EXHIBIT 4.7
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Group 1 Automotive, Inc.,
as Issuer
and
The Subsidiary Guarantors named herein,
as Subsidiary Guarantors
to
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Trustee
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FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of August 13, 2003
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION............................ 2
SECTION 1.01 DEFINITIONS................................................................. 2
SECTION 1.02 TO BE READ WITH ORIGINAL INDENTURE.......................................... 21
ARTICLE II THE NOTES.......................................................................... 21
SECTION 2.01 DESIGNATION................................................................. 21
SECTION 2.02 INITIAL LIMIT OF AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT................................. 22
SECTION 2.03 SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES....................................................... 22
SECTION 2.04 SUBORDINATION............................................................... 23
SECTION 2.05 DATE OF PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL................................................ 23
SECTION 2.06 INTEREST.................................................................... 23
SECTION 2.07 PLACE OF PAYMENT............................................................ 23
SECTION 2.08 REDEMPTION.................................................................. 23
SECTION 2.09 DEFEASANCE.................................................................. 25
SECTION 2.10 FORM........................................................................ 25
SECTION 2.11 ADDITIONAL EVENTS OF DEFAULT................................................ 25
SECTION 2.12 ADDITIONAL COVENANTS........................................................ 25
SECTION 2.13 ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL NOTES................................................ 26
SECTION 2.14 SPECIAL INTEREST............................................................ 26
SECTION 2.15 DEPOSITORY; GLOBAL NOTES.................................................... 26
SECTION 2.16 CUSIP NUMBERS............................................................... 27
ARTICLE III ADDITIONAL COVENANTS APPLICABLE TO THE NOTES...................................... 27
SECTION 3.01 LIMITATION ON DEBT.......................................................... 27
SECTION 3.02 LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS........................................... 30
SECTION 3.03 LIMITATION ON DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING RESTRICTED
SUBSIDIARIES................................................................ 33
SECTION 3.04 LIMITATION ON RANKING OF CERTAIN DEBT....................................... 35
SECTION 3.05 LIMITATION ON LIENS SECURING PARI PASSU OR SUBORDINATED DEBT................ 35
SECTION 3.06 LIMITATION ON ASSET DISPOSITIONS............................................ 36
SECTION 3.07 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]..................................................... 38
SECTION 3.08 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES................................................ 38
SECTION 3.09 CHANGE OF CONTROL........................................................... 39
SECTION 3.10 PAYMENTS FOR CONSENT........................................................ 40
SECTION 3.11 PROVISION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION.......................................... 40
SECTION 3.12 MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS AND CERTAIN SALES OF ASSETS......................... 41
APPENDIX AND ANNEXES
RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX............................................................... 1
EXHIBIT 1 Form of Initial Note.............................................. 1
EXHIBIT A Form of Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note.................... A-1
ii
THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "Supplemental
Indenture"), dated as of August 13, 2003, among Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware
(the "Company"), each of the Subsidiary Guarantors named herein and Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (the "Trustee"), to the
Indenture, dated as of August 13, 2003, among the Company, each of the
Subsidiary Guarantors named therein and the Trustee (the "Original Indenture",
the Original Indenture, as amended and supplemented hereby, being referred to
herein as the "Indenture"),
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, Section 901 of the Original Indenture permits the
execution of supplemental indentures without the consent of any Holder (as
defined therein) (i) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of
the Holders of all or any series of Securities (Section 9.01(2)), (ii) to add
any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities
(Section 9.01(3)), (iii) to add to, change or eliminate any provision of the
Original Indenture with respect to Securities of any series when there is no
Security of such series outstanding (Section 9.01(5)) and (iv) to establish the
form or terms of Securities of any series (Section 9.01(7));
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized, as a series of
Securities under the Indenture, its 8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due August
15, 2013 (the "Notes");
WHEREAS, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have duly
authorized the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, and
pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Original Indenture have requested that the
Trustee join in the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, in
order to establish the Notes as a series of Securities under the Original
Indenture and to provide for, among other things, the issuance of and the form
and terms of the Notes and additional covenants and Events of Default for
purposes of the Notes and the Holders thereof;
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Supplemental
Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms have been done; and
WHEREAS, the foregoing recitals are made as statements of fact
by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors and not by the Trustee;
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of
the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and
proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:
ARTICLE I
1
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION
SECTION 1.01 DEFINITIONS
(a) Unless otherwise defined in this Supplemental Indenture,
terms used herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Original Indenture.
For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, except as
otherwise expressly provided or unless the subject matter or context otherwise
requires:
"Additional Notes" means 8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due
August 15, 2013 originally issued from time to time after the Closing Date under
the terms of the Indenture (other than Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes
issued pursuant to an exchange offer for other Notes outstanding under the
Indenture).
"Affiliate" of any Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when
used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and
policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing; provided that direct or
indirect beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person
shall be deemed to constitute control.
"Adjusted Treasury Rate" means with respect to any redemption
date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity
of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury
Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the
Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date, plus 0.50%.
"Asset Disposition" by any Person means any transfer,
conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition (but excluding the creation of any
Lien) by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including a
consolidation or merger or other sale of any such Restricted Subsidiary with,
into or to another Person in a transaction in which such Restricted Subsidiary
ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, but excluding a disposition by a
Restricted Subsidiary of such Person to such Person or a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary of such Person or by such Person to a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary of such Person) of:
(1) shares of Capital Stock (other than directors'
qualifying shares) or other ownership interests of a
Restricted Subsidiary of such Person,
(2) substantially all of the assets of such Person or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries representing a
division or line of business or
(3) other assets or rights of such Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries outside of the ordinary
course of business,
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provided in each case that the aggregate consideration for such transfer,
conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition is equal to $2.5 million or more.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Asset Disposition"
shall not include:
(1) a Restricted Payment that is made in compliance with
Section 3.02 hereof,
(2) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary or the contribution to the
capital of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, in either
case in compliance with the applicable provisions of
the Indenture or
(3) any transaction subject to and consummated in
compliance with Section 3.12 hereof.
"Average Life" means, as of any date of determination, with
respect to any Debt, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the
products of the number of years from such date of determination to the dates of
each successive scheduled principal payments of such Debt by (2) the sum of all
such principal payments.
"Capital Lease Obligation" of any Person means the obligation
to pay rent or other payment amounts under a lease of (or other Debt
arrangements conveying the right to use) real or personal property of such
Person which is required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease
or a liability on the face of a balance sheet of such Person in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. The stated maturity of such obligation
shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such
lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the
lessee without payment of a penalty. The principal amount of such obligation
shall be the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on the face of a
balance sheet of such Person in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.
"Capital Stock" of any Person means any and all shares,
interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate
stock or other equity participations, including partnership interests, whether
general or limited, of such Person.
"Cash Equivalents" means:
(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or
insured by the United States government or any agency
or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not
more than six months from the date of acquisition,
(2) certificates of deposit and Eurodollar time deposits
with maturities of six months or less from the date
of acquisition, bankers' acceptances with maturities
not exceeding six months and
3
overnight bank deposits, in each case with any lender
party to the Senior Credit Facility or with any
domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus
in excess of $500 million and a Fitch Rating of "B"
or better,
(3) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than
seven days for underlying securities of the types
described in clauses (1) and (2) above entered into
with any financial institution meeting the
qualifications specified in clause (2) above,
(4) commercial paper having a rating of at least P-1 from
Moody's and a rating of at least A-1 from S&P,
(5) deposits available for withdrawal on demand with any
commercial bank not meeting the qualifications
specified in clause (2) above, provided all such
deposits do not exceed $5 million in the aggregate at
any one time and
(6) investments in money market or other mutual funds
substantially all of whose assets comprise securities
of the types described in clauses (1) through (4)
above.
A "Change of Control" will be deemed to have occurred at such
time as either:
(1) any Person (other than a Permitted Holder) or any
Persons (other than Permitted Holders) acting
together that would constitute a "group" (a "Group")
for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, or
any successor provision thereto, shall beneficially
own (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act, or any successor provision thereto) at
least 50% of the aggregate voting power of all
classes of Voting Stock of the Company; or
(2) any Person (other than a Permitted Holder) or Group
(other than Permitted Holders) shall succeed in
having a sufficient number of its nominees elected to
the Board of Directors of the Company such that such
nominees, when added to any existing director
remaining on the Board of Directors of the Company
after such election who was a nominee of or is an
Affiliate of such Person or Group, will constitute a
majority of the Board of Directors of the Company;
provided, that a transaction effected to create a holding company of the
Company, (i) pursuant to which the Company becomes a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
such holding company, and (ii) as a result of which the holders of Capital Stock
of such holding company are substantially the same as the holders of Capital
Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction, shall not be deemed
to involve a "Change of Control"; provided further that following such a holding
company transaction, references
4
in this definition of "Change of Control" shall thereafter be treated as
references to such holding company. References to the "Board of Directors" in
this definition are to the full board of directors of the Company and not to a
committee thereof.
