder of Notes, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee, nor any agent of either of them, shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the TIA.
Section 803. Reports by Trustee. Within 60 days after each July 15, beginning with July 15, 2024, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the TIA at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto for so long as any Notes remain outstanding. A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee or any applicable listing agent with each stock exchange upon which any Notes are listed, with the SEC and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Notes are listed on any stock exchange, but any failure to so notify the Trustee shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default by the Company.
Article IX
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT OR WAIVER
Section 901. Without Consent of Holders.
(a) Without the consent of (or notice to) any Holders of Notes, the Company, the Trustee (and, in the case of the Notes Collateral Documents, the Notes Collateral Agent) and (as applicable) each Guarantor may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes Collateral Documents or the Notes, for any of the following purposes:
116 |
(1) to cure any ambiguity, mistake, omission, defect or inconsistency (as determined by the Company);
(2) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the obligations of the Company or a Guarantor under this Indenture or the Notes Collateral Documents;
(3) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes (provided, that any such uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code);
(4) to add an obligor or a Guarantor under the Notes Documents, to add or release Collateral from, or subordinate, the Notes Liens when permitted or required by the Notes Documents, or to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Guarantee or Lien with respect to or securing the Notes when such release, termination or discharge is provided for under this Indenture, the Notes and the Notes Collateral Documents;
(5) to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant any other Lien in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent for its benefit and the benefit of the Trustee, the Holders and the holders of any future First Lien Obligations, as additional security for the payment and performance of all or any portion of the Notes Obligations, in any property or assets, including any which are required to be mortgaged, pledged or hypothecated, or in which a Lien is required to be granted to or for the benefit of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to the Notes Documents or otherwise;
(6) to secure additional First Lien Obligations and add additional secured creditors holding other First Lien Obligations so long as such First Lien Obligations are not prohibited by the provisions of the Notes Documents;
(7) to add to the covenants of the Company or Events of Default with respect to the Notes for the benefit of the Holders of Notes or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company;
(8) to provide for or confirm the issuance of, and establish the form and terms and conditions of, Notes (including Additional Notes) as permitted by this Indenture;
(9) to conform the text of this Indenture (including any supplemental indenture or other instrument pursuant to which Additional Notes are issued), the Notes (including any Additional Notes), any Notes Guarantee or the Notes Collateral Documents to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum;
(10) to increase or decrease the minimum denomination of the Notes (including for the purposes of redemption or repurchase of any Note in part);
(11) to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Holder of a Note under the Notes or this Indenture (as determined by the Company);
(12) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee or a successor Notes Collateral Agent with respect to the Notes and to add to or change any provision of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent;
(13) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA (if applicable); or
117 |
(14) to provide for the accession of any parties to the Notes Collateral Documents (and other amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature) in connection with an Incurrence of additional First Lien Obligations permitted by this Indenture.
(b) Any Intercreditor Agreement may be entered into without notice to or the consent of any Holder or the Trustee (and each Holder expressly authorizes the entry into any Intercreditor Agreement) and the Notes Collateral Documents and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement may be amended without notice to or the consent of any Holder, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent in connection with the entry into the Intercreditor Agreement or any other Applicable Intercreditor Arrangements or any such Notes Collateral Documents of any class of additional secured creditors holding other Junior Lien Obligations or First Lien Obligations in a transaction permitted under this Indenture.
Section 902. With Consent of Holders.
(a) The Company, the Trustee (and, in the case of the Notes Collateral Documents, the Notes Collateral Agent) and (if applicable) each Guarantor may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes Collateral Documents or the Notes with the written consent of the Holders of not less than 60.0% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes (including, in each case, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes), and the Holders of not less than 60.0% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee (including, in each case, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes) may waive any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance by the Company or any Guarantor with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes Collateral Documents or the Notes.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 902, without the consent of Holders of at least 100.0% of the principal amount of the Notes (including, in each case, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes), an amendment or waiver, including a waiver pursuant to Section 612, may not:
(i) reduce the principal amount of the Notes;
(ii) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note;
(iii) reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Note;
(iv) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the date on which any Note may be redeemed as described in Section 1001;
(v) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in such Note;
(vi) amend or waive the legal right of any Holder of any Note to receive payment of principal of and interest on such Note on or after the respective Stated Maturity for such principal or Interest Payment Date for such interest expressed in such Note, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective Stated Maturity or Interest Payment Date;
(vii) modify or change any provision that (A) adversely affects the ranking as to right of payment, Lien priority or payment priority of any Note or (B) has the effect of permitting (to the extent not otherwise permitted by the terms of this Indenture as in effect on the Issue Date) the Incurrence of additional Indebtedness in the form of “additional notes” for the purpose of influencing voting thresholds;
(viii) make any change in the amendment or waiver provisions described in this Section 902(b); or
118 |
(ix) make any change to the provisions in Section 902(c).
(c) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
(d) In addition, without the consent of holders of at least 85.0% in principal amount of Notes then outstanding, no amendment, supplement or waiver may modify any Notes Collateral Document or the provisions in this Indenture dealing with the Collateral or the Notes Collateral Documents that would have the impact of releasing a material portion of the Collateral from the Liens of the Notes Collateral Documents (except as permitted by the terms of this Indenture and the Notes Collateral Documents).
(e) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 902 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
(f) After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 902 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any supplemental indenture or the effectiveness of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 903. Execution of Amendments, Supplements or Waivers. The Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable. If it does, the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent may, but need not, sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent shall receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and that, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws now or hereinafter in effect affecting creditors’ rights or remedies generally and to general principles of equity (including standards of materiality, good faith, fair dealing and reasonableness), whether considered in a proceeding at law or at equity, such amendment, supplement or waiver is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
Section 904. Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Note or any Note that evidences all or any part of the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. Subject to the following paragraph of this Section 904, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to such Holder’s Note by written notice to the Trustee or the Company, received by the Trustee or the Company, as the case may be, before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented (and not theretofore revoked such consent) to the amendment, supplement or waiver. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver as set forth in Section 106.
119 |
After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of the Notes.
