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EXHIBIT 4.1
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H&E Equipment Services L.L.C.
and
H&E Finance Corp.
and each of the Guarantors named herein
12 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
----------
INDENTURE
Dated as of June 17, 2002
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The Bank of New York
Trustee
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
<Table>
<Caption>
TRUST INDENTURE
ACT SECTION INDENTURE 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).................................................................. 11.04
(c).................................................................. 11.04
313(a).................................................................. 7.06
(b)(1)............................................................... N.A.
(b)(2)............................................................... 7.06; 7.07
(c).................................................................. 7.06; 11.03
(d).................................................................. 7.06
314(a).................................................................. 4.03;11.03; 11.06
(b).................................................................. N.A.
(c)(1)............................................................... 11.05
(c)(2)............................................................... 11.05
(c)(3)............................................................... N.A.
(d).................................................................. N.A.
(e).................................................................. 11.06
(f).................................................................. N.A.
315(a).................................................................. 7.01
(b).................................................................. 7.05, 11.03
(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).................................................................. 11.01
(b).................................................................. N.A.
(c).................................................................. 11.01
</Table>
N.A. means not applicable.
* This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<Table>
<Caption>
PAGE
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01 Definitions.................................................................................1
Section 1.02 Other Definitions..........................................................................22
Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act..........................................22
Section 1.04 Rules of Construction......................................................................23
ARTICLE 2.
THE NOTES
Section 2.01 Form and Dating............................................................................23
Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication...............................................................24
Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.................................................................25
Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust........................................................25
Section 2.05 Holder Lists...............................................................................25
Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange......................................................................25
Section 2.07 Replacement Notes..........................................................................37
Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes..........................................................................38
Section 2.09 Treasury Notes.............................................................................38
Section 2.10 Temporary Notes............................................................................38
Section 2.11 Cancellation...............................................................................38
Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.........................................................................39
Section 2.13 CUSIP Numbers..............................................................................39
ARTICLE 3.
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.........................................................................39
Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.............................................39
Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.......................................................................40
Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.............................................................41
Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price....................................................41
Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part........................................................41
Section 3.07 Optional Redemption........................................................................41
Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption.......................................................................42
Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds........................................42
ARTICLE 4.
COVENANTS
Section 4.01 Payment of Notes...........................................................................44
Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency............................................................44
Section 4.03 Reports....................................................................................44
Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.....................................................................45
Section 4.05 Taxes......................................................................................46
Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.............................................................46
Section 4.07 Restricted Payments........................................................................46
Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries..................49
Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.................................50
</Table>
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<Table>
Section 4.10 Asset Sales................................................................................53
Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates...............................................................54
Section 4.12 Liens......................................................................................56
Section 4.13 Business Activities........................................................................56
Section 4.14 Corporate Existence........................................................................56
Section 4.15 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.................................................56
Section 4.16 No Senior Subordinated Debt................................................................58
Section 4.17 Sale and Leaseback Transactions............................................................58
Section 4.18 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries....................................58
Section 4.19 Payments for Consent.......................................................................59
Section 4.20 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees...........................................................59
Section 4.21 Calculation of Original Issue Discount.....................................................59
ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets...................................................59
Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted..........................................................60
ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01 Events of Default..........................................................................60
Section 6.02 Acceleration...............................................................................62
Section 6.03 Other Remedies.............................................................................62
Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults....................................................................62
Section 6.05 Control by Majority........................................................................63
Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits........................................................................63
Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment..............................................63
Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.................................................................63
Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim...........................................................64
Section 6.10 Priorities.................................................................................64
Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs......................................................................64
ARTICLE 7.
TRUSTEE
Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee..........................................................................65
Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee..........................................................................66
Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee...............................................................67
Section 7.04 Trustee's Disclaimer.......................................................................67
Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.........................................................................67
Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.................................................67
Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.................................................................67
Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.....................................................................68
Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc...........................................................69
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification..............................................................69
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company..........................................69
ARTICLE 8.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance...................................70
Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.............................................................70
Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance........................................................................70
</Table>
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<Table>
Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.................................................71
Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous
Provisions...............................................................................72
Section 8.06 Repayment to Company.......................................................................72
Section 8.07 Reinstatement..............................................................................73
ARTICLE 9.
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes........................................................73
Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes...........................................................74
Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act........................................................75
Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents..........................................................75
Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes...........................................................75
Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc............................................................75
ARTICLE 10.
SUBORDINATION
Section 10.01 Agreement to Subordinate...................................................................76
Section 10.02 Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.......................................................76
Section 10.03 Default on Designated Senior Debt..........................................................76
Section 10.04 Acceleration of Securities.................................................................77
Section 10.05 When Distribution Must Be Paid Over........................................................77
Section 10.06 Notice by Company..........................................................................78
Section 10.07 Subrogation................................................................................78
Section 10.08 Relative Rights............................................................................78
Section 10.09 Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company...............................................78
Section 10.10 Distribution or Notice to Representative...................................................78
Section 10.11 Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent.........................................................79
Section 10.12 Authorization to Effect Subordination......................................................79
Section 10.13 Amendments.................................................................................79
ARTICLE 11.
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
Section 11.01 Guarantee..................................................................................79
Section 11.02 Subordination of Subsidiary Guarantee......................................................80
Section 11.03 Limitation on Guarantor Liability..........................................................81
Section 11.04 Execution and Delivery of Subsidiary Guarantee.............................................81
Section 11.05 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.........................................81
Section 11.06 Releases...................................................................................82
ARTICLE 12.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 12.01 Satisfaction and Discharge.................................................................83
Section 12.02 Application of Trust Money.................................................................83
ARTICLE 13.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls...............................................................84
Section 13.02 Notices....................................................................................84
Section 13.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes..............................85
Section 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.........................................85
</Table>
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<Table>
Section 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion..............................................86
Section 13.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents................................................................86
Section 13.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders...................86
Section 13.08 Governing Law..............................................................................86
Section 13.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements..............................................86
Section 13.10 Successors.................................................................................87
Section 13.11 Severability...............................................................................87
Section 13.12 Counterpart Originals......................................................................87
Section 13.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc...........................................................87
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
Exhibit F FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
</Table>
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INDENTURE dated as of June 17, 2002 between H&E Equipment Services L.L.C.,
a Louisiana limited liability company ("H&E LLC"), H&E Finance Corp., a Delaware
corporation ("H&E FINANCE" and together with H&E LLC, the "COMPANY"), the
Guarantors (as defined) and The Bank of New York, a New York banking
corporation, 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 (as
defined) of the 12 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the "NOTES"):
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01 DEFINITIONS.
"144A GLOBAL NOTE" means a 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 in reliance on Rule 144A.
"ACCRETED VALUE" means for each Note having an aggregate principal amount
of $1,000 as of any date of determination the sum of:
(1) $943.56 (the deemed initial offering price of each Note); and
(2) that portion of the excess of the principal amount at maturity of such
Note over such deemed initial offering price as shall have been accreted thereon
through such date, such amount to be so accreted on a daily basis at the rate of
1% per annum of the deemed initial offering price of such Notes, compounded
semi-annually on each June 15 and December 15 from the date of issuance of the
Notes through the date of determination, such that the Accreted Value of each
Note will equal the principal amount thereof on June 15, 2013.
"ACQUIRED DEBT" means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) 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
(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by
such specified Person.
"ADDITIONAL NOTES" means an unlimited amount of Notes (other than the
Initial Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.02 and
4.09 hereof, as part of the same class as the Initial Notes.
"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, means 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%
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or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control. For
purposes of this definition, the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under
common control with" have correlative meanings.
"AFFILIATE AGREEMENTS" means the Contribution Agreement, the
Securityholders Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Operating
Agreement, each as described in "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions"
in the Offering Circular.
"AGENT" means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional
paying agent.
"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 Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.
"ASSET SALE" means:
(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or
rights, other than sales of inventory and equipment in the ordinary course
of business; PROVIDED that the sale, conveyance or other disposition of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of this Indenture
described above under the Section 4.15 and/or the provisions described
above under Section 5.01 and not by the provisions of Section 4.10; and
(2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company's
Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Equity Interests in any of its Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed
to be an Asset Sale:
(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that
involves assets having a fair market value of less than $1.0 million;
(2) a transfer of assets between or among the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries,
(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary to the Company or
to another Restricted Subsidiary;
(4) the sale or lease of equipment, inventory, or accounts receivable
in the ordinary course of business;
(5) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;
(6) a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted by
Section 4.07;
(7) any exchange of property pursuant to Section 1031 on the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for use in a Permitted Business; and
(8) the licensing of intellectual property.
"ATTRIBUTABLE DEBT" in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means,
at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee
for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such
sale and leaseback transaction including any period for which such lease has
been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present
value
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shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit
in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP.
"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. The terms "Beneficially Owns" and
"Beneficially Owned" have a corresponding meaning.
"BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means:
(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the
corporation;
(2) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the
general partner of the partnership; and
(3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such
Person serving a similar function.
"BORROWING BASE" means, as of any date, an amount equal to:
(1) 75% of the face amount of all accounts receivable owned by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date; PLUS
(2) 50% of the book value of all inventory owned by the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date; PLUS
(3) 80% of the book value of the rental equipment owned by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date; MINUS
(4) 100% of the book value of all inventory and rental equipment
owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, that
were subject to a Lien immediately prior to the use of proceeds referred to
below, securing Indebtedness; MINUS
(5) $125 million.
all calculated on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP and after
giving effect to any incurrence of Indebtedness on such date and the use of
proceeds therefrom.
In the event that information with respect to any element of the Borrowing
Base is not available as of any date then the most recently available
information will be utilized.
"BROKER-DEALER" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
"BRS" means Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co., Inc.
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
"CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATION" means, at the time any determination 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.
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"CAPITAL STOCK" means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all
shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however
designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company,
partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited or common
or preferred); and
(4) 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:
(1) United States dollars;
(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by
the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United
States government (PROVIDED that the full faith and credit of the United
States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not
more than one year from the date of acquisition;
(3) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with
maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers'
acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year 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;
(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days
for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3)
above entered into with any financial institution meeting the
qualifications specified in clause (3) above;
(5) commercial paper having a rating of "P-2" (or higher) from
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or "A-3" (or higher) from Standard & Poor's
Rating Services and in each case maturing within one year after the date of
acquisition; and
(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute
Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this
definition.
"CLEARSTREAM" means Clearstream Banking, S.A.
"CHANGE OF CONTROL" means the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) the 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 a Principal or a
Related Party of a Principal;
(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution
of the Company;
4
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(3) 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 Principals and their Related
Parties or a Permitted Group, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or
indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured
by voting power rather than number of shares; or
(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors.
"COMPANY" means the issuers, and any and all successors thereto.
"CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW" means, with respect to any specified Person for
any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period PLUS:
(1) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss
realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection
with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing
such Consolidated Net Income; PLUS
(2) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and
its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such
provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income;
PLUS
(3) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries 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, imputed interest
with respect to Attributable Debt, 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
(4) 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 (including
impairment charges but 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 for such period to
the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses
were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; PLUS
(5) any management fee payable to BRS or an Affiliate pursuant to the
Management Agreement as is in effect on the date of this Indenture or as
the same may be amended, modified or replaced from time to time so long as
any such amendment, modification or replacement is no less favorable to the
Holders than the contract or agreement as in effect on the date of this
Indenture; PLUS
(6) any non-recurring expenses and charges of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries; MINUS
(7) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such
period, other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of
business,
5
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in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.
"CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" means, with respect to any specified Person for
any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance
with GAAP; PROVIDED that:
(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a
Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of
accounting will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends
or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Person;
(2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to
the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar
distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at
the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval
(that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of
the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree,
order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that
Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;
(3) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests
transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition will be
excluded;
(4) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will
be excluded; and
(5) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary will
be included only to the extent distributed to the specified Person or one
of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE ASSETS" means, with respect to the Company as of any
date, the aggregate of the Tangible Assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries as of such date, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance
with GAAP. In the event that information relating to Consolidated Tangible
Assets is not available as of any date, then the most recently available
information will be utilized.
"CONTINUING DIRECTORS" means, as of any date of determination, any member
of the Board of Directors of the Company who:
(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of this
Indenture;
(2) 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; or
(3) was nominated by the Principals pursuant to a stockholders',
voting or similar agreement.
"CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE OF THE TRUSTEE" will be at the address of the
Trustee specified in Section 13.02 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 the
date of this Indenture, by and among the Company and the other borrowers named
therein and the credit parties and lenders named therein as well as General
Electric Capital Corporation as Arranger and Administrative Agent, providing for
up to $150.0 million of revolving credit borrowings, including any related
notes,
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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, including increases in principal
amount and extensions of term loans of other financings.
"CREDIT AGREEMENT AGENT" means, at any time, the Person serving at such
time as the "Agent" or "Administrative Agent" under (and as such term is defined
in) the Credit Agreement.
"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; PROVIDED, that no document or facility, other than the
Credit Agreement, will constitute a Credit Facility unless the Company so
identifies such document or facility in an Officers' Certificate and delivers
such certificate to the Trustee; PROVIDED FURTHER, that while the Credit
Agreement remains in effect, the Company is entitled to so identify such
document or facility only in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement
(or deliver an Officers' Certificate to the Trustee that the Credit Agreement is
no longer in effect).
"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 any Indebtedness outstanding under H&E LLC's
Credit Agreement; and any other Senior Debt permitted under this Indenture the
principal amount of which is $25.0 million or more and that in each case has
been designated by H&E LLC 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 of the Capital Stock), 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 of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date on
which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital
Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the
Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital
Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will 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 Section 4.07.
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"DOMESTIC RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the
United States or the District of Columbia or that guarantees or otherwise
provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company.
"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 Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear
system.
"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.
"FIXED CHARGES" means, with respect to any specified Person for any
period, the sum, without duplication, of:
(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued,
including, without limitation, 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, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt,
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 but
excluding the amortization of debt issuance costs; PLUS
(2) the consolidated interest of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period (other than debt
issuance costs); PLUS
(3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is
Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured
by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; PLUS
(4) the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and
whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, excluding dividends on Equity Interests
payable or accruing solely in Equity Interests of the Company that are not
Disqualified Stock, or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the
denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state
and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in
each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
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"FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO" means with respect to any specified Person
for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such
period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that
the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes,
Guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than ordinary
working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock
subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for
which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the
"Calculation Date"), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated
giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment,
repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or
redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the
same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference
period.
In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:
(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations
and including any related financing transactions, during the four-quarter
reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to
the Calculation Date will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred
on the first day of the four-quarter reference period and Consolidated Cash
Flow for such reference period will be calculated on a pro forma basis in
accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, but without giving
effect to clause (3) of the proviso set forth in the definition of
Consolidated Net Income;
(2) the Consolidated Cash flow attributable to discontinued
operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP and operations or
businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded; and
(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as
determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed
of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent
that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be
obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
following the Calculation Date.
"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, PROVIDED that
charges for impairments to goodwill will be disregarded for all purposes under
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 Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(3),
2.06(b)(4), 2.06(d)(2) or 2.06(f) hereof.
"GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(2),
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.
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"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
"GUARANTORS" means each of:
(1) GNE Investments, Inc.;
(2) Great Northern Equipment, Inc.; and
(3) any other subsidiary that executes a Subsidiary Guarantee in
accordance with the provisions of this Indenture;
and their respective successors and assigns.
"HEDGING OBLIGATIONS" means, with respect to any specified Person, the
obligations of such Person under:
(1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and
interest rate collar agreements; and
(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person
against fluctuations in interest rates, currency rates or commodity prices.
"HOLDER" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
"HOLDINGS" means H&E Holdings L.L.C.
"IAI GLOBAL NOTE" means a 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.
"INDEBTEDNESS" means, with respect to any specified Person, any
indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:
(1) in respect of borrowed money;
(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or
letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
(3) in respect of banker's acceptances;
(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;
(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase
price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued
expense, trade payable or representing secured floor plan financing; or
(6) representing any Hedging Obligations,
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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 Guarantee
by the specified Person of any indebtedness of any other Person; PROVIDED that
Indebtedness shall not include the pledge of the Capital Stock of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:
(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any
Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; and
(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any
interest on the Indebtedness 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.
"INITIAL NOTES" means the first $53.0 million aggregate principal amount of
Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.
"INITIAL PURCHASER" means Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation.
"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.
"INTANGIBLE ASSETS" means goodwill, patents, trade names, trade marks,
copyrights, franchises, experimental expense, organization expenses and any
other assets properly classified as intangible assets in accordance with GAAP.
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"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 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 Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made
an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the fair
market value of the Company's Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold
or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of
Section 4.07. The acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will 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 Investments held by
the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined as provided in
the final paragraph of Section 4.07.
"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.
"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
the Registration Rights Agreement.
"MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT" means the agreement the Company entered into in
connection with the ICM Equipment Company L.L.C. recapitalization and the Head &
Engquist Equipment, L.L.C. recapitalizations with each of BRS and Bruckmann,
Rosser, Sherrill & Co., L.L.C. ("BRS LLC"), whereby BRS and BRS LLC agreed to
provide certain advisory and consulting services to the Company.
"NET INCOME" means, with respect to any specified 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:
(1) any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for
taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any
Asset Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of
such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
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(2) any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related
provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).
"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 of the Asset Sale, taxes paid or payable as a result of the
Asset Sale, 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 Indebtedness under a Credit
Facility 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:
(1) as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any
undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness)
(other than the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary pledged to secure
Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary), (b) is directly or
indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or (c) constitutes the
lender;
(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the
holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against 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 of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other
Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or
payable prior to its stated maturity; and
(3) 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 of
its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the stock of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary pledged to secure Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary).
"NON-U.S. PERSON" means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.
"NOTES" has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.
The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class
for all purposes under this Indenture, and unless the context otherwise
requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any
Additional Notes.
"NOTE DOCUMENTS" means this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary
Guarantees.
"OBLIGATIONS" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, taxes, costs,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing, securing or relating to any Indebtedness, whether
or not a claim in respect thereof has been asserted.
"OBLIGOR" means a Person obligated as an issuer or guarantor of the Notes.
"OFFERING CIRCULAR" means the offering circular dated June 14, 2002
relating to the Notes.
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"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, or the principal accounting officer of
the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof.
"OPINION OF COUNSEL" means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 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
Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or
Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and
Clearstream).
"PERMITTED BUSINESS" means the equipment sale, rental and leasing business,
the fleet management business and any business that is complementary,
incidental, ancillary or related thereto.
"PERMITTED GROUP" means any group of investors that is deemed to be a
"person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) at any
time prior to the Company's initial public offering of common stock, by virtue
of the Securityholders Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time, PROVIDED that no single Person (other than the
Principals and their Related Parties) Beneficially Owns (together with its
Affiliates) more of the Voting Stock of the Company that is Beneficially Owned
by such group of investors than is then collectively Beneficially Owned by the
Principals and their Related Parties in the aggregate.
"PERMITTED INVESTMENTS" means:
(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company;
(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;
(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:
(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
or
(b) 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;
(4) 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 Section 4.10;
(5) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange for the issuance of
Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(6) any Investments received in compromise of obligations of such
persons incurred in the ordinary course of trade creditors or customers
that were incurred in the ordinary course of
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business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar
arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or
customer;
(7) Hedging Obligations; and
(8) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market
value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without
giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all
other Investments made pursuant to this clause (8) since the date of this
Indenture not to exceed $10.0 million at any one time outstanding.
"PERMITTED JUNIOR SECURITIES" means:
(1) Equity Interests in the Company or any Guarantor; or
(2) 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 Subsidiary
Guarantees are subordinated to Senior Debt under this Indenture.
"PERMITTED LIENS" means:
(1) Liens on assets of the Company or any Guarantor securing Senior
Debt that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred;
(2) Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;
(3) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is
merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company; PROVIDED that such Liens were not incurred in 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;
(4) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the
property by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, PROVIDED that
such Liens were not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition;
(5) 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;
(6) purchase money security interests (as defined in Article 9 of the
New York Uniform Commercial Code) to secure Indebtedness permitted by
clause (4) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 covering only inventory
held for sale or lease (including rental equipment) purchased as described
therein and the proceeds thereof;
(7) Liens existing on the date of this Indenture and securing
Indebtedness outstanding on the date of this Indenture;
(8) Liens to secure Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to
refinance Existing Debt or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness which is
secured by Liens permitted by this clause (8); PROVIDED, that such Liens do
not extend to any categories of assets other than the categories of assets
securing Existing Debt as of the date of this Indenture;
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(9) 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 is required in
conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;
(10) Liens on assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries that secure
Non-Recourse Debt of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
(11) easements, rights-of-way, zoning and similar restrictions and
other similar encumbrances or title defects incurred or imposed, as
applicable, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with industry
practices;
(12) any interest or title of a lessor under any Capital Lease
Obligation;
(13) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to
commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and other property
relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;
(14) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising
from statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty requirements of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including rights of offset
and set-off;
(15) Liens securing Hedging Obligations;
(16) leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially
interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries;
(17) Liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code financing
statements regarding leases; and
(18) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company,
or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations
that do not exceed $10.0 million at any one time outstanding.
"PERMITTED REFINANCING INDEBTEDNESS" means any Indebtedness of the Company
or any of its Restricted 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 Restricted Subsidiaries
(other than intercompany Indebtedness); PROVIDED that:
(1) 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 extended, refinanced,
renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest on the
Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in
connection therewith);
(2) 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;
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(3) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the
Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness 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
(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the
Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.
"PERSON" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited
liability company or government or other entity.