"Closing Date" means August 13, 2003.
"Common Stock" of any Person means Capital Stock of such
Person that does not rank prior, as to the payment of dividends or as to the
distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of such Person, to shares of Capital Stock of any
other class of such Person.
"Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury
Security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity
comparable to the remaining term of the Notes that would be utilized, at the
time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in
pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
remaining term of the Notes.
"Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any
Redemption Date, (i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount)
on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date, as set forth in the
daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York and designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S.
Government Securities" or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not
published or does not contain such prices on such Business Day, (A) the
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding
the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if
the Trustee obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations,
the average of all such Quotations.
"Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges" for any
period means the Consolidated Net Income for such period increased by the sum
of:
(1) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, plus
(2) the consolidated amount of interest capitalized by
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during
such period calculated in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, plus
(3) Consolidated Income Tax Expense for such period, plus
(4) the consolidated depreciation and amortization
expense included in the income statement of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period, plus
(5) other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash
expense to the extent that it represents an accrual
of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period
or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was
paid in a prior period) included in the income
5
statement of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period; minus
(6) non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for
such period, other than items that were accrued in
the ordinary course of business, in each case, on a
consolidated basis and determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles;
provided, however, that there shall be excluded therefrom the Consolidated Cash
Flow Available for Fixed Charges (if positive) of any Restricted Subsidiary that
is not a Subsidiary Guarantor (calculated separately for such Restricted
Subsidiary in the same manner as provided above for the Company) that is subject
to a restriction which prevents the payment of dividends or the making of
distributions to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary to the extent of
such restriction.
"Consolidated Cash Flow Coverage Ratio" as of any date of
determination means the ratio of:
(1) Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges
for the period of the most recently completed four
consecutive fiscal quarters for which quarterly or
annual financial statements are available to
(2) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period;
provided, however, that Consolidated Fixed Charges shall be adjusted to give
effect on a pro forma basis to any Debt that has been Incurred by the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary since the end of such period that remains outstanding
and to any Debt that is proposed to be Incurred by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary as if in each case such Debt had been Incurred on the first day of
such period and as if any Debt that is or will no longer be outstanding as the
result of the Incurrence of any such Debt had not been outstanding as of the
first day of such period; provided, however, that in making such computation,
the Consolidated Interest Expense attributable to interest on any proposed Debt
bearing a floating interest rate shall be computed on a pro forma basis as if
the rate in effect on the date of computation had been the applicable rate for
the entire period; and provided further that, in the event the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries has made Asset Dispositions or acquisitions of
assets not in the ordinary course of business (including acquisitions of other
Persons by merger, consolidation or purchase of Capital Stock) during or after
such period, such computation shall be made on a pro forma basis as if the Asset
Dispositions or acquisitions had taken place on the first day of such period.
"Consolidated Fixed Charges" for any period means the sum of:
(1) Consolidated Interest Expense and
6
(2) the consolidated amount of interest capitalized by
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during
such period calculated in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.
"Consolidated Income Tax Expense" for any period means the
consolidated provision for income taxes of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles.
"Consolidated Interest Expense" means for any period the
consolidated interest expense, other than floor plan interest expense, included
in a consolidated income statement (without deduction of interest income) of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period calculated on a
consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
including without limitation or duplication (or, to the extent not so included,
with the addition of):
(1) the amortization of Debt discounts;
(2) any payments or fees with respect to letters of
credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities;
(3) net fees with respect to interest rate swap or
similar agreements or foreign currency hedge,
exchange or similar agreements;
(4) Preferred Stock dividends of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than with respect to
Redeemable Stock) declared and paid or payable;
(5) accrued Redeemable Stock dividends of the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not declared
or paid;
(6) interest on Debt guaranteed by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(7) the portion of rental expense deemed to be
representative of the interest factor attributable to
leases for rental property.
"Consolidated Net Income" for any period means the
consolidated net income (or loss) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles; provided that there shall be excluded therefrom:
(1) the net income (or loss) of any Person acquired by
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a
pooling-of-interests transaction for any period prior
to the date of such transaction,
(2) the net income (or loss) of any Person that is not a
Restricted Subsidiary except to the extent of the
amount of dividends or other
7
distributions actually paid to the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary by such Person during such
period,
(3) gains or losses on Asset Dispositions by the Company
or its Subsidiaries,
(4) all extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses,
(5) gains or losses from the early retirement or
extinguishment of indebtedness,
(6) the cumulative effect of changes in accounting
principles,
(7) non-cash gains or losses resulting from fluctuations
in currency exchange rates and
(8) the tax effect of any of the items described in
clauses (1) through (7) above;
provided, further, that for purposes of any determination pursuant to the
provisions of Section 3.02 hereof, there shall further be excluded therefrom the
net income (but not net loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a
Subsidiary Guarantor that is subject to a restriction which prevents the payment
of dividends or the making of distributions to the Company or another Restricted
Subsidiary to the extent of such restriction.
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" of any Person means the
total amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible
items) which under generally accepted accounting principles would be included on
a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
after deducting therefrom:
(1) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents,
patent applications, licenses, non-complete
agreements, unamortized debt discount and expense and
other like intangibles, which in each case under
generally accepted accounting principles would be
included on such consolidated balance sheet and
(2) appropriate deductions for any minority interests.
"Debt" means (without duplication), with respect to any
Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and
whether or not contingent:
(1) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed;
(2) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
including obligations Incurred in connection with the
acquisition of property, assets or businesses;
8
(3) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with
respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or
similar facilities issued for the account of such
Person;
(4) every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as
the deferred purchase price of property or services
(including securities repurchase agreements but
excluding trade accounts payable or accrued
liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business and with respect to services, excluding
deferred compensation to employees), which purchase
price is due more than six months after the date of
placing such property in service or taking delivery
and title thereto or engaging such services, the
amount of such price being that which would be
negotiated in an arm's length transaction for cash
between a willing seller and a willing and able
buyer, neither of which is under any compulsion to
complete the transaction or services;
(5) every Capital Lease Obligation of such Person;
(6) all Receivables Sales of such Person which are sold
with recourse to such Person;
(7) Redeemable Stock issued by such Person;
(8) if such Person is a Restricted Subsidiary, all
Preferred Stock issued by such Person;
(9) every net obligation under Interest Rate, Currency or
Commodity Price Agreements of such Person; and
(10) every obligation of the type referred to in clauses
(1) through (9) of another Person and all dividends
of another Person the payment of which, in either
case, (a) such Person has Guaranteed or is
responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as
obligor, Guarantor or otherwise or (b) is secured by
(or for which the holder of such obligation has an
existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be
secured by) any Lien upon or with respect to property
(including, without limitation, accounts and contract
rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person
has not assumed or become liable for the payment of
such Debt or dividends.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Debt shall not include any obligation arising
from any agreement entered into in connection with the acquisition of any
business or assets with any seller of such business or assets that (1) provides
for the payment of earn-outs to such seller or (2) guarantees to such seller a
minimum price to be realized by such seller upon the sale of any Common Stock of
the Company that was issued by the Company to such seller in connection with
such acquisition.
9
"Designated Senior Debt" of the Company means:
(1) Debt of the Company under the Senior Credit Facility
and
(2) Senior Debt of the Company
(a) which at the time of determination exceeds
$25 million in aggregate principal amount
outstanding or available under a committed
facility,
(b) which is specifically designated in the
instrument evidencing such Senior Debt as
"Designated Senior Debt" by the Company and
(c) as to which the Trustee has received an
Officers' Certificate of the Company
specifying such Senior Debt as "Designated
Senior Debt".
"Equity Offering" means an offering of Common Stock of the
Company that results in aggregate cash net proceeds to the Company.
"Floor Plan Debt" means Debt in an aggregate principal amount
at any time not to exceed the value of the Inventory of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries, which Debt is secured primarily by a Lien on Inventory
of the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Guarantee" by any Person means any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing, or having the economic effect of
guaranteeing, any Debt of any other Person (the "primary obligor") in any
manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including, without limitation, any
obligation of such Person,
(1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for
the purchase or payment of) such Debt or to purchase
(or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of)
any security for the payment of such Debt,
(2) to purchase property, securities or services for the
purpose of assuring the holder of such Debt of the
payment of such Debt, or
(3) to maintain working capital, equity capital or other
financial statement condition or liquidity of the
primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor
to pay such Debt (and "Guaranteed", "Guaranteeing"
and "Guarantor" shall have meanings correlative to
the foregoing);
provided, however, that the Guarantee by any Person shall not include
endorsements by such Person for collection or deposit, in either case, in the
ordinary course of business.