Section 905. Notation on or Exchange of Notes. If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee shall (if required by the Company and in accordance with the specific direction of the Company) request the Holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee shall (if required by the Company and in accordance with the specific direction of the Company) place an appropriate notation on the Note about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Article X
REDEMPTION OF NOTES
Section 1001. Redemption.
(a) The Notes will be redeemable, at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time on and after July 15, 2027 and prior to maturity thereof at the applicable redemption price set forth below. The Notes will be so redeemable at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date pursuant to Section 307), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on July 15 of the years set forth below:
Redemption Period | Price |
2027 | 106.313% |
2028 and thereafter | 100.000% |
(b) In addition, at any time and from time to time on or prior to July 15, 2027, the Company at its option may redeem the Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to up to 40.0% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including the principal amount of any Additional Notes), with funds in an aggregate amount (the “Redemption Amount”) not exceeding the aggregate proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount thereof) of 112.625%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date pursuant to Section 307); provided, however, that an aggregate principal amount of the Notes equal to at least 50.0% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including the principal amount of any Additional Notes) must remain outstanding immediately after each such redemption of the Notes. Any amount payable pursuant to this Section 1001(b) may be funded from any source (including amounts in excess of the Redemption Amount). Any notice of any such redemption may be given prior to the completion of the related Equity Offering, but in no event may be given more than 180 days after the completion of the related Equity Offering.
(c) At any time prior to July 15, 2027, the Notes may also be redeemed or purchased (by the Company or any other Person) in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at a price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to 100.0% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium (as defined below) as of, and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date pursuant to Section 307 hereof). Calculation of the Applicable Premium will be made by the Company or on behalf of the Company by
120 |
such Person as the Company shall designate; provided that such calculation or the correctness thereof shall not be a duty or obligation of the Trustee.
(d) Notwithstanding clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 1001, in connection with any tender offer for the Notes, if Holders of not less than 90.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes (including the principal amount of any Additional Notes) validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Company, or any other Person making such tender offer, purchases all of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, all of the Holders will be deemed to have consented to such tender offer and, accordingly, the Company or such other Person will have the right, upon notice given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to such tender offer, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price in cash equal to the price offered to each Holder in such tender offer, plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest to but not including the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date falling prior to or on the Redemption Date).
(e) Any redemption of Notes pursuant to this Section 1001 may be made upon notice sent electronically or, at the Company’s option, mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address (with a copy to the Trustee) in accordance with Section 1003 hereof. The Company may provide in any redemption notice that the payment of the redemption price and the performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.
(f) Any redemption of Notes pursuant to this Section 1001 (including in connection with an Equity Offering) or notice thereof may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to the satisfaction (or, waiver by the Company in its sole discretion) of one or more conditions precedent, which may include consummation of any related Equity Offering or the occurrence of a Change of Control or a Change of Control Triggering Event. If such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice may state that, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been (or, in the Company’s sole and absolute determination, may not be) satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion) by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date so delayed. The Company will provide written notice to the Trustee prior to the close of business two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Trustee) if any such redemption has been rescinded or delayed, and upon receipt the Trustee shall provide such notice to each Holder in the same manner in which the notice of redemption was given.
Section 1002. Selection by Trustee of Notes to Be Redeemed. In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (except that such notice may be delivered more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date if the Redemption Date is delayed as provided in Section 1001) on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion shall deem to be fair and appropriate (and in the case of Global Notes, subject to the procedures of the Depositary), in integral multiples of $1,000, although no Note less than the Minimum Denomination in original principal amount will be redeemed in part.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. On and after the Redemption Date, unless the company defaults in payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
121 |
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Notes shall relate, in the case of any Note redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Note that has been or is to be redeemed.
Section 1003. Notice of Redemption. Subject to the final paragraph of Section 108, notice of redemption or purchase as provided in Section 1001 shall be given electronically or, at the Company’s option, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (except that such notice may be delivered more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date if such notice is issued in connection with the defeasance of Notes pursuant to Section 1201 or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to Section 1101, or if the Redemption Date is delayed, in each case, as provided in Section 1001), to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Note Register (with a copy to the Trustee). Each notice of redemption shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including the CUSIP number).
Any such notice shall state:
(1) the expected Redemption Date;
(2) the redemption price (or the formula by which the redemption price will be determined);
(3) if less than all Outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the portion of the respective principal amounts) of the Notes to be redeemed;
(4) that, on the Redemption Date, the redemption price will become due and payable upon each such Note, and that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest thereon shall cease to accrue from and after said date;
(5) the place where such Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and
(6) if applicable, any condition to such redemption.
In addition, if such redemption, purchase or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, as permitted by Section 1001, such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion), or such redemption or purchase may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been (or, in the Company’s sole and absolute determination, may not be) satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion) by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed. The Company will provide written notice to the Trustee prior to the close of business two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Trustee) if any such redemption has been rescinded or delayed, and upon receipt the Trustee shall provide such notice to each Holder in the same manner in which the notice of redemption was given.
The Company may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and the performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.
Notice of such redemption or purchase of Notes to be so redeemed or purchased at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request (made to the Trustee at least
122 |
five Business Days (or such shorter period as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) prior to the date on which notice will be sent to Holders), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company. Any such request will set forth the information to be stated in such notice, as provided by this Section 1003.
The notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note.
Section 1004. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company shall segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 403) an amount of money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and any accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Notes or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.
Section 1005. Notes Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as provided in this Article X, the Notes so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the redemption price specified herein and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the redemption price or the Paying Agent is prohibited from paying the redemption price pursuant to the terms of this Indenture) such Notes shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of such Notes for redemption in accordance with such notice, such Notes shall be paid by or on behalf of the Company at the redemption price. Installments of interest whose Interest Payment Date is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Notes registered as such on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.
On and after any Redemption Date, if money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and any accrued and unpaid interest on Notes called for redemption shall have been made available in accordance with Section 1004, the Notes (or the portions thereof) called for redemption will cease to accrue interest and the only right of the Holders of such Notes (or portions thereof) will be to receive payment of the redemption price of and, subject to the last sentence of the preceding paragraph, any accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes (or portions thereof) to but not including the Redemption Date. If any Note (or portion thereof) called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Note (or portion thereof).
