EXHIBIT 4.1
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US UNWIRED INC.
SERIES A AND SERIES B
13/3/8/% SENIOR SUBORDINATED DISCOUNT NOTES DUE 2009
____________________________
INDENTURE
Dated as of October 29, 1999
____________________________
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Trustee
____________________________
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Trust Indenture Indenture Section
Act Section
310(a)(1).................................................................. 7.10
(a)(2).................................................................. 7.10
(a)(3).................................................................. N.A.
(a)(4).................................................................. N.A.
(a)(5).................................................................. 7.10
(b)..................................................................... 7.10
(c)..................................................................... N.A.
311(a)..................................................................... 7.11
(b)..................................................................... 7.11
(c)..................................................................... N.A.
312(a)..................................................................... 2.05
(b)..................................................................... 14.03
(c)..................................................................... 14.03
313(a)..................................................................... 7.06
(b)(1).................................................................. 12.03
(b)(2).................................................................. 7.07
(c)..................................................................... 7.06;14.02
(d)..................................................................... 7.06
314(a)..................................................................... 4.03;14.02
(b)..................................................................... 12.02
(c)(1).................................................................. 14.04
(c)(2).................................................................. 14.04
(c)(3).................................................................. N.A.
(d)..................................................................... 12.03, 12.04, 12.05
(e)..................................................................... 14.05
(f)..................................................................... N.A.
315(a)..................................................................... 7.01
(b)..................................................................... 7.05,14.02
(c)..................................................................... 7.01
(d)..................................................................... 7.01
(e)..................................................................... 6.11
316(a) (last sentence)..................................................... 2.09
(a)(1)(A)............................................................... 6.05
(a)(1)(B)............................................................... 6.04
(a)(2).................................................................. N.A.
(b)..................................................................... 6.07
(c)..................................................................... 2.12
317(a)(1).................................................................. 6.08
(a)(2).................................................................. 6.09
(b)..................................................................... 2.04
318(a)..................................................................... 14.01
(b)..................................................................... N.A.
(c)..................................................................... 14.01
N.A. means not applicable.
* This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE........................................................ 1
Section 1.01. Definitions................................................................................... 1
Section 1.02. Other Definitions............................................................................. 15
Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act............................................. 16
Section 1.04. Rules of Construction......................................................................... 16
ARTICLE 2. THE NOTES.......................................................................................... 17
Section 2.01. Form and Dating............................................................................... 17
Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication.................................................................. 18
Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent.................................................................... 18
Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust........................................................... 18
Section 2.05. Holder Lists.................................................................................. 19
Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange......................................................................... 19
Section 2.07. Replacement Notes............................................................................. 30
Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes............................................................................. 30
Section 2.09. Treasury Notes................................................................................ 31
Section 2.10. Temporary Notes............................................................................... 31
Section 2.11. Cancellation.................................................................................. 31
Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest............................................................................ 31
ARTICLE 3. REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT......................................................................... 32
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee............................................................................ 32
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed............................................................. 32
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption.......................................................................... 32
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption................................................................ 33
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price................................................................... 33
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part........................................................................ 33
Section 3.07. Optional Redemption........................................................................... 34
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption.......................................................................... 34
Section 3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds........................................... 34
ARTICLE 4. COVENANTS.......................................................................................... 36
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes.............................................................................. 36
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency............................................................... 36
Section 4.03. Reports....................................................................................... 36
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate........................................................................ 37
Section 4.05. Taxes......................................................................................... 38
Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws................................................................ 38
Section 4.07. Restricted Payments........................................................................... 38
Section 4.08. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries................................ 40
Section 4.09. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.................................... 40
Section 4.10. Asset Sales................................................................................... 42
Section 4.11. Transactions with Affiliates.................................................................. 43
Section 4.12. Liens......................................................................................... 44
Section 4.13. Business Activities........................................................................... 44
Section 4.14. Corporate Existence........................................................................... 44
Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.................................................... 44
Section 4.16. No Senior Subordinated Debt................................................................... 45
Section 4.17. Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries....................................... 45
Section 4.18. Payments for Consent.......................................................................... 46
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Section 4.19. Additional Note Guarantees................................................................... 46
ARTICLE 5. SUCCESSORS......................................................................................... 46
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets..................................................... 46
Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted............................................................ 47
ARTICLE 6. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.............................................................................. 47
Section 6.01. Events of Default............................................................................ 47
Section 6.02. Acceleration................................................................................. 49
Section 6.03. Other Remedies............................................................................... 49
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults...................................................................... 50
Section 6.05. Control by Majority.......................................................................... 50
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.......................................................................... 50
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment................................................ 50
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee................................................................... 51
Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim............................................................. 51
Section 6.10. Priorities................................................................................... 51
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs........................................................................ 52
ARTICLE 7. TRUSTEE............................................................................................ 52
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee............................................................................ 52
Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee............................................................................ 53
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee................................................................. 53
Section 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer......................................................................... 54
Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults........................................................................... 54
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes................................................... 54
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity................................................................... 54
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee....................................................................... 55
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc............................................................. 56
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification................................................................ 56
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company............................................ 56
ARTICLE 8. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE.......................................................... 56
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance..................................... 56
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge............................................................... 56
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.......................................................................... 57
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance................................................... 57
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other
Miscellaneous Provisions..................................................................... 58
Section 8.06. Repayment to Company......................................................................... 59
Section 8.07. Reinstatement................................................................................ 59
ARTICLE 9. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER.................................................................. 60
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes.......................................................... 60
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes............................................................. 60
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.......................................................... 61
Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents............................................................ 62
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes............................................................. 62
Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.............................................................. 62
ARTICLE 10. SUBORDINATION..................................................................................... 62
Section 10.01. Agreement to Subordinate..................................................................... 62
Section 10.02. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy......................................................... 62
Section 10.03. Default on Designated Senior Debt............................................................ 63
Section 10.04. Acceleration of Notes........................................................................ 64
Section 10.05. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over.......................................................... 64
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Section 10.06. Notice by Company............................................................................ 64
Section 10.07. Subrogation.................................................................................. 64
Section 10.08. Relative Rights.............................................................................. 64
Section 10.09. Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company................................................. 65
Section 10.10. Distribution or Notice to Representative..................................................... 65
Section 10.11. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent........................................................... 65
Section 10.12. Authorization to Effect Subordination........................................................ 65
Section 10.13. Amendments................................................................................... 66
ARTICLE 11. NOTE GUARANTEES..................................................................................... 66
Section 11.01. Guarantee.................................................................................... 66
Section 11.02. Subordination of Note Guarantee.............................................................. 67
Section 11.03. Limitation on Guarantor Liability............................................................ 67
Section 11.04. Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee..................................................... 67
Section 11.05. Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms........................................... 68
Section 11.06. Releases Following Sale of Assets............................................................ 68
ARTICLE 12. COLLATERAL AND SECURITY............................................................................ 69
Section 12.01. Pledge Agreement............................................................................. 69
Section 12.02. Recording and Opinions....................................................................... 69
Section 12.03. Release of Collateral........................................................................ 70
Section 12.04. Certificates of the Company.................................................................. 70
Section 12.05. Certificates of the Trustee.................................................................. 71
Section 12.06. Authorization of Actions to Be Taken by the Trustee Under the Pledge Agreement............... 71
Section 12.07. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Pledge Agreement.................. 71
Section 12.08. Termination of Security Interest............................................................. 71
ARTICLE 13. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE......................................................................... 71
Section 13.01. Satisfaction and Discharge................................................................... 71
Section 13.02. Application of Trust Money................................................................... 72
ARTICLE 14. MISCELLANEOUS....................................................................................... 73
Section 14.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls................................................................. 73
Section 14.02. Notices...................................................................................... 73
Section 14.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes................................ 74
Section 14.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent........................................... 74
Section 14.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion................................................ 74
Section 14.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.................................................................. 74
Section 14.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders..................... 75
Section 14.08. Governing Law................................................................................ 75
Section 14.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements................................................ 75
Section 14.10. Successors................................................................................... 75
Section 14.11. Severability................................................................................. 75
Section 14.12. Counterpart Originals........................................................................ 75
Section 14.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc............................................................. 75
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A1 FORM OF NOTE
Exhibit A2 FORM OF REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE
Exhibit B FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Exhibit C FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Exhibit D FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Exhibit E FORM OF NOTE GUARANTEE
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Exhibit F FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Exhibit G FORM OF PLEDGE AGREEMENT
iv
INDENTURE dated as of October 29, 1999 among US Unwired Inc., a Louisiana
corporation (the "Company"), the Guarantors (as defined herein) and State Street
Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (the "Trustee").
The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the
benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of
the 13 3/8% Series A Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2009 (the "Series A
Notes") and the 13 3/8% Series B Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2009
(the "Series B Notes" and, together with the Series A Notes, the "Notes"):
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01. Definitions.
"144A Global Note" means a permanent global note substantially in the form
of Exhibit A1 hereto that is deposited with and registered in the name of the
Depositary or its nominee, representing a series of Notes sold in reliance on
Rule 144A.
"Accreted Value" means, for each $1,000 face amount of Notes, as of any
date of determination prior to November 1, 2004, the sum of: (a) the initial
offering price of each Note; and (b) that portion of the excess of the principal
amount of each Note over such initial offering price which shall have been
accreted thereon through such date, such amount to be so accreted on a daily
basis and compounded semi-annually on each May 1 and November 1 at the rate of
13 3/8% per year from the date of issuance of the Notes through the date of
determination, as calculated by the Company. The Accreted Value of any Note on
or after November 1, 2004 shall be 100% of the principal amount thereof.
"Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any specified Person: (a)
Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is
merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or
not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of,
such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such
specified Person; and (b) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset
acquired by such specified Person.
"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 purposes of this definition, "control,"
as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or
policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the
Voting Stock of a Person shall be deemed to be control. For purposes of this
definition, the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under common control
with" shall have correlative meanings.
"Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
"Annualized Operating Cash Flow" on any date, means with respect to any
Person the Operating Cash Flow for the Reference Period multiplied by four.
"Annualized Operating Cash Flow Ratio" on any date (the "Transaction Date")
means, with respect to any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, the ratio of:
(a) consolidated Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
(other than LEC Unwired, LLC) on the Transaction Date (after giving pro forma
effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness) divided by (b) the aggregate
amount of
1
Annualized Operating Cash Flow of such Person (determined on a pro forma basis
after giving effect to all dispositions of businesses made by such Person and
its Restricted Subsidiaries from the beginning of the Reference Period through
the Transaction Date as if such disposition has occurred at the beginning of
such Reference Period); provided, that for purposes of such computation, in
calculating Annualized Operating Cash Flow and consolidated Indebtedness: (i)
the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Annualized Operating
Cash Flow Ratio will be assumed to have occurred (on a pro forma basis) on the
first day of the Reference Period; (ii) the incurrence of any Indebtedness
during the Reference Period or subsequent thereto and on or prior to the
Transaction Date (and the application of the proceeds therefrom to the extent
used to retire Indebtedness) will be assumed to have occurred (on a pro forma
basis) on the first day of such Reference Period; (iii) Consolidated Interest
Expense attributable to any Indebtedness (whether existing or being incurred)
bearing a floating interest rate shall be computed as if the rate in effect on
the Transaction Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period; and
(iv) all members of the consolidated group of such Person on the Transaction
Date that were acquired during the Reference Period shall be deemed to be
members of the consolidated group of such Person for the entire Reference
Period.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of
or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the
Depositary, Euroclear and Cedel that apply to such transfer or exchange.
"Asset Sale" means: (a) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition
of any assets or rights, other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practices; provided that the sale, conveyance or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions
of Section 4.15 hereof and/or the provisions of Section 5.01 hereof and not by
the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof; and (b) the issuance of Equity Interests
in any of the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests
in any of its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items
shall not be deemed to be Asset Sales: (i) any single transaction or series of
related transactions that involves assets having a fair market value of less
than $1.0 million; (ii) a transfer of assets to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries that are at least 90%-owned by the Company (other than
LEC Unwired, LLC); (iii) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted
Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary that is at least
90%-owned by the Company (other than LEC Unwired, LLC) to the Company or to
another Restricted Subsidiary (other than LEC Unwired, LLC); (iv) the sale or
lease of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets in the
ordinary course of business; (v) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash
Equivalents; and (vi) a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is
permitted by the provisions of Section 4.07 hereof.
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state
law for the relief of debtors.
"Beneficial Owner" has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and
Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial
ownership of any particular "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act), such "person" shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership
of all securities that such "person" has the right to acquire by conversion or
exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is
exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms
"Beneficially Owns" and "Beneficially Owned" shall have a corresponding meaning.
"Board of Directors" means: (a) with respect to a corporation, the board
of directors of the corporation; (b) with respect to a partnership, the Board of
Directors of the general partner of the
2
partnership; and (c) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee
of such Person serving a similar function.
"Broker-Dealer" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
"Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination thereof is
to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would
at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with
GAAP.
"Capital Stock" means: (a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares,
interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of
corporate stock; (c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company,
partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and (d) any
other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a
share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing
Person.
"Cash Equivalents" means: (a) United States dollars; (b) securities issued
or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or
any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than twelve
months from the date of acquisition; (c) certificates of deposit and eurodollar
time deposits with maturities of six months or less from the date of
acquisition, bankers' acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and
overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit
Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in
excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of "B" or better; (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)
above; (e) commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Rating Services and in each case
maturing within six months after the date of acquisition; and (f) money market
funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the
kinds described in clauses (a) through (e) of this definition.
"Cedel" means Cedel Bank, SA.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) the
direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than
by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions,
of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any "person" (as that term is used
in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Principal or a Related
Party of the Principal; (b) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation
or dissolution of the Company; (c) the consummation of any transaction
(including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which
is that any "person" (as defined above), other than the Principal and any
Related Parties of the Principal, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or
indirectly, of more than 35% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by
voting power rather than number of shares; or (d) the first day on which a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not
Continuing Directors; provided, however, that changes in specific
representatives of existing investors that are entitled to nominate board
representatives shall be excluded from consideration for purposes of this clause
(d).
"Collateral Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the Pledge
Agreement.
"Company" means US Unwired Inc., and any and all successors thereto.
3
"Consolidated Interest Expense" of any Person means, for any period, the
aggregate amount (without duplication and determined in each case in accordance
with GAAP) of: (a) interest expensed or capitalized, paid, accrued, or
scheduled to be paid or accrued (including interest attributable to Capitalized
Lease Obligations) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than
LEC Unwired, LLC) during such period, on a consolidated basis, including: (i)
original issue discount and non-cash interest payments or accruals on any
Indebtedness; (ii) the interest portion of all deferred payment obligations; and
(iii) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to
bankers' acceptances and letters of credit financings and currency and Hedging
Obligations, in each case to the extent attributable to such period; plus (b)
the amount of dividends accrued or payable by such Person or any of its
consolidated Subsidiaries in respect of preferred stock (other than by
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than LEC Unwired, LLC) of such Person to such
Person or such Person's Wholly Owned Subsidiaries). For purposes of this
definition: (A) interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to
accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Company to be the rate
of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with
GAAP; and (B) interest expense attributable to any Indebtedness represented by
the guaranty by such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or an obligation of
another Person shall be deemed to be the interest expense attributable to the
Indebtedness guaranteed.
"Consolidated Net Income" of any Person for any period means the aggregate
of the net income (or loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for
such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP,
adjusted to exclude (only to the extent included in computing such net income
(or loss)), and without duplication: (a) all extraordinary gains and losses and
gains and losses that are nonrecurring (including as a result of Asset Sales
outside the ordinary course of business); (b) the net income or loss of LEC
Unwired, LLC or of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Person that is not a
Restricted Subsidiary in which such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
has an interest; (c) except as provided in the definition of "Annualized
Operating Cash Flow Ratio," the net income (or loss) of any Subsidiary acquired
in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such
acquisition; and (d) the net income, (but not loss), of any Subsidiary of such
Person to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar
distributions is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its
charter or any agreement or instrument applicable to such Subsidiary.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means, with respect to any specified Person as of
any date, the sum of: (a) the consolidated equity of the common stockholders of
such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than LEC Unwired, LLC) as of
such date; plus (b) the respective amounts reported on such Person's balance
sheet as of such date with respect to any series of preferred stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) that by its terms is not entitled to the payment of
dividends unless such dividends may be declared and paid only out of net
earnings in respect of the year of such declaration and payment, but only to the
extent of any cash received by such Person upon issuance of such preferred
stock.
"Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any member
of the Board of Directors of the Company who: (a) was a member of such Board of
Directors on the date of this Indenture; or (b) was nominated for election or
elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the
Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such
nomination or election.
"Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" shall be at the address of the
Trustee specified in Section 14.02 hereof or such other address as to which the
Trustee may give notice to the Company.
"Credit Agreement" means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of
October 1, 1999, by and among the Company and CoBank, ACB, as administrative
agent and a lender; The Bank of New York, a documentation agent and a lender;
BNY Capital Markets, Inc., a co-arranger; First Union Securities, Inc.,
4
a syndication agent and a co-arranger; First Union National Bank, a lender; and
the other lenders party thereto, providing for up to $130.0 million of term and
revolving credit borrowings, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral
documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in
each case as amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from
time to time.
"Credit Facilities" means, one or more debt facilities (including, without
limitation, the Credit Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, in each case
with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans,
term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to
such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders
against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended,
restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in
part from time to time.
"Custodian" means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in
global form, or any successor entity thereto.
"Default" means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
"Definitive Note" means a certificated Note registered in the name of the
Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially
in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global
Note Legend and shall not have the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the
Global Note" attached thereto.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole
or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the
Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto
appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the
applicable provision of this Indenture.
"Designated Senior Debt" means (a) any Indebtedness outstanding under or
with respect to the Credit Agreement (whether outstanding on the date of
issuance of the Notes or thereafter incurred), including fees, brokerage costs
and related Hedging Agreements); and (b) after payment in full of all
Obligations under the Credit Agreement, any other Senior Debt permitted under
this Indenture the principal amount of which is $25.0 million or more and that
has been designated by the Company as "Designated Senior Debt."
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the
terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is
exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the
happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a
sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder
thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the
date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any
Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the
holders thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital
Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not
constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that
the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such
provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with the provisions of
Section 4.07 hereof.
"Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other
rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
"Euroclear" means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels
office, as operator of the Euroclear system.
5
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Exchange Notes" means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer pursuant to
Section 2.06(f) hereof.
"Exchange Offer" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement.
"Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) in existence
on the date of this Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles 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 have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession, which are in effect on the date of this Indenture.
"Global Notes" means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted
Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes, substantially in the form of
Exhibit A1 hereto issued in accordance with Sections 2.01, 2.06(b)(iv),
2.06(d)(ii) or 2.06(f) hereof.
"Global Note Legend" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(ii),
which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
"Government Securities" means direct obligations of, or obligations
guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the
United States pledges its full faith and credit.
"Guarantee" means a Guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or
indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of
assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness.
"Guarantor" means each of Louisiana Unwired, LLC, Unwired Telecom Corp. and
any Subsidiary that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions
of this Indenture, and its respective successors and assigns.
"Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any specified Person, the
obligations of such Person under: (a) interest rate swap agreements, interest
rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements; and (b) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest rates.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
"IAI Global Note" means the global Note substantially in the form of
Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement
Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the
Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the
outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold to Institutional Accredited
Investors.
6
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any specified Person, any
indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of: (a)
borrowed money; (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments
or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof); (c)
banker's acceptances; (d) representing Capital Lease Obligations; (e) the
balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any
such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or (f)
representing any Hedging Obligations; if and to the extent any of the preceding
items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a
liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance
with GAAP. In addition, the term "Indebtedness" includes all Indebtedness of
others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not
such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not
otherwise included, the Note Guarantee by the specified Person of any
indebtedness of any other Person. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as
of any date shall be: (i) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any
Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; and (ii) the principal amount
thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due,
in the case of any other Indebtedness.
"Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to
time.
"Indirect Participant" means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a
Global Note through a Participant.
"Institutional Accredited Investor" means an institution that is an
"accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the
Securities Act, who are not also QIBs.