"PREFERRED STOCK" means Capital Stock with a preference upon liquidation or
on dividends.
"PRINCIPALS" means Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co., L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership, BRS Partners, LP and BRSE LLC.
"PRIVATE PLACEMENT LEGEND" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(1)
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.
"REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT" means the Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of June 17, 2002, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other
parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time and, with respect to any Additional
Notes, one or more registration rights agreements among the Company, the
Guarantors and the other parties thereto, as such agreement(s) may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time, relating to rights given by the
Company to the purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes
under the Securities Act.
"REGULATION S" means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
"REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE" means 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 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:
(1) any controlling stockholder, a majority owned Subsidiary, or
immediate family member (in the case of an individual) of any Principal; or
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(2) any trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the
beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or Persons beneficially
holding a majority interest of which consist of any one or more Principals
and/or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause
(1).
"REPRESENTATIVE" means the indenture trustee or other trustee, agent or
representative for any Senior Debt.
"RESPONSIBLE OFFICER," when used with respect to the Trustee, means any
officer within the corporate trust department 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 distribution compliance period as
defined in Regulation S.
"RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent
Person 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:
(1) all Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor outstanding
under Credit Facilities and all Hedging Obligations that are secured under
the documents that secure the Indebtedness under a Credit Facility;
(2) the Senior Secured Notes and all the Obligations with respect
thereto;
(3) any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor either (a)
permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture or (b) was
advanced (or, in the case of any reimbursement obligation, relates to a
letter of credit that was issued) upon delivery to the Credit Agreement
Agent of a written document executed by an officer of the Company to the
effect that such Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred by clause (1) or
clause (12) of the definition of "Permitted Debt", 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
Subsidiary Guarantee; and
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(4) all Obligations with respect to the items listing in the
preceding clauses (1), (2) and (3).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding, Senior Debt will
not include:
(1) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or
owing by the Company;
(2) any intercompany Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to the Company;
(3) any trade payables;
(4) any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any
Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or
(5) 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 Agreement.
"SENIOR SECURED NOTES" means the Company's senior secured notes due 2012 to
be issued concurrently with the closing of the offering of the Notes.
"SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the Shelf Registration Statement as
defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
"SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARY" means any Subsidiary that would be a "significant
subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date
hereof.
"SPECIFIED SENIOR DEBT" means all outstanding Senior Debt under:
(1) the Credit Agreement;
(2) the Senior Secured Note indenture; and
(3) any other series of Senior Debt that is designated by the Company
as being Specified Senior Debt.
"STATED MATURITY" means, with respect to any installment of interest or
principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of
interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to
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:
(1) 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 of the corporation, association
or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that
Person (or a combination thereof); and
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(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing
general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or
(b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more
Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).
"SUBSIDIARY 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.
"TANGIBLE ASSETS" means all assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, excluding all Intangible Assets.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified
under the TIA, except as provided in Section 9.03.
"TRUSTEE" means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture
until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of
this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
"UNASSERTED CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS" means, at any time, Obligations for
taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities
(except for (i) the principal of and interest or premiums (if any) on, and fees
relating to, Indebtedness and (ii) contingent reimbursement obligations in
respect of amounts that may be drawn under letters of credit) in respect of
which no claim or demand for payment has been made (or, in the case of
Obligations for indemnification, no notice for indemnification has been issued
by the indemnitee) at such time.
"UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE" means one or more Definitive Notes that do
not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
"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 SUBSIDIARY" means any Subsidiary of the Company (and any
Subsidiary of such Subsidiary) that is designated by the Board of Directors as
an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution (if that designation
would not cause a Default), but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:
(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;
(2) 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;
(3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to
subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve
such Person's financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any
specified levels of operating results;
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(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided
credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than through the pledge of Equity Interests in such
Subsidiary); and
(5) 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.
Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary will 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 Section 4.07. If, at any time, any
Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted
Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such
Subsidiary will 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 Section 4.09, the Company will 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 will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness
is permitted under Section 4.09, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such
designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period;
and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such
designation (including without limitation under Section 4.18).
"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:
(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of
each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other
required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in
respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the
nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of
such payment; by
(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
"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)
will 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.
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Section 1.02 OTHER DEFINITIONS.
<Table>
<Caption>
Defined
in
Term Section
---- -------
"AFFILIATE TRANSACTION"........................................ 4.11
"ASSET SALE OFFER"............................................. 3.09
"AUTHENTICATION ORDER"......................................... 2.02
"CHANGE OF CONTROL OFFER"...................................... 4.15
"CHANGE OF CONTROL PAYMENT".................................... 4.15
"CHANGE OF CONTROL PAYMENT DATE"............................... 4.15
"COVENANT DEFEASANCE".......................................... 8.03
"DTC".......................................................... 2.03
"EVENT OF DEFAULT"............................................. 6.01
"EXCESS PROCEEDS".............................................. 4.10
"INCUR"........................................................ 4.09
"LEGAL DEFEASANCE"............................................. 8.02
"OFFER AMOUNT"................................................. 3.09
"OFFER PERIOD"................................................. 3.09
"PAYING AGENT"................................................. 2.03
"PAYMENT BLOCKAGE NOTICE"...................................... 10.03
"PERMITTED DEBT"............................................... 4.09
"PURCHASE DATE"................................................ 3.09
"REGISTRAR".................................................... 2.03
"RESTRICTED PAYMENTS".......................................... 4.07
</Table>
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 Subsidiary Guarantees means the Company and
the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the
Subsidiary 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.
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Section 1.04 RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned
to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) "or" is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural
include the singular;
(5) "will" shall be interpreted to express a command;
(6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(7) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act will
be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules
adopted by the SEC from time to time.
ARTICLE 2.
THE NOTES
Section 2.01 FORM AND DATING.
(a) GENERAL. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication will
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
will be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will 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 will 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 will 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 will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will
be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents 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 will 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 will be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary
Global Note, which will be deposited on behalf of the
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purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, at its New York
office, 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 Clearstream Bank, duly executed by the
Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Restricted
Period will be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of:
(1) a written certificate from the Depositary, together with copies
of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream 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 or an IAI Global Note
bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(b)
hereof); and
(2) an Officers' Certificate from the Company.
Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in
the Regulation S Temporary Global Note will 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 will 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.
(3) EUROCLEAR AND CLEARSTREAM 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 Clearstream Banking" and "Customer Handbook" of Clearstream
will be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S
Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes that are
held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.
Section 2.02 EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION.
Two Officers must sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile
signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at
the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.
A Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the
Trustee. The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been
authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee will, upon receipt of 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 the Notes. There may be an
unlimited aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time.
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.
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Section 2.03 REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT.
The Company will 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
will 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 will 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 will 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 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) will have no further
liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it
will 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 will serve as Paying Agent for
the Notes.
Section 2.05 HOLDER LISTS.
The Trustee will 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 Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the
Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee at least 15 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 Section 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:
(1) 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
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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
(2) 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 (1) or (2) 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 will be
effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted
Global Notes will 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 will require compliance with
either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of
the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(1) 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 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 Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be
made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other
than the 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)(1).
(2) 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)(1) above, the transferor
of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:
(A) both:
(i) 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
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(ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable
Procedures containing information regarding the Participant
account to be credited with such increase; or
(B) both:
(i) 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
(ii) 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 (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) 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)(2) 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.
(3) 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)(2) 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;
(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; and
(C) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a
beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, 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.
(4) TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED
GLOBAL NOTE FOR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN 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
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interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer
complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) 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 (i) a
Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the
Exchange Notes or (iii) 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:
(i) 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
(ii) 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.
(1) 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 Person who
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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, 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, 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, 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)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be
subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.
(2) BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE
TO DEFINITIVE NOTES. Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(1)(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 who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note
prior
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to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by
the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule
903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act, 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.
(2) 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 (i) a
Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the
Exchange Notes or (iii) 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:
(i) 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
(ii) 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.
(3) 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)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause
the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced
accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company will
execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person
designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate
principal amount. Any Definitive Note
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issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section
2.06(c)(3) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized
denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest
requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the
Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will
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)(3) will not bear the Private
Placement Legend.
(d) TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF DEFINITIVE NOTES FOR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS.
(1) 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, 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, 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, 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 will
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 Note, in the case of
clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the
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case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note, and in all
other cases, the IAI Global Note.
(2) 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 (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) 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:
(i) 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
(ii) 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)(2), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and
increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the
Unrestricted Global Note.
(3) 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 will 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 (2)(B), (2)(D) or
(3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been
issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order
in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will 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 will register the transfer or
exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or
exchange, the requesting Holder must 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
must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as
applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section
2.06(e).
(1) 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.
(2) 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 (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) 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
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(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(i) 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
(ii) 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.
(3) 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 will issue and,
upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof,
the Trustee will authenticate:
(1) 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 into the Exchange Offer by Persons that
certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (A) they are not
Broker-Dealers, (B) 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
(2) Unrestricted 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 will cause the
aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be
reduced accordingly, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will
authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive
Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal
amount.
(g) LEGENDS. The following legends will 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.
(1) 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:
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"THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT
FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE
"SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION
THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF
THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF
THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE
AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD,
PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM
THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN
RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144
THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED
STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO,
NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO
IN (A) ABOVE."
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive
Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(2),
(d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(3) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes
issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the
Private Placement Legend.
(2) GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND. Each Global Note will 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 (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED
IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS
GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
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
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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."
(3) REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND. The Regulation S
Temporary Global Note will 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."
(4) ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT LEGEND. Each Note shall bear a legend in
substantially the following form:
"THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT UNDER SECTION 1272, 1273
AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. YOU MAY CONTACT
TERENCE L. EASTMAN, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE COMPANY, AT 11100 MEAD
ROAD, SUITE 200, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA 70816, TELEPHONE NUMBER (225) 298-5200,
WHO WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY REQUIRED INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGINAL ISSUE
DISCOUNT."
(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 will 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 will be
reduced accordingly and an endorsement will 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 will be increased accordingly and
an endorsement will 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.
(1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company
will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive
Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section
2.02 or at the Registrar's request.
(2) No service charge will be made to a Holder of 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).
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(3) The Registrar will 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.
(4) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any
registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes
will 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.
(5) The Company will 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 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.
(6) 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.
(7) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes
in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.
(8) 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.
(9) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor,
determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer
imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any
transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or
among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any
Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other
documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and
when expressly required by the terms of this Indenture and to examine the
same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express
requirements hereof.
Section 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 will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee's
requirements are met. 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
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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 will
be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately
with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
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.
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 protected 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 will
be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will 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, will be considered as
though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the
Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent,
only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned
will 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, will
authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form
of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers
appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will prepare and the Trustee
will authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes will 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 will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered
to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no
one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer,
exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will dispose of such
cancelled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the
record retention requirement of the Exchange
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Act). 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 will 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 will 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 will fix or cause to be fixed each such
special record date and payment date, PROVIDED that no such special record date
may 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) will 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.