10
"Incur" means, with respect to any Debt or other obligation of
any Person, to create, issue, incur (by conversion, exchange or otherwise),
assume, Guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of such Debt or other
obligation including by acquisition of Subsidiaries or the recording, as
required pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles or otherwise, of
any such Debt or other obligation on the balance sheet of such Person (and
"Incurrence", "Incurred", "Incurable" and "Incurring" shall have meanings
correlative to the foregoing); provided, however, that a change in generally
accepted accounting principles that results in an obligation of such Person that
exists at such time becoming Debt shall not be deemed an Incurrence of such
Debt.
"Independent Investment Banker" means any Reference Treasury
Dealer appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.
"Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity Price Agreement" of any
Person means any forward contract, futures contract, swap, option or other
financial agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, caps, floors,
collars and similar agreements) relating to, or the value of which is dependent
upon, interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices or indices
(excluding contracts for the purchase or sale of goods in the ordinary course of
business).
"Inventory" of any Person means the automobile and automobile
parts and supplies inventories of such Person that are held for sale or lease,
or are to be used or consumed by such Person, in the ordinary course of
business. The value of each particular item of inventory shall be the historical
purchase price thereof.
"Investment" by any Person means any direct or indirect loan,
advance or other extension of credit or capital contribution (by means of
transfers of cash or other property (other than Capital Stock that is neither
Redeemable Stock nor Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary) to others or
payments for property or services for the account or use of others, or
otherwise) to, or purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, bonds, notes,
debentures or other securities or evidence of Debt issued by, any other Person,
including any payment on a Guarantee of any obligation of such other Person, but
shall not include
(1) trade accounts receivable in the ordinary course of
business on credit terms made generally available to
the customers of such Person,
(2) any Permitted Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity
Price Agreement and
(3) endorsements of negotiable instruments and documents
in the ordinary course of business.
"Investment Grade" means Baa3 or above in the case of Moody's
(or the equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody's) and BBB- or
above in the case of S&P (or the equivalent under any successor rating
categories of S&P).
11
"Lien" means, with respect to any property or assets, any
mortgage or deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit
arrangement, security interest, lien, charge, easement (other than any easement
not materially impairing usefulness or marketability), encumbrance, preference,
priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or
nature whatsoever on or with respect to such property or assets (including,
without limitation, any sale and leaseback arrangement, conditional sale or
other title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as
any of the foregoing).
"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and its
successors.
"Net Available Proceeds" from any Asset Disposition by any
Person means cash or Cash Equivalents received (including by way of sale or
discounting of a note, installment receivable or other receivable, but excluding
any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiree of
Debt or other obligations relating to such properties or assets) therefrom by
such Person, net of:
(1) all legal, title and recording tax expenses,
commissions and other fees and expenses Incurred and
all federal, state, foreign and local taxes required
to be accrued as a liability as a consequence of such
Asset Disposition;
(2) all payments made by such Person or its Restricted
Subsidiaries on any Debt which is secured by such
assets in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon
or with respect to such assets or which must by the
terms of such Lien, or in order to obtain a necessary
consent to such Asset Disposition or by applicable
law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset
Disposition;
(3) all distributions and other payments made to minority
interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries of such
Person or joint ventures as a result of such Asset
Disposition; and
(4) appropriate amounts to be provided by such Person or
any Restricted Subsidiary thereof, as the case may
be, as a reserve in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles against any
liabilities associated with such assets and retained
by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof,
as the case may be, after such Asset Disposition,
including, without limitation, liabilities under any
indemnification obligations and severance and other
employee termination costs associated with such Asset
Disposition, in each case as determined by the Board
of Directors, in its reasonable good faith judgment
evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors
filed with the Trustee; provided, however, that any
reduction in such reserve within twelve months
following the consummation of such Asset Disposition
will be treated for all purposes of the Indenture and
the Notes as a new Asset Disposition
12
at the time of such reduction with Net Available
Proceeds equal to the amount of such reduction.
"Offer to Purchase" means a written offer (the "Offer") sent
by the Company by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder at his
address appearing in the Security Register on the date of the Offer offering to
purchase up to the principal amount of Notes specified in such Offer at the
purchase price specified in such Offer (as determined pursuant to this
Supplemental Indenture). Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the Offer
shall specify an expiration date (the "Offer Expiration Date") of the Offer to
Purchase which shall be, subject to any contrary requirements of applicable law,
not less than 30 days or more than 60 days after the date of such Offer and a
settlement date (the "Purchase Date") for purchase of Notes within five Business
Days after the Offer Expiration Date. The Company shall notify the Trustee at
least 15 Business Days (or such shorter period as is acceptable to the Trustee)
prior to the mailing of the Offer of the Company's obligation to make an Offer
to Purchase, and the Offer shall be mailed by the Company or, at the Company's
request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company. The Offer
shall contain a description of the events requiring the Company to make the
Offer to Purchase and all instructions and materials necessary to enable such
Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Offer to Purchase. The Offer shall also
state:
(1) the Section of this Supplemental Indenture pursuant
to which the Offer to Purchase is being made;
(2) the Offer Expiration Date and the Purchase Date;
(3) the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Notes offered to be purchased by the Company pursuant
to the Offer to Purchase (including, if less than
100%, the manner by which such has been determined
pursuant to the section of this Supplemental
Indenture requiring the Offer to Purchase) (the
"Purchase Amount");
(4) the purchase price to be paid by the Company for each
$1,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes accepted
for payment (as specified pursuant to this
Supplemental Indenture) (the "Purchase Price");
(5) that the Holder may tender all or any portion of the
Notes registered in the name of such Holder and that
any portion of a Note tendered must be tendered in an
integral multiple of $1,000 principal amount;
(6) the place or places where Notes are to be surrendered
for tender pursuant to the Offer to Purchase;
(7) that interest on any Note not tendered or tendered
but not purchased by the Company pursuant to the
Offer to Purchase will continue to accrue;
13
(8) that on the Purchase Date the Purchase Price will
become due and payable upon each Note being accepted
for payment pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and
that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and
after the Purchase Date;
(9) that each Holder electing to tender a Note pursuant
to the Offer to Purchase will be required to
surrender such Note at the place or places specified
in the Offer prior to the close of business on the
Expiration Date (such Note being, if the Company or
the Trustee so requires, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in
form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly
executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing);
(10) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw all or any
portion of Notes tendered if the Company (or its
Paying Agent) receives, not later than the close of
business on the Expiration Date, a telegram, telex,
facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the
name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note
the Holder tendered, the certificate number of the
Note the Holder tendered and a statement that such
Holder is withdrawing all or a portion of his tender;
(11) that (a) if Notes in an aggregate principal amount
less than or equal to the Purchase Amount are duly
tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer to
Purchase, the Company shall purchase all such Notes
and (b) if Notes in an aggregate principal amount in
excess of the Purchase Amount are tendered and not
withdrawn pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, the
Company shall purchase Notes having an aggregate
principal amount equal to the Purchase Amount on a
pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be
deemed appropriate so that only Notes in
denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof
shall be purchased); and
(12) that in the case of any Holder whose Note is
purchased only in part, the Company shall execute,
and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Holder of such Note without service charge, a new
Note or Notes, of any authorized denomination as
requested by such Holder, in an aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for the unpurchased
portion of the Note so tendered.
If any of the Notes subject to an Offer to Purchase is a Global Security, then
the Offer shall be modified by the Company to the extent necessary to comply
with the procedures of the Depositary applicable to repurchases. Any Offer to
Purchase shall be governed by and effected in accordance with the Offer for such
Offer to Purchase.
14
"Permitted Holder" means:
(1) each of B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr., John Turner and
Scott Thompson;
(2) the members of the immediate family of any of the
persons referred to in clause (1) above;
(3) any trust created for the benefit of the persons
described in clause (1) or (2) above or any of their
estates; or
(4) any other Person that is wholly owned by any one or
more of the Persons described in clause (1), (2) or
(3) above.
"Permitted Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity Price
Agreement" of any Person means any Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity Price
Agreement entered into with one or more financial institutions in the ordinary
course of business that is designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest rates or currency exchange rates with respect to Debt Incurred or
proposed to be Incurred and which shall have a notional amount no greater than
the payments due with respect to the Debt being hedged thereby, or in the case
of currency or commodity protection agreements, against currency exchange rate
or commodity price fluctuations in the ordinary course of business relating to
then existing financial obligations or then existing or sold production and not
for purposes of speculation.