Section 1006. Notes Redeemed in Part. Any Note that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Place of Payment (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Note without service charge, a new Note or Notes, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Note so surrendered (or, if the Note is a Global Note, through book-entry transfer and an adjustment shall be made to the schedule attached thereto).
Article XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 1101. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture and the Notes shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes herein expressly provided for) and the Liens, if any, on the Collateral securing the Notes will be released, and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company,
123 |
shall execute such instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of the Outstanding Notes and this Indenture, when:
(i) either:
(a) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Notes that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 403) have been cancelled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(b) all such Notes not theretofore cancelled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:
(1) have become due and payable;
(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year; or
(3) have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company;
(ii) the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee money, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, sufficient (without reinvestment) (if U.S. Government Obligations, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or independent firm of certified public accountants) to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore cancelled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Notes that have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be (provided that if such redemption is made pursuant to Section 1001(c), (x) the amount of money or U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, that the Company must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited will be determined using an assumed Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of such deposit, as calculated by the Company in good faith (which calculation shall be conclusive), and (y) the Company must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited additional money in trust on the Redemption Date, as required by Section 1004, as necessary to pay the Applicable Premium as determined on such date);
(iii) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums then payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Outstanding Notes; and
(iv) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate of the Company and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent provided for in this Section 1101 relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with; provided that any such counsel may rely on any Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact (including as to compliance with the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)).
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 707 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 1101(ii), the obligations of the Trustee under Section 1102 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.
124 |
Section 1102. Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 403, all money and/or U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 1101 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Article XII
DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 1201. The Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Company may at its option, at any time, elect to have terminated the obligations of the Company with respect to the Outstanding Notes, to have terminated all of the obligations of the Guarantors with respect to the Notes Guarantees and to have terminated all of the obligations of the Company and Guarantors under the Notes Collateral Documents, in each case, as set forth in this Article XII, and elect to have either Section 1202 or Section 1203 be applied to all of the Outstanding Notes (the “Defeased Notes”), upon compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 1204. Either Section 1202 or Section 1203 may be applied to the Defeased Notes to any Redemption Date or the Stated Maturity of the Notes.
Section 1202. Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 1201 of the option applicable to this Section 1202, the Company shall be deemed to have been released and discharged from its obligations with respect to the Defeased Notes, the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been released and discharged from their obligations with respect to the Notes Guarantees and the Notes Collateral Documents shall be terminated and the Liens, if any, on the Collateral securing the Notes shall be deemed to have been released, on the date the relevant conditions set forth in Section 1204 below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the Defeased Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1205 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and the Company and each of the Guarantors shall be deemed to have satisfied all other obligations under the Defeased Notes and this Indenture insofar as the Defeased Notes are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute such instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging the same), except for the following, which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of Defeased Notes to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1204 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Defeased Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Defeased Notes under Sections 304, 305, 306, 402 and 403, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, including the Trustee’s rights under Section 707, which shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, and (d) this Article XII. If the Company exercises its option under this Section 1202, payment of the Defeased Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. Subject to compliance with this Article XII, the Company may, at its option and at any time, exercise its option under this Section 1202 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1203 with respect to the Defeased Notes.
Section 1203. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 1201 of the option applicable to this Section 1203, (a) the Company and the Guarantors shall be released from their respective obligations under any covenant or provision contained in Section 404, Sections 406 through 411, inclusive and Sections 413 through 416, inclusive, and the provisions of clauses (iii) and (iv) of Section 501(a) shall not apply and the Notes Collateral Documents shall be terminated and the Liens, if any, on the Collateral securing the Notes shall be deemed to have been released, and (b) the occurrence of any event specified in clause (iii) (with respect to clauses (iii) and (iv) of Section 501(a)), (iv), (v) (with
125 |
respect to Section 404, Sections 406 through 411, inclusive and Sections 413 through 416, inclusive), (vi), (vii), (viii) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries), (ix) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries), (x), (xi) or (xii) of Section 601 shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to the Defeased Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1204 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Defeased Notes shall thereafter be deemed not to be “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with any such covenant or provision, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Defeased Notes, the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant or provision, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or provision or by reason of any reference in any such covenant or provision to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 601, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Defeased Notes shall be unaffected thereby.
Section 1204. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1202 or Section 1203 to the Defeased Notes:
(1) the Company shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, in trust, money or U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof in amounts as will be sufficient (without reinvestment) (if U.S. Government Obligations, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or independent firm of certified public accountants), to pay and discharge the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Defeased Notes to the Stated Maturity or relevant Redemption Date in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Notes (provided that if such redemption shall be pursuant to Section 1001(c), (x) the amount of money or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof that the Company must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited will be determined using an assumed Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of such deposit, as calculated by the Company in good faith (which calculation shall be conclusive), and (y) the Company must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited additional money in trust on the Redemption Date, as required by Section 1004, as necessary to pay the Applicable Premium as determined on such date);
(2) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(3) such deposit shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default or Event of Default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(4) in the case of an election under Section 1202, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP or other counsel in the United States to the effect that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (y) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm to the effect that, the beneficial owners of the Defeased Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Defeasance had not occurred;
126 |
(5) in the case of an election under Section 1203, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP or other counsel in the United States to the effect that the beneficial owners of the Defeased Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred; and
(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent provided for in this Section 1204 relating to either the Defeasance under Section 1202 or the Covenant Defeasance under Section 1203, as the case may be, have been complied with. In rendering such Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate as to compliance with the foregoing clauses (1), (2) and (3) of this Section 1204 or as to any matters of fact.
Section 1205. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 403, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or such other Person that would qualify to act as successor trustee under Article VII, collectively and solely for purposes of this Section 1205, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1204 in respect of the Defeased Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee and its agents and hold them harmless against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1204, or the principal, premium, if any, and interest received in respect thereof, other than any such tax, fee or other charge that by law is for the account of the Holders of the Defeased Notes.
Anything in this Article XII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company from time to time, upon Company Request, any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1204 that, in the opinion of a nationally recognized accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm expressed in a written certification thereof to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. Subject to Article VII, the Trustee shall not incur any liability to any Person by relying on such opinion.