Section 2.13 CUSIP NUMBERS.
The Company in issuing the Notes may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally
in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices of
redemption as a convenience to Holders; PROVIDED that any such notice may state
that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as
printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice and that reliance may be
placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any
such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such
numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the
"CUSIP" numbers.
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 must furnish to the Trustee, at least 30
days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers'
Certificate setting forth:
(1) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption
shall occur;
(2) the redemption date;
(3) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and
(4) the redemption price.
Section 3.02 SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED OR PURCHASED.
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee
will select Notes for redemption as follows:
(1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in
compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities
exchange on which the Notes are listed; or
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(2) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities exchange,
on a PRO RATA basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem
fair and appropriate.
In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes
to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein,
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or purchase date
by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption
or purchase.
The Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes
selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for
partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or
purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected will 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 or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such
Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except
as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply
to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes
called for redemption or purchase.
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 will 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, except that redemption notices may
be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued
in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 12 of this Indenture.
The notice will identify the Notes to be redeemed (including CUSIP numbers)
and will state:
(1) the redemption date;
(2) the redemption price;
(3) 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 will be issued upon cancellation of the
original Note;
(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the
Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(6) 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;
(7) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture
pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(8) 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.
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At the Company's request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in
the Company's name and at its expense; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company has
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 OR PURCHASE PRICE.
One Business Day prior to the redemption or purchase price date, the
Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient
to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest and Liquidated
Damages, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The
Trustee or the Paying Agent will 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 or purchase price of, and accrued
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, all Notes to be redeemed or
purchased.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on
and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the
Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is
redeemed or purchased 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 or purchase is
not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of
the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on
the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase 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 OR PURCHASED IN PART.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company
will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will
authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in
principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note
surrendered.
Section 3.07 OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) At any time prior to June 15, 2005, the Company may on one or more
occasions redeem an aggregate of up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of
Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 112.50% of the
Accreted Value thereof, plus accrued and unpaid Liquidated Damages, if any, to
the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of an offering of Equity
Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or Holdings (so long as
such net cash proceeds are contributed to the Company from Holdings as common
equity); PROVIDED that:
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued
under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence
of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its
Subsidiaries); and
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(2) the redemption occurs within 60 days of the date of the closing
of such offering.
(b) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Notes will not be
redeemable at the Company's option prior to June 15, 2007.
(c) After June 15, 2007, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes
upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices
(expressed as percentages of Accreted Value) set forth below plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to the
applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning
on June 15 of the years indicated below:
<Table>
<Caption>
Year Percentage
---- ----------
2007..................................................... 106.250%
2008..................................................... 104.167%
2009..................................................... 102.083%
2010 and thereafter...................................... 100.000%
</Table>
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 is not 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 is required
to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an "ASSET SALE OFFER"),
it will follow the procedures specified below.
The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders 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 and assets. The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for
a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more
than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by
applicable law (the "OFFER PERIOD"). No later than three Business Days after the
termination of the Offer Period (the "PURCHASE DATE"), the Company will apply
all Excess Proceeds (the "OFFER AMOUNT") to the purchase of Notes and such other
PARI PASSU Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if less than
the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Indebtedness tendered in
response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will 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, and
Liquidated Damages, if any, will 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 will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale
Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company will send, by
first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy
to the Trustee. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary
to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The
notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state:
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(1) 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
will remain open;
(2) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;
(3) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment will continue
to accrete or accrue interest;
(4) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any
Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer will cease to
accrete or accrue interest after the Purchase Date;
(5) 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;
(6) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any
Asset Sale Offer will 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;
(7) that Holders will 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 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;
(8) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other PARI
PASSU Indebtedness surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the
Company will select the Notes and other PARI PASSU Indebtedness to be
purchased on a PRO RATA basis based on the principal amount of Notes and
such other PARI PASSU Indebtedness surrendered (with such adjustments as
may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in
denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples thereof, will be purchased);
and
(9) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will 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 will, 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 will
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, will 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 will promptly issue a new Note, and the
Trustee, upon written request from the Company will authenticate and mail or
deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any
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
will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.
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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 will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any,
and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes on the dates and in
the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any will 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 will pay all Liquidated Damages, if
any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement.
The Company will 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 will 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 will 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 will 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
fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails 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 will 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 will 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 hereof.
Section 4.03 REPORTS.
Whether or not required by the Commission, so long as any Notes are
outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders of Notes, within the time
periods specified in the Commission's rules and regulations:
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(1) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be
required to be contained in a filing with the Commission 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
(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the
Commission 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 will 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 Commission,
the Company will file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to
in clauses (1) and (2) above with the Commission for public availability within
the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and regulations (unless the
Commission will not accept such a filing) and make such information available to
securities analysts and prospective investors upon request. In addition, the
Company and the Subsidiary 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.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for
informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not
constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or
determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's
compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is
entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).
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 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 is not in default in the performance or observance of any of
the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or
Event of Default has 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 Company shall use its
best efforts to ensure that the year-end financial
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statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03(a) 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.
(c) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company will 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 will pay, and will 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 will 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
will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of
any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the
execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.07 RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or
distribution on account of the Company's 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);
(2) 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;
(3) 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 Subsidiary Guarantees, except a payment of
interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof; or
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(4) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other
actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively
referred to as "RESTRICTED PAYMENTS"),
unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
(1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or
would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment; and
(2) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment 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 pursuant to the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section
4.09; and
(3) 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 (excluding Restricted
Payments permitted by clauses (2) through (10) inclusive, of the next
succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:
(a) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the
period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the
first fiscal quarter commencing after the date of this Indenture to
the end of the Company's most recently ended fiscal quarter for which
internal financial statements are available at the time of such
Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such
period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit), PLUS
(b) 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 and other than Equity
Interests sold to members of management) 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
(c) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made
after the date of this Indenture is sold for cash or otherwise
liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital with respect
to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any),
PLUS
(d) if any Unrestricted Subsidiary (i) is redesignated as a
Restricted Subsidiary, the fair market value of such redesignated
Subsidiary (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) as
of the date of its redesignation or (ii) pays any cash dividends or
cash distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, 100% of any such cash dividends or cash distributions
made after the date of this Indenture.
The preceding provisions will not prohibit:
(1) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be
caused thereby, the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date
of declaration of the dividend, if at the date of declaration the dividend
payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;
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(2) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be
caused thereby, the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary 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 will be excluded
from clause (3)(b) of the preceding paragraph;
(3) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of
subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor with the net cash
proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
(4) the payment of any dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;
(5) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be
caused thereby, the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or
retirement for value of (including any disbursements to Holdings for such
purpose) any Equity Interests of Holdings, the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company held by any member or former member of Holdings,
the Company's (or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries') management pursuant
to any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement or similar
agreement; PROVIDED that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased,
redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests shall not exceed (a) $1.0
million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year
being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum
(without giving effect to clause (b)) of $2.0 million in any calendar
year), PLUS (b) the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries from any issuance or reissuance of Equity Interests
to members of management and the proceeds of any "key man" life insurance
policies in any calendar year; PROVIDED, FURTHER that the cancellation of
Indebtedness owing to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries from
members of management in connection with such repurchase of Equity
Interests will not be deemed to be a Restricted Payment;
(6) distributions or payments (a) to Holdings in amounts necessary to
permit Holdings to satisfy income tax obligations of Holdings that are
actually due and owing and are attributable to its ownership of the
Company, PROVIDED that such amounts do not exceed the amount that would
otherwise be due and owing if the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
filed separate tax returns, PROVIDED HOWEVER, that (1) notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the case of determining the amount payable by the Company to
Holdings for income tax obligations, such payment shall not exceed an
amount determined on the basis of assuming that the Company is the parent
company of an affiliated group filing a consolidated Federal income tax
return and that Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries are members of
such affiliated group and (2) any payments for income tax obligations shall
either be used by Holdings to pay tax liabilities within 90 days of
Holding's receipt of such payment or refunded to the Company and (b) to
Holdings to pay the necessary fees and expenses to maintain its corporate
existence and good standing and, so long as no Default has occurred and is
continuing, other general and administrative expenses (which amounts in the
aggregate shall not exceed $500,000 per year);
(7) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, the
declaration and payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock, that was issued
in compliance with this Indenture;
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(8) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise
of stock options to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of
the exercise price thereof;
(9) purchases of fractional Equity Interests of the Company, or
distributions to Holdings to permit it to purchase fractional Equity
Interests of Holdings, for aggregate consideration not to exceed $100,000
since the date of this Indenture; and
(10) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, other
Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed $1.0 million.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair
market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities
proposed to be transferred or issued 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
Section 4.07 will be determined by the Board of Directors whose resolution with
respect thereto will 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 $15.0 million. Not later than the date of making any
Restricted Payment, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted under the terms of
this Indenture 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.
Section 4.08 DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING RESTRICTED
SUBSIDIARIES.
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become
effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Subsidiary to:
(1) 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;
(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; or
(3) 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:
(1) agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and Credit Facilities
as in effect on the date of this Indenture and any amendments,
modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings,
replacements or refinancings of those agreements, PROVIDED that the
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 those agreements or the Security Documents on the date
of this Indenture;
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(2) this Indenture, the security documents relating to the Senior
Secured Notes, the Notes, the Senior Secured Notes and the related
Subsidiary Guarantees and the Exchange Notes and related Subsidiary
Guarantees, relating to the Notes and the Senior Secured Notes;
(3) applicable law, rule, regulation or order;
(4) 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 or Capital Stock 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;
(5) customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
(6) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary
course of business that impose restrictions on that property of the nature
described in clause (3) of the preceding paragraph;
(7) 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;
(8) 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;
(9) Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred
under the provisions of Section 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to
dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;
(10) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of
assets or property in joint venture agreements, assets sale agreements,
stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the
ordinary course of business; and
(11) 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 will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
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 will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will 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, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the
Company's most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal
financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such
additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock is issued would
have been at least 2.5 to 1 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro
forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional
Indebtedness had been incurred or Disqualified Stock had been issued, as the
case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.