"Permitted Investments" means:
(1) any Investment in the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary or a Person that will become or be merged
into or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary as
a result of such Investment,
(2) any Investment in a Permitted Joint Venture which,
together with any other outstanding Investment made
pursuant to this clause (2), does not exceed the
greater of $10 million or 2.5% of the Company's
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of such
Investment,
(3) any Investment in Cash Equivalents,
(4) any non-cash consideration received in connection
with an Asset Disposition that was made in compliance
with Section 3.06 hereof and
(5) any other Investment that, when taken together with
all other Investments made pursuant to this clause
(5) since the Closing Date and outstanding on the
date such Investment is made, does not exceed $10
million.
"Permitted Joint Venture" means any joint venture arrangement
(which may be structured as a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability
company or any other Person):
15
(1) in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
own an equity interest of at least 25% of the equity
interest of all joint venturers thereof and
(2) which engages only in a business of the type
conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the
Closing Date or any business ancillary thereto or
supportive thereof.
"Preferred Stock" of any Person means Capital Stock of such
Person of any class or classes (however designated) that ranks prior, as to the
payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such Person, to shares of
Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.
"Receivables" means receivables, chattel paper, instruments,
documents or intangibles evidencing or relating to the right to payment of
money.
"Receivables Sale" of any Person means any sale of Receivables
of such Person (pursuant to a purchase facility or otherwise), other than in
connection with a disposition of the business operations of such Person relating
thereto or a disposition of defaulted Receivables for purpose of collection and
not as a financing arrangement.
"Redeemable Stock" of any Person means any Capital Stock of
such Person that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is
convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or otherwise (including upon the
occurrence of an event) matures or is required to be redeemed (pursuant to any
sinking fund obligation or otherwise) or is convertible into or exchangeable for
Debt or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part,
at any time prior to the final Stated Maturity of the Notes.
"Reference Treasury Dealer" means Goldman, Sachs & Co. or any
of its affiliates in the United States and their respective successors;
provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S.
Government securities dealer in New York City, the Trustee will substitute
another Reference Treasury Dealer.
"Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to
each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average as
determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices of the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount)
quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m.
on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
"Replacement Assets" means:
(1) properties and assets (other than cash, Cash
Equivalents or any Capital Stock or other security)
that will be used in the automotive retail business,
the business of the Company and its Restricted
16
Subsidiaries as conducted on the Closing Date or any
business ancillary thereto or supportive thereof; and
(2) Capital Stock of any Person that is engaged in the
automotive retail business, the business of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted
on the Closing Date or any business ancillary thereto
or supportive thereof and that will be merged or
consolidated with or into a Restricted Subsidiary or
that will become a Restricted Subsidiary.
"Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company,
whether existing on or after the Closing Date, unless such Subsidiary is an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.
"Sale and Leaseback Transaction" of any Person means an
agreement with any lender or investor or to which such lender or investor is a
party providing for the leasing by such Person of any property or asset of such
Person which has been or is being sold or transferred by such Person more than
270 days after the acquisition thereof or the completion of construction or
commencement of operation thereof to such lender or investor or to any person to
whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such lender or investor on the
security of such property or asset. The stated maturity of such arrangement
shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such
arrangement prior to the first date on which such arrangement may be terminated
by the lessee without payment of a penalty.
"Senior Credit Facility" means the Fifth Amended and Restated
Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 2, 2003 among the Company, its
subsidiaries listed therein, JPMorganChase Bank, as administrative agent,
Comerica Bank, as floorplan agent, Bank One, NA, as documentation agent, and
other lending institutions party thereto and any amendment, modification,
renewal, extension, refinancing, refunding or replacement thereof.
"Senior Debt" means, with respect to any Person:
(1) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest
(including interest accruing on or after the filing
of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization
relating to such Person whether or not such claim for
post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding)
on, and penalties and any obligation of such Person
for reimbursement, indemnities and fees relating to,
the Senior Credit Facility,
(2) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest
on Debt of such Person for money borrowed, whether
Incurred on or prior to the Closing Date or
thereafter, and any amendments, renewals,
17
extensions, modifications, refinancings and
refundings of any such Debt and
(3) Permitted Interest Rate Agreements and Permitted
Currency Agreements entered into with respect to Debt
described in clauses (1) and (2) above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not constitute Senior Debt:
(1) any Debt as to which the terms of the instrument
creating or evidencing the same provide that such
Debt is on a parity with, or is not superior in right
of payment to, the Notes or, in the case of a
Subsidiary Guarantor, a Subsidiary Guarantee,
(2) any Debt which is subordinated in right of payment in
any respect to any other Debt of such Person, other
than Debt under the Senior Credit Facility that is
subordinated to other Debt under the Senior Credit
Facility solely by reason of priority being granted
under the Senior Credit Facility to "swingline",
overdraft of similar tranches of Debt,
(3) Debt evidenced by the Notes or a Subsidiary
Guarantee,
(4) any Debt owed to a Person when such Person is a
Subsidiary of such Person
(5) any obligation of such Person with respect to any
Capital Stock of such Person,
(6) that portion of any Debt which is Incurred in
violation of the Indenture,
(7) Debt which, when Incurred and without respect to any
election under Section 1111(b) of Title 11, United
States Code, is without recourse to such Person,
(8) any liability for federal, state, local or other
taxes owed or owing by such Person,
(9) any Debt for the purchase of goods, materials or
services, or consisting of operating lease rental
payments, in the ordinary course of business or Debt
consisting of trade payables or other current
liabilities (other than current liabilities for money
borrowed and the current portion of long-term Senior
Debt),
(10) Debt of or amounts owed by such Person for
compensation to employees or for services rendered,
and
18
(11) Debt issued as a dividend on, or in redemption of or
exchange for, Capital Stock of such Person.
"Significant Restricted Subsidiary" means, at any date of
determination, any Restricted Subsidiary that, together with its Restricted
Subsidiaries, represents 10% or more of the Company's total consolidated assets
at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial information is
available or 10% or more of the Company's consolidated net revenues or
consolidated operating income for the most recent four quarters for which
financial information is available.
"Special Interest" means all special or additional interest
then owing on the Notes pursuant to the applicable Registration Rights
Agreement.
"Subordinated Debt" means Debt of the Company as to which the
payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest and other payment
obligations in respect of such Debt shall be subordinate to the prior payment in
full of the Notes to at least the following extent:
(1) no payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or
interest on or otherwise due in respect of such Debt
may be permitted for so long as any default in the
payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest
on the Notes exists;
(2) in the event that any other default that with the
passing of time or the giving of notice, or both,
would constitute an event of default exists with
respect to the Notes, upon notice by 25% or more in
principal amount of the Notes to the Trustee, the
Trustee shall have the right to give notice to the
Company and the holders of such Debt (or trustees or
agents therefor) of a payment blockage, and
thereafter no payments of principal of (or premium,
if any) or interest on or otherwise due in respect of
such Debt may be made for a period of 179 days from
the date of such notice; and
(3) such Debt may not
(A) provide for payments of principal of such
Debt at the stated maturity thereof or by
way of a sinking fund applicable thereto or
by way of any mandatory redemption,
defeasance, retirement or repurchase thereof
by the Company (including any redemption,
retirement or repurchase which is contingent
upon events or circumstances, but excluding
any retirement required by virtue of
acceleration of such Debt upon an event of
default thereunder), in each case prior to
the final Stated Maturity of the Notes or
(B) permit redemption or other retirement
(including pursuant to an offer to purchase
made by the Company) of such
19
other Debt at the option of the holder
thereof prior to the final Stated Maturity
of the Notes, other than a redemption or
other retirement at the option of the holder
of such Debt (including pursuant to an offer
to purchase made by the Company) which is
conditioned upon a change of control of the
Company pursuant to provisions substantially
similar to those described under "Change of
Control" (and which shall provide that such
Debt will not be repurchased pursuant to
such provisions prior to the Company's
repurchase of the Notes required to be
repurchased by the Company pursuant to the
provisions described under "Change of
Control").
"Subsidiary" of any Person means:
(1) a corporation more than 50% of the combined voting
power of the outstanding Voting Stock of which is
owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by
one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or by
such Person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof or
(2) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which
such Person, or one or more other Subsidiaries of
such Person or such Person and one or more other
Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, has at
least a majority ownership and power to direct the
policies, management and affairs thereof.
"2009 Notes" means the Company's 10-7/8% Senior Subordinated
Notes due March 1, 2009 outstanding on the Closing Date.