Section 1206. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 1202 or 1203, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations of the Company and each of the Guarantors under this Indenture, the Defeased Notes and the Notes Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 1202 or 1203, as the case may be, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money and U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 1202 or 1203, as the case may be; provided, however, that if the Company or any Guarantor makes any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company or Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money and U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
127 |
Section 1207. Repayment to the Company. Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee shall pay to the Company upon Company Request any money held by it for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the Stated Maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person and all liability of the Trustee or Paying Agent with respect to such money shall thereupon cease.
Article XIII
NOTES GUARANTEES
Section 1301. Guarantees Generally.
(a) Guarantee of Each Guarantor. Holdings and each Subsidiary Guarantor from time to time party hereto, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, will jointly and severally, irrevocably and fully and unconditionally Guarantee, on a senior first-priority secured basis, the punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all monetary obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes, whether for principal of or interest on the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise (all such obligations guaranteed by such Guarantors being herein called the “Notes Guaranteed Obligations”). HGH, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, will jointly and severally, irrevocably and fully and unconditionally Guarantee (the “HGH Guarantee”), on a senior unsecured basis, the punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all monetary obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes, whether for principal of or interest on the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise (the “HGH Guaranteed Obligations”).
The obligations of each Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor (including any Guarantee by it of any Credit Facility Indebtedness), and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Notes Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Notes Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law, a breach of applicable capital preservation rule, or being void or unenforceable under any law relating to insolvency of debtors.
(b) Further Agreements of Each Guarantor.
(i) Each Guarantor hereby agrees that (to the fullest extent permitted by law) its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company or any other Guarantor to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, any release of any other Guarantor, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same, whether or not a notation concerning its Notes Guarantee is made on any particular Note, or any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor.
(ii) Each Guarantor hereby waives (to the fullest extent permitted by law) the benefit of diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that (except as otherwise provided in Section 1303) its Notes Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes, this Indenture and this Notes Guarantee.
128 |
Such Notes Guarantee is a guarantee of payment and not of collection. Each Guarantor further agrees (to the fullest extent permitted by law) that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders of Notes and the Trustee, on the other hand, subject to this Article XIII, (1) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed by its Notes Guarantee may be accelerated as and to the extent provided in Article VI for the purposes of such Notes Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed by such Notes Guarantee, and (2) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Section 1301 for the purpose of such Notes Guarantee. Neither the Trustee nor any other Person shall have any obligation to enforce or exhaust any rights or remedies or to take any other steps under any security for the Notes Guaranteed Obligations or against the Company or any other Person or any property of the Company or any other Person before the Trustee is entitled to demand payment and performance by any or all Guarantors of their obligations under their respective Notes Guarantees or under this Indenture.
(iii) Until terminated in accordance with Section 1303, each Notes Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Company for liquidation or reorganization, should the Company 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 the Company’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on such Notes, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” 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 Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.
(c) Each Guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under its Notes Guarantee shall have the right to seek contribution from the Company or any non-paying Guarantor that has also Guaranteed the relevant Notes Guaranteed Obligations in respect of which such payment or distribution is made, so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Notes Guarantees.
(d) Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that its Notes Guarantee, and the waiver set forth in Section 1304, are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
(e) Each Guarantor, pursuant to its Notes Guarantee, also hereby agrees to pay any and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or the Holders in enforcing any rights under its Notes Guarantee.
Section 1302. Continuing Guarantees.
(a) Each Notes Guarantee shall be a continuing Guarantee and shall (i) subject to Section 1303, remain in full force and effect until payment in full of the principal amount of all Outstanding Notes (whether by payment at maturity, purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition) and all other Notes Guaranteed Obligations of the Guarantor then due and owing, (ii) be binding upon such Guarantor and (iii) inure to and be enforceable for the benefit of the Trustee, the Holders and their permitted successors, transferees and assigns.
129 |
(b) The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment which would otherwise have reduced or terminated the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder and under its Notes Guarantee (whether such payment shall have been made by or on behalf of the Company or by or on behalf of a Guarantor) is rescinded or reclaimed from any of the Holders upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or any Guarantor or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.
Section 1303. Release of Notes Guarantees. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1302, Notes Guarantees will be subject to termination and discharge under the circumstances described in this Section 1303.
Any Subsidiary Guarantor will automatically and unconditionally be released from all obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, and such Subsidiary Guarantee shall thereupon terminate and be discharged and of no further force or effect, (i) concurrently with any direct or indirect sale or disposition (by merger or otherwise) of any such Subsidiary Guarantor or any interest therein, or any other transaction, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (including Section 408 and Section 501), following which such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) at any time that any such Subsidiary Guarantor is (or substantially concurrently with the release of the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor or, if as a result of the release of the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, will be) released from all of its obligations as borrower or under its Guarantee of payment by the Company of any Indebtedness of the Company under the First Lien Credit Facility, any applicable Refinancing Credit Facility and all other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture) (it being understood that a release subject to contingent reinstatement is still a release, and that if any such Guarantee is so reinstated, such Subsidiary Guarantee shall also be reinstated to the extent that such Subsidiary Guarantor would then be required to provide a Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to Section 410), (iii) upon the merger or consolidation of any such Subsidiary Guarantor with and into the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor that is the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation, or upon the liquidation of such Subsidiary Guarantor following the transfer of all of its assets to the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor, (iv) concurrently with any such Subsidiary Guarantor becoming an Unrestricted Subsidiary or ceasing to constitute a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company (or, if such Subsidiary Guarantor is a Foreign Subsidiary that is required to Guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 410, concurrently with such Subsidiary Guarantor becoming an Unrestricted Subsidiary or ceasing to constitute a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), (v) upon legal or covenant defeasance of the Company’s obligations, or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, (vi) subject to Section 1302(b), upon payment in full of the aggregate principal amount of all Notes then Outstanding and all other Notes Guaranteed Obligations then due and owing, or (vii) upon a Subsidiary Guarantor becoming (or substantially concurrently with it becoming) a Special Purpose Subsidiary, or if as a result of the release of the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, it will become a Special Purpose Subsidiary.