"Intercreditor Agreement" means the Intercreditor Agreement dated the date
hereof between CoBank ACB and Trustee.
"Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect
investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms
of loans (including Note Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital
contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and
employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other
acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other
securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as
investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any
Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is
no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to
have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the
fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold
or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of
Section 4.07 hereof. The acquisition by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person
shall be deemed to be an Investment by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the
Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount
determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof.
"Issue Date" means the time and date of the first issuance of the Notes
under this Indenture.
"Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by
law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a
Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the
next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on
such payment for the intervening period.
7
"Letter of Transmittal" means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by
the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in
connection with the Exchange Offer.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law,
including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in
the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under
the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.
"Liquidated Damages" means all liquidated damages then owing pursuant to
Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of
such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in
respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (a) any gain (but not
loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not
loss), realized in connection with (i) any Asset Sale (including, without
limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions), or (ii)
the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or
the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries, and (b) any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any
related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).
"Net Pops" of any Person with respect to any system means the Pops of the
Metropolitan Statistical Area ("MSA") or Rural Service Area ("RSA") served by
such system multiplied by the direct and/or indirect percentage interest of such
Person in the entity licensed or designated to receive an authorization by the
Federal Communications Commission to construct or operate a system in that MSA
or RSA.
"Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including,
without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any
non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs
relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting
and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses
incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof, in each
case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any
tax sharing arrangements, and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of
Indebtedness, other than Senior Debt, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets
that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in
respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with
GAAP.
"Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness: (a) as to which neither the
Company nor any Guarantor (i) provides credit support of any kind (including any
undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (ii)
is directly or indirectly liable as a Guarantor or otherwise, or (c) constitutes
the lender; (b) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the
holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against LEC Unwired, LLC or
an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any
holder of any other Indebtedness (other than the Notes) of the Company or any
Guarantor to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment
thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity; and (c) as to
which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any
recourse to the stock or assets of the Company or any Guarantor.
"Non-U.S. Person" means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.
8
"Note Guarantee" means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Company's
payment obligations under this Indenture and on the Notes, executed pursuant to
the provisions of this Indenture.
"Notes" has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.
"Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
"Offering" means the offering of the Notes by the Company.
"Officer" means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief
Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the
Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company
by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive
officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal
accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 14.05
hereof.
"Operating Cash Flow" means, with respect to any specified Person for any
period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus: (a)
provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than LEC Unwired, LLC) for such period, to the extent that
such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income;
plus (b) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than LEC Unwired, LLC) for such period, whether paid or
accrued and whether or not capitalized (including, without limitation,
amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash
interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations,
the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease
Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in
respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and net of the
effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations), to the
extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net
Income; plus (c) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of goodwill
and other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that
were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such
non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for
cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense
that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
(other than LEC Unwired, LLC) for such period to the extent that such
depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus (d) the amount of all cash
payments made during such period by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
(other than LEC Unwired, LLC) to the extent such payments relate to non-cash
items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than the
accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business, in each case, on a
consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP; minus (e) any
extraordinary gain (but not loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
(other than LEC Unwired, LLC) during such period, together with any related
provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss) to the extent such
gains increased Consolidated Net Income. Notwithstanding the preceding, the
provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and
amortization and other non-cash expenses of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company (other than LEC Unwired, LLC) shall be added to Consolidated Net Income
to compute Operating Cash Flow of the Company only to the extent that a
corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be
dividended to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior
governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or
indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements,
instruments,
9
judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations
applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 14.05 hereof.
The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company or the Trustee.
"Participant" means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Cedel, a
Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Cedel, respectively
(and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Cedel).
"Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person,
Indebtedness incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, businesses
or assets which, or Capital Stock of a Person all or substantially all of whose
assets, are of a type generally used in a Permitted Business; provided that, in
the case of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, (a) the
Company's Annualized Operating Cash Flow Ratio, after giving effect to such
acquisition and such incurrence on a pro forma basis, is no greater than such
ratio prior to giving pro forma effect to such acquisition and such incurrence,
(b) the Company's consolidated Indebtedness, divided by the Net Pops of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case giving pro forma effect to
the acquisition and such incurrence, does not exceed $50, (c) the Company's
consolidated Indebtedness divided by the Net Pops of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries does not increase as a result of the acquisition and
such incurrence and (d) after giving effect to such acquisition and such
incurrence the acquired property, businesses or assets or such Capital Stock is
owned directly by the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company.
"Permitted Business" means any business primarily involved in the
ownership, design, construction, development, acquisition, installation,
management or provision of wireless communications systems, including any
business conducted by US Unwired or any Restricted Subsidiary on the closing
date.
"Permitted Investments" means: (a) any Investment in a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company that is at least 90%-owned by the Company (other than
LEC Unwired, LLC); (b) any Investment in Cash Equivalents; (c) any Investment by
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a
result of such Investment: (i) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company that is at least 90%-owned by the Company; (other than LEC Unwired,
LLC); or (ii) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into,
or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated
into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is at least
90%-owned by the Company (other than LEC Unwired, LLC); (d) any Investment made
as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was
made pursuant to and in compliance with the provisions of Section 4.10 hereof;
(e) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity
Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; (f) Hedging
Obligations; and (g) Permitted Texas Unwired Investments.
"Permitted Junior Securities" means (a) Equity Interests in the Company or
any Guarantor; or (b) debt securities that are subordinated to all Senior Debt
and any debt securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt to substantially the
same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Notes and the Note Guarantees
are subordinated to Senior Debt under this Indenture.
"Permitted Liens" means: (a) Liens securing the Credit Facilities
permitted by this Indenture to be incurred; (b) Liens in favor of the Company or
the Guarantors (other than with respect to intercompany Indebtedness); (c) Liens
on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into
or
10
consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided that
such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or
consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person
merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Subsidiary; (d) Liens on
property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to
the contemplation of such acquisition; (e) Liens to secure the performance of
statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other
obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; (f)
Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by
clause (v) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof covering only the
assets acquired with such Indebtedness; (g) Liens existing on the date of this
Indenture; (h) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims
that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided
that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in
conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor; and (i) Liens incurred in
the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
with respect to obligations that do not exceed $2.0 million at any one time
outstanding; (j) Liens securing Non-Recourse Debt of LEC Unwired, LLC; and (k)
Liens securing Indebtedness, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7.0 million,
permitted by clause (viii) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof for
the purpose of financing the construction or acquisition of a headquarters
building and associated rights in real estate and covering only the assets
acquired with such Indebtedness; and (l) Liens under the Pledge Agreement.
"Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which
are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than intercompany
Indebtedness); provided that: (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if
applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the
principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued
interest thereon and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in
connection therewith, including any market premium required to repurchase such
Indebtedness in a transaction where the repurchase price does not exceed the
fair market value of such Indebtedness); (b) such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of,
and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the
Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; (c) if the Indebtedness
being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of,
and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on terms at least as
favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation
governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
defeased or refunded; and (d) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the
Company or by the Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.
"Permitted Texas Unwired Investments" means the initial contribution of the
customer base, assets and rights and obligations related to the Beaumont-Port
Arthur and Lufkin-Nacagdoches markets to Texas Unwired and the extension of an
intercompany loan by the Company of up to $20.0 million to Texas Unwired.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited
liability company or government or other entity.
"Pledge Agreement" means the Pledge Agreement dated as of the date of this
Indenture and substantially in the form attached as Exhibit G hereto, as such
agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
11
"Pledged Collateral" means any assets of the Company defined as Pledged
Collateral in the Pledge Agreement.
"Pops" means the estimate of the population of a Metropolitan Statistical
Area ("MSA") or Rural Service Area ("RSA") as derived from the most recent
Donnelly Market Service or if such statistics are no longer printed in the
Donnelly Market Service or the Donnelly Market Service is no longer published,
the most recent Rand McNally Commercial Atlas, or if such statistics are no
longer printed in the Rand McNally Commercial Atlas or if the Rand McNally
Commercial Atlas is no longer published, such other nationally recognized source
or such information.
"Principal" means William Henning, Sr.
"Private Placement Legend" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(i)
to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise
permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A.
"Reference Period" with regard to any Person means the last full fiscal
quarter of such Person for which financial information (which the Company shall
use its best efforts to compile in a timely manner) in respect thereof is
available ended on or immediately preceding any date upon which any
determination is to be made pursuant to the terms of the Notes or this
Indenture.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of October 29, 1999, by and among the Company and the other parties
named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended, modified
or supplemented from time to time.
"Regulation S" means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Regulation S Global Note" means a global Note bearing the Private
Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary and
registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a
denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially
sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S or a Regulation S Temporary Global
Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as appropriate.
"Regulation S Permanent Global Note" means a permanent global Note in the
form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private
Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name
of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the
outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon
expiration of the Restricted Period.
"Regulation S Temporary Global Note" means a temporary global Note in the
form of Exhibit A2 hereto bearing the Private Placement Legend and deposited
with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its
nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of
the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.
"Related Party" means: (a) any controlling stockholder, 80% (or more)
owned Subsidiary, or immediate family member (in the case of an individual) of
the Principal; or (b) any trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the
beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or Persons beneficially holding an
80% or more controlling interest of which consist of the Principal and/or such
other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (a).
12
"Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the Trustee, means any
officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any
successor group of the Trustee) 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 Definitive Note" means a Definitive Note bearing the Private
Placement Legend.
"Restricted Global Note" means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement
Legend.
"Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.
"Restricted Period" means the 40-day restricted period as defined in
Regulation S.
"Restricted Subsidiary" of Persons means any Subsidiary of the referenced
Persons that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 903" means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 904" means Rule 904 promulgated the Securities Act.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Senior Debt" means (a) all Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor
outstanding under Credit Facilities and all Hedging Obligations with respect
thereto; (b) any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor permitted to
be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which
such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Note Guarantee; and (c) all
Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (a) and
(b). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding, Senior Debt,
including Senior Debt described in the preceding clause (b), will not include:
(i) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the
Company; (ii) any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor to any of their
Subsidiaries or other Affiliates (other than the Company or a Guarantor); (iii)
any trade payables; or (iv) the portion of any Indebtedness that is incurred in
violation of this Indenture.
"Senior Guarantees" means the Guarantees by the Guarantors of Obligations
under the Credit Facilities.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means the Shelf Registration Statement as
defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any installment of interest or
principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of
interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to
13
repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date
originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any specified Person: (a) any
corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the
total voting power of shares of Capital Stock 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
such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a
combination thereof); and (b) any partnership (i) the sole general partner or
the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such
Person or (ii) the only general partners of which are such Person or one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA.
"Trustee" means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it
in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter
means the successor serving hereunder.
"Unrestricted Global Note" means a permanent global Note substantially in
the form of Exhibit A1 attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and
that has the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name
of the Depositary, representing a series of Notes that do not bear the Private
Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Definitive Note" means one or more Definitive Notes that do
not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company (other than
Louisiana Unwired, LLC and Unwired Telecom Corp. or any successor to any of
them) that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary
pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:
(a) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; (b) is not party to any
agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement,
contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from
Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company; (c) is a Person with respect to
which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct
or indirect obligation (i) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (ii)
to maintain or preserve such Person's financial condition or to cause such
Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; (d) has not
guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (e) has
at least one director on its Board of Directors that is not a director or
executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and has
at least one executive officer that is not a director or executive officer of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. Any designation of a
Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be evidenced to
the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the Board Resolution
giving effect to such designation and an Officers' Certificate certifying that
such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by the
provisions of Section 4.07 hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary
would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it
shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this
Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred
by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such
Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under the
provisions of Section 4.09 hereof, the Company shall be in default of such
covenant. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any
Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such
designation shall be deemed to
14
be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of
any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such
designation shall only be permitted if (A) such Indebtedness is permitted under
the provisions of Section 4.09 hereof, and (B) no Default or Event of Default
would be in existence following such designation.
"U.S. Person" means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(o) under the
Securities Act.
"Voting Stock" of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such
Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of
Directors of such Person.
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any Indebtedness
at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the
products obtained by multiplying (x) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (y) the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal
amount of such Indebtedness.
"Wholly Owned Pops" of any Person means the Pops of the Metropolitan
Statistical Areas ("MSA") or Rural Service Areas ("RSA") where such Person holds
a majority ownership interest in an entity that (a) is licensed by the Federal
Communications Commission to construct or operate a PCS system in that MSA or
RSA or (b) has been granted the rights to construct or operate a PCS system in
that MSA or RSA by another Person licensed by the Federal Communications
Commission.
"Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary" of any specified Person means a
Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or
other ownership interests of which (other than directors' qualifying shares)
shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiaries of such Person.
"Wholly Owned Subsidiary" of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person
all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which
(other than directors' qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such
Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such
Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
Section 1.02. Other Definitions.
Defined in
Term Section
---- -------
"Affiliate Transaction"............................................................ 4.11
"Asset Sale Offer"................................................................. 3.09
"Authentication Order"............................................................. 2.02
"Bankruptcy Law"................................................................... 4.01
"Change of Control Offer".......................................................... 4.15
"Change of Control Payment"........................................................ 4.15
"Change of Control Payment Date"................................................... 4.15
"Covenant Defeasance".............................................................. 8.03
"Event of Default"................................................................. 6.01
"Excess Proceeds".................................................................. 4.10
"incur"............................................................................ 4.09
"Legal Defeasance"................................................................. 8.02
"Offer Amount"..................................................................... 3.09
15
Defined in
Term Section
---- -------
"Offer Period"..................................................................... 3.09
"Paying Agent"..................................................................... 2.03
"Permitted Debt"................................................................... 4.09
"Purchase Date".................................................................... 3.09
"Registrar"........................................................................ 2.03
"Restricted Payments".............................................................. 4.07
Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
"indenture securities" means the Notes;
"indenture security Holder" means a Holder of a Note;
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;
"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee; and
"obligor" on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Company and the
Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Note
Guarantees, respectively.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined
by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have
the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.04. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to
it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) "or" is not exclusive;
(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include
the singular;
(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(f) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be
deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules
adopted by the SEC from time to time.
16
ARTICLE 2.
THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Form and Dating.
(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication
shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto. The Notes may have
notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or
usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall
be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof except that Notes
used to pay Liquidated Damages may be in other denominations.
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
and the Trustee, 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.
(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in
the form of Exhibits A1 or A2 attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend
thereon and the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A1 attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and
without the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as
shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed
thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented
thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to
reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect
the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the
Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions
given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.
(c) Temporary Global Notes. Notes offered and sold in reliance on
Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary
Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes
represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, and
registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for
the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Cedel Bank,
duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter
provided. The Restricted Period shall be terminated upon the receipt by the
Trustee of (i) a written certificate from the Depositary, together with copies
of certificates from Euroclear and Cedel Bank certifying that they have received
certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate
principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent
of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the
Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the
Securities Act and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in
a 144A Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by
Section 2.06(a)(ii) hereof), and (ii) an Officers' Certificate from the Company
certifying that the Restricted Period has terminated. Following the termination
of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary
Global Note shall be exchanged for beneficial interests in Regulation S
Permanent Global Notes pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously
with the authentication of Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Trustee
shall cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal
amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent
Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made
on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may
be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.
17
(d) Euroclear and Cedel Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the
"Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System" and "Terms and Conditions
Governing Use of Euroclear" and the "General Terms and Conditions of Cedel Bank"
and "Customer Handbook" of Cedel Bank shall be applicable to transfers of
beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Notes that are held by
Participants through Euroclear or Cedel Bank.
Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile
signature. The Company's seal shall be reproduced on the Notes and may be in
facsimile form.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at
the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of
the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been
authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by two
Officers (an "Authentication Order"), authenticate Notes for original issue up
to the aggregate principal amount stated in paragraph 4 of the Notes. The
aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed such
amount except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company
to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever
the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the
Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the
same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented
for registration of transfer or for exchange ("Registrar") and an office or
agency where Notes may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent"). The Registrar
shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The
Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying
agents. The term "Registrar" includes any co-registrar and the term "Paying
Agent" includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying
Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the
Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this
Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as
Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of
its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") to act
as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and
Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree
in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders
or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal,
premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes, and
18
will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such
payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying
Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may
require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment
over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a
Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a
Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust
fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon
any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the
Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
Section 2.05. Holder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of
all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA (S) 312(a). If the Trustee is
not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven
Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the
Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the
Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of
Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA (S) 312(a).
Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be
transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary,
by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the
Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary
or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by
the Company for Definitive Notes if (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee
notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as
Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the
Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary or
(ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in
whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a
written notice to such effect to the Trustee; provided that in no event shall
the Regulation S Temporary Global Note be exchanged by the Company for
Definitive Notes prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y)
the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule
903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act. Upon the occurrence of either of the
preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such
names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be
exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and
2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu
of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or
Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form
of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another
Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial
interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in
Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.
The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be
effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted
Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those
set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of
beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with
either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of
the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note.
Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to
Persons who take delivery thereof in the form
19
of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance
with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend;
provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period,
transfers of beneficial interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note
may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S.
Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any
Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global
Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered
to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section
2.06(b)(i).
(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in
Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial
interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) above, the transferor
of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a
written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the
Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the
Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in
another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be
transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the
Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant
account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a
Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in
accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause
to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial
interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the
Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in
whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer
or exchange referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event shall
Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial
interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (x) the
expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of
any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903 under the Securities Act.
Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with
Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(ii) shall
be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the
instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by the Holder
of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes. Upon
satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of
beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the
Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall
adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to
Section 2.06(h) hereof.
(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global
Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be
transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer
complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and the
Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a
beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must
deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (1) thereof; and
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a
beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note or the
Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a
certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (2) thereof.
(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted
Global Note for Beneficial Interests in the Unrestricted Global Note. A
beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any
holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or
transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
20
Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the
form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the
exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii)
above and:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange
Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the
holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an
exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in
the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-
dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange
Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of
the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate
from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a
Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such
holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the
Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an
Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to
the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the
Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein
and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above
at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company
shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with
Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted
Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D)
above.
Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged
for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted
Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted
Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a
21
Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive
Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a
Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form
of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a)
thereof;
(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in
accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to
the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications
in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-
U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or
Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2)
thereof;
(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to
an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to
the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications
in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an
Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those
listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications,
certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if
applicable;
(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b)
thereof; or
(G) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to
an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable
Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof,
and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in
the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange
for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this
Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such
authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial
interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the
Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall
deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are
so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial
interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i)
shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all
restrictions on transfer contained therein.
(ii) Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to
Definitive Notes. Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(i)(A) and (C) hereof, a
beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be
exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person
22
who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (x)
the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the
Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B)
under the Securities Act as certified to the Registrar by the person
requesting such exchange or transfer, except in the case of a transfer
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.
(iii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to
Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a
Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive
Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement
and the holder of such beneficial interest, in the case of an
exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in
the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-
dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange
Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of
the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial
interest for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private
Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form
of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item
(1)(b) thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial
interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the
form of a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private
Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form
of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4)
thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the
Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an
Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to
the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the
Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein
and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(iv) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to
Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for
a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who
takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the
Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global
Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
23
Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate
principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial
interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iv) shall be registered in such
name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the
holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through
instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect
Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons
in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in
exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iv)
shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.
(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted
Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or
to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note,
then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a
QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a
Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903
or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2)
thereof;
(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to
an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those
listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications,
certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if
applicable;
(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect
set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(3)(b) thereof; or
(G) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause
to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause
(A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global
24
Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of
clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, the
IAI Global Note.
(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note
or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note
only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement
and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the
case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal
that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to
exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the
Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the
form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item
(1)(c) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to
transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof
in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global
Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the
Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an
Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to
the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the
Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein
and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in
this Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive Notes and
increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the
Unrestricted Global Note.
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or
transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the
form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon
receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel
the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be
increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global
Notes.
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If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a
beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(B), (ii)(D)
or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been
issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication
Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall
authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so
transferred.
(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon
request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder's compliance with the
provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or
exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or
exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the
Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or
by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder
shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as
applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section
2.06(e).