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means:
(1) any Subsidiary designated as such by the Board of
Directors as set forth below where
(a) neither the Company nor any of its other
Subsidiaries (other than another
Unrestricted Subsidiary) provides credit
support for, or Guarantee of, any Debt of
such Subsidiary or any Subsidiary of such
Subsidiary (including any undertaking,
agreement or instrument evidencing such
Debt) or is directly or indirectly liable
for any Debt of such Subsidiary or any
Subsidiary of such Subsidiary, and
(b) no default with respect to any Debt of such
Subsidiary or any Subsidiary of such
Subsidiary (including any right which the
holders thereof may have to take enforcement
action against such Subsidiary) would permit
(upon notice, lapse of time or both) any
holder of any other Debt of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (other than another
20
Unrestricted Subsidiary) to declare a
default on such other Debt or cause the
payment thereof to be accelerated or payable
prior to its final scheduled maturity and
(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary owns any Capital Stock of, or
owns or holds any Lien on any property of, any other Restricted Subsidiary which
is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated or otherwise an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, provided that the Company could make a Restricted
Payment in an amount equal to the greater of the fair market value and book
value of its Investment in such Subsidiary pursuant to Section 3.02 hereof and
such amount is thereafter treated as a Restricted Payment for the purpose of
calculating the aggregate amount available for Restricted Payments thereunder.
"Voting Stock" of any Person means Capital Stock of such
Person which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors (or
persons performing similar functions) of such Person, whether at all times or
only so long as no senior class of securities has such voting power by reason of
any contingency.
"Wholly Owned Subsidiary" of any Person means a Subsidiary of
such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of
which (other than directors' qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by
such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by
such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
(a) Certain other capitalized terms used in this
Supplemental Indenture are defined in the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix
attached hereto (the "Appendix").
SECTION 1.02 TO BE READ WITH ORIGINAL INDENTURE
The Supplemental Indenture is a supplemental indenture within
the meaning of the Original Indenture and the Original Indenture and this
Supplemental Indenture shall be read together and shall have effect, so far as
practicable, as though all the provisions of the Original Indenture and this
Supplemental Indenture were contained in one instrument.
ARTICLE II
THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01 DESIGNATION
There is hereby authorized to be issued under the Original
Indenture a series of Securities designated as "8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes
due August 15, 2013".
21
SECTION 2.02 INITIAL LIMIT OF AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be
authenticated and delivered on the Closing Date shall be limited to
$150,000,000.
Other provisions relating to the Initial Notes, the Private
Exchange Notes and the Exchange Notes are set forth in the Appendix, which is
hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Supplemental Indenture.
SECTION 2.03 SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section
2.03, the Notes shall have the benefit of the Subsidiary Guarantees.
(b) All of the Subsidiaries of the Company as of
the Closing Date, except for Group 1 Automotive Reinsurance, Ltd. and Group 1
Automotive Reinsurance TWO, Ltd., both companies incorporated in the Nevis
Islands, shall be Subsidiary Guarantors.
(c) In lieu of the conditions contained in
clauses (i)-(iii) of Section 1304 of the Original Indenture for release of
Subsidiary Guarantors from their Subsidiary Guarantees, a Subsidiary Guarantor
of the Notes shall be released and discharged of its obligations under its
Subsidiary Guarantee and under Article Thirteen of the Original Indenture:
(i) in connection with any sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that
Subsidiary Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a
Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such
transaction) a Restricted Subsidiary, if the sale or other disposition
complies with Section 3.06 of this Supplemental Indenture;
(ii) in connection with any sale of all
of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor to a Person that is
not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a
Restricted Subsidiary, if the sale complies with Section 3.06 of this
Supplemental Indenture;
(iii) upon the Legal Defeasance or
Covenant Defeasance of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture; or
(iv) if the Company designates such
Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with
the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article
1305 of the Original Indenture, the Company shall not be required to cause any
domestic Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Subsidiary after the date of
the Original Indenture to become a Subsidiary Guarantor except as provided in
this Section 2.03(d). Any domestic
22
Restricted Subsidiary which Incurs any Debt shall, simultaneously with such
Incurrence (or, if the domestic Restricted Subsidiary has outstanding Debt at
the time of its creation or acquisition, at the time of such creation or
acquisition), become a Subsidiary Guarantor (if it is not already such) by
executing and delivering a supplemental indenture as provided in Section 1305 of
the Original Indenture.
SECTION 2.04 SUBORDINATION
The definitions of Senior Debt and Designated Senior Debt
which shall apply to the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees of the Notes are
set forth in Section 1.01 hereof.
SECTION 2.05 DATE OF PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL
The principal of the Notes shall be payable on August 15,
2013.
SECTION 2.06 INTEREST
(a) In addition to any Special Interest that may
be payable pursuant to Section 2.14 of this Supplemental Indenture, the Notes
shall bear interest at the rate of 8.25% per annum; provided, that any principal
and premium and any installment of interest which is overdue shall bear interest
at the rate of 9.25% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest
shall be legally enforceable).
(b) The Interest Payment Dates on which interest
shall be payable in respect of the Notes shall be February 15 and August 15 in
each year, commencing February 15, 2004 in the case of the Initial Notes issued
on the Closing Date.
(c) The Regular Record Dates for interest in
respect of the Notes shall be February 1 and August 1 (whether or not a Business
Day) in respect of the interest payable on February 15 and August 15,
respectively.
SECTION 2.07 PLACE OF PAYMENT
Payments of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on
the Notes will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for
that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, New York,
provided that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by
check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall
appear in the Security Register for the Notes. Until otherwise designated by the
Company, such office or agency will be the corporate trust office of the
Trustee, as Paying Agent and Security Registrar, which on the date hereof is
located at 45 Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10002.
SECTION 2.08 REDEMPTION
(a) The Notes may be redeemed at the election of
the Company from time to time in the event that on or before August 15, 2006 the
Company receives
23
net proceeds from the sale of its Common Stock in one or more Equity Offerings,
in which case the Company may, at its option and from time to time, use all or a
portion of any such net proceeds to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal
amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture;
provided, however, that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the
Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued under the Indenture remains
outstanding after each such redemption. Any such redemption must occur on a
Redemption Date within 90 days of any such sale at a Redemption Price of 108.25%
of the principal amount of the Notes, together with accrued interest to but
excluding the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the
relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date
that is on or prior to the Redemption Date).
In the case of any redemption pursuant to this
Section 2.08(a), in addition to the requirements of Section 1102 of the Original
Indenture the Company shall also furnish the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth
a statement of facts showing that the condition or conditions precedent to the
right of the Company so to redeem have occurred or been satisfied. In addition
to the information specified in Section 1104 of the Original Indenture, the
notice of redemption shall include a brief statement setting forth the Company's
right to effect such redemption and the Company's basis therefor.
(b) Prior to August 15, 2008, the Company may
redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
notice, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of:
(1) 100% of the principal amount thereof; or
(2) the present value, as determined by an
Independent Investment Banker, of
(A) 104.125% of the principal amount of
the Notes being redeemed calculated as of August 15,
2008 (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day months), plus
(B) all required interest payments due
on such Notes through August 15, 2008 (excluding
accrued interest), discounted to the Redemption Date
on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted
Treasury Rate, plus in each case accrued interest to
but excluding the Redemption Date (subject to the
right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular
Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest
Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption
Date).
(c) The Notes further may be redeemed at the
election of the Company, as a whole or from time to time in part, at any time on
or after August 15, 2008, at the Redemption Prices specified in the form of Note
attached hereto as Exhibit 1 or Exhibit A to the Appendix, together with accrued
interest to but excluding the
24
Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant
Regular Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is
on or prior to the Redemption Date).
SECTION 2.09 DEFEASANCE
The Notes shall be defeasible pursuant to both of Section 1502
and Section 1503 of the Original Indenture; provided, however, that the covenant
provided pursuant to Section 3.09 of this Supplemental Indenture shall not be
subject to Covenant Defeasance.
SECTION 2.10 FORM
The Initial Notes and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix,
which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The
Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the Appendix,
which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The
Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock
exchange rule, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage
(provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable
to the Company). The terms of the Notes set forth in the Appendix are part of
the terms of this Supplemental Indenture.
SECTION 2.11 ADDITIONAL EVENTS OF DEFAULT
(a) In addition to the Events of Default contained in
Section 501 of the Original Indenture, the following will constitute an Event of
Default with respect to the Notes:
(1) default in the payment of principal and interest on
Notes required to be purchased pursuant to an Offer
to Purchase under Section 3.06 or 3.09 when due and
payable;
(2) failure to perform or comply with the provisions of
Section 3.12 of this Supplemental Indenture.
(b) The references in Section 501 of the Original
Indenture to any "Significant Subsidiary" shall be deemed, insofar as they
relate to the Notes, to be references to a Significant Restricted Subsidiary as
defined in this Supplemental Indenture.
SECTION 2.12 ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
The covenants contained in Article Three of this Supplemental
Indenture shall apply to the Notes in addition to the covenants contained in
Article Ten of the Original Indenture.
25
SECTION 2.13 ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL NOTES
The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with
Section 3.01, to issue Additional Notes under this Supplemental Indenture which
shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the Closing Date,
other than with respect to the date of issuance and the initial Interest Payment
Date. The Initial Notes issued on the Closing Date, any Additional Notes and all
Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor shall be
treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, including,
without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and Offers to Purchase.