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The first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the incurrence of
any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, "PERMITTED DEBT"):
(1) the incurrence by the Company and any Guarantor of additional
Indebtedness and letters of credit under Credit Facilities in an aggregate
principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (1) (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 a maximum of $150.0 million, LESS the aggregate
amount of all Net Proceeds from Asset Sales applied by H&E or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of this Indenture to repay,
repurchase, or redeem Senior Debt pursuant to clause (1) of the third
paragraph of Section 4.10 to the extent such Net Proceeds so applied exceed
$25 million in the aggregate since the date of this Indenture, PROVIDED
that if after giving effect to the incurrence of any Indebtedness pursuant
to this clause (1), the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company's most
recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial
statements are then available would exceed 2.5 to 1.0, determined on a pro
forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds
therefrom), then such maximum amount shall be the greater of (x) $150.0
million, LESS the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds from Asset Sales
applied by H&E or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of this
Indenture to repay, repurchase, or redeem Senior Debt pursuant to clause
(1) of the third paragraph of Section 4.10 to the extent such Net Proceeds
so applied exceed $25 million in the aggregate since the date of this
Indenture or (y) the Borrowing Base;
(2) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of
the Existing Indebtedness;
(3) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness
represented by the Notes, the Senior Secured Notes and the related
Subsidiary Guarantees to be issued on the date of this Indenture and the
Exchange Notes and the related Subsidiary Guarantees relating to the Notes
and the Senior Secured Notes to be issued pursuant to the respective
registration rights agreements;
(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by purchase money obligations to
finance the purchase of inventory held for sale or lease (including rental
equipment) in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $125.0 million
in aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding;
(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries 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 (2),
(3), (4), (5), or (10) of this paragraph;
(6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that:
(a) if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such
Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be 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 Subsidiary Guarantee, in the case of a
Guarantor; and
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(b) (i) 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 Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or
other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; will be deemed, in each
case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by
this clause (6);
(7) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations that are incurred in the ordinary
course of business for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk,
currency risk or commodity risk and not for speculative purposes;
(8) the guarantee by the Company or any of the Guarantors of
Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that
was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this covenant;
(9) the accrual of interest, the 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 will not be deemed to be an incurrence of
Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this
covenant; PROVIDED, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included
in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued;
(10) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters
of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including without
limitation letters of credit in respect to workers' compensation claims or
self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type
obligations regarding workers' compensation claims; PROVIDED, HOWEVER that
upon the drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such
Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such
drawing or incurrence;
(11) obligations in respect of performance and surety bonds and
completion guarantees provided by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; and
(12) the incurrence by the Company or the Guarantors of additional
Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as
applicable) at any time outstanding under this clause (12), including all
Permitted Refinancing indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace
any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (12), not to exceed $15.0
million.
The Company will not incur any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that
is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of
the Company unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right
of payment to the Notes on substantially identical terms; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that no Indebtedness of the Company will be deemed to be contractually
subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company solely
by virtue of being unsecured, being secured to a lesser extent or being secured
by a Lien of lower priority.
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 (1) through (12) above, or is
entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the
Company will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of
its incurrence, in any manner that complies with this covenant. Indebtedness
under Credit Facilities
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outstanding on the date on which Notes are first issued and authenticated under
this Indenture will be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on
the exception provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt. In
addition, the Company may, at any time, change the classification of an item of
Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) to any other clause or to the first
paragraph of this covenant provided that the Company or its Restricted
Subsidiaries would be permitted to incur such item of Indebtedness (or portion
thereof) pursuant to such other clause or the first paragraph of this covenant,
as the case may be, at such time of reclassification.
Section 4.10 ASSET SALES.
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be)
receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the
fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or
otherwise disposed of;
(2) the 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
(3) at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale 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 will be
deemed to be cash:
(a) any liabilities, as shown on the Company's most recent
consolidated 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 Subsidiary 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 converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash
or Cash Equivalents within 180 days, to the extent of the cash
received in that conversion.
The 75% limitation referred to in clause (3) above will not apply to any
Asset Sale in which the cash or Cash Equivalents portion of the consideration
received therefrom, determined in accordance with the subclauses (a) and (b), is
equal to or greater than what the after-tax proceeds would have been had such
Asset Sale complied with the aforementioned 75% limitation.
Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale,
the Company may apply those Net Proceeds:
(1) to repay or repurchase Senior Debt, including repayment of any
revolving advance; PROVIDED, to the extent that the aggregate amount
applied pursuant to this clause (1) exceeds $25.0 million since the date of
this Indenture such excess will be used to repay, repurchase, or redeem
Senior Debt and to the extent used to repay revolving borrowings, to effect
a reduction of the commitments thereunder;
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(2) to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or a
majority of the Voting Stock of, another Permitted Business;
(3) to make a capital expenditure or purchase construction or
industrial equipment; or
(4) to acquire other long-term assets that are used or useful in a
Permitted Business,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the case of any Asset Sale involving assets having a
fair market value of 5.5% or greater of the Company's Consolidated Tangible
Assets as of the date of such Asset Sale, not more than one-third of the Net
Proceeds from such Asset Sale may be applied to those items listed in clauses
(2), (3) and (4) above.
Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company may
temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the 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 will constitute "Excess Proceeds." When the
aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company will 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 will be equal to 100%
of the Accreted Value thereof plus accrued and unpaid 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
those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this
Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other PARI PASSU
Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess
Proceeds, the Trustee will 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 will he reset at zero.
The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the
Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent those 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 Sale
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 will not, and will 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:
(1) the 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
(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:
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(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in
excess of $3.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors set
forth in an Officers' Certificate certifying that such Affiliate
Transaction complies with this covenant and that such Affiliate
Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board of Directors (or a majority of the Board of
Directors if there are no disinterested members); and
(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in
excess of $7.5 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Company
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 will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and,
therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph:
(1) any employment agreement entered into by the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with the past practice of the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary;
(2) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(3) transactions with a Person that is an Affiliate of the Company
solely because the Company owns an Equity Interest in, or controls, such
Person;
(4) sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to
Affiliates of the Company;
(5) Restricted Payments that are permitted by the provisions of this
Indenture described above under Section 4.07;
(6) customary loans, advances, fees and compensation paid to, and
indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or
consultants of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(7) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing,
transactions pursuant to the Management Agreement and the other Affiliate
Agreements as all are in effect on the date of this Indenture or as the
same may be amended, modified or replaced from time to time so long as any
such amendment, modification or replacement is no less favorable to the
Holders than the contract or agreement as in effect on the date of this
Indenture; and
(8) payments in connection with the Transactions (including the
payment of fees and expenses with respect thereto), on the terms described
in this offering circular under the caption "Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions" in the Offering Circular.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.11, the Company
will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any
payment pursuant to the Management Agreement if any Default has occurred and is
continuing or would be caused by such payment.
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Section 4.12 LIENS.
The Company will not, and will 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 Attributable Debt on any assets
now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens.
Section 4.13 BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.
The Company will not, and will 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:
(1) its corporate or limited liability company 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
(2) 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.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company will make an
offer (a "CHANGE OF CONTROL OFFER") to each Holder to repurchase all or any part
(equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) of each Holder's Notes at a
purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the Accreted Value thereof plus accrued
and unpaid Liquidated Damages on the Notes repurchased, if any, to the date of
purchase (the "CHANGE OF CONTROL PAYMENT"). Within 60 days following any Change
of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the
transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and 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 later
than 30 business 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 will cease to accrete or accrue interest after the Change of
Control Payment Date;
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(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 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 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 will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the
Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the
repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change in Control. To the extent that
the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the
provisions of Sections 3.09 or 4.15 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 Section 3.09 or this Section 4.15 by virtue
of such conflict.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent
lawful:
(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly
tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of
Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly
tendered; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes
properly accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the
aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by
the Company.
The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes properly
tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will
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 new Note will be in a
principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000.
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 will 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 provisions described above that require the Company to make a Change of
Control Offer following a Change of Control will be applicable whether or not
any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable. Except as described above
with respect to a Change of Control, this Indenture does not
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contain provisions that permit the Holders of the Notes to require that the
Company repurchase or redeem the Notes in the event of a takeover,
recapitalization or similar transaction.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.15, the
Company will 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
Section 4.15 and Section 3.09 hereof and purchases all Notes validly tendered
and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer.
Section 4.16 NO SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT
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 Subsidiary Guarantee. Indebtedness shall
not be considered subordinate or junior in right of payment to any other
Indebtedness solely by virtue of being unsecured or secured to a greater or
lesser extent or with greater or lower priority.
Section 4.17 SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS.
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; PROVIDED that
the Company or any Guarantor may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction if:
(1) the Company or that Guarantor, as applicable, could have (a)
incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating
to such sale and leaseback transaction under the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio test in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 and (b) incurred a Lien
to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.12;
(2) the gross cash proceeds of that sale and leaseback transaction
are at least equal to the fair market value, as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered
to the Trustee, of the property that is the subject of that sale and
leaseback transaction; and
(3) the transfer of assets in that sale and leaseback transaction is
permitted by, and the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in
compliance with, Section 4.10.
Section 4.18 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. 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 properly designated will be deemed to
be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the
amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of Section
4.07 or Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation
will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if
the 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.
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Section 4.19 PAYMENTS FOR CONSENT.
The Company will not, and will 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 4.20 ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES.
If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates
another Domestic Restricted Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, then
that newly acquired or created Domestic Restricted Subsidiary shall become a
Guarantor and execute a supplemental indenture and deliver an Opinion of Counsel
satisfactory to the Trustee within 10 Business Days of the date on which it was
acquired or created.
Section 4.21 CALCULATION OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.
The Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each
calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue
discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding
Notes as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information
relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01 MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS.
The Company may not, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with
or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving
corporation); or (2) 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:
(1) 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 has been made is either (i) a corporation organized or
existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United
States or the District of Columbia or (ii)) is a limited liability company
organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state
thereof or the District of Columbia that has at least one Restricted
Subsidiary that is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of
the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia which
corporation becomes a co-issuer of the Notes pursuant to a supplemental
indenture duly and validly executed by the Trustee;
(2) 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 has been made assumes
all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture and
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the registration rights agreement pursuant to written agreements reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee;
(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of
Default exists; and
(4) 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 has been made will,
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 Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09.
The preceding clause (4) shall not prohibit (i) a merger between the
Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) a merger between the Company and an
Affiliate with no substantial assets or liabilities for the sole purpose of
incorporating or reincorporating or organizing or reorganizing the Company in
another state of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
In addition, the Company may not, directly or indirectly, lease all or
substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related
transactions, to any other Person. This Section 5.01 will not apply to a sale,
assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among
the Company and any of its 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 a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the
provisions of, 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 of all of
the Company's assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with
the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
Each of the following is an "Event of Default":
(1) the Company defaults for 30 days in the payment when due of
interest on, or Liquidated Damages with respect to, the Notes (whether or
not prohibited by Article 10);
(2) the Company defaults in the payment when due (at maturity, upon
redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the
Notes (whether or not prohibited by Article 10);
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(3) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails to comply with the
provisions of Section 4.15 hereof;
(4) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails to observe or
perform any other covenant, representation, warranty or other agreement in
this Indenture 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;
(5) 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 Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or
is created after the date of this Indenture, if that default:
(A) 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
(B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to
its express maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of any
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 $10.0 million or
more;
(6) a final non-appealable judgment or final non-appealable 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,
which judgment or judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period
of 60 days; PROVIDED that the aggregate of all such undischarged judgments
exceeds $10.0 million;
(7) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to or
within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:
(A) commences a voluntary case,
(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in
an involuntary case,
(C) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all
or substantially all of its property,
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors,
or
(E) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or
(8) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under
any Bankruptcy Law that:
(A) is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in an involuntary case;
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(B) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or for all or substantially all of the property of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or
(C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive
days; or
(9) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Subsidiary 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 Guarantor, or
any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its
obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee.