Holdings will automatically and unconditionally be released from all obligations under its Notes Guarantee, and such Notes Guarantee shall thereupon terminate and be discharged and of no further force or effect, (i) at any time that Holdings is (or substantially concurrently with the release of the Notes Guarantee of Holdings or, if as a result of the release of the Notes Guarantee of Holdings, will be) released from all of its obligations as borrower or under its Guarantee of payment by the Company of any Indebtedness of the Company under the First Lien Credit Facility, any applicable Refinancing Credit Facility and all other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture) (it being understood that a release subject to contingent reinstatement is still a release, and that if any such Guarantee is so reinstated, such Notes Guarantee shall also be reinstated), (ii) upon the merger or consolidation of Holdings with and into the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor that is the surviving Person in such merger or consolidation, or upon the liquidation of Holdings following the transfer of all of its assets to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, (iii) upon
130 |
legal or covenant defeasance of the Company’s obligations, or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or (iv) subject to customary contingent reinstatement provisions, upon payment in full of the aggregate principal amount of all Notes then outstanding and all other Notes Guaranteed Obligations then due and owing.
HGH will automatically and unconditionally be released from all obligations under the HGH Guarantee, and the HGH Guarantee shall thereupon terminate and be discharged and of no further force or effect, (i) at any time that HGH is (or substantially concurrently with the release of the HGH Guarantee or, if as a result of the release of the HGH Guarantee, will be) released from all of its obligations under its Guarantee of payment by the Company of any Indebtedness of the Company under the First Lien Credit Facility and any applicable Refinancing Credit Facility (it being understood that a release subject to contingent reinstatement is still a release, and that if any such Guarantee is so reinstated, the HGH Guarantee shall also be reinstated), (ii) upon payment or exchange in full of the aggregate principal amount of all Exchangeable Notes then outstanding, so long as HGH is substantially concurrently released from all of its obligations under its Guarantee of payment by the Company of any Indebtedness of the Company under the First Lien Credit Facility and any applicable Refinancing Credit Facility, (iii) upon legal or covenant defeasance of the Company’s obligations, or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or (iv) subject to customary contingent reinstatement provisions, upon payment in full of the aggregate principal amount of all Notes then outstanding and all other HGH Guaranteed Obligations then due and owing.
In addition, the Company will have the right, upon 10 days’ written notice to the Trustee (or such shorter period as agreed to by the Trustee), to cause any Subsidiary Guarantor that has not guaranteed payment by the Company of any Indebtedness of the Company under a First Lien Credit Facility, any applicable Refinancing Credit Facility or any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Consolidated Vehicle Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture) to be unconditionally released from all obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, and such Subsidiary Guarantee shall thereupon terminate and be discharged and of no further force or effect.
Upon any such occurrence specified in this Section 1303 and upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel certifying that such release complies with this Indenture, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Company in order to evidence such release, discharge and termination in respect of the applicable Notes Guarantee.
Section 1304. Waiver of Subrogation. Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any claim or other rights that it may now or hereafter acquire against the Company that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture or such Guarantor’s obligations under its Notes Guarantee and this Indenture, including any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, indemnification, and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of any Holder of Notes against the Company, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity, or under contract, statute or common law, until this Indenture is discharged and all of the Notes are discharged and paid in full. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence and the Notes shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be deemed to have been paid to such Guarantor for the benefit of, and held in trust for the benefit of, the Holders of the Notes, and shall forthwith be paid to the Trustee for the benefit of such Holders to be credited and applied upon the Notes, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
Section 1305. Notation Not Required. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to make a notation on the Notes to reflect any Notes Guarantee or any release, termination or discharge thereof.
131 |
Section 1306. Successors and Assigns of Guarantors. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by each Guarantor shall bind its respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 1307. Execution and Delivery of Notes Guarantees. The Company shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary that is required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 410, and each Subsidiary of the Company that the Company causes to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 410, to promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C to this Indenture, or otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, evidencing its Subsidiary Guarantee on substantially the terms set forth in this Article XIII. Concurrently therewith, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Restricted Subsidiary and that, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws now or hereafter in effect affecting creditors’ rights or remedies generally and to general principles of equity (including standards of materiality, good faith, fair dealing and reasonableness), whether considered in a proceeding at law or at equity, such supplemental indenture is a valid and binding agreement of such Restricted Subsidiary, enforceable against such Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with its terms.
Section 1308. Notices. Notice to any Guarantor shall be sufficient if addressed to such Guarantor care of the Company at the address, place and manner provided in Section 107.
Article XIV
Collateral
Section 1401. Notes Collateral Documents. The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an Interest Payment Date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and the performance of all other Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors to the Holders, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, and the Notes Collateral Documents, according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, shall be secured as provided in the Notes Collateral Documents (upon the entry into such documents), which define the terms of the Liens that secure the Notes Obligations, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements. The Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors hereby acknowledge and agree that the Notes Collateral Agent holds the Collateral in trust for the benefit of the Holders, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent and pursuant to the terms of the Notes Collateral Documents. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Notes Collateral Documents (including the provisions providing for the possession, use, release and foreclosure of Collateral), each as may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and this Indenture, and authorizes and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the Notes Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, prior to, on or following the Issue Date, as applicable, and to perform and observe its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.
Section 1402. Release of Collateral.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Notes Collateral Documents and this Indenture, the Company and the Guarantors will be entitled to the release of property and other assets constituting Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes Obligations (without the consent of any other Person, but subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements) under any one or more of the following circumstances, in which case such Collateral shall be automatically, and without the need for any further
132 |
action by any Person, terminated and released (and the Holders, by their acceptance of the Notes, instruct and direct the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent to effect and document such release):
(i) to enable the Company and/or one or more Guarantors to consummate the sale, transfer or other disposition of such property or assets (including Capital Stock) (to a Person that is not the Company or a Guarantor) to the extent consummated in accordance with, or not prohibited by, Section 408;
(ii) in connection with the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(iii) in the case any Collateral becomes Excluded Property;
(iv) in the case of a Guarantor that is released from its Guarantee with respect to the Notes pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the release of the property and assets of such Guarantor; and
(v) as described under Article IX.