With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company shall set
forth in a Board Resolution and an Officers' Certificate, each of which shall be
delivered to the Trustee, the following information:
(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional
Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Supplemental
Indenture;
(2) the issue date and the CUSIP number and corresponding
ISIN of such Additional Notes; provided, however, that no Additional
Notes may be issued at a price that would cause such Additional Notes
to have "original issue discount" within the meaning of Section 1273 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and
(3) whether such Additional Notes shall be Transfer
Restricted Securities and issued in the form of Initial Notes as set
forth in Exhibit 1 to the Appendix to this Indenture or shall be issued
in the form of Exchange Notes as set forth in Exhibit A to the
Appendix.
SECTION 2.14 SPECIAL INTEREST
(a) The Company shall pay Special Interest on the Notes
in accordance with the terms of the Notes and the applicable Registration Rights
Agreement. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the amount of any Special
Interest that may become payable on the Notes in advance of the relevant
Interest Payment Date.
(b) All references to "interest" in this Supplemental
Indenture and, insofar as they pertain to the Notes, in the Original Indenture
shall be deemed to include Special Interest.
SECTION 2.15 DEPOSITORY; GLOBAL NOTES
As provided in the Appendix, the Initial Notes issued on the
Closing Date shall be represented by one or more Global Notes. The Depository
for the Global Notes shall be The Depository Trust Company, 55 Water Street, New
York, New York 10004.
26
SECTION 2.16 CUSIP NUMBERS.
The Company in issuing the Notes may use "CUSIP" numbers and
corresponding "ISINs" (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall
use "CUSIP" numbers and corresponding "ISINs" in notices of redemption as a
convenience to Holders; provided, however, 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 of a redemption 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.
ARTICLE III
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS APPLICABLE TO THE NOTES
SECTION 3.01 LIMITATION ON DEBT
The Company may not, and may not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, Incur any Debt except that the Company and any Restricted
Subsidiary (but not any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary
Guarantor) may Incur Debt if after giving pro forma effect to the Incurrence of
such Debt and the receipt and application of the proceeds thereof the
Consolidated Cash Flow Coverage Ratio of the Company would be greater than 2.0
to 1.
Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, the following Debt
may be Incurred.
(a) Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary
Guarantor, other than Floor Plan Debt, under the Senior Credit Facility in an
aggregate principal amount at any one time not to exceed the greater of $200
million or 25% of the Company's Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of
such Incurrence;
(b) Debt of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary consisting of Floor Plan Debt or Guarantees of Floor Plan Debt of the
Company;
(c) Debt owed by the Company to any Restricted
Subsidiary for which fair value has been received or Debt owed by a Restricted
Subsidiary to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that:
(i) any such Debt owing by the Company
to a Restricted Subsidiary shall be Subordinated Debt evidenced by an
intercompany promissory note and
(ii) upon either the transfer or other
disposition by such Restricted Subsidiary or the Company of any Debt so
permitted to a Person other than the Company or another Restricted
Subsidiary or the issuance (other than directors' qualifying shares),
sale, transfer or other disposition of shares of Capital Stock
(including by consolidation or
27
merger) of such Restricted Subsidiary to a Person other than the
Company or another such Restricted Subsidiary, the provisions of this
clause (c) shall no longer be applicable to such Debt and such Debt
shall be deemed to have been Incurred at the time of such transfer or
other disposition;
(d) Debt consisting of the Notes (other than the
Additional Notes), the Subsidiary Guarantees and Guarantees by Restricted
Subsidiaries of any Debt Incurred to refinance or refund the Notes;
(e) Debt of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or
purchase money obligations, in each case, Incurred for the purpose of financing
all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of
property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Debt
Incurred to refund or refinance any Debt Incurred pursuant to this clause (e),
not to exceed, at any time outstanding, $20 million;
(f) Debt of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary consisting of Permitted Interest Rate, Currency or Commodity Price
Agreements;
(g) Debt which is exchanged for or the proceeds
of which are used to refinance or refund, or any extension or renewal of (each
of the foregoing, a "refinancing"),
(i) the Notes,
(ii) outstanding Debt that is not
described in any other clause hereof that was outstanding as of the
Closing Date (other than the 2009 Notes),
(iii) outstanding Debt Incurred pursuant
to the first paragraph of this Section 3.01, and
(iv) Debt previously Incurred pursuant
to this clause (g),
in each case in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the
principal amount of the Debt so refinanced plus the amount of any
premium required to be paid in connection with such refinancing
pursuant to the terms of the Debt so refinanced or the amount of any
premium reasonably determined by the Company as necessary to accomplish
such refinancing by means of a tender offer or privately negotiated
repurchase, plus the expenses of the Company or the Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, incurred in connection with such
refinancing; provided, however, that:
(1) Debt the proceeds of which
are used to refinance the Notes or Debt which is pari passu with or
subordinate in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary
Guarantees, as the case may be, shall only be permitted if (A) in the
case of any refinancing of the Notes or Debt which is pari passu to the
Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case
28
may be, the refinancing Debt is made pari passu to the Notes or the
Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, or subordinated to the Notes
or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, and (B) in the case
of any refinancing of Debt which is subordinated to the Notes or the
Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be, the refinancing Debt
constitutes Debt that is subordinated to the Notes or the Subsidiary
Guarantees, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as the Debt
being refinanced;
(2) the refinancing Debt by
its terms, or by the terms of any agreement or instrument pursuant to
which such Debt is issued, (A) does not have an Average Life that is
less than the remaining Average Life of the Debt being refinanced and
(B) does not permit redemption or other retirement (including pursuant
to an offer to purchase) of such Debt at the option of the holder
thereof prior to the final stated maturity of the Debt being
refinanced, other than a redemption or other retirement at the option
of the holder of such Debt (including pursuant to an offer to purchase)
which is conditioned upon provisions substantially similar to those
contained in Section 3.06 or Section 3.09 hereof;
(3) in the case of any
refinancing of Debt of the Company, the refinancing Debt may be
Incurred only by the Company, and in the case of any refinancing of
Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary, the refinancing Debt may be Incurred
only by such Restricted Subsidiary or the Company; and
(4) in the case of any
refinancing of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, such
Preferred Stock may be refinanced only with Preferred Stock of such
Restricted Subsidiary; and
(h) Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary
Guarantor not otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clauses (a) through
(g) above, which, together with any other outstanding Debt Incurred pursuant to
this clause (h), and in both such cases including any renewals, extensions,
substitutions, refinancings or replacements of such Debt has an aggregate
principal amount not in excess of $30 million at any time outstanding.
For purposes of determining compliance with, and the
outstanding principal amount of any particular Debt incurred pursuant to and in
compliance with, this Section 3.01:
(1) in the event that Debt meets the criteria of more
than one of the types of Debt described in the first and second
paragraphs of this Section 3.01, the Company, in its sole discretion,
will classify such item of Debt on the date of
29
incurrence (or later classify or reclassify such Debt, in its sole
discretion) and only be required to include the amount and type of such
Debt in one of such clauses;
(2) Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters
of credit relating to, Debt which is otherwise included in the
determination of a particular amount of Debt shall not be included;
(3) the principal amount of any Redeemable Stock or
Preferred Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary will be equal
to the greater of the maximum redemption or repurchase price (not
including, in either case, any redemption or repurchase premium) or the
liquidation preference thereof;
(4) Debt permitted by this covenant need not be permitted
solely by reference to one provision permitting such Debt but may be
permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more
other provisions of this covenant permitting such Debt;
(5) any Receivables Sale shall be the amount for which
there is recourse to the seller; and
(6) the amount of Debt issued at a price that is less
than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the
liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.
Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, the accretion of
accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Debt and the
payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock or
Redeemable Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Debt for purposes of
this Section 3.01.
For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S.
dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Debt, the U.S.
dollar-equivalent principal amount of Debt denominated in a foreign currency
shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on
the date such Debt was Incurred, in the case of term Debt, or first committed,
in the case of revolving credit Debt; provided that if such Debt is Incurred to
refinance other Debt denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing
would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-dominated restriction to be exceeded if
calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such
refinancing, such U.S. dollar-dominated restriction shall be deemed not to have
been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Debt does not
exceed the principal amount of such Debt being refinanced. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Section 3.01, the maximum amount of Debt that the
Company may Incur pursuant to this Section 3.01 shall not be deemed to be
exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies.