Section 6.02 ACCELERATION.
In the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of
Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Company, the Accreted Value of all
outstanding Notes shall become due and payable immediately without further
action or notice. If any other 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 the Accreted Value of all the outstanding Notes to
be due and payable immediately; PROVIDED that so long as any Indebtedness
permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Credit Agreement shall be outstanding,
such acceleration shall not be effective until the earlier of (i) the
acceleration of such Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement or (ii) five
Business Days after receipt by the Company and the Credit Agreement Agent of
written notice of such acceleration.
Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable
immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in
clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company 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.
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 and Liquidated
Damages, 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
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
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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:
(1) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
(2) 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;
(3) 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;
(4) 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
(5) 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 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(1) or (2) 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
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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 6, 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.
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
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discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses, 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 6.11 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
will 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:
(1) the duties of the Trustee will 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
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of
the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to
the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However,
in the case of any such certificates or opinions by which any provisions
hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or
not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not
confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other
facts stated therein).
(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:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this
Section 7.01;
(2) the Trustee will 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
(3) the Trustee will 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 7.01.
(e) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee will be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the
request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security
and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
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(f) The Trustee will 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.
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 will 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 of its selection and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion
of Counsel will 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 will not be
responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.
(d) The Trustee will 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 will be sufficient if signed by an
Officer of the Company.
(f) The Trustee will 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 have offered to the Trustee security or
indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or
direction.
(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture,
note, other evidence or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its
discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such matters as
it may see fit.
(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event
of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge
thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact a default is
received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such
notice references the Notes and this Indenture.
(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to
the Trustee, including without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are
extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities
hereunder, and each agent custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(j) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers'
Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers
authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture,
which Officers' Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an
Officers' Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any
such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
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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.
Section 7.04 TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER.
The Trustee will 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 will not be responsible for the use or application of any money
received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will 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 will 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 or
Liquidated Damages, 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.
(a) Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following
the date of the first issuance of the Notes under this Indenture, and for so
long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee will mail to the Holders of the
Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA
Section 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred
within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be
transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with TIA Section 313(b)(2). The
Trustee will also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA Section
313(c).
(b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of
Notes will be mailed by the Trustee to the Company and filed by the Trustee with
the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with
TIA Section 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes
are listed on any stock exchange or any delisting thereof.
Section 7.07 COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY.
(a) The Company will pay to the Trustee from time to time such
compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee
for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee's
compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a Trustee of an
express trust. The Company will 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 will include the
reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's agents and
counsel.
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(b) The Company and the Guarantor will indemnify each of the Trustee and
any predecessor 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 taxes (other than
taxes based on the income of the Trustee), including the costs and expenses of
enforcing this Indenture against the Company and the Guarantors (including this
Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the
Company, the Guarantors 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 will notify the Company
promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to
so notify the Company will not relieve the Company or any of the Guarantors of
their obligations hereunder. The Company or such Guarantor will defend the claim
and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate
counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such
counsel. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made
without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.
(c) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section
7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
(d) To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the
Trustee will 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 will survive the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture.
(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) 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.
(f) The Trustee will comply with the provisions of TIA Section 313(b)(2)
to the extent applicable.
Section 7.08 REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE.
(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor
Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of
appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.
(b) 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:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(2) 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;
(3) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its
property; or
(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor
Trustee. Within one year after the successor
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Trustee takes office, the Holdersof a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor
Trustee appointed by the Company.
(d) 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, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction
for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(e) 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.
(f) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the
successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee
under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession
to Holders. The retiring Trustee will 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 will 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 will be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.10 ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION.
There will 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 will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of
TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA Section
310(b).
Section 7.11 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.
The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor
relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been
removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
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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 upon
compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
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 each of the Guarantors will,
subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof,
be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all
outstanding Notes (including the Subsidiary 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 will be
deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the
outstanding Notes (including the Subsidiary Guarantees), which will thereafter
be deemed to be "outstanding" only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and
the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below,
and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the
Subsidiary Guarantees 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 will survive until otherwise
terminated or discharged hereunder:
(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in
respect of the principal of, or interest or premium and Liquidated Damages,
if any, on such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to
in Section 8.04 hereof;
(2) the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under
Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof;
(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee
hereunder and the Company's and the Guarantors' obligations in connection
therewith; and
(4) this Article 8.
Subject to compliance with this Article 8, 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 and the Guarantors will, subject to
the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released
from each of their 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, 4.19 and 4.20 hereof
and clause (4) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on
and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied
(hereinafter, "COVENANT DEFEASANCE"), and the Notes will 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 will continue to be deemed "outstanding" for
all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be
deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant
Defeasance means that, with
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respect to the outstanding Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees, the Company and the
Guarantors may omit to comply with and will 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 will 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 and Subsidiary
Guarantees will 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(3) through 6.01(5) hereof will not constitute Events of Default.
Section 8.04 CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under
either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:
(1) 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 amounts as will be
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally-recognized firm of independent
public accountants, to pay the principal of, or interest and premium and
Liquidated Damages, if any, on the outstanding Notes on the stated maturity
thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the
Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to
a particular redemption date;
(2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company
has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming 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;
(3) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company
must deliver 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;
(4) 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 borrowing of funds to be applied to such
deposit);
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(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will 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;
(6) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of
preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Company
with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other
creditors of the Company or others; and
(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel, which opinion may be subject to customary
assumptions and exclusions, 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
will 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 due thereon in respect of principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if
any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except
to the extent required by law.
The Company will 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.
Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee
will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the written 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(1) 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 or Liquidated
Damages, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years
after such principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, 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) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such
Note will thereafter be permitted to 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, will
thereupon cease; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent,
before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense of the
Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and
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The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains
unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will 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 and the Guarantor's obligations under this
Indenture and the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees will 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 or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on any Note following the
reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will 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.
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 Subsidiary
Guarantees or the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a Note:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of
certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article 2 hereof
(including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially
adversely affect any Holder;
(3) to provide for the assumption of the Company's or a Guarantor's
obligations to the Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Company
pursuant to Article 5 or Article 11 hereof;
(4) to allow any Subsidiary to guarantee the Notes
(5) 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; or
(6) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or
maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.
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 will 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
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therein contained, but the Trustee will 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 and the Trustee
may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section
3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof), the Subsidiary Guarantees and the Notes with the
consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes
(including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding
voting as a single class (including, without limitation, 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 or Liquidated Damages, 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 Subsidiary 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). An amendment or supplement to, or waiver of,
any of the provisions of Article 10 or any defined term used therein will become
effective only as set forth in Section 10.14.
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 upon receipt by
the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will
join with the Company 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 will not be obligated to, enter into such
amended or supplemental Indenture.
It is 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 is sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes
effective, the Company will 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, will 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):
(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent
to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note
or alter 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;
(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest,
on any Note;
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(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal
of, or interest or premium, or Liquidated Damages, if any, 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 Notes and a waiver of
the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the
Notes;
(6) 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;
(7) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a
payment required by one of the covenants described above under Sections
4.10 or 4.15);
(8) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its
Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms
of this Indenture; or
(9) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in the
foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.
Section 9.03 COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set
forth in a amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then
in effect.
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 will not
affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.06 TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC.
The Trustee will sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized
pursuant to this Article 9 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 receive and
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(subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully protected in conclusively relying
upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 13.04 hereof, an
Officers' 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 is subordinated in right of payment, to the
extent and in the manner provided in this Article 10, to the prior payment in
full in cash 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 of Senior Debt.
Section 10.02 LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY.
Upon any distribution to creditors of the Company in a liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property, in
an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshaling of the Company's
assets and liabilities:
(i) holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled to receive payment in
full in cash of all Obligations due in respect of such Senior Debt
(including interest after the commencement of any such proceeding at the
rate specified in the applicable Senior Debt whether or not a claim for
such interest is an allowed claim) before Holders of the Notes shall be
entitled to receive any payment with respect to the Notes (except that
Holders may receive (A) Permitted Junior Securities and (B) payments and
other distributions made from any defeasance trust created in compliance
with this Article 10 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 in compliance with this Article 10 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 and may not
acquire from the Trustee or any Holder any Notes for cash or property or create
any defeasance trust pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof (other than (A) Permitted
Junior Securities and (B) payments and other distributions made from any
defeasance trust in compliance with this Section 10 created pursuant to Section
8.01 hereof) until all principal and other Obligations with respect to the
Senior Debt have been paid in full in cash if:
(i) a default in the payment of any principal or other Obligations
with respect to Designated Senior Debt occurs and is continuing beyond any
applicable grace period in the agreement, indenture or other document
governing such Designated Senior Debt; or
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(ii) a default, other than a payment default, on any series of
Designated Senior Debt that permits holders of that series of 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 at least 360 days shall have
elapsed since the delivery of the immediately prior Payment Blockage
Notice. 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 unless such
default shall have been waived for a period of not less than 180 days.
(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, or
(ii) in the case of a default referred to in clause (ii) of Section
10.03(a) hereof, 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.
Section 10.04 ACCELERATION OF SECURITIES.
If payment of the Securities is accelerated because of an Event of Default,
the Company shall promptly notify holders of Senior Debt of the acceleration.
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 proper
written request, to, the holders of Senior Debt as their interests may appear or
their Representative under the 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
cash 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.
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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 in cash and all commitments under the
Credit Agreement are terminated 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:
(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
in each case which is
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consistent with this Article 10, 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 three 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 such 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 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 Credit Agreement Agent or Representatives 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:
(1) the holders of at least 80% in principal amount of the
Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement, voting as a single
class;
(2) the holders of at least 80% of all outstanding Senior Debt under
the Senior Secured Note Indenture; and
(3) the holders of at least 66 2/3% in principal amount of each
outstanding series of Specified Senior Debt.
ARTICLE 11.
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
Section 11.01 GUARANTEE.
(a) 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
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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:
(1) the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, 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
(2) 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 will 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.
(b) The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder are
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 Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by
complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this
Indenture.
(c) 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
Subsidiary Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated
in full force and effect.
(d) Each Guarantor agrees that it will 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, (1) the maturity of the
obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof
for the purposes of this Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay,
injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the
obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) 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) will forthwith become due and
payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Subsidiary Guarantee. The
Guarantors will 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 Subsidiary Guarantee.