(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any
Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name
of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive
Note if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the
form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1)
thereof;
(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule
904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
and
(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the
transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel
required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any
Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take
delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement
and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the
case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal
that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement;
(C) any such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement; or
26
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes
proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive
Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C
hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes
proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take
delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive
Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the
Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably
acceptable to the Company to the effect that such exchange or
transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the
restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private
Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act.
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.
A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a
Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive
Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar
shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the
instructions from the Holder thereof.
(f) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and,
upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02, the
Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial
interests in the Restricted Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that
certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (x) they are not broker-
dealers, (y) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes
and (z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company, and
accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer and (ii) Definitive Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted
Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with
the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal
amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive
Notes in the appropriate principal amount.
(g) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the face of all Global
Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically
stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
(i) Private Placement Legend.
(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each
Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in
exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in
substantially the following form:
"THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S.
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY
NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE
27
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"), (B) IT HAS ACQUIRED 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) OR
REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN "IAI"), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT
RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS
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) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING
THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN A TRANSACTION
MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN IAI
THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING
CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE
(THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN
RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION
OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH
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 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.
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 CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER
ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING."
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or
Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(iv),
(c)(iii), (c)(iv), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) to
this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or
substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement
Legend.
(ii) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear a legend in
substantially the following form:
"THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE
GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL
OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE,
(III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT
TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND
28
(IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE
PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF US UNWIRED INC."
(iii) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend. The Regulation S
Temporary Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following
form:
"THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE
CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS
SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE
BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON."
(iv) Original Issue Discount Legend. Each Note shall bear a legend
in substantially the following form:
"FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
OF 1986, AS AMENDED, THIS SECURITY IS BEING ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT;
FOR EACH $1,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS SECURITY, THE ISSUE PRICE IS $523.06,
THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT IS $1,145.69, THE ISSUE DATE IS OCTOBER
29, 1999 AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS 13 3/8% PER ANNUM."
(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as
all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged
for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed,
repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note
shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance
with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any
beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a
Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest
in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of
Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an
endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the
Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and
if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a
Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest
in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased
accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the
Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect
such increase.
(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes
and Definitive Notes upon the Company's order or at the Registrar's
request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a
beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive
Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or
similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other
than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable
upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10,
4.15 and 9.05 hereof).
(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the
transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or
in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in
part.
29
(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any
registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive
Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the
same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as
the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.
(v) The Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to
register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period
beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any
selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending
at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the
transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in
whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being
redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a
Note between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment
Date.
(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a
transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem
and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the
absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of
principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes,
and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by
notice to the contrary.
(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and
Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02
hereof.
(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel
required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section
2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted
by facsimile.
Section 2.07. Replacement Notes.
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the
Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft
of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee's
requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity
bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the
Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any
authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is
replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and shall
be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately
with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 2.07 are exclusive and shall preclude (to
the extent lawful) all the rights and remedies with respect to the replacement
or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.
Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the
Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation,
those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in
accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section as
not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not
cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds
the Note; however, Notes held by the
30
Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for
purposes of Section 3.07(b) hereof.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be
outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01
hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate
of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient
to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall
be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.
Section 2.09. Treasury Notes.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of
Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the
Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with the Company, shall be considered as
though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent,
only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.10. Temporary Notes.
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company
may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall
authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the
form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers
appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee
shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this
Indenture.
Section 2.11. Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation.
The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes
surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The
Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of
transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy
canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange
Act). Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes shall be delivered
to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it
has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay
the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest
payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a
subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes
and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of
the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date
of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such
special record date and payment date, provided that no such special record date
shall
31
be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted
interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon
the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense
of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states
the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such
interest to be paid.
ARTICLE 3.
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption
provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 30
days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers'
Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the
redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of
Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer
to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed or
purchased among the Holders of the Notes in compliance with the requirements of
the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are
listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in
accordance with any other method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate. In
the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed
shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding
Notes not previously called for redemption.
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. Notes and portions of
Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000;
except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire
outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of
$1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence,
provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also
apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption.
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not
more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause to
be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal
amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon
surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;
32
(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying
Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment,
interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the
redemption date;
(g) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant
to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of
the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption
in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption
date, an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and
setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the
preceding paragraph.
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof,
Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption
date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.
One Business Day prior to the redemption date, the Company shall deposit
with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption
price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The
Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money
deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the
amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all
Notes to be redeemed.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on
and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or
the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after
an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date,
then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name
such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any
Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption
because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph,
interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until
such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on
such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in
Section 4.01 hereof.
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue
and, upon the Company's written request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the
Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the
unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
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Section 3.07. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in clause (b) of this Section 3.07, the
Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section
3.07 prior to November 1, 2004. Thereafter, the Company shall have the option to
redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed as
percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid
interest and Liquidated Damages if any, thereon, to the applicable redemption
date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on November 1 of the
years indicated below:
Year Percentage
---- ----------
2004........................................................... 106.688%
2005........................................................... 104.458%
2006........................................................... 102.229%
2007 and thereafter............................................ 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.07, at
any time prior to November 1, 2002, the Company may, on any one or more
occasions, redeem up to 35% of the originally issued aggregate principal amount
of Notes with the net cash proceeds of one or more public equity offerings of
its stock at a redemption price equal to 113 3/8% of the Accreted Value
thereof as of the redemption date, and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the
redemption date; provided that at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of the
Notes originally issued remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of
such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) and
that such redemption occurs within 45 days of the date of the closing of such
public equity offering.
(c) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant
to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption.
The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking
fund payments with respect to the Notes.
Section 3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.
In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall be
required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an "Asset Sale
Offer"), it shall follow the procedures specified below.
The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days
following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer
period is required by applicable law (the "Offer Period"). No later than five
Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the "Purchase Date"),
the Company shall purchase the principal amount of Notes required to be
purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (the "Offer Amount") or, if less than
the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the Asset
Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner
as interest payments are made.
If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or
before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall
be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of
business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to
Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.
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Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall send, by
first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy
to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials
necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale
Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which
shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:
(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09
and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain
open;
(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;
(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to
accrete or accrue interest;
(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note
accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrete or
accrue interest after the Purchase Date;
(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset
Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in integral multiples of $1,000
only;
(f) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset
Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled
"Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Note completed, or
transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a depositary, if appointed by
the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least
three days before the Purchase Date;
(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the
Company, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not
later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal
amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such
Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;
(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by
Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be
purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed
appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or
integral multiples thereof, shall be purchased); and
(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued
new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes
surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).
On or before the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful,
accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer
Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer,
or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and
shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such Notes or
portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the
terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as
the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after
the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to
the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the
Company for purchase, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and the
Trustee, upon written request from the Company shall authenticate and mail or
deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any
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unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be
promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company
shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase
Date.
Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase
pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of
Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
ARTICLE 4.
COVENANTS
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes.
The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the
Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the
date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof,
holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the
Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay
all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. The Company shall pay
all Liquidated Damages, if any, in the same manner on the date and in the amount
set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to
1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the
extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and
Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same
rate to the extent lawful.
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New
York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate
of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for
registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or
upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The
Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any
change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company
shall fail to maintain any such required 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.
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 such
purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however,
that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company
of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan,
the City of New York for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written
notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in
the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as
one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03.
Section 4.03. Reports.
Whether or not required by the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding,
the Company shall furnish to the Holders of Notes, within the time periods
specified in the SEC's rules and regulations:
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(a) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be
contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were
required to file such Forms, including a "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and, with respect to the
annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the
Company's certified independent accountants, and (b) all current reports that
would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were
required to file such reports.
If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by
the preceding paragraph shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either
on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and
results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.
In addition, following the consummation of the Exchange Offer contemplated
by the Registration Rights Agreement, whether or not required by the SEC, the
Company shall file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in
clauses (a) and (b) above with the SEC for public availability within the time
periods specified in the SEC's rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not
accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities analysts
and prospective investors upon request. The Company shall at all times comply
with TIA (S) 314(a). In addition, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed
that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, they will furnish to the
Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their
request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4)
under the Securities Act.
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate.
(a) The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor
is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after
the end of each fiscal year, an Officers' Certificate stating that a review of
the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal
year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to
determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its
obligations under this Indenture and the Pledge Agreement, and further stating,
as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her
knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every
covenant contained in this Indenture and the Pledge Agreement and is not in
default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and
conditions of this Indenture or the Pledge Agreement (or, if a Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of
Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is
taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or
her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which
payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is
prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what
action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial
statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03 above shall be accompanied by a
written statement of the Company's independent public accountants (who shall be
a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination
necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to
their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated
any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has
occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being
understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to
any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.
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(c) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding,
deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default
or Event of Default, an Officers' Certificate specifying such Default or Event
of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with
respect thereto.
Section 4.05. Taxes.
The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay,
prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies
except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or
where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect
to the Holders of the Notes.
Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any
manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension
or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may
affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and
each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby
expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it
shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of
any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the
execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.07. Restricted Payments.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or
make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company's or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries' Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any
payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the
Company's or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries' Equity Interests in their
capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity
Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or to the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with
any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the
Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company; (iii) make any payment
on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or
retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes or the Note
Guarantees, except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity
thereof; or (iv) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other
actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred
to as "Restricted Payments"), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to
such Restricted Payment:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;
(b) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and
after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been
made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted
to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Debt)
pursuant to the test set forth in Section 4.09(i); and
(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of
all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries after the date of this Indenture is less than
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the sum, without duplication, of: (1) the amount determined by subtracting (x)
2.0 times the aggregate Consolidated Interest Expense of the Company for the
period (taken as one accounting period) from December 31, 2002 to the last day
of the last full fiscal quarter prior to the date of the proposed Restricted
Payment (the "Computation Period") from (y) Operating Cash Flow of the Company
for the Computation Period, plus (2) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds
received by the Company since the date of this Indenture as a contribution to
its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the
Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible
or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt
securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such
Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt
securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company), plus (3) 50% of any dividends
received by the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary after the date
of this Indenture from LEC Unwired, LLC or an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the
Company, to the extent that such dividends were not otherwise included in
Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period, plus (4) to the extent
that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company is redesignated as a Restricted
Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, the lesser of (i) the fair market
value of the Company's Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date of such
redesignation or (ii) such fair market value as of the date on which such
Subsidiary was originally designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
So long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused
thereby, the preceding provisions shall not prohibit: (i) the payment of any
dividend within 60 days after the date of its declaration, if on the date of
declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this
Indenture; (ii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor or
of any Equity Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of the net cash
proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than
Disqualified Stock); provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that
are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or
other acquisition shall be excluded from clause (c)(2) of the preceding
paragraph; (iii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of
subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with the
net cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; (iv)
the payment of any dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the
holders of its common Equity Interests on a pro rata basis; (v) the repurchase,
redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests
of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any member of
the Company's (or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries') management pursuant to
any management equity subscription agreement or stock option agreement in effect
as of the date of this Indenture; provided that the aggregate price paid for all
such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests (a) shall not
exceed $2.0 million in any fiscal year and (b) any unused amount in any twelve-
month period may be carried forward to one or more future periods; and (vi)
payments not otherwise permitted by clauses (i) through (v) in an amount not to
exceed $10.0 million.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair
market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities
proposed to be transferred or issued to or by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair
market value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this
covenant shall be determined by the Board of Directors whose resolution with
respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Board of Directors'
determination must be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an
accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if the
fair market value exceeds $5.0 million. Not later than the date of making any
Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth
the basis upon which the calculations required by this Section 4.07 were
computed, together with a copy of any fairness opinion or appraisal required by
this Indenture.
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Section 4.08. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Guarantor to, directly or
indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual
encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Guarantor to: (i) pay
dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or
participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any indebtedness owed to
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (ii) make loans or advances
to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or (iii) transfer any of
its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or
restrictions existing under or by reason of: (a) Existing Indebtedness as in
effect on the date of this Indenture and any amendments, modifications,
restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or
refinancings thereof, provided that such amendments, modifications,
restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacement or
refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such
dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in such Existing
Indebtedness, as in effect on the date of this Indenture; (b) this Indenture,
the Notes and the Note Guarantees; (c) applicable law; (d) any instrument
governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition
(except to the extent such Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in
contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not
applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than
the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that,
in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of
this Indenture to be incurred; (e) customary non-assignment provisions in leases
entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practices; (f) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary
course of business that impose restrictions on the property so acquired of the
nature described in clause (iii) of the preceding paragraph; (g) any agreement
for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts
distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other
disposition; (h) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the
restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in
the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced; (i) Permitted Liens
that limit the right of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to
dispose of the assets subject to such Permitted Lien; (j) provisions with
respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint
venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary
course of business; and (k) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth
imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of
business.
Section 4.09. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise
become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to
(collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the
Company shall not issue any Disqualified Stock and shall not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided,
however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or
issue Disqualified Stock, and the Guarantors may incur Indebtedness or issue
preferred stock, if: (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; and (ii) the Company's
Annualized Operating Cash Flow Ratio after giving effect to the incurrence of
the Indebtedness would have been less than the ratios set forth below for the
calendar year periods indicated:
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For the Period Ratio
1999-2005..............................7.0x
2006 and after.........................6.0x
The first paragraph of this Section 4.09 shall not prohibit the incurrence
of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, "Permitted Debt"):
(i) the incurrence by the Company of revolving credit Indebtedness and letters
of credit under the Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal amount at any one
time outstanding under this clause (i) (with letters of credit being deemed to
have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed $150.0 million less
the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by the Company
to repay Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and effect a corresponding
commitment reduction thereunder pursuant to Section 4.10; (ii) the incurrence by
the Company and the Guarantors of Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness; (iii) the
incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing
Indebtedness; (iv) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of
Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be
issued on the date of this Indenture and the Exchange Notes and the related Note
Guarantees to be issued pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement; (v) the
incurrence by the Company or any of its Guarantors of Indebtedness represented
by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations,
in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the
purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or
equipment used in the business of the Company or such Guarantor, in an aggregate
principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to
refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause
(v), not to exceed $5 million at any time outstanding; (vi) the incurrence by
the Company or any of its Guarantors of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in
exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance or
replace Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted
by this Indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph of this covenant or
clauses (iii) or (iv) of this paragraph; (vii) the incurrence by the Company or
any of its Guarantors of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company
and any of its Guarantors; provided, however, that: (a) if the Company or any
Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be
unsecured and expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all
Obligations with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Note
Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor; and (b) (1) any subsequent issuance or
transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by
a Person other than the Company or a Guarantor thereof and (2) any sale or other
transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or
a Guarantor; shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such
Indebtedness by the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, that was not
permitted by this clause (vii); (viii) the incurrence by the Company or any of
its Guarantors of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or
accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any
Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (viii), not to exceed $50.0
million; (ix) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Guarantors of Hedging
Obligations that are incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate
risk with respect to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by the
terms of this Indenture to be outstanding; (x) the Guarantee by the Company or
any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Guarantors
that is permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09; (xi)
the accrual of interest, accretion or amortization of original issue discount,
the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional
Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified
Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock;
and (xii) the incurrence by LEC Unwired, LLC or by the Company's Unrestricted
Subsidiaries of Non-Recourse Debt, provided, however, that if any such
Indebtedness ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of LEC Unwired, LLC or an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event shall be deemed to constitute an incurrence
of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was not permitted
by this clause (xii).
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For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event
that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the
categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (xii) above, or is
entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09,
the Company will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date
of its incurrence in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09.
Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement outstanding on the date on which Notes
are first issued and authenticated under this Indenture shall be deemed to have
been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (i)
of the definition of Permitted Debt.
Section 4.10. Asset Sales.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless: (i) the Company (or the
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of
such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity
Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of, (ii) such fair market value
is determined by the Company's Board of Directors and evidenced by a resolution
of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the
Trustee, and (iii) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash
Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following shall be
deemed to be cash: (a) any liabilities (as shown on the Company's or such
Restricted Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet), of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that
are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee) that are
assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation
agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further
liability, and (b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the
Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are
contemporaneously (subject to ordinary settlement periods) converted by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash
received in that conversion).
Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale,
the Company may apply such Net Proceeds at its option: (i) to repay Senior Debt
and, if the Senior Debt repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness to
correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto, (ii) to acquire all or
substantially all of the assets of, or a majority of the Voting Stock of,
another Permitted Business, (iii) to make a capital expenditure, or (iv) to
acquire other long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business.
Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may
temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest such Net
Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.
Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as
provided in the preceding paragraph shall constitute "Excess Proceeds." When
the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company shall
make an Asset Sale offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other
Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to
those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem
with the proceeds of sales of assets to purchase the maximum principal amount of
Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the
Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer shall be equal to 100%
of the Accreted Value (if such date of purchase is prior to November 1, 2004)
and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of purchase, or 100% of the
principal amount (if such date of purchase is on or after November 1, 2004) plus
accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of
purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after
consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds
for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate
principal amount and/or Accreted Value, as the case may be, of Notes and such
other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the
amount of Excess Proceeds, the
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Trustee shall select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be
purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the
amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the
Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each
repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the
provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Asset Sales
provisions of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable
securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its
obligations under the Asset Sale provisions of this Indenture by virtue of such
conflict.
Section 4.11. Transactions with Affiliates.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or
assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract,
agreement, understanding, loan, advance or Guarantee with, or for the benefit
of, any Affiliate (each, an "Affiliate Transaction"), unless: (i) such
Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or
the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a
comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an
unrelated Person; and (ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee: (a) with
respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions
involving aggregate consideration in excess of $1.0 million, a resolution of the
Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate certifying that such
Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above and that such Affiliate
Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the
Board of Directors; and (b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series
of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of
$5.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the holders of such Affiliate
Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or
investment banking firm of national standing.
The following items shall not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and,
therefore, shall not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph: (i)
any employment agreement entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; (ii) transactions between or
among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries; (iii) transactions with a
Person that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns an
Equity Interest in such Person; (iv) payment of reasonable directors fees to
Persons who are not otherwise Affiliates of the Company; (v) sales of Equity
Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to Affiliates of the Company; and (vi)
Restricted Payments that are permitted by the provisions of Section 4.07.
The following items shall be deemed Affiliate Transactions, but shall not
be subject to the fairness opinion provisions in paragraph (ii)(b) above: (i)
transactions involving the leasing or sharing or other use by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of communication network facilities, including, without
limitation, cable or other fiber lines, equipment of transmission capacity, of
any Affiliate of the Company (such Affiliate being a "Related Party") on terms
that are no less favorable, when taken as a whole, to the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, than those available from such Related
Party to unaffiliated third parties; (ii) transactions involving the provision
of telecommunication services, including billing and related back-office
support, by a Related Party in the ordinary course of business to the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary, or by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to a
Related Party, on terms that are no less favorable, when taken as a whole, to
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, than those available
from such Related Party to unaffiliated third parties; and (iii) any sales
agency agreement pursuant to which an Affiliate has the right to market any or
all of the products or services of the Company or any of the Restricted
Subsidiaries.
43
Section 4.12. Liens.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness or trade payables on any asset
now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens.
Section 4.13. Business Activities.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to,
engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such extent as
would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.
Section 4.14. Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its corporate
existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its
Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the
same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary and
(ii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company
and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required
to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership
or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall
determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of
the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the
loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.