(b) The Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes and the related Note Guarantees also will be automatically, and without the need for any further action by any Person, terminated and released:
(i) upon payment in full of the principal of, together with accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, on, the Notes and all other Obligations under this Indenture, the Note Guarantees and the Notes Collateral Documents that are due and payable at or prior to the time such principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, are paid in full;
(ii) upon a Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under this Indenture as described under Section 1202 and Section 1203 hereof, or a discharge of this Indenture as described under Section 1101 hereof; or
(iii) pursuant to the Notes Collateral Documents.
(c) In addition, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Notes Collateral Documents and this Indenture, upon request of the Company or any other applicable Grantor any Lien on any Collateral may be subordinated to the holder of any Lien on such Collateral that is created, incurred, or assumed pursuant to clauses (d), (h), (m), (n), (o) (to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness is secured by a Lien on Collateral that is created, incurred or assumed pursuant to clauses (d), (h), (o), (p), (q) and (r)), (p), (q) and (r) of the definition of “Permitted Liens.” In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Notes Collateral Documents and this Indenture, upon written request of the Company, the Notes Collateral Agent shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Holder, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent) take such actions as shall be so requested by the Company to give effect to (by means of an acknowledgement (but not consent) in form reasonably satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent), or to subordinate, the Lien on any Collateral to such Liens listed in the immediately preceding sentence and permitted by this Indenture and to enter into customary subordination or intercreditor agreements, as applicable.
(d) With respect to any release of Collateral, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture and the Notes Collateral Documents, as applicable, to such release have been met and that it is permitted for the Trustee and/or Notes Collateral Agent to execute and deliver the documents requested by the Company in connection with such release and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Company, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall execute, deliver and/or acknowledge (at the Company’s expense) such instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Notes Collateral Documents and shall do or cause to be done (at the
133 |
Company’s expense) all acts reasonably requested of them to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any such release undertaken in reliance upon any such Officer’s Certificate, and notwithstanding any term hereof or in any Notes Collateral Document to the contrary, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to release any such Lien and security interest, or execute and deliver any such instrument of release, satisfaction or termination, unless and until it receives such Officer’s Certificate, upon which it shall be entitled to conclusively rely. For the avoidance of doubt, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be provided in connection with any such release of Collateral.
Section 1403. Suits to Protect Collateral. Subject to the provisions of Article VII and the Notes Collateral Documents, the Trustee may or may direct the Notes Collateral Agent to take all actions it determines in order to:
(a) enforce any of the terms of the Notes Collateral Documents; and
(b) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations hereunder.
Subject to the provisions of the Notes Collateral Documents, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have the power to institute and to maintain such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may determine to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts which may be unlawful or in violation of any of the Notes Collateral Documents or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may determine to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral. Nothing in this Section 1403 shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.
Section 1404. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent Under the Notes Collateral Documents. Subject to the provisions of each Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent are authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the Holders distributed under the Notes Collateral Documents, and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders according to the provisions of this Indenture.
Section 1405. Purchaser Protected. In no event shall any purchaser in good faith of any property purported to be released hereunder be bound to ascertain the authority of the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee to execute the applicable release or to inquire as to the satisfaction of any conditions required by the provisions hereof for the exercise of such authority or to see to the application of any consideration given by such purchaser or other transferee; nor shall any purchaser or other transferee of any property or rights permitted by this Article XIV to be sold be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Company or the applicable Guarantor to make any such sale or other transfer.
Section 1406. Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee. In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article XIV upon the Company or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Company or a Guarantor or of any Officer or Officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article XIV; and if the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.
134 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.
THE HERTZ CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Johnson | |
Name: Mark E. Johnson | ||
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer |
GUARANTORS: | ||
HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Johnson | |
Name: Mark E. Johnson | ||
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer |
RENTAL CAR INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC DOLLAR RENT A CAR, INC. DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. DTG OPERATIONS, INC. DTG SUPPLY, LLC FIREFLY RENT A CAR LLC HERTZ CAR SALES LLC HERTZ GLOBAL SERVICES CORPORATION HERTZ LOCAL EDITION CORP. HERTZ LOCAL EDITION TRANSPORTING, INC. HERTZ SYSTEM, INC. HERTZ TECHNOLOGIES, INC. HERTZ TRANSPORTING, INC. RENTAL CAR GROUP COMPANY, LLC SMARTZ VEHICLE RENTAL CORPORATION THRIFTY CAR SALES, INC. THRIFTY, LLC THRIFTY RENT-A-CAR SYSTEM, LLC TRAC ASIA PACIFIC, INC. |
By: | /s/ Mark E. Johnson | |
Name: Mark E. Johnson | ||
Title: Vice President and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Indenture]
GUARANTORS (CONTINUED):
HERTZ FHV #1, LLC HERTZ FHV #2, LLC HERTZ FHV #3, LLC HERTZ FHV #4, LLC HERTZ FHV #5, LLC HERTZ FHV #6, LLC HERTZ FHV #7, LLC HERTZ FHV #8, LLC HERTZ FHV #9, LLC HERTZ FHV #10, LLC HERTZ FHV #11, LLC HERTZ FHV #12, LLC HERTZ FHV #13, LLC HERTZ FHV #14, LLC HERTZ FHV #15, LLC HERTZ FHV #16, LLC HERTZ MOBILITY HOLDINGS, LLC |
By: | /s/ Matthew C. Potalivo | |
Name: Matthew C. Potalivo | ||
Title: Vice President and Secretary |
[Signature Page to Indenture]
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Corey J. Dahlstrand | |
Name: Corey J. Dahlstrand | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to Indenture]
Exhibit A
(FACE OF NOTE)
THE HERTZ CORPORATION
12.625% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2029
CUSIP No. [ ]2
ISIN [ ]3
No. __________ $ _____________
The Hertz Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (and its successors and assigns, the “Company”), promises to pay to ____________________, or its registered assigns, the principal sum of $________________ ([ ] United States Dollars) [(or such lesser or greater amount as shall be outstanding hereunder from time to time in accordance with Sections 312 and 313 of the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof)]4 (the “Principal Amount”) on July 15, 2029.