Section 11.02 SUBORDINATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE
The Obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary 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,
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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 Subsidiary
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 Subsidiary Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing
intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree
that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount
that 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 11, result in the
obligations of such Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a
fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
Section 11.04 EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE.
To evidence its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01, each
Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee
substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E hereto will be endorsed by an
Officer of such Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee and that this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by
one of its Officers.
Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in
Section 11.01 will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure
to endorse on each Note a notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee.
If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Subsidiary
Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the
Note on which a Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed, the Subsidiary Guarantee will
be valid nevertheless.
The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof
hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in
this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
In the event that the Company creates or acquires any Domestic Subsidiary
after the date of this Indenture, if required by Section 4.10 hereof, the
Company will cause such Domestic Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of
Section 4.10 hereof and this Article 11, to the extent applicable.
Section 11.05 GUARANTORS MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ON CERTAIN TERMS.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.06, no Guarantor may sell or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate
with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving
Person) another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor, unless:
(1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default
or Event of Default exists; and
(2) either:
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(a) subject to Section 11.06 hereof, the Person acquiring the
property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger unconditionally assumes all the
obligations of that Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under this Indenture,
the Subsidiary Guarantee and the Registration Rights Agreement on the terms
set forth herein or therein; and
(b) 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.
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
Subsidiary 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 will 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 Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary Guarantees so issued will in
all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the
Subsidiary Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the
terms of this Indenture as though all of such Subsidiary 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
will prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company
or another Guarantor, or will 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.
In the event of any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or
any sale of 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, by way
of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor
and so long as immediately following such sale such Guarantor is no longer a
Restricted Subsidiary) 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 Subsidiary
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 will execute any documents reasonably required in order to
evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary
Guarantee.
If the Company designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as
an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.18 then such Guarantor
will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee
Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary
Guarantee will 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.
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ARTICLE 12.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 12.01 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 been 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 mailing 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 amounts as will be sufficient
without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, in the opinion of an
accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing, 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 has occurred and is continuing on
the date of such deposit or will 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
has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of
this Section, the provisions of Section 12.02 and Section 8.06 will survive. In
addition, nothing in this Section 12.01 will be deemed to discharge those
provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
Section 12.02 APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, all money deposited with the
Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 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
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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 12.01 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
12.01; 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.
ARTICLE 13.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.01 TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by TIA Section 318(c), the imposed duties will control.
Section 13.02 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), telecopier
or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others' address:
If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:
H&E Equipment Services L.L.C.
H&E Finance Corp.
11100 Mead Road, Suite 200
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816
Telecopier No.: (225) 298-5332
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Kirkland & Ellis
Citicorp Center
153 East 53rd Street
New York, New York 10022
Telecopier No.: (212) 446-4900
Attention: Joshua Korff, Esq.
If to the Trustee:
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The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street, Floor 8 West
New York, New York 10286
Telecopier No.: (212) 896-7299
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
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) will 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 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 will 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 will also be so mailed to any Person
described in TIA Section 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to
mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect
its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
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 will mail a
copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 13.03 COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF NOTES WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF NOTES.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 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 Section
312(c).
Section 13.04 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 (except in connection with the original issuance of
Notes), the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(1) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in
Section 13.05 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
(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in
Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all
such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
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Section 13.05 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 Section 314(a)(4)) must comply with the provisions of TIA
Section 314(e) and must include:
(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion
has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her
to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or
condition has been satisfied; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person,
such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
Section 13.06 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.
Section 13.07 NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND
STOCKHOLDERS.
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company
or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the
Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Subsidiary
Guarantees, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such
obligations or their creation. Each Holder of 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. The waiver may not be effective to
waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Section 13.08 GOVERNING LAW.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL 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 13.09 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.
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Section 13.10 SUCCESSORS.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its
successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its
successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its
successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 13.05.
Section 13.11 SEVERABILITY.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes is invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 13.12 COUNTERPART ORIGINALS.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed
copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
Section 13.13 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 will in no way
modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[Signatures on following page]
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SIGNATURES
Dated as of June 17, 2002
H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES L.L.C.
By: /s/ Lindsay Jones
---------------------------------
Name: Lindsay Jones
Title: Senior Vice President,
Finance, and Secretary
H&E FINANCE CORP.
By: /s/ Lindsay Jones
---------------------------------
Name: Lindsay Jones
Title: Senior Vice President,
Finance and Secretary
GNE INVESTMENTS, INC.
By: /s/ Lindsay Jones
---------------------------------
Name: Lindsay Jones
Title: Secretary
GREAT NORTHERN EQUIPMENT, INC.
By: /s/ Lindsay Jones
---------------------------------
Name: Lindsay Jones
Title: Secretary
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE
By: /s/ Margaret Ciesmelewski
---------------------------------
Name: Margaret Ciesmelewski
Title: Authorized Signatory
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SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF GUARANTORS
The following schedule lists each Guarantor under the Indenture as of the
date of the Indenture:
GNE Investments, Inc.
Great Northern Equipment, Inc.
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EXHIBIT A1
[Face of Note]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CUSIP/CINS ____________
12 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
No. ___ $____________
H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES L.L.C.
H&E FINANCE CORP.
promises to pay to CEDE & CO.
or registered assigns,
the principal sum of ___________________________________________________________
Dollars on June 15, 2013.
Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15
Record Dates: June 1 and December 1
H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES L.L.C. H&E FINANCE CORP.
By: By:
------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
By: By:
------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
This is one of the Notes referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee
By:
-------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
Dated: _______________, 2002
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A1-1
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[Back of Note]
12 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
[INSERT GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND, IF APPLICABLE PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE
INDENTURE]
[INSERT PRIVATE PLACEMENT LEGEND, IF APPLICABLE PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
THE INDENTURE]
[INSERT ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT LEGEND, IF APPLICABLE.]
Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
(1) INTEREST. H&E Equipment Services L.L.C., a Louisiana limited
liability company ("H&E LLC) and H&E Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation
("H&E Finance" and together with H&E LLC, the "Company"), promises to pay
interest on the principal amount of this Note at 12 1/2% per annum from
June 17, 2002 until maturity and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any,
payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below.
The Company will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, semi-annually
in arrears on June 15 and December 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 the
date of issuance; 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 December 15, 2002. The Company will 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 will pay
interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages,
if any, (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, if any, to the Persons
who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the June 1
or December 1 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, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at
their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; PROVIDED that payment
by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with
respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated Damages, if
any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will
have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying
Agent. Such payment will 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..
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<Page>
(3) PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, The Bank of New York, 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. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated
as of June 17, 2002 (the "Indenture") among the Company, 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 Sections 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 secured
obligations of the Company.
(5) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5,
after June 15, 2007, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices
(expressed as percentages of Accreted Value) set forth below plus accrued
and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes redeemed,
to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month
period beginning on June 15 of the years indicated below:
<Table>
<Caption>
Year Percentage
---- ----------
2007................................................... 106.250%
2008................................................... 104.167%
2009................................................... 102.083%
2010 and thereafter.................................... 100.000%
</Table>
(b) At any time prior to June 15, 2005, the Company may on one
or more occasions redeem an aggregate of up to 35% of the aggregate
principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price
of 112.50% of the Accreted Value thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
Liquidated Damages, if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash
proceeds of an offering of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock)
of the Company or Holdings (so long as such net cash proceeds are
contributed to the Company from Holdings as common equity); PROVIDED that:
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under
this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such
redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and
(2) the redemption occurs within 60 days of the date of the closing of such
offering.
(c) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Notes will
not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to June 15, 2007.
(6) MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
The Company will not be required to make mandatory redemption payments with
respect to the Notes.
(7) REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER.
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(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be
required to make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all
or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each
Holder's Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the Accreted
Value thereof plus accrued and unpaid Liquidated Damages thereon, if any,
to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 60 days
following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each
Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer
as required by the Indenture.
(b) If the Company or a Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales,
within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess
Proceeds exceeds $5 million, the Company will 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 (an "Asset Sale Offer") pursuant to Section 3.09 of the
Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any
Additional Notes) and 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 thereof plus accrued and unpaid Liquidated
Damages thereon, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the
Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (including any
Additional Notes) and other PARI PASSU Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an
Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company (or such
Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for any purpose not otherwise
prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and
other PARI PASSU Indebtedness surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the
amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and 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 Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or
supplemented with the
A1-4
<Page>
consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single
class, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the
Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class.
Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Subsidiary
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 or to alter the provisions of
Article 2 of the Indenture (including the related definitions) in a manner
that does not materially adversely affect any Holder; to provide for the
assumption of the Company's or a Guarantor's obligations to the Holders of
the Notes by a successor to the Company pursuant to Article 5 or Article 11
of the Indenture; 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; to comply with
requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of
this Indenture under the TIA; to provide for the issuance of Additional
Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of
the date hereof; or to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental
indenture and/or a Subsidiary Guarantee with respect to the Notes.
(12) DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Each of the following is an Event of
Default: (1) the Company defaults for 30 days in the payment when due of
interest on, or Liquidated Damages with respect to, the Notes; (2) the
Company defaults in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or
otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes; (3) the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails to comply with the provisions of
Section 4.15 of the Indenture; (4) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
fails to observe or perform any other covenant, representation, warranty or
other agreement in this Indenture 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; (5) 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 Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the payment of
which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), whether
such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of
this Indenture, if that default: (A) 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 (B) results in the
acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity, and, in
each case, the principal amount of any 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 $10.0 million or more; (6) a final non-appealable judgment or
final non-appealable 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, which judgment or judgments are not paid,
discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; PROVIDED that the aggregate
of all such undischarged judgments exceeds $10.0 million; (7) the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the meaning of
Bankruptcy Law: (A) commences a voluntary case, (B)consents to the entry of
an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (C) consents to the
appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its
property, (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors,
or (E) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; (8) a court of
competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law
that: (A) is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in an involuntary case; (B) appoints a custodian of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or for all or substantially
all of the property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60
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<Page>
consecutive days; or (9) except as permitted by this Indenture, any
Subsidiary 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 Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny
or disaffirm its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee.
(13) SUBORDINATION. Payment of principal, interest and premium and
Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes is subordinated to the prior
payment of Senior Debt on the terms provided in the Indenture.
(14) 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.
(15) NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as
such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or
such Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees 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.
(16) AUTHENTICATION. This Note will not be valid until authenticated
by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
(17) ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of
a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TENENT (=
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).
(18) 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 will have all the rights set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 17, 2002, among the Company,
the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof
(the "Registration Rights Agreement").
(19) 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.
(20) GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL
GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS NOTE 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.
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:
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<Page>
H&E Equipment Services L.L.C.
H&E Finance Corp.
11100 Mead Road, Suite 200
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816
Telecopier No.: (225) 298-5332
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
A1-7
<Page>
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).
A1-8
<Page>
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).