If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of Notes shall have the right to
require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an
integral multiple thereof) of that Holder's Notes pursuant to the offer
described below (the "Change of Control Offer"). In the Change of Control
Offer, the Company will offer a change of control payment in cash equal to 101%
of the aggregate Accreted Value of the Notes on the date of purchase (if such
date of purchase is prior to November 1, 2004) or 101% of the aggregate
principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon, to the date of purchase (if such date of
purchase is on or after November 1, 2004) (in either case, the "Change of
Control Payment"). Within ten days following any Change of Control, the Company
shall mail a notice to each Holder stating: (1) that the Change of Control
Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes tendered
will be accepted for payment; (2) the purchase price and the purchase date,
which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date
such notice is mailed (the "Change of Control Payment Date"); (3) that any Note
not tendered will continue to accrete or accrue interest; (4) that, unless the
Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes
accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to
accrete or accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date; (5) that
Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control
Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled "Option of
Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying
Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on
the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date; (6) that
Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent
receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day
preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal
amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is
withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and (7) that Holders whose
Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in
principal
44
amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased
portion must be equal to $1,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple
thereof. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the
Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the
repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that
the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of
Control provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall comply with the
applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have
breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of this
Indenture by virtue of such conflict.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent
lawful: (i) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered
pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an
amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or
portions thereof so tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the
Accreted Value (if such date of purchase is prior to November 1, 2004) or the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes (if such date or purchase is on or after
November 1, 2004) or portions thereof being purchased by the Company. The
Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so tendered the Change
of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate
and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note
equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered,
if any; provided that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of
$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof.
Prior to complying with any of the provisions of this Section 4.15, but in
any event within 90 days following a Change of Control, the Company shall either
repay all outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents, if any,
under all agreements governing outstanding Senior Debt to permit the repurchase
of Notes required by this Section 4.15. The Company will publicly announce the
results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the
Change of Control Payment Date.
The provisions described above that require the Company to make a Change of
Control Offer following a Change of Control shall be applicable regardless of
whether any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable.
The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a
Change of Control 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.
Section 4.16. No Senior Subordinated Debt.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.09 hereof, the Company shall
not incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any
Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior
Debt of the Company and senior in any respect in right of payment to the Notes.
No Guarantor shall incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become
liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to
the Senior Debt of such Guarantor and senior in any respect in right of payment
to such Guarantor's Note Guarantee.
Section 4.17. Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default; provided
that in no event shall the business currently operated by US Unwired, Unwired
Telecom Corp. or Louisiana Unwired, LLC be transferred to or held
45
by an Unrestricted Subsidiary. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding
Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the
Subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time
of such designation and will either reduce the amount available for Restricted
Payments under the first paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof or reduce the amount
available for future Investments under one or more clauses of the definition of
Permitted Investments, as the Company shall determine. That designation will
only be permitted if such Investment would be permitted at that time and if such
Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary. The Board of Directors may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary
to be a Restricted Subsidiary if the redesignation would not cause a Default.
Section 4.18. Payments for Consent.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
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.
Section 4.19. Additional Note Guarantees.
If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall acquire or
create another Restricted Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, then that
newly acquired or created Restricted Subsidiary must become a Guarantor and
execute a Note Guarantee in the form of a supplemental indenture and deliver an
Opinion of Counsel, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture within 10
Business Days of the date on which it was acquired or created. The form of such
Note Guarantee is attached as Exhibit E hereto.
ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.
The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, consolidate or merge with or
into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation),
or sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially
all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person;
unless: (i) either: (a) the Company is the surviving corporation; or (b) the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing under
the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
(ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if
other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations
of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture and the Registration Rights
Agreement pursuant to a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory
to the Trustee; (iii) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of
Default exists; and (iv) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any
such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made: (a)
shall have Consolidated Net Worth immediately after the transaction equal to or
greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately preceding the
transaction; and (b) shall, on the date of such transaction after giving pro
forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had
occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to
incur at least $1.00 of additional
46
Indebtedness pursuant to the Annualized Operating Cash Flow Ratio test set forth
in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 herein.
The sale of the Company's PCS business shall be deemed a sale of
substantially all of the assets of the Company for purposes of the provisions of
this Section 5.01. In addition, the Company, Unwired Telecom Corp. and
Louisiana Unwired, LLC may not, directly or indirectly, lease all or
substantially all of their properties or assets, in one or more related
transactions, to any other Person.
The provisions of this Section 5.01 shall not be applicable to a sale,
assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among
the Company and any of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries.
Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease,
conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed
by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which
such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made
shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of
such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the
provisions of this Indenture referring to the "Company" shall refer instead to
the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may exercise every right
and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such
successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that
the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the
principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale, assignment,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all of the Company's assets that
meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01. Events of Default.
An "Event of Default" occurs if:
(a) the Company defaults in the payment when due of interest on, or
Liquidated Damages with respect to, the Notes and such default continues for a
period of 30 days;
(b) the Company defaults in the payment when due of principal of or
premium, if any, on the Notes when the same becomes due and payable at maturity,
upon redemption (including in connection with an offer to purchase) or
otherwise;
(c) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary fails to comply with any of
the provisions of Section 4.07, 4.09, 4.10, 4.15 or 5.01 hereof;
(d) the Company fails to observe or perform any other covenant,
representation, warranty or other agreement in this Indenture, the Notes or the
Pledge Agreement for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding voting as a single class;
(e) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under
which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any
Indebtedness for money borrowed by the
47
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than LEC Unwired, LLC (or
the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries other than LEC Unwired, LLC), whether such Indebtedness or
guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this Indenture, which
default (i) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium,
if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period
provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a "Payment Default");
or (ii) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express
maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together
with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has
been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated,
aggregates $5 million or more;
(f) a final judgment or final judgments for the payment of money are
entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than LEC Unwired, LLC and such judgment
or judgments are not paid or discharged for a period (during which execution
shall not be effectively stayed) of 60 days, provided that the aggregate of all
such unpaid or undischarged judgments exceeds $5 million;
(g) the Company or any group of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than
LEC Unwired, LLC:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an
involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or
substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or
(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any
Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries other than LEC Unwired, LLC in an involuntary case;
(ii) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries other than LEC Unwired, LLC or for all or substantially all of
the property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other
than LEC Unwired, LLC; or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries other than LEC Unwired, LLC; and the order or decree remains
unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or
(i) the Company shall breach any material representation, warranty or
agreement set forth in the Pledge Agreement or the Pledge Agreement shall be
held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease
for any reason to be in full force and effect.
(j) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in
any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any
reason to be in full force and effect or any
48
Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or
disaffirm its obligations under such Guarantor's Note Guarantee.
Section 6.02. Acceleration.
If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause
(g) or (h) of Section 6.01 hereof with respect to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, other than LEC Unwired, LLC, occurs and is continuing,
the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.
Upon any such declaration, all principal of and accrued interest on (if on or
after November 1, 2004) or Accreted Value of (if prior to November 1, 2004) the
Notes shall become due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 hereof
occurs with respect to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than LEC
Unwired, LLC, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without
further action or notice. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on
behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the
rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing
Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has
become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.
If an Event of Default occurs on or after November 1, 2004 by reason of any
willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company
with the intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the Company would
have had to pay if the Company then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to
Section 3.07 hereof, then, upon acceleration of the Notes, an equivalent premium
shall also become and be immediately due and payable, to the extent permitted by
law, anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding.
If an Event of Default occurs prior to November 1, 2004 by reason of any willful
action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company with
the intention of avoiding the prohibition on redemption of the Notes prior to
such date, then, upon acceleration of the Notes, an additional premium shall
also become and be immediately due and payable in an amount, for each of the
years beginning on November 1 of the years set forth below, as set forth below
(expressed as a percentage of the Accreted Value of the Notes to the date of
payment that would otherwise be due but for the provisions of this sentence):
Year Percentage
---- ----------
1999.................................................. 113.375%
2000.................................................. 112.038%
2001.................................................. 110.700%
2002.................................................. 109.363%
2003.................................................. 108.025%
Section 6.03. Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any
available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and
interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the
Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of
the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or
omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or
remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or
49
constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies
are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of
all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its
consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the
payment of the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest
on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase) (provided,
however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences,
including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration).
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 impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.05. Control by Majority.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising
any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred
on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts
with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial
to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in
personal liability.
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.
A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or
the Notes only if:
(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested,
provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss,
liability or expense;
(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after
receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of
indemnity; and
(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction
inconsistent with the request.
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of
another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another
Holder of a Note.
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any
Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium and Liquidated
Damages, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates
expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or
50
to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such
respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such
Holder.
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as
trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of
principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest remaining
unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful,
interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and
expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee is authorized to 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 (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the
Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall
be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other
property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such
judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such 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 to
it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07 hereof. 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 7.07 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. Nothing herein contained 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, or to authorize the
Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.10. Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall pay
out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under
Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and
liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs
and expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes
for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest,
ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the
amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated
Damages, if any and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent
jurisdiction shall direct.
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The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to
Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture
or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a
Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant
in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its
discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good
faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does
not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to
Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE 7.
TRUSTEE
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee.
(a) If 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 its exercise, as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own
affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the
express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only
those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no
others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this
Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) 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. However,
the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine
whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities 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 paragraph (b) of this
Section;
(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 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 6.05 hereof.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this
Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a),
(b), and (c) of this Section.
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(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the
request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee
security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by
it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in
trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
(g) The Paying Agent, Registrar and any Authenticating Agent shall be
entitled to the protections, immunities and standard of care as are set forth in
paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01 with respect to the Trustee.
Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to
be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The
Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an
Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be
liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on
such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with
counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall
be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in
reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be
responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee
shall not be responsible for any act or omission of any Depositary.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to
take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand,
request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by
an Officer of the Company.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of
any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or
pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the
Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in
the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate
such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as
trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The
Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.
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Section 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer.
The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to
the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be
accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money
paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction under any provision of this
Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money
received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be
responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or
any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this
Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.
Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is
known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the
Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case
of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a
committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding
the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.
Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the
date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee
shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting
date that complies with TIA (S) 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA (S)
313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no
report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA (S)
313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by
TIA (S) 313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes
shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on
which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA (S) 313(d). The Company shall
promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable
compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The
Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly
upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or
made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses
shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the
Trustee's agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses,
liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the
costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including
this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by
the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with
the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to
the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its
negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any
claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the
Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company
shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the
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defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the
reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any
settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee
shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected
by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on
particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) hereof occurs, the expenses and the
compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and
counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
Bankruptcy Law.
The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA (S) 313(b)(2) to the
extent applicable.
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor
Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of
appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the
trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so
notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the
Trustee if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for
relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its
property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office
of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a
successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the
retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or
the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Trustee.
If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder
for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and
the appointment of a successor Trustee.
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A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment
to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or
removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor
Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this
Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to
Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it
as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee
hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07
hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section
7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the
benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or
substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the
successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or
of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million
as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements
of TIA (S) 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA (S) 310(b).
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA (S) 311(a), excluding any creditor
relationship listed in TIA (S) 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been
removed shall be subject to TIA (S) 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE 8.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a
resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time, elect to have
either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes and the
Note Guarantees upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this
Article Eight.
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject
to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be
deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all
outstanding Notes and the Note Guarantees on the date the conditions set forth
below are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal
Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have
paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes
and the Note Guarantees, which shall thereafter be deemed to be "outstanding"
only for
56
the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture
referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other
obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of
and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive
until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of
outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section
8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of
the principal of, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages on such Notes
when such payments are due, (b) the Company's obligations with respect to such
Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts,
duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company's and the
Guarantors' obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article Eight.
Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the Company may exercise its
option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option
under Section 8.03 hereof.
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its
obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10,
4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18 and 4.19 hereof and clause (iv) of
Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date
the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant
Defeasance"), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not "outstanding" for the
purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and
the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall
continue to be deemed "outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder (it being
understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting
purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to
the outstanding Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no
liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such
covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere
herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant
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 6.01
hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such
Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company's exercise
under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof,
subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof,
Sections 6.01(c) through 6.01(f) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section
8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for
the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable
Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants, to pay the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any,
and interest on the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or
on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be and Company must specify
whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption
date;
(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming
57
that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the
Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there
has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to
the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that,
the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the
same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not
occurred;
(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the
outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to 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;
(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting
from the incurrence of Indebtedness all or a portion of the proceeds of which
will be used to defease the Notes pursuant to this Article Eight concurrently
with such incurrence) or insofar as Sections 6.01(g) or 6.01(h) hereof is
concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of
deposit;
(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or
instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
bound;
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
(which may be subject to customary exceptions) to the effect that, no
intervening bankruptcy of the Company or any Guarantor between the date of
deposit and the 91st day following the deposit and assuming that no Holder is an
"insider" of the Company under applicable bankruptcy law, after the 91st day
following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent
of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the
intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of
the Company or others; and
(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant
Defeasance have been complied with.
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust;
Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government
Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other
qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the
"Trustee") pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding 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 (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the
Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to
become
58
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 against any tax, fee or
other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government
Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and
interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other
charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the
Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided
in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof
delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section
8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required
to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section 8.06. Repayment to Company.
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, 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 its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from
such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the
Company for payment thereof, 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; provided, however, that the Trustee or
such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the
expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The
Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed
and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days
from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such
money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
Section 8.07. Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars
or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03
hereof, 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 Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes
shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to
Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03
hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any
payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the
reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights
of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the
Trustee or Paying Agent.
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ARTICLE 9.
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors
and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or
the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a Note:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of
certificated Notes;
(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company's or a Guarantor's
obligations to the Holders of the Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation
or sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets pursuant to Article
5 or Article 10 hereof;
(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal
rights hereunder of any Holder of the Note;
(e) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain
the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; or
(f) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a
Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of
Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section
7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the
execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by
the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and
stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be
obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its
own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes.
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company, the Guarantors
and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including Sections 3.09,
4.10 and 4.15 hereof), the Note Guarantees and the Notes with the consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding
voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a
tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to
Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other
than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium,
if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an
acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this
Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of
the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a
tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes).
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of
Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the
Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and
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upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof,
the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of
such amended or supplemental Indenture unless such amended or supplemental
Indenture directly affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under
this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion,
but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental
Indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under
this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or
waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance
thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes
effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby 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 such amended or supplemental
Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a
single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with
any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of
each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not
(with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to
an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note
or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the
Notes except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15
hereof;
(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest,
including default interest, on any Note;
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of
or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a
rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the
payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the
Notes;
(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to
waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments
of principal of or interest or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, on the
Notes;
(g) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in the foregoing
amendment and waiver provisions; or
(h) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note
Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture.
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set
forth in a amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then
in effect.
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Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it
by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every
subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as
the consenting Holder's Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any
Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may
revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of
revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes
effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance
with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment,
supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in
exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment,
supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not
affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized
pursuant to this Article Nine if the amendment or supplement does not adversely
affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The
Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board of
Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the
Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall
be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by
Section 12.04 hereof, an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating
that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or
permitted by this Indenture.
ARTICLE 10.
SUBORDINATION
Section 10.01. Agreement to Subordinate.
The Company agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Note agrees, that the
Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes including without limitation the Liquidated
Damages is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner
provided in this Article 10, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt
(whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter created, incurred, assumed
or guaranteed), and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders
from time to time of Senior Debt.
Section 10.02. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.
Upon any distribution to creditors of the Company or any Guarantor in a
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or any Guarantor or in a bankruptcy,
reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the
Company or any Guarantor or its property, in an assignment for the benefit of
creditors or any marshaling of the Company's or any Guarantor's assets and
liabilities:
(i) holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled to receive payment in
full of all Obligations due in respect of such Senior Debt (including
interest after the commencement of any
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such proceeding at the rate specified in the applicable Senior Debt) before
Holders of the Notes shall be entitled to receive any payment with respect
to the Notes or the Note Guarantees (except that Holders may receive (A)
Permitted Junior Securities and (B) payments and other distributions made
from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof); and
(ii) until all Obligations with respect to Senior Debt (as provided in
clause (i) above) are paid in full, any distribution to which Holders would
be entitled but for this Article 10 shall be made to holders of Senior Debt
(except that Holders of Notes may receive (A) Permitted Junior Securities
and (B) payments and other distributions made from any defeasance trust
created pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof), as their interests may appear.
Section 10.03. Default on Designated Senior Debt.
(a) The Company may not make any payment or distribution to the Trustee or
any Holder in respect of Obligations with respect to the Notes including making
any deposit in trust and may not acquire from the Trustee or any Holder any
Notes for cash or property nor may any Guarantor make any payment in respect of
its Note Guarantee (other than (A) Permitted Junior Securities and (B) payments
and other distributions made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to
Section 8.01 hereof) until all principal and other Obligations with respect to
the Senior Debt have been paid in full if:
(i) a failure to make any payment on any series of Designated Senior
Debt when due (including upon any acceleration of any Series of Designated
Senior Debt); or
(ii) a default, other than a payment default, on Designated Senior
Debt occurs and is continuing that then permits holders of the Designated
Senior Debt to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of
the default (a "Payment Blockage Notice") from a Person who may give it
pursuant to Section 10.11 hereof. If the Trustee receives any such Payment
Blockage Notice, no subsequent Payment Blockage Notice shall be effective
for purposes of this Section unless and until (A) at least 360 days shall
have elapsed since the effectiveness of the immediately prior Payment
Blockage Notice and (B) all scheduled payments of principal, interest and
premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes that have come due
have been paid in full in cash. No nonpayment default that existed or was
continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the
Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage
Notice.
(b) The Company may and shall resume payments on and distributions in
respect of the Notes and may acquire them upon the earlier of:
(i) the date upon which the default is cured or waived (and, if
applicable, any acceleration is rescinded), or
(ii) in the case of a default referred to in clause (ii) of Section
10.03(a) hereof, the earlier of the date on which such non-payment default
is cured or waived or 179 days pass after notice is received if the
maturity of such Designated Senior Debt has not been accelerated,
if this Article 10 otherwise permits the payment, distribution or acquisition at
the time of such payment or acquisition.
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Section 10.04. Acceleration of Notes.
If payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the
Company shall promptly notify holders of Senior Debt of the acceleration.
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor may make any payment with respect to the
Notes or the Note Guarantees until five Business Days after the holders of the
Senior Debt receive notice of such acceleration and, thereafter, may make
payments with respect to the Notes only if the provisions of this Article 10
otherwise permit payment at the time.
Section 10.05. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over.
In the event that the Trustee or any Holder receives any payment of any
Obligations with respect to the Notes at a time when the Trustee or such Holder,
as applicable, has actual knowledge that such payment is prohibited by Section
10.03 hereof, such payment shall be held by the Trustee or such Holder, in trust
for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written
request, to, the holders of Senior Debt as their interests may appear or their
Representative under this Indenture or other agreement (if any) pursuant to
which Senior Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may
appear, for application to the payment of all Obligations with respect to Senior
Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full in
accordance with their terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or
distribution to or for the holders of Senior Debt.
With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to
perform only such obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically set
forth in this Article 10, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect
to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the
Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the
holders of Senior Debt, and shall not be liable to any such holders if the
Trustee shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders or the Company
or any other Person money or assets to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be
entitled by virtue of this Article 10, except if such payment is made as a
result of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Trustee.
Section 10.06. Notice by Company.
The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent of any
facts known to the Company that would cause a payment of any Obligations with
respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10, but failure to give such notice
shall not affect the subordination of the Notes to the Senior Debt as provided
in this Article 10.
Section 10.07. Subrogation.
After all Senior Debt is paid in full and until the Notes are paid in full,
Holders of Notes shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all other
Indebtedness pari passu with the Notes) to the rights of holders of Senior Debt
to receive distributions applicable to Senior Debt to the extent that
distributions otherwise payable to the Holders of Notes have been applied to the
payment of Senior Debt. A distribution made under this Article 10 to holders of
Senior Debt that otherwise would have been made to Holders of Notes is not, as
between the Company and Holders, a payment by the Company on the Notes.
Section 10.08. Relative Rights.
This Article 10 defines the relative rights of Holders of Notes and holders
of Senior Debt. Nothing in this Indenture shall:
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(i) impair, as between the Company and Holders of Notes, the
obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay
principal of and interest on the Notes in accordance with their terms;
(ii) affect the relative rights of Holders of Notes and creditors of
the Company other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior Debt;
or
(iii) prevent the Trustee or any Holder of Notes from exercising its
available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the
rights of holders and owners of Senior Debt to receive distributions and
payments otherwise payable to Holders of Notes.