30
SECTION 3.02 LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS
The Company:
(a) may not, and may not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, declare or pay any dividend or make any
distribution (including any payment in connection with any merger or
consolidation derived from assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary)
in respect of its Capital Stock or to the holders thereof (in their capacity as
holders of Capital Stock), other than
(i) any dividends or distributions by
the Company payable solely in shares of its Capital Stock (other than
Redeemable Stock) or in options, warrants or other rights to acquire
its Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock), and
(ii) in the case of a Restricted
Subsidiary, dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary or pro rata dividends or distributions,
(b) may not, and may not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, purchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire or retire for value
(i) any Capital Stock of the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary or
(ii) any options, warrants or other
rights to acquire shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary but excluding any debt securities convertible or
exchangeable into shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary, except, in the case of Capital Stock of a
Restricted Subsidiary, from the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(c) may not make, or permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to make, any Investment in any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any
Affiliate or any Person that would become an Affiliate after giving effect
thereto, other than a Permitted Investment; and
(d) may not, and may not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for
value prior to any scheduled maturity, repayment or sinking fund payment Debt of
the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor which is subordinate in right of payment
to the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the
case may be (each of clauses (a) through (d) being a "Restricted Payment")
unless:
(i) no Event of Default, or an event
that with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, would
constitute an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing or would
result from such Restricted Payment,
(ii) the Company could Incur at least
$1.00 of additional Debt pursuant to the terms of the first paragraph
of Section 3.01 hereof, calculating the Consolidated Cash Flow Coverage
Ratio on a pro
31
forma basis to give effect to such Restricted Payment as if such
Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable
four-fiscal-quarter period if such pro forma effect would affect the
calculation of the Consolidated Cash Flow Coverage Ratio, and
(iii) upon giving effect to such
Restricted Payment, the aggregate of all Restricted Payments from the
Closing Date does not exceed the sum of:
(1) 50% of cumulative
Consolidated Net Income (or, in the case Consolidated Net Income shall
be negative, less 100% of such deficit) of the Company since July 1,
2003 through the last day of the last full fiscal quarter ending
immediately preceding the date of such Restricted Payment for which
quarterly or annual financial statements are available (taken as a
single accounting period); plus
(2) 100% of the aggregate net
cash proceeds received by the Company (x) after the Closing Date from
contributions of capital or the issuance and sale (other than to a
Subsidiary of the Company) of Capital Stock (other than Redeemable
Stock) of the Company, options, warrants or other rights to acquire
Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the Company and (y)
related to Debt of the Company that has been converted into or
exchanged for Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock and other than
by or from a Subsidiary of the Company) of the Company after the
Closing Date, provided that any such net proceeds received by the
Company from an employee stock ownership plan financed by loans from
the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall be included only to
the extent such loans have been repaid with cash on or prior to the
date of determination; plus
(3) an amount equal to the net
reduction in Investments by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, subsequent to the Closing Date, in any Person subject to
clause (c) above upon the disposition, liquidation or repayment
(including by way of dividends) thereof or from redesignations of
Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries, but only to the
extent such amounts are not included in Consolidated Net Income and not
to exceed in the case of any one Person the amount of Investments
previously made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such
Person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as no Event of Default,
or event that with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, would
constitute an Event of Default, shall have occurred and is continuing or would
result therefrom:
(a) the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary
may pay any dividend on Capital Stock of any class within 60 days after the
declaration thereof if, on
32
the date when the dividend was declared, the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary could have paid such dividend in accordance with the foregoing
provisions;
(b) the Company may refinance any Debt otherwise
permitted by clause (g) of the second paragraph of Section 3.01 hereof or
redeem, acquire or retire any Debt solely in exchange for, by conversion into or
with the net proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than from or
to a Subsidiary of the Company or from or to an employee stock ownership plan
financed by loans from the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) of shares of
Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the Company;
(c) the Company may purchase, redeem, acquire or
retire any shares of Capital Stock of the Company solely in exchange for, by
conversion into or with the net proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale
(other than from or to a Subsidiary of the Company or from or to an employee
stock ownership plan financed by loans from the Company or a Subsidiary of the
Company) of shares of Capital Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) of the
Company;
(d) the Company may purchase or redeem any Debt
from Net Available Proceeds to the extent permitted by Section 3.06 hereof; and
(e) the Company may acquire shares of its
Capital Stock in connection with the exercise of employee or director stock
options or stock appreciation rights by way of cashless exercise;
(f) the Company may acquire shares of its
Capital Stock pursuant to equity repurchases from present or former directors or
employees in an amount of up to $2 million per year; and
(g) the Company may make other Restricted
Payments since the Closing Date in an aggregate in amount not to exceed $35
million.
Any payment made pursuant to clause (a) or (f) of this paragraph shall be a
Restricted Payment for purposes of calculating aggregate Restricted Payments
pursuant to the preceding paragraph and the amount of net proceeds from any
exchange for, conversion into or sale of Capital Stock of the Company pursuant
to clause (b) or (c) of this paragraph shall be excluded from the calculation of
the amount available for Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (iii)(2) above.
SECTION 3.03 LIMITATION ON DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING
RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES
The Company may not, and may not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to
exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Subsidiary:
(a) to pay dividends (in cash or otherwise) or
make any other distributions in respect of its Capital Stock owned by the
Company or any other
33
Restricted Subsidiary or pay any Debt or other obligation owed to the Company or
any other Restricted Subsidiary;
(b) to make loans or advances to the Company or
any other Restricted Subsidiary; or
(c) to transfer any of its property or assets to
the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, and may permit
any Restricted Subsidiary to, suffer to exist any such encumbrance or
restriction:
(a) imposed pursuant to any agreement in effect
on the Closing Date (including the Senior Credit Facility);
(b) imposed pursuant to an agreement relating to
any Debt Incurred by a Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary existing on
the Closing Date or any Restricted Subsidiary carrying on any of the businesses
of any such Restricted Subsidiary) prior to the date on which such Person became
a Restricted Subsidiary and outstanding on such date and not Incurred in
anticipation of becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, which encumbrance or
restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any
Person, other than the Person so acquired, provided that the Incurrence of such
Debt is permitted by Section 3.01 hereof;
(c) imposed pursuant to an agreement effecting a
renewal, refunding or extension of Debt Incurred pursuant to an agreement
referred to in clause (a) or (b) of this paragraph; provided, however, that the
provisions contained in such renewal, refunding or extension agreement relating
to such encumbrance or restriction are not materially more restrictive, taken as
a whole, than the provisions contained in the agreement the subject thereof;
(d) in the case of a restriction described in
clause (c) of the preceding paragraph, contained in any security agreement
(including a capital lease) securing Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary otherwise
permitted under the Indenture, but only to the extent such restrictions restrict
the transfer of the assets or property subject to such security agreement;
(e) in the case of a restriction described in
clause (c) of the preceding paragraph, consisting of customary nonassignment
provisions entered into in the ordinary course of business in leases and other
contracts to the extent such provisions restrict the transfer or subletting of
any such lease or the assignment of rights under any such contract;
(f) contained in a franchise or other agreement
entered into in the ordinary course of business with an automobile manufacturer
and which has terms reasonably customary for such agreements between or among
such automobile manufacturer, its dealers and/or the owners of such dealers;
34
(g) with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary,
imposed pursuant to an agreement which has been entered into for the sale or
disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such
Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such restriction terminates if such
transaction is closed or abandoned; or
(h) in bona fide contracts for the sale of any
property or assets; or
(i) if such encumbrance or restriction is the
result of applicable laws or regulations.
SECTION 3.04 LIMITATION ON RANKING OF CERTAIN DEBT
The Company:
(a) may not Incur any Debt which by its terms is
both subordinate in right of payment to any Senior Debt of the Company and
senior in right of payment to the Notes;
(b) may not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to
Incur any Debt which by its terms is both subordinate in right of payment to any
Senior Debt of such Subsidiary Guarantor and senior in right of payment to the
Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor; and
(c) may not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to
Guarantee any Debt of the Company that is subordinate in right of payment to the
Notes unless:
(i) the Guarantee by such Restricted
Subsidiary of such other Debt shall be subordinated to such Restricted
Subsidiary's Subsidiary Guarantee at least to the same extent as such
Debt of the Company is subordinated to the Notes and
(ii) such Restricted Subsidiary waives,
and agrees that it will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the
benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or
subrogation or any other rights against the Company or any other
Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted
Subsidiary under its Guarantee of such other Debt of the Company until
the Notes have been paid in full.
For purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, no Debt shall be deemed subordinate
in right of payment to any other Debt solely by reason of such other Debt having
the benefit of a security interest.
SECTION 3.05 LIMITATION ON LIENS SECURING PARI PASSU OR SUBORDINATED DEBT
The Company may not, and may not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, Incur or suffer to exist any Lien on or with respect to any
property or assets now owned
35
or hereafter acquired to secure any Debt that is expressly by its terms pari
passu, subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes or the Subsidiary
Guarantee of a Restricted Subsidiary without making, or causing such Restricted
Subsidiary to make, effective provision for securing the Notes or such
Restricted Subsidiary's Subsidiary Guarantee (1) in the event such Debt is pari
passu with the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee, equally and ratably with such
Debt as to such property or assets for so long as such Debt will be so secured
or (2) in the event such Debt is subordinate in right of payment to the Notes or
such Subsidiary Guarantee, prior to such Debt as to such property or assets for
so long as such Debt will be so secured.