The Company promises to pay interest semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 in each year, commencing January 15, 2025, at the rate of 12.625% per annum (subject to adjustment as provided below), until the Principal Amount is paid or made available for payment. [Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest on this Note or any of its Predecessor Notes has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date.]5 [Interest on this Note will accrue (or will be deemed to have accrued) from the most recent date to which interest on this Note or any of its Predecessor Notes has been paid or duly provided for or, if no such interest has been paid, from [ ], [ ]6.]7
Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the January 1 or July 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not more than 15 days nor less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities
1 | Insert any applicable legends from Article II. |
2 | Rule 144A Global Note CUSIP: 428040DC0 |
Regulation S Global Note CUSIP: U42804AY7
3 | Rule 144A Global Note ISIN: US428040DC08 |
Regulation S Global Note ISIN: USU42804AY78
4 | Include only for Initial Notes. |
5 | Include only for Initial Notes. |
6 | Insert applicable date. |
7 | Include only for Additional Notes. |
A-1 |
exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Note will be made at the office of the applicable Paying Agent, or such other office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account designated to the Company by the Person entitled thereto or by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Note Register.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
A-2 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
THE HERTZ CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Johnson | |
Name: Mark E. Johnson | ||
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer |
A-3 |
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent | ||
By: |
| |
Authorized Signatory |
Dated: ______________________
A-4 |
(REVERSE OF NOTE)
This Note is one of the duly authorized issue of 12.625% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2029 of the Company (herein called the “Notes”), issued under an Indenture, dated as of June 28, 2024 (herein called the “Indenture,” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), among the Company, as issuer, the Guarantors from time to time parties thereto, and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent (herein called the “Trustee” or “Notes Collateral Agent,” as applicable, which terms include any successor trustee or notes collateral agent, as applicable, under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, any other obligor upon this Note, the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms. To the maximum extent permitted by law, in the case of any conflict between the provisions of this Note and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall control. Additional Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series under the Indenture and (except as provided in Section 902 of the Indenture) will vote (or consent) as a single class with the Notes and otherwise be treated as Notes for purposes of the Indenture.
All terms used in this Note that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
This Note may hereafter be entitled to certain senior Notes Guarantees made for the benefit of the Holders. Reference is made to Article XIII of the Indenture for terms relating to such Notes Guarantees, including the release, termination and discharge thereof. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to make any notation on this Note to reflect any Notes Guarantee or any such release, termination or discharge.
The Notes are secured by a security interest in the Collateral, subject to the terms of the Notes Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements and any other applicable intercreditor agreement, subject to release or termination as provided in the Indenture and the Notes Collateral Documents.
The Notes will be redeemable, at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, as provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture provides (as and to the extent set forth therein) that, upon the occurrence after the Issue Date of a Change of Control Triggering Event, each Holder will have the right to require that the Company repurchase all or any part of such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date of such repurchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the purchase date); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to repurchase Notes in the event it has exercised its right to redeem all the Notes as provided in the Indenture.
The Notes will not be entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire Indebtedness of this Note or certain restrictive covenants and certain Events of Default with respect to this Note, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. If the Notes are accelerated or otherwise become due prior to their stated
A-5 |
maturity, in each case as a result of an Event of Default (including, but not limited to, an Event of Default under Section 601(viii) or Section 601(ix) of the Indenture (including the acceleration of any portion of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes by operation of law)), the amount that shall then be due and payable shall be equal to:
(x) (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes then outstanding plus the Applicable Premium in effect on the date of such acceleration or (ii) the applicable redemption price in effect on the date of such acceleration, as applicable, plus
(y) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of such acceleration, in each case as if such acceleration were an optional redemption of the Notes so accelerated.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes to be effected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than 60.0% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes (as such terms are defined in the Indenture). The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes (as such terms are defined in the Indenture), on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes, the Holders of not less than 30.0% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes (as such terms are defined in the Indenture) shall have made written request to the Trustee to pursue such remedy in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and provided to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, cost, liability, damage, fee, claim or expense, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Outstanding Notes (as such terms are defined in the Indenture) a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of security or indemnity.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Note Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Note Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Notes are issuable only in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
A-6 |
Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, any other obligor in respect of this Note, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, such other obligor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and none of the Company, any other obligor upon this Note, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, as such, of the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary of any thereof shall have any liability for any obligation of the Company, or any Guarantor under the Indenture, the Notes, any Notes Guarantee or the Notes Collateral Documents, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, any such obligation or its creation. Each Holder, by accepting this Note, hereby waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE TRUSTEE, THE NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT, THE COMPANY, ANY OTHER OBLIGOR IN RESPECT OF THIS NOTE AND (BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THIS NOTES) THE HOLDER HEREOF, AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE OR THE NOTES GUARANTEES.
A-7 |
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER]
FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned holder hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
(Insert Taxpayer Identification No.) |
(Please print or type name and address including zip code of assignee) |
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing |
attorney to transfer such Note on the books of the Company with full power of substitution in the premises. |
Check One
¨ (a) | this Note is being transferred in compliance with the exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Rule 144A thereunder. |
or | |
¨ (b) | this Note is being transferred other than in accordance with (a) above and documents are being furnished which comply with the conditions of transfer set forth in this Note and the Indenture. |
If neither of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or other Note Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any Person other than the Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Section 313 of the Indenture shall have been satisfied.
Date: ______________________
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within-mentioned instrument in every particular, without alteration or any change whatsoever.