If the Company fails because of this Article 10 to pay principal of or
interest on a Note on the due date, the failure is still a Default or Event of
Default.
Section 10.09. Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company.
No right of any holder of Senior Debt to enforce the subordination of the
Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes shall be impaired by any act or failure to
act by the Company or any Holder or by the failure of the Company or any Holder
to comply with this Indenture.
Section 10.10. Distribution or Notice to Representative.
Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of
Senior Debt, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their
Representative.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in
this Article 10, the Trustee and the Holders of Notes shall be entitled to rely
upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction or upon any
certificate of such Representative or of the liquidating trustee or agent or
other Person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders of Notes
for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such
distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other Indebtedness of the
Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or
distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 10.
Section 10.11. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 10 or any other provision of
this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence
of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment or distribution by
the Trustee, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent may continue to make payments
on the Notes, unless the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust
Office at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment written
notice of facts that would cause the payment of any Obligations with respect to
the Notes to violate this Article 10. Only the Company or a Representative may
give the notice. Nothing in this Article 10 shall impair the claims of, or
payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Debt
with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the
same with like rights.
Section 10.12. Authorization to Effect Subordination.
Each Holder of Notes, by the Holder's acceptance thereof, authorizes and
directs the Trustee on such Holder's behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the
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subordination as provided in this Article 10, and appoints the Trustee to act as
such Holder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. If the Trustee
does not file a proper proof of claim or proof of debt in the form required in
any proceeding referred to in Section 6.09 hereof at least 30 days before the
expiration of the time to file such claim, the holders (or their representative)
or Senior Debt of the Company are hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim
for and on behalf of the Holders of the Notes.
Section 10.13. Amendments.
The provisions of this Article 10 shall not be amended or modified without
the written consent of the holders of all Senior Debt.
ARTICLE 11.
NOTE GUARANTEES
Section 11.01. Guarantee.
Subject to this Article 11, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and
severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns,
irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or
the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal
of and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at
maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue
principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other
obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder
will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms
hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or
renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be
promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the
extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.
Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so
guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally
obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a
guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the
Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any
waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions
hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action
to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby
waives 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 covenant that this Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete
performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.
If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to
return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or
other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the
Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note
Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full
force and effect.
Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of
subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed
hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each
Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and
the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the
obligations guaranteed hereby may be
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accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Note
Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing
such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in
the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in
Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall
forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note
Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any
non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the
rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.
Section 11.02. Subordination of Note Guarantee.
The Obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee pursuant to this
Article 11 shall be junior and subordinated to the Senior Guarantee of such
Guarantor on the same basis as the Notes are junior and subordinated to Senior
Debt of the Company. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee
and the Holders shall have the right to receive and/or retain payments by any of
the Guarantors only at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in
respect of the Notes pursuant to this Indenture, including Article 10 hereof.
Section 11.03. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.
Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby
confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of
such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes
of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent
Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any
Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders
and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such
Guarantor will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other
contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such
laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive
contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in
respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result
in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a
fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
Section 11.04. Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee.
To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01, each Guarantor
hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in the form
included in Exhibit E shall be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor on each
Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture shall be
executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President or one of its Vice
Presidents.
Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section
11.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to
endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.
If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note Guarantee
no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on
which a Note Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee shall be valid
nevertheless.
The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof
hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this
Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
In the event that the Company creates or acquires any new Subsidiaries
subsequent to the date of this Indenture, if required by Section 4.24 hereof,
the Company shall cause such Subsidiaries to execute
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supplemental indentures to this Indenture and Note Guarantees in accordance with
Section 4.19 hereof and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.
Section 11.05. Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05, no Guarantor may consolidate
with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving
Person) another Person whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor unless:
(a) subject to Section 11.05 hereof, the Person formed by or surviving any
such consolidation or merger (if other than a Guarantor or the Company)
unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a
supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee, under the Notes, this Indenture and the Note Guarantee on the terms set
forth herein or therein; and
(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or
Event of Default exists.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the
assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and
delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note
Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of
the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor,
such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with
the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor
Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be
endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not
have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note
Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit
under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in
accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note
Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.
Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding clauses
(a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes
shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the
Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the
property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the
Company or another Guarantor.
Section 11.06. Releases Following Sale of Assets.
In the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets of any
Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other
disposition of all of the capital stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a
Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transactions) a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor (in the event of a
sale or other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all
of the capital stock of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the
property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any
obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds of such
sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof.
Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by
the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, including
without limitation Section 4.10 hereof, the Trustee shall execute any documents
reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its
obligations under its Note Guarantee.
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Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee
shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the
Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as
provided in this Article 11.
ARTICLE 12.
COLLATERAL AND SECURITY
Section 12.01. Pledge Agreement.
The performance of all obligations of Louisiana Unwired, LLC under its
Guarantee shall be secured as provided in the Pledge Agreement and the
Intercreditor Agreement which Louisiana Unwired, LLC has entered into
simultaneously with the execution of this Indenture and which is attached as
Exhibit G hereto. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance thereof, consents and
agrees to the terms of the Pledge Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement
(including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and
release of Pledged Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may be amended
from time to time in accordance with its terms and authorizes and directs the
Collateral Agent to enter into the Pledge Agreement and the Intercreditor
Agreement and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in
accordance therewith. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee copies of all
documents delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Pledge Agreement,
and shall do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be necessary or
proper, or as may be required by the provisions of the Pledge Agreement, to
assure and confirm to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent the security interest
in the Pledged Collateral contemplated hereby, by the Pledge Agreement or the
Intercreditor Agreement or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted,
so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this
Indenture and of the Notes secured hereby, according to the intent and purposes
herein expressed.
Section 12.02. Recording and Opinions.
(a) The Company shall furnish to the Trustee prior to making the
Permitted Texas Unwired Investments an Opinion of Counsel either (i) stating
that in the opinion of such counsel all action has been taken with respect to
the recording, registering and filing of this Indenture, financing statements or
other instruments necessary to make effective the Lien intended to be created by
the Pledge Agreement, and reciting with respect to the security interests in the
Pledged Collateral, the details of such action, or (ii) stating that, in the
opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to make such Lien
effective.
(b) The Company shall furnish to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee on
November 1 in each year beginning with November 1, 2000, an Opinion of Counsel,
dated as of such date, either (i) (A) stating that, in the opinion of such
counsel, action has been taken with respect to the recording, registering,
filing, re-recording, re-registering and refiling of all supplemental
indentures, financing statements, continuation statements or other instruments
of further assurance as is necessary to maintain the Lien of the Pledge
Agreement and reciting with respect to the security interests in the Pledged
Collateral the details of such action or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel
in which such details are given, (B) stating that, based on relevant laws as in
effect on the date of such Opinion of Counsel, all financing statements and
continuation statements have been executed and filed that are necessary as of
such date and during the succeeding 12 months fully to preserve and protect, to
the extent such protection and preservation are possible by filing, the rights
of the Holders of Notes and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee hereunder and
under the Pledge Agreement with respect to the security interests in the Pledged
Collateral, or (ii) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action
is necessary to maintain such Lien and assignment.
(c) The Company shall otherwise comply with the provisions of TIA
(S)314(b).
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Section 12.03. Release of Collateral.
(a) Subject to subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 12.03,
Pledged Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created
by the Pledge Agreement at any time or from time to time in accordance with the
provisions of the Pledge Agreement or as provided hereby. In addition, upon the
request of the Company pursuant to an Officers' Certificate certifying that all
conditions precedent hereunder have been met and stating whether or not such
release is in connection with an Asset Sale and upon issuance of an Opinion of
Counsel stating that all conditions precedent hereunder have been met (at the
sole cost and expense of the Company), the Collateral Agent shall release
Pledged Collateral that is sold, conveyed or disposed of in compliance with the
provisions of this Indenture; provided, that if such sale, conveyance or
disposition constitutes an Asset Sale, the Company shall apply the Net Proceeds
in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof. Upon receipt of such Officers'
Certificate the Collateral Agent shall execute, deliver or acknowledge any
necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release to
evidence the release of any Pledged Collateral permitted to be released pursuant
to this Indenture or the Pledge Agreement.
(b) No Pledged Collateral shall be released from the Lien and security
interest created by the Pledge Agreement pursuant to the provisions of the
Pledge Agreement unless there shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent
the certificate and Opinion of Counsel required by this Section 12.03.
(c) At any time when a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing and the maturity of the Notes shall have been accelerated
(whether by declaration or otherwise) and the Trustee shall have delivered a
notice of acceleration to the Collateral Agent, no release of Pledged Collateral
pursuant to the provisions of the Pledge Agreement shall be effective as against
the Holders of Notes.
(d) The release of any Pledged Collateral from the terms of this
Indenture and the Pledge Agreement shall not be deemed to impair the security
under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof if and to the
extent the Pledged Collateral is released pursuant to the terms of the Pledge
Agreement. To the extent applicable, the Company shall cause TIA (S) 313(b),
relating to reports, and TIA (S) 314(d), relating to the release of property or
securities from the Lien and security interest of the Pledge Agreement and
relating to the substitution therefor of any property or securities to be
subjected to the Lien and security interest of the Pledge Agreement, to be
complied with. Any certificate or opinion required by TIA (S) 314(d) may be made
by an Officer of the Company except in cases where TIA (S) 314(d) requires that
such certificate or opinion be made by an independent Person, which Person shall
be an independent engineer, appraiser or other expert selected or approved by
the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in the exercise of reasonable care.
Section 12.04. Certificates of the Company.
The Company shall furnish to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent, prior to
each proposed release of Pledged Collateral pursuant to the Pledge Agreement,
(i) all documents required by TIA (S)314(d) and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel,
which may be rendered by internal counsel to the Company, to the effect that
such accompanying documents constitute all documents required by TIA (S)314(d).
The Trustee may, to the extent permitted by Sections 7.01 and 7.02 hereof,
accept as conclusive evidence of compliance with the foregoing provisions the
appropriate statements contained in such documents and such Opinion of Counsel.
70
Section 12.05. Certificates of the Trustee.
In the event that the Company wishes to release Pledged Collateral in
accordance with the Pledge Agreement and has delivered the certificates and
documents required by the Pledge Agreement and Sections 12.03 and 12.04 hereof,
the Trustee shall determine whether it has received all documentation required
by TIA (S) 314(d) in connection with such release and, based on such
determination and the Opinion of Counsel delivered pursuant to Section 12.04(b),
shall deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent setting forth such
determination.
Section 12.06. Authorization of Actions to Be Taken by the Trustee Under the
Pledge Agreement.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, the Trustee may,
in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders of Notes, direct,
on behalf of the Holders of Notes, the Collateral Agent to, take all actions it
deems necessary or appropriate in order to (a) enforce any of the terms of the
Pledge Agreement and (b) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in
respect of the Obligations of the Company hereunder. The Trustee shall have
power to institute and maintain such suits and proceedings as it may deem
expedient to prevent any impairment of the Pledged Collateral by any acts that
may be unlawful or in violation of the Pledge Agreement or this Indenture, and
such suits and proceedings as the Trustee may deem expedient to preserve or
protect its interests and the interests of the Holders of Notes in the Pledged
Collateral (including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to
restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other
governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise
invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order
would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests
of the Holders of Notes or of the Trustee).
Section 12.07. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the
Pledge Agreement.
The Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit of the
Holders of Notes distributed under the Pledge Agreement, and to make further
distributions of such funds to the Holders of Notes according to the provisions
of this Indenture.
Section 12.08. Termination of Security Interest.
Upon the payment in full of all Obligations of the Company under this
Indenture and the Notes, or upon Legal Defeasance, the Trustee shall, at the
request of the Company, deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent stating
that such Obligations have been paid in full, and instruct the Collateral Agent
to release the Liens pursuant to this Indenture and the Pledge Agreement.
ARTICLE 13.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 13.01. Satisfaction and Discharge.
This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as
to all Notes issued hereunder, when:
(1) either:
(a) all Notes that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or
destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose
payment money has theretofore been
71
deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company) have been
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(b) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of
redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year
and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused
to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for
the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable
Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as
will be sufficient without consideration of any interest or
reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness
on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for
principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and accrued
interest to the date of maturity or redemption;
(2) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the
date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such
deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor
is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;
(3) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable
by it under this Indenture; and
(4) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under
this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes
at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.
In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and
discharge have been satisfied.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money
shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause
(1) of this Section, the provisions of Section 11.02, Section 8.06 and Section
7.07 shall survive.
Section 13.02. Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, all money deposited with the
Trustee pursuant to Section 13.01 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 (including the Company acting as its
own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto,
of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money
has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government
Securities in accordance with Section 13.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or
by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority
enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company's
and any Guarantor's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be
revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section
13.01; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its
obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of
such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held
by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
72
ARTICLE 14.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 14.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by TIA (S)318(c), the imposed duties shall control.
Section 14.02. Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to
the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by
first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex,
telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the
others' address:
If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:
US Unwired Inc.
One Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1900
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70629
Telecopier No.: (318) 497-3197
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
Correro Fishman Haygood Phelps Walmsley & Casteix, L.L.P.
201 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 4600
New Orleans, Louisiana 70171
Telecopier No.: (504) 586-5250
Attention: Louis Y. Fishman
If to the Trustee:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Goodwin Square, 225 Asylum Street, 23/rd/ Floor
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
Telecopier No.: (860) 244-1889
Attention: Laurel Melody-Casasanta
The Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be
deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally
delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage
prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged,
if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier,
if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class
mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept
by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any
Person described in TIA (S) 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure
to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not
affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
73
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within
the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a
copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 14.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA (S) 312(b) with other Holders with
respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the
Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA (S)
312(c).
Section 14.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any
action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 14.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all
conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture
relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 14.05
hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions
precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
Section 14.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided
pursuant to TIA (S) 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA (S)
314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has
read such covenant or condition;
(b) 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;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made
such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
satisfied; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such
condition or covenant has been satisfied.
Section 14.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of
Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set
reasonable requirements for its functions.
74
Section 14.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or
stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability
for any obligations of the Company or such Guarantor under the Notes, the Note
Guarantees, this Indenture or the Pledge Agreement or for any claim based on, in
respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by
accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release
are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
Section 14.08. Governing Law.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO
CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT
TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION
OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
Section 14.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or
debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any
such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this
Indenture.
Section 14.10. Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind
its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its
successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its
successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05.
Section 14.11. Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes 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 14.12. Counterpart Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed
copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same
agreement.
Section 14.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles
and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference
only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way
modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[Signatures on following page]
75
SIGNATURES
Dated as of October 29, 1999
US UNWIRED INC.
By:/s/ Robert Piper
----------------------------------
Name: Robert Piper
Title: President
Attest:
/s/ Thomas G. Henning
- -----------------------------------
Name: Thomas G. Henning
Title: Secretary
LOUISIANA UNWIRED, LLC
By:/s/ Robert Piper
------------------------------------
Name: Robert Piper
Title: Manager
Attest:
/s/ Thomas G. Henning
- ----------------------------------
Name: Thomas G. Henning
Title: Assistant Manager
UNWIRED TELECOM CORP.
By:/s/ Robert Piper
-------------------------------------
Name: Robert Piper
Title: President
Attest:
/s/ Thomas G. Henning
__________________________________
Name: Thomas G. Henning
Title: Secretary
S-1
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Laurel Melody - Casasanta
---------------------------------
Name: Laurel Melody Casasanta
Title: Assistant Vice President
Attest:
/s/ illegible signature
__________________________________
Authorized Signatory
Date: October 29, 1999
S-2
EXHIBIT A1
[Face of Note]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF
1986, AS AMENDED, THIS SECURITY IS BEING ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT;
FOR EACH $1,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS SECURITY, THE ISSUE PRICE IS $523.06,
THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT IS $1,145.69, THE ISSUE DATE IS OCTOBER
29, 1999 AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS 13 3/8% PER ANNUM.
CUSIP/CINS 90338RAA2
13/3/8/% Series A Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2009
No. 1 $399,840,000
US UNWIRED INC.
promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns,
the principal sum of Three Hundred Ninety-Nine Million Eight Hundred Forty
Thousand
Dollars on November 1, 2009.
Interest Payment Dates: May 1 and November 1
Record Dates: April 15 and October 15
Dated: October 29, 1999
US UNWIRED INC.
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
This is one of the Notes referred to (SEAL)
in the within-mentioned Indenture:
STATE STREET BANK AND
TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By:___________________________
Authorized Signatory
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A1-1
[Back of Note]
__% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2009
[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the
Indenture]
[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions
of the Indenture]
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in
the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Interest. US Unwired Inc. a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"),
promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 13/3/8/% per
annum in the manner specified below and shall pay the Liquidated Damages payable
pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below.
Interest will not accrue prior to November 1, 2004. Thereafter, the Company will
pay interest and Liquidated Damages semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and
November 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next
succeeding Business Day (each an "Interest Payment Date"). Interest on the Notes
will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no
interest has been paid, from November 1, 2004; provided that if there is no
existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated
between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest
Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be
May 1, 2005. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if
any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the
rate then in effect; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and
Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to
time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except
defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages to the Persons who are registered
Holders of Notes at the close of business on the April 15 or October 15 next
preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such
record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in
Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will
be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest
at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or
without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company,
payment of interest and Liquidated Damages may be made by check mailed to the
Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided
that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required
with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated Damages on,
all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided
wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment
shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time
of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, State Street Bank and Trust
Company, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and
Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice
to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such
capacity.
4. Indenture and Pledge Agreement. The Company issued the Notes under an
Indenture dated as of October 29, 1999 ("Indenture") among the Company, the
guarantors named therein (the "Guarantors") and the Trustee. The terms of the
Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those
A1-2
made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended (15 U.S. Code (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such
terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of
such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express
provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the indenture shall govern and be
controlling. The Notes are obligations of the Company limited to $400 million in
aggregate principal amount at maturity. The Notes are secured by a pledge of the
Pledged Collateral pursuant to the Pledge Agreement referred to in the
Indenture.
5. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the
Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to November 1, 2004.
Thereafter, the Company shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or
in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption
prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus
accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the
applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning
on November 1 of the years indicated below:
Year Percentage
---- ----------
2004..................................................... 106.688%
2005..................................................... 104.458%
2006..................................................... 102.229%
2007 and thereafter...................................... 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph
5, at any time prior to November 1, 2002, the Company may, on any one or more
occasions, redeem up to 35% of the originally issued aggregate principal amount
of Notes with the net cash proceeds of one or more public offering of its stock
at a redemption price equal to 113/3/8/% of the Accreted Value thereof; provided
that at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued
remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and that
such redemption occurs within 45 days of the date of the closing of such public
equity offering.
6. Mandatory Redemption.
Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be required
to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.
7. Repurchase at Option of Holder.
(a) If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of Notes shall have the
right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or
an integral multiple thereof) of that Holder's Notes pursuant to the offer
described below (the "Change of Control Offer"). In the Change of Control Offer,
the Company will offer a change of control payment in cash equal to 101% of the
aggregate Accreted Value of the Notes on the date of purchase (if such date of
purchase is prior to November 1, 2004) or 101% of the aggregate principal amount
of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if
any, thereon, to the date of purchase (if such date of purchase is on or after
November 1, 2004) (in either case, the "Change of Control Payment"). Within ten
days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each
Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of
Control and setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer
as required by the Indenture.
A1-3
(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales,
when the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5 million, the Company
shall commence an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other
Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to
those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem
with the proceeds of sales of assets (as "Asset Sale Offer") pursuant to Section
3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such
other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds
at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the Accreted Value (if
such date of purchase is prior to November 1, 2004) and Liquidated Damages, if
any, to the date of purchase, or 100% of the principal amount (if such date of
purchase is on or after November 1, 2004) plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of purchase, in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the Indenture. If any Excess Proceeds remain after
consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds
for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate
principal amount and/or Accreted Value, as the case may be, of Notes and such
other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the
amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other
pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes
that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer
from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such
Notes purchased by completing the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect
Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes.
8. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30
days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations
larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of
$1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and
after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof
called for redemption.
9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided
in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among
other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the
Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or
permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company
need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days
before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record
date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
10. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated
as its owner for all purposes.
11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the
Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with
the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes voting as a single class, and any existing default or
compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes
may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class. Without the consent of
any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be
amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to
provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated
Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company's or Guarantor's obligations
to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets, to make any change that would provide
any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not
adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to
comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or
A1-4
maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, or to
allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or
a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes.
12. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30
days in the payment when due of interest or Liquidated Damages on the Notes;
(ii) default in payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the
Notes when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon redemption
(including in connection with an offer to purchase) or otherwise, (iii) failure
by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to comply with Section 4.07, 4.09,
4.10, 4.15 or 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company for 60 days
after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to
comply with certain other agreements in the Indenture, the Notes or the Pledge
Agreement; (v) certain defaults under certain other agreements relating to
Indebtedness of the Company which default results in the acceleration of such
Indebtedness prior to its express maturity; (vi) certain final judgments for the
payment of money that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days; (vii) certain
events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries other than LEC Unwired, LLC; (viii) the breach of
certain covenants in the Pledge Agreement or the Pledge Agreement shall be held
in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any
reason to be in full force and effect; and (ix) except as permitted by the
Indenture, any Note Guarantee shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be
unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and
effect or any Guarantor or any Person acting on its behalf shall deny or
disaffirm its obligations under such Guarantor's Note Guarantee. If any Event
of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25%
in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to
be due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of
Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding
Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may
not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture.
Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or
power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any
continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default
relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that
withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on
behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of
Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or
Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes.
The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding
compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required upon becoming aware
of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement
specifying such Default or Event of Default.
13. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any
other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services
for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or
its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
14. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or
for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or
their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance
of the Notes.
15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by
the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
A1-5
16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a
Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).
17. Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted
Definitive Notes. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under
the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive
Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the A/B Exchange Registration
Rights Agreement dated as of October 29, 1999, between the Company and the
parties named on the signature pages thereof (the "Registration Rights
Agreement").
18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made
as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers placed thereon.
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without
charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.
Requests may be made to:
US UNWIRED, INC.
One Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1900
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70629
Attention: General Counsel
A1-6
Assignment Form
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:___________________________________
(Insert assignee's legal name)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint_________________________________________________________
to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute
another to act for him.
Date: _______________
Your Signature:_________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the face of this Note)
Signature Guarantee*: ________________
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A1-7
Option of Holder to Elect Purchase
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to
Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
[_] Section 4.10 [_] Section 4.15
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you
elect to have purchased:
$_______________
Date: _______________
Your Signature:____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the face of this Note)
Tax Identification No.:____________________
Signature Guarantee*: _________________________
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A1-8
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in
another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another
Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been
made:
Principal Amount
Amount of decrease in Amount of increase in [at maturity] of this
Principal Amount Principal Amount Global Note following Signature of authorized
[at maturity] of [at maturity] of such decrease officer of Trustee or
Date of Exchange this Global Note this Global Note (or increase) Note Custodian
- ------------------------ ------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.
A1-9
EXHIBIT A2
[Face of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF
1986, AS AMENDED, THIS SECURITY IS BEING ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT;
FOR EACH $1,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS SECURITY, THE ISSUE PRICE IS $523.06,
THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT IS $1,145.69, THE ISSUE DATE IS OCTOBER
29, 1999 AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS 13 3/8% PER ANNUM.
CUSIP/CINS U91286AA9
13 3/8% Series A Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2009
No. 2 $160,000
US UNWIRED INC.
promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns,
the principal sum of One Hundred Sixty Thousand
Dollars on November 1, 2009.
Interest Payment Dates: May 1 and November 1
Record Dates: April 15 and October 15
Dated: October 29, 1999
US UNWIRED INC.
By: ______________________________
Name:
Title:
By: ______________________________
Name:
Title:
This is one of the Notes referred to (SEAL)
in the within-mentioned Indenture:
STATE STREET BANK AND
TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By: ________________________
Authorized Signatory
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A2-1
[Back of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]
___% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2009
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE
CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS
SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE
BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE
FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR
ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS
CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST
COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) ("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 SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO
CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE 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.
THE NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A
TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THE NOTE
EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE
ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH
PURCHASER OF THE NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE
RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE
HOLDER OF THE NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT
(A) SUCH NOTE MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (1) (a) TO A
PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS
DEFINED IN OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE
144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A FOREIGN PERSON
IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE COMPANY SO
REQUESTS), (2) TO THE COMPANY OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS
OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B)
THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER
OF THE NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (1) ABOVE.
A2-2
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in
the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Interest. US Unwired Inc. a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"),
promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 13 3/8% per
annum in the manner specified below and shall pay the Liquidated Damages payable
pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below.
Interest will not accrue prior to November 1, 2004. Thereafter, the Company
will pay interest and Liquidated Damages semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and
November 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next
succeeding Business Day (each an "Interest Payment Date"). Interest on the
Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or,
if no interest has been paid, from November 1, 2004; provided that if there is
no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is
authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next
succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next
succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest
Payment Date shall be May 1, 2005. The Company shall pay interest (including
post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue
principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1%
per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it shall pay interest (including
post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue
installments of interest and Liquidated Damages (without regard to any
applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the
extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months.
Until this Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchanged for one or more
Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Holder hereof shall not be entitled to
receive payments of interest hereon; until so exchanged in full, this Regulation
S Temporary Global Note shall in all other respects be entitled to the same
benefits as other Senior Subordinated Notes under the Indenture.
2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except
defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages to the Persons who are registered
Holders of Notes at the close of business on the April 15 or October 15 next
preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such
record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in
Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will
be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest
at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or
without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company,
payment of interest and Liquidated Damages may be made by check mailed to the
Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided
that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required
with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated Damages on,
all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided
wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment
shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time
of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, State Street Bank and Trust
Company, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and
Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice
to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such
capacity.
4. Indenture and Pledge Agreement. The Company issued the Notes under an
Indenture dated as of October 29, 1999 ("Indenture") among the Company, the
guarantors named therein (the "Guarantors") and the Trustee. The terms of the
Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture
by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code (S)(S)
77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred
to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any
provision of this Note conflicts with the express
A2-3
provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the indenture shall govern and be
controlling. The Notes are obligations of the Company limited to $400 million in
aggregate principal amount at maturity. The Notes are secured by a pledge of the
Pledged Collateral pursuant to the Pledge Agreement referred to in the
Indenture.
5. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the
Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to November 1, 2004.
Thereafter, the Company shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or
in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption
prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus
accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the
applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning
on November 1 of the years indicated below:
Year Percentage
---- ----------
2004...................................................... 106.688%
2005...................................................... 104.458%
2006...................................................... 102.229%
2007 and thereafter....................................... 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph
5, at any time prior to November 1, 2002, the Company may, on any one or more
occasions, redeem up to 35% of the originally issued aggregate principal amount
of Notes with the net cash proceeds of one or more public offering of its stock
at a redemption price equal to 113 3/8% of the Accreted Value thereof; provided
that at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued
remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption and that
such redemption occurs within 45 days of the date of the closing of such public
equity offering.
6. Mandatory Redemption.
Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be required
to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.
7. Repurchase at Option of Holder.
(a) If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of Notes shall have the
right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or
an integral multiple thereof) of that Holder's Notes pursuant to the offer
described below (the "Change of Control Offer"). In the Change of Control Offer,
the Company will offer a change of control payment in cash equal to 101% of the
aggregate Accreted Value of the Notes on the date of purchase (if such date of
purchase is prior to November 1, 2004) or 101% of the aggregate principal amount
of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if
any, thereon, to the date of purchase (if such date of purchase is on or after
November 1, 2004) (in either case, the "Change of Control Payment"). Within ten
days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each
Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of
Control and setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer
as required by the Indenture.
(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales,
when the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5 million, the Company
shall commence an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other
Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar
A2-4
to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem
with the proceeds of sales of assets (as "Asset Sale Offer") pursuant to Section
3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such
other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds
at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the Accreted Value (if
such date of purchase is prior to November 1, 2004) and Liquidated Damages, if
any, to the date of purchase, or 100% of the principal amount (if such date of
purchase is on or after November 1, 2004) plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of purchase, in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the Indenture. If any Excess Proceeds remain after
consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds
for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate
principal amount and/or Accreted Value, as the case may be, of Notes and such
other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the
amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other
pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes
that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer
from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such
Notes purchased by completing the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect
Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes.
8. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30
days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations
larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of
$1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and
after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof
called for redemption.
9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided
in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among
other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the
Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or
permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company
need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days
before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record
date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
This Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchangeable in whole or in part
for one or more Global Notes only (i) on or after the termination of the 40-day
restricted period (as defined in Regulation S) and (ii) upon presentation of
certificates (accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel, if applicable) required by
Article 2 of the Indenture. Upon exchange of this Regulation S Temporary Global
Note for one or more Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel this Regulation S
Temporary Global Note.
10. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated
as its owner for all purposes.
11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the
Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with
the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes voting as a single class, and any existing default or
compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes
may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class. Without the consent of
any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be
amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to
provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated
Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company's or Guarantor's obligations
to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets, to make any change that would provide
any
A2-5
additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not
adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to
comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, or to allow any
Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or a Note
Guarantee with respect to the Notes.
12. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30
days in the payment when due of interest or Liquidated Damages on the Notes;
(ii) default in payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the
Notes when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon redemption
(including in connection with an offer to purchase) or otherwise, (iii) failure
by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to comply with Section 4.07, 4.09,
4.10, 4.15 or 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company for 60 days
after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to
comply with certain other agreements in the Indenture, the Notes or the Pledge
Agreement; (v) certain defaults under certain other agreements relating to
Indebtedness of the Company which default results in the acceleration of such
Indebtedness prior to its express maturity; (vi) certain final judgments for the
payment of money that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days; (vii) certain
events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries other than LEC Unwired, LLC; (viii) the breach of
certain covenants in the Pledge Agreement or the Pledge Agreement shall be held
in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any
reason to be in full force and effect; and (ix) except as permitted by the
Indenture, any Note Guarantee shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be
unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and
effect or any Guarantor or any Person acting on its behalf shall deny or
disaffirm its obligations under such Guarantor's Note Guarantee. If any Event
of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25%
in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to
be due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of
Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding
Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may
not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture.
Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or
power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any
continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default
relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that
withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on
behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of
Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or
Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes.
The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding
compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required upon becoming aware
of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement
specifying such Default or Event of Default.
13. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any
other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services
for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or
its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
14. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or
for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or
their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance
of the Notes.
15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by
the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
A2-6
16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a
Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).
17. Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted
Definitive Notes. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under
the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive
Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the A/B Exchange Registration
Rights Agreement dated as of October 29, 1999, between the Company and the
parties named on the signature pages thereof (the "Registration Rights
Agreement").
18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made
as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers placed thereon.
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without
charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.
Requests may be made to:
US UNWIRED, INC.
One Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1900
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70629
Attention: General Counsel
A2-7
Assignment Form
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: __________________________________
(Insert assignee's legal name)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint_________________________________________________________
to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute
another to act for him.
Date: _______________
Your Signature: __________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the face of this Note)
Signature Guarantee*: _________________________
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A2-8
Option of Holder to Elect Purchase
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to
Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
[_] Section 4.10 [_] Section 4.15
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you
elect to have purchased:
$_______________
Date: _______________
Your Signature:___________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the
face of this Note)
Tax Identification No.:___________________________
Signature Guarantee*: _________________________
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A2-9
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE
The following exchanges of a part of this Regulation S Temporary Global
Note for an interest in another Global Note, or of other Restricted Global Notes
for an interest in this Regulation S Temporary Global Note, have been made:
Principal Amount
Amount of decrease in Amount of increase in [at maturity] of this
Principal Amount Principal Amount Global Note following Signature of authorized
[at maturity] of [at maturity] of such decrease officer of Trustee or
Date of Exchange this Global Note this Global Note (or increase) Note Custodian
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------- --------------
A2-10
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
US UNWIRED, INC.
One Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1900
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70629
[Registrar address block]
Re: 13 3/8% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2009
----------------------------------------------------
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of October 29, 1999
(the "Indenture"), among US Unwired Inc., as issuer (the "Company"), the
guarantors named therein and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to
them in the Indenture.
___________________, (the "Transferor") owns and proposes to transfer the
Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the
principal amount of $___________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Transfer"),
to ___________________________ (the "Transferee"), as further specified in
Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby
certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. [_] Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in
------------------------------------------------------------------
the 144A Global Note or a Definitive Note Pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and,
accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial
interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor
reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or
Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to
which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each
such account is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule
144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is
in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the
United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with
the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive
Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private
Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and
in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2. [_] Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in
------------------------------------------------------------------
the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note or a
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected
- ----------------------------------------
pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act
and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer
is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy
order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such
Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes
that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was
executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities
market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows
that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no
directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of
Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the
transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being
made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being
made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than
an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred
B-1
beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on
Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S
Global Note, the Temporary Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note
and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
3. [_] Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial
-------------------------------------------------------------------
interest in the IAI Global Note or a Definitive Note pursuant to any provision
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is
- ----------------------------------------------------------
being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to
beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes
and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable
blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the
Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):
(a) [_] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in
accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
or
(b) [_] such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a
subsidiary thereof;
or
(c) [_] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;
or
(d) [_] such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional
Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule
904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged
in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the
Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions
applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or
Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed,
which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the
Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) if such
Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes at the time of
transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel provided by the
Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached
to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance
with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial
interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on
transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI
Global Note and/or the Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the
Securities Act.
4. [_] Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in
------------------------------------------------------------------
an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
(a) [_] Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is
being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities
Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture
and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States
and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private
Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the
Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with
the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or
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Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer
enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global
Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(b) [_] Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is
being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the
Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the
Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United
States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the
Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or
Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer
enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global
Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(c) [_] Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer
is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or
Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the
Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United
States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the
Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or
Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated
in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or
Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company.
__________________________________________
[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:_______________________________________
Name:
Title:
Dated: _______________
B-3
ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:
[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
(a) [_] a beneficial interest in the:
(i) [_] 144A Global Note (CUSIP _________), or
(ii) [_] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _________), or
(iii) [_] IAI Global Note (CUSIP _________); or
(b) [_] a Restricted Definitive Note.
2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:
[CHECK ONE]
(a) [_] a beneficial interest in the:
(i) [_] 144A Global Note (CUSIP _________), or
(ii) [_] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _________), or
(iii) [_] IAI Global Note (CUSIP _________); or
(iv) [_] Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP _________); or
(b) [_] a Restricted Definitive Note; or
(c) [_] an Unrestricted Definitive Note,
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
B-4
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
US UNWIRED, INC.
One Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1900
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70629
[Registrar address block]
Re: 13 3/8% Senior Subordinated Discount Noted due 2009
---------------------------------------------------
(CUSIP ____________)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of October 29, 1999
(the "Indenture"), among US Unwired Inc., as issuer (the "Company"), the
guarantors named therein and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to
them in the Indenture.
__________________________, (the "Owner") owns and proposes to exchange the
Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of
$____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Exchange"). In connection with
the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a
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Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
in an Unrestricted Global Note
- ------------------------------
(a) [_] Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection
with the Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note
for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal
amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired
for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been
effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global
Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), (iii) the restrictions on transfer
contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in
order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial
interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any
applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(b) [_] Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of
the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted
Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being
acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has
been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the
Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities
Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the
Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance
with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(c) [_] Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial
interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owner's Exchange
of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being
acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has
been effected in
C-1
compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive
Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the
restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement
Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act
and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any
applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(d) [_] Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to
Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owner's Exchange of a
Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby
certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner's
own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance
with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and
pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on
transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not
required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the
Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable
blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in
------------------------------------------------------------------
Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
in Restricted Global Notes
- --------------------------
(a) [_] Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of
the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted
Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that
the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner's own account
without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with
the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue
to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private
Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture
and the Securities Act.
(b) [_] Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange
of the Owner's Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the
[CHECK ONE] [_] 144A Global Note, [_] Regulation S Global Note, [_] IAI Global
Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the
beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner's own account without
transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the
transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to
and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable
blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of
the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the
beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer
enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted
Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company.
_____________________________________________
[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:__________________________________________
Name:
Title:
Dated: ______________________
C-2
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
US UNWIRED, INC.
One Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1900
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70629
[Registrar address block]
Re: 13 3/8% Senior Subordinated Discount Noted due 2009
---------------------------------------------------
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of October 29, 1999
(the "Indenture"), among US Unwired Inc., as issuer (the "Company"), the
guarantors named therein and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to
them in the Indenture.
In connection with our proposed purchase of $____________ aggregate
principal amount of:
(a) [_] a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or
(b) [_] a Definitive Note,
we confirm that:
1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any
interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in
the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell,
pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in
compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been
registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein
may not be offered or sold 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 sell the Notes or any interest therein,
we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in
accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a "qualified institutional
buyer" (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional "accredited investor" (as
defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its
behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Company a signed letter
substantially in the form of this letter and, if such transfer is in respect of
a principal amount of Notes, at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an
Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect
that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the
United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities
Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or
(F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act,
and we further agree to provide to any person purchasing the Definitive Note or
beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the
requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such
purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.
3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial
interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such
certifications, legal opinions and other
D-1
information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the
proposed sale 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) of Regulation D 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 each able to bear the economic risk of
our or its investment.
5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein 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.
_____________________________________________
[Insert Name of Accredited Investor]
By:__________________________________________
Name:
Title:
Dated: _______________________
D-2
EXHIBIT E
[FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE]
For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor
Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally
guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the
provisions in the Indenture dated as of October 29, 1999 (the "Indenture") among
US Unwired Inc., the Guarantors listed on Schedule I thereto and State Street
Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (the "Trustee"), (a) the due and punctual
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages,
if any, on the Notes (as defined in the Indenture), whether at maturity, by
acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest
on overdue principal and premium, and, to the extent permitted by law, interest,
and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to
the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and
(b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any
of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due
or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether
at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the
Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note
Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 11 of the
Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of
the Note Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to
and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee,
on behalf of such Holder, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate
to effectuate the subordination as provided in the Indenture and (c) appoints
the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such Holder for such purpose; provided, however,
that the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note Guarantee shall cease to be so
subordinated and subject in right of payment upon any defeasance of this Note in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
[Name of Guarantor(s)]
By:__________________________________________
Name:
Title:
E-1
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS
Supplemental Indenture (this "Supplemental Indenture"), dated as of
________________, among __________________ (the "Guaranteeing Subsidiary"), a
subsidiary of US Unwired Inc. (or its permitted successor), a Louisiana
corporation (the "Company"), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in
the Indenture referred to herein) and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as
trustee under the indenture referred to below (the "Trustee").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee
an indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of October 29, 1999 providing for the
issuance of an aggregate principal amount at maturity of up to $400 million of
13 3/8% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2009 (the "Notes");
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental
indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally
guarantee all of the Company's Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on
the terms and conditions set forth herein (the "Note Guarantee"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is
authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the
equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:
1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
2. Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees as
follows:
(a) Along with all Guarantors named in the Indenture, to jointly and
severally Guarantee to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, the Notes or
the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:
(i) the principal of and interest on the Notes will be promptly
paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption
or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on
the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company
to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly
paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and
thereof; and
(ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of
any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly
paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the
extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so
F-1
guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the
Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same
immediately.
(b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of
the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the Indenture,
the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any
Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the
recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the
same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or
equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.
(c) The following is hereby waived: 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.
(d) This Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete
performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and the Indenture,
and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary accepts all obligations of a Guarantor
under the Indenture.
(e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or
otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors, or any Custodian,
Trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either
the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or
such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged,
shall be reinstated in full force and effect.
(f) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to any right of
subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations
guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed
hereby.
(g) As between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and
the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations
guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 of the
Indenture for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any
stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in
respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any
declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 of
the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall
forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this
Note Guarantee.
(h) The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any
non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair
the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.