AI-9
<Page>
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:
<Table>
<Caption>
Principal Amount
Amount of Amount of At Maturity of This Signature of
Decrease in Increase in Global Note Authorized
Principal Amount Principal Amount Following Such Signatory Of
At Maturity of At Maturity of Decrease Trustee Or
Date of Exchange This Global Note This Global Note (Or Increase) Custodian
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------
</Table>
* THIS SCHEDULE SHOULD BE INCLUDED ONLY IF THE NOTE IS ISSUED IN GLOBAL FORM.
A1-10
<Page>
EXHIBIT A2
[Face of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CUSIP/CINS __________
12 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
No. ___ $__________
H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES L.L.C.
H&E FINANCE CORP.
promises to pay to CEDE & CO.
or registered assigns,
the principal sum of ___________________________________________________________
Dollars on June 15, 2013.
Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15
Record Dates: June 1 and December 1
H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES L.L.C. H&E FINANCE CORP.
By: By:
------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
By: By:
------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
This is one of the Notes referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee
By:
--------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
Dated: _______________, 2002.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A2-1
<Page>
[Back of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]
12 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013
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.
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 (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED
IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS
GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
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.
[INSERT ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT LEGEND AS APPLICABLE.]
Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
(1) INTEREST. H&E Equipment Services L.L.C., a Louisiana limited
liability company ("H&E LLC") and H&E Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation
("H&E Finance" and together with H&E LLC, the "Company"), promises to pay
interest on the principal amount of this Note at 12 1/2% per annum from
June 17 until maturity and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any,
payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below.
The Company will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, semi-annually
in arrears on June 15 and December 15 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 the
date of issuance; PROVIDED that if
A2-2
<Page>
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 December 15, 2002. The Company will 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 will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest
and Liquidated Damages, if any, (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 Notes under the Indenture.
(2) METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes
(except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons
who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the June 1
or December 1 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,
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, 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, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at
their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; PROVIDED that payment
by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with
respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated Damages, if
any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will
have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying
Agent. Such payment will 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, The Bank of New York, 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. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated
as of June 17, 2002 (the "Indenture") among the Company, 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 Sections 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 secured
obligations of the Company.
(5) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5,
after June 15, 2007, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices
(expressed as percentages of Accreted Value) set forth
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<Page>
below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on
the Notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during
the twelve-month period beginning on June 15 of the years indicated below:
<Table>
<Caption>
Year Percentage
---- ----------
2007.................................................... 106.250%
2008.................................................... 104.167%
2009.................................................... 102.083%
2010 and thereafter..................................... 100.000%
</Table>
(b) At any time prior to June 15, 2005, the Company may on one
or more occasions redeem an aggregate of up to 35% of the aggregate
principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price
of 112.50% of the Accreted Value thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
Liquidated Damages, if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash
proceeds of an offering of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock)
of the Company or Holdings (so long as such net cash proceeds are
contributed to the Company from Holdings as common equity); PROVIDED that:
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under
this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such
redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and
(2) the redemption occurs within 60 days of the date of the closing of such
offering.
(6) MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
The Company will not be required to make mandatory redemption payments with
respect to the Notes.
(7) REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER.
(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be
required to make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all
or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each
Holder's Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the Accreted Value
thereof on the date of purchase plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the
"Change of Control Payment"). Within 60 days following any Change of
Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the
procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the
Indenture.
(b) If the Company or a Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales,
within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess
Proceeds exceeds $5 million, the Company will 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 (an "Asset Sale Offer") pursuant to Section 3.09 of the
Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any
Additional Notes) and 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 thereof plus accrued and unpaid Liquidated
Damages thereon, if any, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the
Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (including any
Additional Notes) and other PARI PASSU Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an
Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company (or such
Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for any purpose not otherwise
prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and
other PARI PASSU Indebtedness surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the
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<Page>
amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and 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 Subsidiary 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 and Additional Notes, if
any, voting as a single class, and any existing default or compliance with
any provision of the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes may
be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a
single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture,
the Subsidiary 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 or to alter the
provisions of Article 2 of the Indenture (including the related
definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any
Holder; to provide for the assumption of the Company's or a Guarantor's
obligations to the Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Company
pursuant to Article 5 or Article 11 of the Indenture; 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; to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to
effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; or to
provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the
limitations set
A2-5
<Page>
forth in this Indenture as of the date hereof; to allow any Guarantor to
execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Subsidiary Guarantee with respect
to the Notes.
(12) DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Each of the following is an Event of
Default: (1) the Company defaults for 30 days in the payment when due of
interest on, or Liquidated Damages with respect to, the Notes (whether or
not prohibited by Article 10 of the Indenture); (2) the Company defaults in
the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the
principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes (whether or not prohibited
by Article 10 of the Indenture); (3) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
fails to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15 of the Indenture; (4)
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails to observe or perform any
other covenant, representation, warranty or other agreement in this
Indenture 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; (5) 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 Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is
guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), whether such
Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of this
Indenture, if that default: (A) 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 (B) results in the acceleration of
such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity, and, in each case, the
principal amount of any 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 $10.0
million or more; (6) a final non-appealable judgment or final
non-appealable 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, which judgment or judgments are not paid,
discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; PROVIDED that the aggregate
of all such undischarged judgments exceeds $10.0 million; (7) the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the meaning of
Bankruptcy Law: (A) commences a voluntary case, (B)consents to the entry of
an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (C) consents to the
appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its
property, (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors,
or (E) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; (8) a court of
competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law
that: (A) is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in an involuntary case; (B) appoints a custodian of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or for all or substantially
all of the property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60
consecutive days; or (9) except as permitted by this Indenture, any
Subsidiary 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 Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny
or disaffirm its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee.
(13) SUBORDINATION. Payment of principal, interest and premium and
Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes is subordinated to the prior
payment of Senior Debt on the terms provided in the Indenture.
(14) 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.
A2-6
<Page>
(15) NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as
such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or
such Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees 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.
(16) AUTHENTICATION. This Note will not be valid until authenticated
by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
(17) 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).
(18) 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 will have all the rights set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 17, 2002, among the Company,
the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof
(the "Registration Rights Agreement").
(19) 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.
(20) GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL
GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS NOTE 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.
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:
H&E Equipment Services L.L.C.
H&E Finance Corp.
11100 Mead Road, Suite 200
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816
Telecopier No.: (225) 298-5332
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
A2-7
<Page>
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
<Page>
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
<Page>
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:
<Table>
<Caption>
Principal Amount
Amount of Amount of At Maturity of This Signature of
Decrease in Increase in Global Note Authorized
Principal Amount Principal Amount Following Such Signatory of
At Maturity of At Maturity of Decrease Trustee or
Date of Exchange This Global Note This Global Note (Or Increase) Custodian
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------
</Table>
A2-10
<Page>
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
H&E Equipment Services L.L.C.
H&E Finance Corp.
11100 Mead Road, Suite 200
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street, Floor 8 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Re: 12 1/2% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2013
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of June 17, 2002 (the
"INDENTURE"), among H&E Equipment Services L.L.C. and H&E Finance Corp.,
together as issuer (the "COMPANY"), the Guarantors named on the signature pages
thereto and The Bank of New York, 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 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
B-1
<Page>
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 the Initial
Purchaser). 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 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.
B-2
<Page>
(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 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
<Page>
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
<Page>
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
H&E Equipment Services L.L.C.
H&E Finance Corp.
11100 Mead Road, Suite 200
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street, Floor 8 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Re: 12 1/2% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2013 (CUSIP____________)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of June 17, 2002 (the
"INDENTURE"), among H&E Equipment Services L.L.C. and H&E Finance Corp.,
together as issuer (the "COMPANY"), the Guarantors named on the signature pages
thereto and The Bank of New York, 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
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 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-1
<Page>
(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 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.
C-2
<Page>
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-3
<Page>
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
H&E Equipment Services L.L.C.
H&E Finance Corp.
11100 Mead Road, Suite 200
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street, Floor 8 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Re: 12 1/2% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2013 (CUSIP______________)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of June 17, 2002 (the
"INDENTURE"), among H&E Equipment Services L.L.C. and H&E Finance Corp.,
together as issuer (the "COMPANY"), the Guarantors named on the signature pages
thereto and The Bank of New York, 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 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
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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 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: ______________________
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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 June 17, 2002 (the "INDENTURE") among
H&E Equipment Services L.L.C. and H&E Finance Corp., (together the "COMPANY"),
the Guarantors listed on Schedule I thereto and The Bank of New York, as trustee
(the "TRUSTEE"), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium
and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest 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 of and interest on the
Notes, if any, if lawful, 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 Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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.
GNE INVESTMENTS, INC.
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
GREAT NORTHERN EQUIPMENT, INC.
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT F
[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE"), dated as of
________________, 200__, among __________________ (the "GUARANTEEING
SUBSIDIARY"), a subsidiary of H&E Equipment Services L.L.C. (or its permitted
successor), a Louisiana limited liability company ("H&E LLC") or H&E Finance
Corp. ("H&E FINANCE") (or its permitted successor), a Delaware corporation
(collectively H&E LLC and H&E Finance Corp. are referred to herein as the
"COMPANY"), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture
referred to herein) and The Bank of New York, as trustee under this 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 June 17, 2002 providing for the
issuance of an aggregate principal amount of up to $53.0 million of 12 1/2%
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (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 "SUBSIDIARY 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 premium and Liquidated Damages, if
any, 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
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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.
(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 Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary
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 Subsidiary
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 Subsidiary
Guarantee.
(i) Pursuant to Section 11.03 of the Indenture, after giving
effect to any maximum amount and all 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 Subsidiary
Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount permissible such that
the obligations of such Guarantor under this Subsidiary Guarantee will
not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
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3. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the
Subsidiary Guarantees shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any
failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee.
4. GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC. ON CERTAIN TERMS.
(a) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not sell or otherwise
dispose of all substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with
or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving
Person) another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor
unless:
(i) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
Default or Event of Default exists; and
(ii) either (A) subject to Sections 11.05 and 11.06 of the
Indenture, the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or
disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger unconditionally assumes all the obligations of
that Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under the Notes, the
Indenture and the Subsidiary Guarantee on the terms set forth herein
or therein; or (B) 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 thereof.
(b) 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 Subsidiary 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 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 Subsidiary Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the
Notes issuable under the Indenture which theretofore shall not have
been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the
Subsidiary Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same
legal rank and benefit under the Indenture as the Subsidiary
Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture as though all of such Subsidiary Guarantees had
been issued at the date of the execution hereof.
(c) Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 and Section 11.06
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 any sale or other disposition of all or
substantially 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 transaction) a
Restricted Subsidiary of
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<Page>
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 Subsidiary 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 required
in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations
under its Subsidiary Guarantee.
(b) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its
Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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.
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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: _______________, 20___
[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES L.L.C.
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
H&E FINANCE CORP.
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
GNE INVESTMENTS, INC.
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
GREAT NORTHERN EQUIPMENT, INC.
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
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