Signature Guarantee*: _____________________________________
* | Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Note Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Note Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
A-8 |
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (a) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
Dated: _____________________
NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer
A-9 |
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you wish to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 408 or 411 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
¨ Section 408 (Asset Disposition Offer) ¨ Section 411 (Change of Control Offer)
If you wish to have a portion of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 408 or 411 of the Indenture, state the amount (in principal amount) below:
$______________________
Date: _______________________
Your Signature: ______________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears
on the other side of this Note)
Signature Guarantee*: _________________________
* | Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Note Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Note Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
A-10 |
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE
The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:
Date of | Amount of | Amount of | Principal Amount | Signature of |
A-11 |
Exhibit B
Form of Regulation S Certificate
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
1505 Energy Park Drive
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108
Attn: CCT Administrator for The Hertz Corporation. Phone: 1 (800) 344-5128
Email: cctbondholdercommunications@computershare.com
Re: | The Hertz Corporation (the “Company”) 12.625% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale of $_____ aggregate principal amount of Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and accordingly, we hereby certify as follows:
1. The offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States (unless such person or the account held by it for which it is acting is excluded from the definition of “U.S. person” pursuant to Rule 902(k) of Regulation S under the circumstances described in Rule 902(h)(3) of Regulation S) or specifically targeted at an identifiable group of U.S. citizens abroad.
2. Either (a) at the time the buy order was originated, the buyer was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the buyer was outside the United States or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market, and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction was pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States.
3. No directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(a)(2) or Rule 904(a)(2) of Regulation S, as applicable.
4. The proposed transfer of Notes is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
5. If we are a dealer or a person receiving a selling concession or other fee or remuneration in respect of the Notes, and the proposed transfer takes place before end of the distribution compliance period under Regulation S, or we are an officer or director of the Company or a distributor, we certify that the proposed transfer is being made in accordance with the provisions of Rules 903 and 904 of Regulation S.
6. If the proposed transfer takes place before the end of the distribution compliance period under Regulation S, the beneficial interest in the Notes so transferred will be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear (as defined in such Indenture) or Clearstream (as defined in such Indenture).
7. We have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes.
You, the Company and counsel for the Company are entitled to rely upon this Certificate and are irrevocably authorized to produce this Certificate or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
B-1 |
Very truly yours, | ||
[NAME OF SELLER] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Address: |
Date of this Certificate: _______________ __, 20____
B-2 |
Exhibit C
Form of Supplemental Indenture in Respect of Subsidiary Guarantee
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of [_________] (this “Supplemental Indenture”), among [name of Guarantor(s)] (the “Subsidiary Guarantor(s)”), The Hertz Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (together with its respective successors and assigns, the “Company”), and each other then existing Guarantor under the Indenture referred to below (the “Existing Guarantors”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”) and collateral agent (the “Notes Collateral Agent”) under the Indenture referred to below.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company, any Existing Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent have heretofore become parties to an Indenture, dated as of June 28, 2024 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of 12.625% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2029;
WHEREAS, Section 1307 of the Indenture provides that the Company is required to cause the Subsidiary Guarantors to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Subsidiary Guarantors shall guarantee the Company’s Notes Guaranteed Obligations under the Notes pursuant to a Notes Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in Article XIII of the Indenture;
WHEREAS, each Subsidiary Guarantor desires to enter into such supplemental indenture for good and valuable consideration, including substantial economic benefit in that the financial performance and condition of such Subsidiary Guarantor is dependent on the financial performance and condition of the Company, the obligations hereunder of which such Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed, and on such Subsidiary Guarantor’s access to working capital through the Company’s access to revolving credit borrowings under the First Lien Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 901 of the Indenture, the parties hereto are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to amend the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Company, the Existing Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent mutually covenant and agree for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:
1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Section hereof.
2. Agreement to Guarantee. [The] [Each] Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with [all] [any] other Subsidiary Guarantors and fully and unconditionally, to guarantee the Notes Guaranteed Obligations under the Indenture and the Notes on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article XIII of the Indenture and to be bound by (and shall be entitled to the benefits of) all other applicable provisions of the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor.
3. Termination, Release and Discharge. [The] [Each] Subsidiary Guarantor’s Notes Guarantee shall terminate and be of no further force or effect, and [the] [each] Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released and discharged from all obligations in respect of such Notes Guarantee, as and when provided in Section 1303 of the Indenture.
C-1 |
4. Parties. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture is intended or shall be construed to give any Person, other than the Holders, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of [the] [each] Subsidiary Guarantor’s Notes Guarantee or any provision contained herein or in Article XIII of the Indenture.
5. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE TRUSTEE, THE NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT, THE COMPANY, ANY OTHER OBLIGOR IN RESPECT OF THE NOTES AND (BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOTES) THE HOLDERS AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.
6. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby. The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or as to the accuracy of the recitals to this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Counterparts. The parties hereto may sign one or more copies of this Supplemental Indenture in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, PDF or other electronic means shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. The words “signed”, “signature” and words of like import in or relating to this Supplemental Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures.
This Supplemental Indenture (or to any document delivered in connection with this Supplemental Indenture) shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) any electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (collectively, “Signature Law”); (ii) an original manual signature; or (iii) a faxed, scanned or photocopied manual signature. Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof.
8. Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the meaning or interpretation of any provisions hereof.
C-2 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
[NAME OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR(S)], as Subsidiary Guarantor | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
THE HERTZ CORPORATION | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
C-3 |
Exhibit D
Form of Certificate from Acquiring Institutional Accredited Investors
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
1505 Energy Park Drive
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108
Attn: CCT Administrator for The Hertz Corporation. Phone: 1 (800) 344-5128
Email: cctbondholdercommunications@computershare.com
Re: | The Hertz Corporation (the “Company”) 12.625% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale of $___________ aggregate principal amount of Notes, we confirm that:
1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture dated as of June 28, 2024 relating to the Notes (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law, and that the Notes may not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should offer, sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any Notes within two years after the original issuance of the Notes, we will do so only (A) to the Company, (B) inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, (C) inside the United States to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes to you a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter, (D) outside the United States to a foreign person in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act (if available), or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any person purchasing any of the Notes from us a notice advising such purchaser that resales of the Notes are restricted as stated herein and in the Indenture.
3. We understand that, on any proposed transfer of any Notes prior to the later of the original issue date of the Notes and the last date the Notes were held by an affiliate of the Company pursuant to paragraphs 2(C), 2(D) and 2(E) above, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed transfer complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.
4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are acquiring the Notes for investment purposes and not with a view to, or offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act, and we are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.
D-1 |
5. We are acquiring the Notes purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
Very truly yours, (Name of Transferee) | ||
By: |
| |
Authorized Signature |
D-2 |