(i) Pursuant to Section 11.02 of the Indenture, after giving effect
to any maximum amount and any other contingent and fixed liabilities that
are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or fraudulent conveyance laws,
and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive
contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor
in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under Article 11 of
the Indenture, this new Note Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum
amount permissible such that the obligations of such Guarantor under this
Note Guarantee will not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
3. Execution and Delivery. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the
Note Guarantees shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any
failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.
F-2
4. Guaranteeing Subsidiary May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms.
(a) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not consolidate with or merge
with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person)
another corporation, Person or entity whether or not affiliated with such
Guarantor unless:
(i) subject to Sections 11.04 and 11.05 of the Indenture, the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if
other than a Guarantor or the Company) unconditionally assumes all the
obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under the
Notes, the Indenture and the Note Guarantee on the terms set forth
herein or therein; and
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
Default or Event of Default exists.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and
upon the assumption by the successor corporation, by supplemental
indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form
to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due
and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of the
Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor corporation
shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect
as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor corporation
thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be
endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall
not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the
Note Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank
and benefit under the Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and
thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture as though
all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution
hereof.
(c) Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 and Section 11.05 of
Article 11 of the Indenture, and notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above,
nothing contained in the Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any
consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another
Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a
Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or
another Guarantor.
5. Releases.
(a) In the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets
of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale
or other disposition of all to the capital stock of any Guarantor, in each
case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such
transaction) a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor
(in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger,
consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such Guarantor)
or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor)
will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee;
provided that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are
applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture,
including without limitation Section 4.10 of the Indenture. Upon delivery
by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the
Company in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, including
without limitation Section 4.10 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall execute
any documents reasonably
F-3
required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its
obligations under its Note Guarantee.
(b) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note
Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and
interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under
the Indenture as provided in Article 11 of the Indenture.
6. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director,
officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing
Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company
or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the
Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect
of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the
Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver
and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such
waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities
laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
7. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE BUT WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT
THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
8. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this
Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them
together represent the same agreement.
9. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience
only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
10. The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner
whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental
Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which
recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.
F-4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above
written.
Dated: _______________, ____
[Guaranteeing Subsidiary]
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
[Company]
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
[Existing Guarantors]
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
[Trustee],
as Trustee
By: _______________________________
Authorized Signatory
F-5
Schedule I
SCHEDULE OF GUARANTORS
The following schedule lists each Guarantor under the Indenture as of the
Issue Date:
1. Louisiana Unwired, LLC
2. Unwired Telecom Corp.
F-6
EXHIBIT G
PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
-----------------------------
THIS PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (the "Pledge Agreement") is made and
----------------
entered into as of October 29, 1999 (the "Closing Date"), by and between
------------
Louisiana Unwired, LLC (the "Pledgor"), having its principal place of business
-------
at One Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1900, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70629, and State
Street Bank and Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee under the Indenture
(as defined), as collateral agent (the "Collateral Agent"), for the benefit of
----------------
itself and for the holders (the "Holders") of US Unwired, Inc.'s 13-3/8% Senior
-------
Subordinated Discount Notes due 2009 (together with any notes issued in
replacement thereof or in exchange or substitution therefor, the "Notes").
-----
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed thereto in the Indenture (hereinafter defined).
W I T N E S S E T H:
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, US Unwired Inc. ("Borrower") currently owns, legally and
--------
beneficially, approximately 96% of the partnership interests of Pledgor; and
WHEREAS, Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of an approximately
eighty percent (80%) partnership interest in Pledged Partnership (as hereinafter
defined); and
WHEREAS, Borrower and Collateral Agent, as Trustee, have entered into that
certain indenture dated as of October 29, 1999 (as amended, amended and
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Indenture"), pursuant to which Borrower issued the Notes and Pledgor guaranteed
---------
the Notes (the "Guarantee"); and
WHEREAS, the terms of the Indenture require that the Pledgor (i) pledge to
Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes, and grant
to Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes, a
second priority security interest in the Collateral (as defined herein) and (ii)
execute and deliver this Pledge Agreement in order to secure the payment and
performance by the Pledgor of all of its obligations under both the Indenture
and its Guarantee of the Notes (the "Obligations"); and
-----------
WHEREAS, the payment of the Credit Agreement (as defined), is secured by,
inter alia, a first priority pledge of the Collateral (the "Senior Pledge") in
- ----- ---- -------------
favor of the Lenders and certain other parties to the Credit Agreement, as set
forth on the signature pages thereto or as may be added from time to time
pursuant to the terms thereof; and
WHEREAS, the Collateral Agent and CoBank, ACB, have entered into that
Intercreditor Agreement (as herein defined); and
WHEREAS, the Pledgor has duly authorized the execution, delivery and
performance of this Pledge Agreement:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and in order to induce
the purchase of the Guarantee, Pledgor hereby agrees with the Collateral Agent
for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:
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ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Certain Terms. The following terms (whether or not
-------------
underscored) shall have the following meanings (such definitions to be equally
applicable to the singular and plural forms thereof) when used in this Pledge
Agreement:
"Collateral" shall mean and include the (i) intercompany notes payable to
----------
Pledgor, the Borrower, or any subsidiary of Pledgor or Borrower by Borrower,
Pledgor or the Pledged Partnership and (ii) Partnership Interests, Distributions
and all certificates, accounts, chattel paper, instruments, general intangibles,
cash, books, records, notices and other property from time to time received,
receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for the
Partnership Interests or the Distributions, together with all rights of Pledgor
to receive and retain any of the foregoing and all proceeds of the foregoing.
"Credit Agreement" shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of
----------------
October 1, 1999, by and between Borrower and CoBank, ACB, as Administrative
Agent and as a Lender, the other Lenders identified therein, and the other
parties referenced therein, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented,
extended, or restated from time to time, pursuant to which CoBank, ACB and
Lenders have committed to make available to Borrower a revolving credit facility
and term loan facility in the aggregate maximum principal amount outstanding at
any one time not to exceed $130,000,000.
"Distributions" shall mean all right, title and interest of Pledgor,
-------------
whether legal or equitable, now or hereafter existing and howsoever evidenced,
incurred or arising, to receive distributions from Pledged Partnership as a
partner thereof or otherwise, whether cash or non-cash, including, without
limitation, any and all rights of Pledgor to receive a return of all or any part
of any contribution made by Pledgor to Pledged Partnership, including, without
limitation, any and all rights to receive returns of advances or loans.
"Event of Default" shall mean any of the events listed in Section 6.01 of
----------------
the Indenture.
"Intercreditor Agreement" shall mean the Intercreditor Agreement between
-----------------------
the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent dated as of October 29, 1999.
"Obligations" is defined in the Recitals.
-----------
"Partnership Agreement" shall mean that certain Partnership Agreement,
---------------------
dated as of October 22, 1999 among Pledgor, Fort Bend Telephone Company and XIT
Leasing, Inc., and all amendments thereto as of the date hereof, with respect to
the rights and obligations of the partners of Pledged Partnership.
"Partnership Interests" shall mean all right, title and interest of
---------------------
Pledgor, whether legal or equitable, now or hereafter existing, and howsoever
evidenced or arising, in Pledged Partnership as a partner thereof.
"Pledge Agreement" is defined in the preamble.
---------------- --------
"Pledged Partnership" shall mean Texas Unwired, a Louisiana general
-------------------
partnership.
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"Pledged Partnership Interests" shall mean all Partnership Interests
-----------------------------
pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement.
"Pledge Agreement" is defined in the preamble.
---------------- --------
"Satisfaction Date" means the date on which all Obligations under the
-----------------
Indenture and the Senior Secured Notes have been paid in full or otherwise
satisfied.
SECTION 1.2. Indenture Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein or
---------------------
the context otherwise requires, terms used in this Pledge Agreement, including
its preamble and recitals, have the meanings provided in the Indenture.
SECTION 1.3. U.C.C. Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein or in
------------------
the Indenture or the context otherwise requires, terms for which meanings are
provided in the Uniform Commercial Code from time to time in effect in the State
of New York (the "U.C.C.") are used in this Pledge Agreement, including its
------
preamble and recitals, with such meanings.
ARTICLE II. PLEDGE
SECTION 2.1. Grant of Security Interest. Pledgor hereby pledges,
--------------------------
hypothecates, assigns, charges, delivers and transfers to the Collateral Agent
for its benefit and for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes, and
hereby grants to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Holders of
the Notes, a continuing security interest in, all of the Collateral.
SECTION 2.2. Security for Obligations. This Pledge Agreement secures the
------------------------
payment in full and in cash of all Obligations.
SECTION 2.3. Delivery of Pledged Collateral. Pledgor hereby agrees that,
------------------------------
pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, all certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing the Collateral shall be held by the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and the Holders. Upon
expiration or termination of the Intercreditor Agreement, Pledgor shall
immediately deliver or cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent all
certificates or instruments representing or evidencing the Collateral. All such
certificates or instruments shall be in suitable form for transfer by delivery
and shall be accompanied by instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed
in blank and undated, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral
Agent.
SECTION 2.4. Distributions on Pledged Partnership Interests. In the event
----------------------------------------------
that any Distribution is to be paid on any Pledged Partnership Interest at a
time when no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such Distribution
may be paid directly to Pledgor. If any such Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing, then any such Distribution shall be paid directly to the
Collateral Agent.
SECTION 2.5. Continuing Security Interest. This Pledge Agreement shall
----------------------------
create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall:
G-3
(a) remain in full force and effect until all Obligations under the
Indenture and the Notes are satisfied in full;
(b) be binding upon each Pledgor and its successors, transferees and
assigns; and
(c) inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Collateral
Agent hereunder, to the benefit of the Holders of the Notes.
The security interest granted herein shall terminate and all rights to the
Collateral shall revert to Pledgor on the Satisfaction Date. Upon any such
termination or release of Collateral, the Collateral Agent will, at each
Pledgor's sole expense, deliver to such Pledgor, without any representations,
warranties or recourse of any kind whatsoever, all certificates and instruments
representing or evidencing all Pledged Partnership Interests, together with all
other Collateral held by the Collateral Agent hereunder, and execute and deliver
to such Pledgor such documents as such Pledgor shall reasonably request to
evidence such termination or release.
SECTION 2.6. Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Collateral
--------------------------
Agent and the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder, and all
obligations of each Pledgor hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional,
irrespective of
(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Indenture or any
other agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(b) the failure of the Collateral Agent, for its own benefit or the
benefit of the Holders of the Notes:
(i) to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or
remedy against Pledgor, any Guarantor (as such term is defined in the
Indenture) or any other Person under the provisions of the Indenture,
the Notes or the Guarantees or otherwise, or
(ii) to exercise any right or remedy against any guarantor of, or
collateral securing, any Obligations of Pledgor or any Guarantor.
(c) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in
any other term of, all or any of the Obligations or any other extension,
compromise or renewal of any Obligation of Pledgor or any Guarantor,
(d) any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination of any
Obligation of Pledgor or any Guarantor for any reason (other than the
satisfaction of and repayment in full and in cash of all Obligations),
including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or
compromise, and shall not be subject to (and Pledgor hereby waives any
right to or claim of) any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or
termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality,
nongenuineness, irregularity, compromise or unenforceability of, or any
other event or occurrence affecting, any Obligation of Pledgor, any
Guarantor or otherwise,
G-4
(e) any amendment to, rescission, waiver, or other modification of,
or any consent to departure from, any of the terms of the Indenture, the
Notes or the other Guarantees,
(f) any addition, exchange, release, surrender or non-perfection of
any collateral (including the Collateral), or any amendment to or waiver or
release of or addition to or consent to departure from any guaranty, for
any of the Obligations, or
(g) any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a
defense available to, or a legal or equitable discharge of, Pledgor, any
Guarantor, any surety or any guarantor.
SECTION 2.7. Postponement of Subrogation, etc. Pledgor will not exercise
--------------------------------
any rights which it may acquire by reason of any payment made hereunder, whether
by way of subrogation, reimbursement or otherwise, until the Satisfaction Date.
Any amount paid to Pledgor on account of any payment made hereunder shall be
held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes and shall immediately
be paid to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the
Notes, and credited and applied against the Obligations, whether matured or
unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, provided, however,
that if
(a) Pledgor has made payment to the Collateral Agent for the ratable
benefit of the Holders of the Notes of all or any part of the Obligations,
and
(b) the Satisfaction Date has occurred,
the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Holders of the Notes, agrees that, at
Pledgor's request, the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Holders of the Notes,
will execute and deliver to Pledgor appropriate documents (without recourse and
without representation or warranty) necessary to evidence the transfer by
subrogation to Pledgor of an interest in the Obligations resulting from such
payment by Pledgor. In furtherance of the foregoing, prior to the Satisfaction
Date, Pledgor shall refrain from taking any action or commencing any proceeding
against any Guarantor (or its successors or assigns, whether in connection with
a bankruptcy proceeding or otherwise) to recover any amounts in respect of
payments made under this Pledge Agreement to the Collateral Agent or the Holders
of the Notes.
ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Warranties, etc. Pledgor represents and warrants unto the Collateral Agent
----------------
and the Holders of the Notes, as at the date of each pledge and delivery
hereunder by Pledgor to the Collateral Agent of any Collateral as set forth in
this Article:
SECTION 3.1. Ownership, No Liens, etc. Pledgor is the legal and
------------------------
beneficial owner of, and has good and valid title to (and has full right and
authority to pledge and assign) the Collateral, including the eighty (80%)
partnership interest in the Pledged Partnership free and clear of all Liens,
except any Lien granted pursuant hereto in favor of the Collateral Agent or any
Permitted Lien.
G-5
SECTION 3.2. Valid Security Interest.
-----------------------
(a) The execution and delivery of this Pledge Agreement creates a
valid second-priority security interest in the Collateral and (i) in the
case of any intercompany notes and any Pledged Partnership Interests that
are certificated, upon the delivery of such Collateral to the
Administrative Agent or a person described in Section 8-301(a)(2) of the
U.C.C. such security interest will be a valid second-priority, perfected
security interest, and (ii) in the case of all other Collateral, upon the
filing of the U.C.C. financing statements (Form U.C.C.-1) delivered by the
Pledgors to the Collateral Agent with respect to such Collateral, such
security interest will be a valid second-priority, perfected security
interest. Pledgor has filed all U.C.C. financing statements (Form U.C.C.-1)
referred to above in the appropriate offices therefor and has taken all of
the other actions referred to above necessary to create perfected and
second-priority security interests in the applicable Collateral.
(b) Upon the expiration or termination of the Intercreditor
Agreement, and the receipt of notice of such satisfaction by Pledgor,
Pledgor shall deliver, or cause the Collateral to be delivered, to the
Collateral Agent, at which time the pledge made pursuant to this Pledge
Agreement shall create a valid and perfected first priority security
interest in the Collateral, securing the payment of the Obligations for the
benefit of Collateral Agent and the Holders of the Notes, and enforceable
as such against all creditors of Pledgor and any Persons purporting to
purchase any of the Collateral from Pledgor.
SECTION 3.3. Organization. Pledgor is a limited liability company duly
------------
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Louisiana and has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Pledge
Agreement; and Pledgor's principal place of business and the place it maintains
all records relating to the Collateral is now at the location listed in Section
8.4 and Pledgor's taxpayer identification number is 72-1407430.
SECTION 3.4. As to Pledged Partnership Interests. In the case of any
-----------------------------------
Pledged Partnership Interests constituting Collateral, all such Pledged
Partnership Interests are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, and constitute 80% of the partnership interests of Pledgor.
Pledgor does not have any Subsidiaries incorporated in the United States of
which it directly owns any Capital Stock other than the Pledged Partnership. In
the event any of the Pledged Partnership Interests become certificated, the
certificates representing the Pledged Partnership Interests shall be delivered
to the Collateral Agent or a person described in Section 8-301(a)(2) of the
U.C.C., with stock powers, accompanied by undated instruments of transfer duly
executed in blank and the Collateral Agent has "control" (as defined in the
U.C.C.) of such Pledged Shares.
SECTION 3.5. Authorization, Approval, etc. No authorization, approval or
----------------------------
other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority,
regulatory body or other Person (other than those that have been, or on the
Closing Date will be, duly obtained or made and which are, or on the Closing
Date will be, in full force and effect) is required either
G-6
(a) for the pledge by Pledgor of any Collateral pursuant to this
Pledge Agreement or for the execution, delivery and performance of this
Pledge Agreement by Pledgor, or
(b) for the exercise by the Collateral Agent of the voting or other
rights provided for in this Pledge Agreement, or, except with respect to
any Pledged Partnership Interests as may be required in connection with a
disposition of such Pledged Partnership Interests by laws affecting the
offering and sale of securities generally, the remedies in respect of the
Collateral pursuant to this Pledge Agreement,
provided, however, that in order to exercise the voting and certain other rights
- -------- -------
provided for in this Pledge Agreement, the Pledged Partnership Interests must be
transferred into the name of the Collateral Agent on the books and records of
the Issuer prior to the exercise of such voting or other rights.
SECTION 3.6. Compliance with Laws. Pledgor is in compliance with the
--------------------
requirements of all applicable laws (including, the provisions of the Fair Labor
Standards Act), rules, regulations and orders of every Governmental Authority,
the non-compliance with which could have a material adverse effect on the
business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations of Pledgor, or
draw into question the validity of this Pledge Agreement or the other documents
contemplated by the Indenture or adversely affect the value of the Collateral.
SECTION 3.7. Power to Enter Into Agreement. Pledgor has all requisite
-----------------------------
corporate power and authority to enter into this Pledge Agreement.
SECTION 3.8. Due Execution. This Pledge Agreement has been duly executed
-------------
and delivered by Pledgor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
of Pledgor, enforceable against Pledgor in accordance with its terms, except as
the enforceability hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally and equitable principles of general
applicability.
SECTION 3.9. No Litigation. No litigation, investigation or proceeding of
-------------
or before any arbitrator or governmental authority is pending or, to the best
knowledge of Pledgor, threatened by or against Pledgor or against any of its
properties or revenues with respect to this Pledge Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 3.10. Legal Pledge. The pledge of the Collateral pursuant to this
------------
Pledge Agreement is not prohibited by any applicable law or governmental
regulation, release, interpretation or opinion of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System or other regulatory agency (including, without
limitation, Regulations T, U and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System).
ARTICLE IV. COVENANTS
SECTION 4.1. Protect Collateral, Further Assurances, etc. Except for the
-------------------------------------------
Senior Pledge, or as otherwise provided for in the Credit Agreement, Pledgor
will not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, or encumber in any other manner the
Collateral (except in favor of the
G-7
Collateral Agent hereunder or as specifically permitted by the Indenture).
Pledgor will warrant and defend the right and title herein granted unto the
Collateral Agent in and to the Collateral (and all right, title and interest
represented by the Collateral) against the claims and demands of all Persons
whomsoever. Pledgor agrees that at any time, and from time to time, at the
expense of Pledgor, Pledgor will promptly execute and deliver all further
instruments, and take all further action, that may be necessary or desirable, or
that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in order to perfect and
protect any security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to
enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies
hereunder with respect to any Collateral. Pledgor will not certificate or issue
any Partnership Interests unless the same are immediately pledged to the
Collateral Agent hereunder and delivered to the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral Agent or a person described in Section 8-301(a) of the U.C.C.
SECTION 4.2. Endorsements. Pledgor agrees that all certificated Pledged
------------
Partnership Interests delivered by such Pledgor pursuant to this Pledge
Agreement will be accompanied by duly executed, or other equivalent instruments
of transfer reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent. Pledgor will, from
time to time upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent, promptly
deliver to the Collateral Agent such instruments and similar documents,
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Collateral Agent, with
respect to the Collateral as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and
will, from time to time upon the request of the Collateral Agent after the
occurrence of any Event of Default, promptly cause the Pledged Partnership to
transfer any Pledged Partnership Interests or other Collateral into the name of
any nominee designated by the Collateral Agent.
SECTION 4.3. Continuous Pledge. Subject to Section 2.4 hereof, Pledgor
-----------------
will, at all times, keep pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant hereto all
Pledged Partnership Interests, all Distributions with respect thereto, and all
other Collateral, instruments, proceeds and rights from time to time received by
or distributable to such Pledgor in respect of any Collateral.
SECTION 4.4. Voting Rights, Dividends, etc. Pledgor agrees:
-----------------------------
(a) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
promptly upon receipt of notice thereof by Pledgor and without any request
therefore by the Collateral Agent, to deliver (properly endorsed where
required hereby or requested by the Collateral Agent) to the Collateral
Agent all Distributions and all proceeds of the Collateral, all of which
shall be held by the Collateral Agent as additional Collateral for use in
accordance with Section 6.4 hereof; and
-----------
(b) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and
the Collateral Agent shall have notified Pledgor of the Collateral Agent's
intention to exercise its voting power under this Section:
(i) the Collateral Agent may exercise (to the exclusion of
Pledgor) the voting power and all other incidental rights of ownership
with respect to any Pledged Partnership Interests or other Collateral,
and Pledgor hereby grants the Collateral Agent an irrevocable proxy,
exercisable under such circumstances, to vote the Pledged Partnership
Interests and such other Collateral; and
G-8
(ii) promptly to deliver to the Collateral Agent such additional
proxies and other documents as may be necessary to allow the
Collateral Agent to exercise such voting power.
All Distributions and proceeds which may at any time and from time to time be
held by Pledgor but which Pledgor is then obligated to deliver to the Collateral
Agent, shall, until delivery to the Collateral Agent, be held by Pledgor
separate and apart from its other property in trust for the Collateral Agent.
The Collateral Agent agrees that unless an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing and the Collateral Agent shall have given the notice referred
to in this Section, Pledgor has the exclusive power to exercise all voting and
other consensual rights with respect to the Pledged Partnership Interests, and
the Collateral Agent shall, upon the written request of Pledgor, promptly
deliver such proxies and other documents, if any, as shall be reasonably
requested by Pledgor, and which are necessary to allow Pledgor to exercise such
powers with respect to any of the Pledged Partnership Interests; provided,
--------
however, that no vote shall be cast, or consent, waiver or ratification given,
- -------
or action taken by Pledgor that would materially impair the value of any
Collateral or be inconsistent with or violate any provision of the Indenture,
the Notes, the Guarantees or this Pledge Agreement.
ARTICLE V. THE COLLATERAL AGENT
SECTION 5.1. Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Pledgor hereby
-------------------------------------------
irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent as Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with
full authority and in the name, place and stead of the Pledgor or in its own
name, from time to time in the Collateral Agent's discretion, to take, upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any action and to
execute any instrument which the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or
advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Pledge Agreement, including without
limitation:
(a) to ask, demand, collect, sue for, recover, compromise and receive
and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or
in respect of any of the Collateral,
(b) to receive, endorse and collect any drafts or other instruments,
documents and chattel paper, in connection with clause (a) above; and
----------
(c) to file any claims or take any action or institute any
proceedings which the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or desirable for
the collection of any of the Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights
of the Collateral Agent with respect to any of the Collateral.
SECTION 5.2. Authority of Collateral Agent.
-----------------------------
(a) The Collateral Agent shall have and be entitled to exercise all
powers hereunder that are specifically granted to the Collateral Agent by
the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto. The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties hereunder or in
connection with the Collateral by or through agents or employees and shall
not be liable for the actions of any such agents
G-9
appointed with due care and shall be entitled to retain counsel and to act
in reliance upon the advice of counsel concerning all such matters. Neither
the Collateral Agent nor any director, officer, employee, attorney or agent
of the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for the validity,
effectiveness or sufficiency hereof or of any document or security
furnished pursuant hereto. The Collateral Agent and its directors,
officers, employees, attorneys and agents shall be entitled to rely on any
communication, instrument or document reasonably believed by it or them to
be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper person
or persons.
(b) Pledgor acknowledges that the rights and responsibilities of the
Collateral Agent under this Pledge Agreement with respect to any action
taken by the Collateral Agent or the exercise or non-exercise by the
Collateral Agent of any option, right, request, judgment or other right or
remedy provided for herein or resulting or arising out of this Pledge
Agreement shall, as between the Collateral Agent and the Holders of the
Notes, be governed by the Indenture and by such other agreements with
respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but, as between
the Collateral Agent and each or Pledgor, the Collateral Agent shall be
conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Holders of the Notes
with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting, and Pledgor
shall not be obligated or entitled to make any inquiry respecting such
authority.
(c) The Trustee has been appointed as trustee pursuant to the
Indenture. The actions of the Trustee hereunder, acting as Collateral
Agent, are subject to the provisions of the Indenture.
SECTION 5.3. Resignation or Removal of the Collateral Agent. Until such
----------------------------------------------
time as the Obligations shall have been paid in full, the Collateral Agent may
at any time, by giving written notice to Pledgor, the Trustee (as defined in the
Indenture) and the Holders of the Notes, resign and be discharged of the
responsibilities hereby created, such resignation to become effective upon (i)
the appointment of a successor Collateral Agent and (ii) the acceptance of such
appointment by such successor Collateral Agent. As promptly as practicable after
the giving of any such notice, the Trustee (if the Trustee is not then acting as
the Collateral Agent hereunder), or if the Trustee and the Collateral Agent are
the same person or entity, the Holders of the Notes shall appoint a successor
Collateral Agent, which successor Collateral Agent shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Pledgors. If no successor Collateral Agent shall be appointed
and shall have accepted such appointment within 90 days after the Collateral
Agent gives the aforesaid notice of resignation, the Collateral Agent may apply
to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Collateral Agent
to act until such time, if any, as a successor shall have been appointed as
provided in this Section. Any successor so appointed by such court shall
immediately and without further act be superseded by any successor Collateral
Agent appointed by the Holders of the Notes, as provided in this Section.
Simultaneously with its replacement as Collateral Agent hereunder, the
Collateral Agent so replaced shall deliver to its successor all documents,
instruments, certificates and other items of whatever kind (including, without
limitation, the certificates and instruments evidencing the Collateral and all
instruments of transfer or assignment) held by it pursuant to the terms hereof.
Any Collateral Agent that has resigned shall be entitled to fees, costs and
expenses to the extent incurred or arising, or relating to events occurring,
before its resignation or removal.
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SECTION 5.4. Release; Termination of Agreement.
---------------------------------
(a) This Pledge Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier to occur
of: (i) full and final payment and performance of the Obligations (and upon
receipt by the Collateral Agent of Pledgor's written certification that all
such Obligations have been satisfied) and payment in full of all fees and
expenses owing by the Pledgor to the Collateral Agent, (ii) the day of the
Legal Defeasance of all of the Obligations pursuant to Section 8.02 of the
Indenture (other than those surviving Obligations specified therein) or
(iii) such other termination date as is provided by the Indenture. At such
time, the Collateral Agent shall, at the request of Pledgor, reassign and
redeliver to Pledgor all of the Collateral hereunder that has not been
sold, disposed of, retained or applied by the Collateral Agent in
accordance with the terms hereof. Such reassignment and redelivery shall be
without warranty by or recourse to the Collateral Agent, except as to the
absence of any prior assignments by the Collateral Agent of its interest in
the Collateral, and shall be at the expense of the Pledgors.
(b) Pledgor agrees that it will not, except as permitted by the
Indenture, sell or dispose of, or grant any option or warrant with respect
to, any of the Collateral; provided, however, that if Pledgor shall sell
any of the Collateral in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the
Collateral Agent shall, at the request of Pledgor and subject to
requirements of Section 12.03 of the Indenture, release the Collateral
subject to such sale free and clear of the Lien under this Pledge
Agreement.
SECTION 5.5. Collateral Agent May Perform. If Pledgor fails to perform
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any agreement contained herein, the Collateral Agent may itself perform, or
cause performance of, such agreement, and the expenses of the Collateral Agent
incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by Pledgor pursuant to Section
6.5 hereof.
SECTION 5.6. Collateral Agent Has No Duty. The powers conferred on the
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Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest (on behalf of the
Holders of the Notes) in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty on it to
exercise any such powers. Except for the reasonable care of any Collateral in
its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder,
the Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral or responsibility
for
(a) ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions,
exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any Collateral,
whether or not the Collateral Agent has or is deemed to have knowledge of
such matters, or
(b) taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior
parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral.
SECTION 5.7. Reasonable Care. The Collateral Agent is required to
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exercise reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any of the
Collateral in its possession, provided, however, the Collateral Agent shall be
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deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any
of the Collateral, if it takes such action for that purpose as Pledgor
reasonably requests in writing from time to time, but failure of the Collateral
Agent to
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comply with any such request at any time shall not in itself be deemed a failure
to exercise reasonable care.
ARTICLE VI. REMEDIES
SECTION 6.1. Certain Remedies. If an Event of Default shall have occurred
----------------
and be continuing:
(a) The Collateral Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral,
in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise
available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party on default
under the U.C.C. (whether or not the U.C.C. applies to the affected
Collateral) and also may, without notice except as specified below, sell
the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or
private sale, at any of the Collateral Agent's offices or elsewhere, for
cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such other terms as the
Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable. Pledgor agrees that, to
the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten day's
prior notice to Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale or the
time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable
notification. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale
of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The
Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time
by announcement at the time and place fixed therefore, and such sale may,
without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so
adjourned.
(b) The Collateral Agent may
(i) transfer all or any part of the Collateral into the name of
the Collateral Agent or its nominee, with or without disclosing that such
Collateral is subject to the Lien hereunder,
(ii) notify the parties obligated on any of the Collateral to make
payment to the Collateral Agent of any amount due or to become due
thereunder,
(iii) enforce collection of any of the Collateral by suit or
otherwise, and surrender, release or exchange all or any part thereof, or
compromise or extend or renew for any period (whether or not longer than
the original period) any obligations of any nature of any party with
respect thereto,
(iv) endorse any checks, drafts or other writings in Pledgor's
name to allow collection of the Collateral,
(v) take control of any proceeds of the Collateral and
(vi) execute (in the name, place and stead of Pledgor)
endorsements, assignments, stock powers and other instruments of conveyance
or transfer with respect to all or any of the Collateral.
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SECTION 6.2. Further Action. If the Collateral Agent shall determine to
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exercise its right to sell all or any of the Collateral pursuant to Section 6.1,
------------
Pledgor agrees that, upon request of the Collateral Agent, Pledgor will, at its
own expense, do or cause to be done all such other acts and things as may be
necessary to make such sale of the Collateral or any part thereof valid and
binding and in compliance with applicable law.
SECTION 6.3. Compliance with Restrictions. Pledgor agrees that in any
----------------------------
sale of any of the Collateral whenever an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to comply with any
limitation or restriction in connection with such sale as it may be advised by
counsel is necessary in order to avoid any violation of applicable law
(including compliance with such procedures as may restrict the number of
prospective bidders and purchasers, require that such prospective bidders and
purchasers have certain qualifications and restrict such prospective bidders and
purchasers to persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing for
their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or
resale of such Collateral), or in order to obtain any required approval of the
sale or of the purchaser by any Governmental Authority, and Pledgor further
agrees that such compliance shall not result in such sale being considered or
deemed not to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner, nor shall the
Collateral Agent be liable nor accountable to Pledgor for any discount allowed
by reason of the fact that such Collateral is sold in compliance with any such
limitation or restriction.
SECTION 6.4. Application of Proceeds. All cash proceeds received by the
-----------------------
Collateral Agent in respect of any sale of, collection from or other realization
upon, all or any part of the Collateral may, in the discretion of the Collateral
Agent, be held by the Collateral Agent as additional collateral security for, or
then or at any time thereafter be applied (after payment of any amounts payable
to the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 7.07 of the Indenture and, Section
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6.5 below) in whole or in part by the Collateral Agent against, all or any part
- ---
of the Obligations in such order as the Collateral Agent shall elect. Any
surplus of such cash or other proceeds held by the Collateral Agent and
remaining after the Satisfaction Date, shall be paid over to Pledgor or to
whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus. The Pledgor shall
remain liable for any deficiency.
SECTION 6.5. Indemnity and Expenses. Pledgor hereby indemnifies and holds
----------------------
harmless the Collateral Agent from and against any and all claims, losses and
liabilities arising out of or resulting from this Pledge Agreement (including
enforcement of this Pledge Agreement), except claims, losses or liabilities
resulting from the Collateral Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct,
and Pledgor will pay to the Collateral Agent the amount of any and all
reasonable expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of its
counsel and of any experts and agents, which the Collateral Agent may incur, in
each case, in connection with:
(a) the administration of this Pledge Agreement,
(b) the custody, preservation, use or operation of, or the sale of,
collection from or other realization upon, any of the Collateral,
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(c) the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of the
Collateral Agent hereunder, or
(d) the failure by Pledgor to perform or observe any of the
provisions hereof.
ARTICLE VII. LOUISIANA PROVISIONS.
SECTION 7.1. General. The provisions of this Article 7 shall apply to the
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Collateral and all proceeds thereof at all times during which such Collateral or
the proceeds there-of are located in Louisiana or are otherwise subject to the
application of Louisiana law in any respect. The term "Louisiana Collateral" as
used herein shall refer to all portions of the Collateral and the proceeds
thereof that are from time to time located in the State of Louisiana or are
otherwise subject to Louisiana law at all times during which such portions or
proceeds thereof are located in Louisiana or are otherwise mandatorily subject
to the application of Louisiana law under the applicable laws of other states.
SECTION 7.2. Financing Statements. Pledgor will complete and sign one or
--------------------
more appropriate Louisiana UCC-1 financing statements with regard to the
Collateral and the proceeds thereof. Pledgor authorizes Collateral Agent, at
Pledgor's expense, to file multiple originals, or photocopies, carbon copies or
facsimile copies of such Louisiana UCC-1 financing statements with the
appropriate filing officer or officers in the State of Louisiana, pursuant to
the provisions of Chapter 9 of the Louisiana Commercial Laws.
SECTION 7.3. Event of Default; Remedies. Upon the occurrence of any Event
--------------------------
of Default hereunder, Collateral Agent shall have the following rights and
remedies with respect to the Louisiana Collateral, which rights and remedies are
in addition to and are not in lieu or limitation of any other rights and
remedies that may be provided in this Pledge Agreement, the Indenture or any
related documents, under Chapter 9 of the Louisiana Commercial Laws (La. R.S.
(S)(S) 10:9-101, et seq.), under the Uniform Commercial Code of any state other
-- ---
than Louisiana, or at law or equity generally:
(a) Collateral Agent may cause the Louisiana Collateral, or any part
or parts there-of, to be immediately seized wherever found, and sold,
whether in term of court or in vacation, under ordinary or executory
process, in accordance with applicable Louisiana law, to the highest bidder
for cash, with or without appraisement, without the necessity of making
additional demand, or of notifying Pledgor or placing Pledgor in default.
(b) For purposes of foreclosure under Louisiana executory process
procedures, Pledgor confesses judgment and acknowledges to be indebted unto
and in favor of Collateral Agent and the Holder up to the full amount of
the Obligations, in principal, interest, costs, expenses, attorneys' fees
and other fees and charges. To the extent permitted under applicable
Louisiana law, Pledgor additionally waives: (a) the benefit of appraisal as
provided in Articles 2332, 2336, 2723 and 2724 of the Louisiana Code of
Civil Procedure and all other laws with regard to appraisal upon judicial
sale; (b) the demand and three (3) days' delay as provided under Articles
2639 and 2721 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure; (c) the notice of
seizure as provided under Articles 2293 and 2721 of the Louisiana Code of
Civil Procedure; (d) the three (3) days' delay
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provided under Articles 2331 and 2722 of the Louisiana Code of Civil
Procedure; and (e) all other benefits provided under Articles 2331, 2722
and 2723 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure and all other similar
provisions of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure not specifically listed
hereinabove.
(c) Should any of the Louisiana Collateral be seized as an incident
to an action for the recognition or enforcement of the Obligations or this
Pledge Agreement, the Indenture or any related document, by executory
process, sequestration, attachment, writ of fieri facias or otherwise,
-------------
Pledgor agrees that the court issuing any such order shall, if requested by
Collateral Agent, appoint Collateral Agent or any person or entity named by
Collateral Agent at the time such seizure is requested, or at any time
thereafter, as keeper of the Louisiana Collateral as provided under La.
R.S. (S)(S) 9:5136, et seq., Pledgor agrees to pay the reasonable fees of
-- ---
such keeper, which compensation to the keeper shall also be a part of the
Obligations secured under this Pledge Agreement.
(d) Should it become necessary for Collateral Agent to foreclose
against the Louisiana Collateral, all declarations of fact that are made
under an authentic act before a Notary Public in the presence of two
witnesses, by a person declaring such facts to lie within his or her
knowledge, shall constitute authentic evidence for purposes of executory
process and also for purposes of La. R.S. (S) 9:3509.1, La. R.S. (S)
9:3504(D)(6) and La. R.S. (S) 10:9-508, as applicable.
SECTION 7.4. GOVERNING LAW. ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED IN THIS
-------------
PLEDGE AGREEMENT NOTWITHSTANDING, THE SECURITY INTERESTS IN THE LOUISIANA
COLLATERAL GRANTED IN THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT, AND COLLATERAL AGENT'S OR ANY
HOLDER'S REMEDIES IN THE COURTS SITTING IN AND FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WITH
RESPECT TO THE LOUISIANA COLLATERAL SHALL BE GOVERNED BY LOUISIANA LAW.
ARTICLE VIII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 8.1. Security Agreement. This Pledge Agreement is a Security
------------------
Agreement executed pursuant to the Indenture and shall (unless otherwise
expressly indicated herein) be construed, administered and applied in accordance
with the terms and provisions thereof.
SECTION 8.2. Amendments, etc. No amendment to or waiver of any provision
---------------
of this Pledge Agreement nor consent to any departure by Pledgor herefrom shall
in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the
Collateral Agent (on behalf of the Holders of the Notes) and Pledgor, and then
such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for
the specific purpose for which it is given.
SECTION 8.3. Protection of Collateral. The Collateral Agent may from time
------------------------
to time, at its option, and at the expense of the Pledgor, perform any act which
Pledgor agrees hereunder to perform and which Pledgor shall fall to perform
after being requested in writing so to perform (it being understood that no such
request need be given after the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Event of Default) and the Collateral Agent may from time to time take any
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other action which the Collateral Agent reasonably deems necessary for the
maintenance, preservation or protection of any of the Collateral or of its
security interest therein.
SECTION 8.4. Addresses for Notices. All notices and other communications
---------------------
provided for hereunder shall be in writing and addressed, delivered or
transmitted, if to Pledgor, at the address or facsimile number of US Unwired,
Inc. provided for in the Indenture, and, if to the Collateral Agent, at State
Street Bank and Trust Company, Goodwin Square, 225 Asylum Street, Hartford,
Connecticut 06103, Telecopier No.: (860) 244-1889, Attn: Laurel Melody-
Casasanta, or as to any such party at such other address or facsimile number as
shall be designated by such party in a written notice to each other party
complying as to delivery with the terms of this Section. Any notice, (a)(i) if
mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid or (ii) if properly addressed
and sent by pre-paid courier service, shall be deemed given when such notice has
been received or (b) if transmitted by facsimile, shall be deemed given when
transmitted (and telephonic confirmation of receipt thereof has been received).
SECTION 8.5. Headings. The various headings of this Pledge Agreement are
--------
inserted for convenience only, and shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Pledge Agreement or any provisions hereof.
SECTION 8.6. Severability. Any provision of this Pledge Agreement which
------------
is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such provision
and such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Pledge
Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any
other jurisdiction.
SECTION 8.7. GOVERNING LAW. THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A
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CONTRACT MADE UNDER AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
EXCLUDING THE LAW OF CONFLICTS.
SECTION 8.8. Counterparts. This Pledge Agreement may be executed by the
------------
parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original (whether such counterpart is originally executed or an electronic copy
of an original) and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same
agreement. This Pledge Agreement shall become effective and binding upon Pledgor
when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of Pledgor shall have been received
by the Collateral Agent.
[Signatures commence on the following page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Pledge Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized as of the day and year first above written.
LOUISIANA UNWIRED, LLC
By
-------------------------------------
Title:
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
COMPANY as Collateral Agent
By
_____________________________________
Title:
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