SECTION 3.06 LIMITATION ON ASSET DISPOSITIONS
(a) The Company may not, and may not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, make any Asset Disposition in one or more related
transactions unless:
(i) the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as
the case may be, receives consideration for such disposition at least equal to
the fair market value for the assets sold or disposed of as determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company in good faith and evidenced by a Board
Resolution of the Company;
(ii) at least 75% of the consideration for such
disposition consists of:
(1) or Cash Equivalents;
(2) the assumption of Debt of the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than Debt that is
subordinated to the Notes or such Restricted Subsidiary's Subsidiary
Guarantee) relating to such assets and release from all liability on
the Debt assumed;
(3) Replacement Assets; or
(4) a combination of the foregoing;
provided that the amount of any consideration received by the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into cash within 180 days of the closing
of such Asset Disposition shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this
provision (to the extent of the cash received); and
(b) all Net Available Proceeds, less any amounts invested
within 360 days of such disposition in Replacement Assets, are applied within
360 days of such disposition:
(i) first, to the permanent repayment or
reduction of Senior Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor
then outstanding under any agreements or instruments which would
36
require such application or prohibit payments pursuant to clause (ii)
following,
(ii) second, to the extent of remaining Net
Available Proceeds, to make an Offer to Purchase outstanding Notes at
100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest to the Purchase
Date and, to the extent required by the terms thereof, any other Debt
of the Company that is pari passu with the Notes ("Pari Passu Debt") at
a price no greater than 100% of the principal amount thereof plus
accrued interest to the date of purchase,
(iii) third, to the extent of any remaining Net
Available Proceeds following the completion of the Offer to Purchase,
to the repayment of other Debt of the Company or Debt of a Restricted
Subsidiary, to the extent permitted under the terms thereof, and
(iv) fourth, to the extent of any remaining Net
Available Proceeds, to any other use as determined by the Company which
is not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to make an
Offer to Purchase pursuant to clause (b)(ii) above if the remaining Net
Available Proceeds after giving effect to the application permitted by clause
(b)(i) is less than $10 million.
(c) The Company will mail the Offer for an Offer to
Purchase required pursuant to Section 3.06(b) not more than 360 days after
consummation of the Asset Disposition referred to in Section 3.06(a), subject to
the provisions of the final sentence of Section 3.06(b). The aggregate principal
amount of the Notes (and any other Pari Passu Debt) to be offered to be
purchased pursuant to the Offer to Purchase shall equal the Net Available
Proceeds available therefor pursuant to clause (b)(ii) of this Section 3.06
(rounded down to the next lowest integral multiple of $1,000). Each Holder shall
be entitled to tender all or any portion of the Notes owned by such Holder
pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, subject to the requirement that any portion
of a Note tendered must be tendered in an integral multiple of $1,000 principal
amount.
The Company shall not be entitled to any credit against its obligations
in connection with any Offer to Purchase made pursuant to this Section 306 for
the principal amount of any Notes acquired by the Company otherwise than
pursuant to such Offer to Purchase.
(d) Not later than the date of the Offer with respect to
an Offer to Purchase pursuant to this Section 3.06, the Company shall deliver to
the Trustee an Officers' Certificate as to (i) the Purchase Amount, (ii) the
allocation of the Net Available Proceeds from the Asset Disposition pursuant to
which such Offer is being made, including, if any consideration consists of
Replacement Assets or any amounts are invested in Replacement Assets, the actual
assets acquired and a statement indicating the
37
relationship of such assets to the business of the Company and (iii) the
compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 3.06(a).
The Company and the Trustee shall perform their respective
obligations specified in the Offer for the Offer to Purchase. On or prior to the
Purchase Date, the Company shall (i) accept for payment (on a pro rata basis, if
necessary) Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Offer, (ii)
deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying
Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003 of the Original
Indenture) money sufficient to pay the Purchase Price of all Notes or portions
thereof so accepted and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee
all Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the Notes
or portions thereof accepted for payment by the Company. The Paying Agent (or
the Company, if so acting) shall promptly mail or deliver to Holders of Notes so
accepted payment in an amount equal to the Purchase Price, and the Trustee shall
promptly authenticate and mail or deliver to such Holders a new Note equal in
principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note
not accepted for payment shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to
the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Offer
on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.
SECTION 3.07 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
This Section 3.07 has been intentionally omitted from this
Supplemental Indenture.
SECTION 3.08 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The Company may not, and may not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction (or series of related transactions)
with an Affiliate of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, including any
Investment, either directly or indirectly, unless such transaction is on terms
no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that
could be obtained in a comparable arm's-length transaction with an entity that
is not an Affiliate and is in the best interests of such Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary. For any transaction that involves in excess of $5
million, a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors shall
determine that the transaction satisfies the above criteria and shall evidence
such a determination by a Board Resolution of the Company filed with the
Trustee. For any transaction that involves in excess of $15 million, the Company
shall also obtain an opinion from a nationally recognized expert with experience
in appraising the terms and conditions of the type of transaction (or series of
related transactions) for which the opinion is required stating that such
transaction (or series of related transactions) is on terms no less favorable to
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that could be obtained in a
comparable arm's-length transaction with an entity that is not an Affiliate of
the Company, which opinion shall be filed with the Trustee.
38
The foregoing requirements shall not apply to:
(a) any transaction pursuant to agreements in
effect on the Closing Date;
(b) any employment agreement or employee benefit
arrangements with any officer or director, including under any stock option or
stock incentive plans, entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary or approved by a majority of the disinterested members of
the Board of Directors;
(c) transactions between or among the Company
and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(d) payment of reasonable directors fees to
Persons who are not otherwise employees of the Company;
(e) indemnities of officers, directors and
employees of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to bylaws, or
statutory provisions or indemnification agreements or the purchase of
indemnification insurance for any director or officer;
(f) any Restricted Payment that is permitted to
be made by Section 3.02 hereof; and
(g) written agreements entered into or assumed
in connection with acquisitions of other businesses with Persons who were not
Affiliates prior to such transactions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the requirements set forth in
the third sentence of the first paragraph of this Section 3.08 relating to an
opinion from a nationally recognized expert shall not apply to leases of
property or equipment entered into in the ordinary course of business.
SECTION 3.09 CHANGE OF CONTROL
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control
each Holder of a Note shall have the right to have such Note repurchased by the
Company on the terms and conditions precedent set forth in this Section 3.09 and
the Indenture. The Company shall, within 30 days following the occurrence of a
transaction resulting in a Change of Control, mail an Offer with respect to an
Offer to Purchase all Outstanding Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of
their aggregate principal amount plus accrued interest to the Purchase Date
(provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or
prior to the Purchase Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Notes or one
or more Predecessor Securities registered as such at the close of business on
the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section
307 of the Original Indenture). Each Holder shall be entitled to tender all or
any portion of the Notes owned by such Holder pursuant to the Offer to Purchase,
subject to the requirement that any portion of a Note tendered must be tendered
in an integral multiple of $1,000 principal amount.
39
(b) The Company and the Trustee shall perform
their respective obligations specified in the Offer for the Offer to Purchase.
On or prior to the Purchase Date, the Company shall (i) accept for payment Notes
or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Offer, (ii) deposit with the Paying
Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold
in trust as provided in Section 1003 of the Original Indenture) money sufficient
to pay the Purchase Price of all Notes or portions thereof so accepted and (iii)
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee all Notes so accepted together
with an Officers' Certificate stating the Notes or portions thereof accepted for
payment by the Company. The Paying Agent (or the Company, if so acting) shall
promptly mail or deliver to Holders of Notes so accepted payment in an amount
equal to the Purchase Price, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and
mail or deliver to such Holders a new Note or Notes equal in principal amount to
any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered as requested by the Holder. Any
Note not accepted for payment shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the
Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results
of the Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.
SECTION 3.10 PAYMENTS FOR CONSENT
The Company may not, and may not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any
consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for
or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or
provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, the Original Indenture, the Notes or
any Subsidiary Guarantee unless such consideration is offered to be paid or 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 3.11 PROVISION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Whether or not the Company is required to be subject to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision thereto,
the Company shall file with the Commission the annual reports, quarterly reports
and other documents which the Company would have been required to file with the
Commission pursuant to such Section 13(a) or 15(d) or any successor provision
thereto if the Company were so required, such documents to be filed with the
Commission on or prior to the respective dates (the "Required Filing Dates") by
which the Company would have been required so to file such documents if the
Company were so required. The Company shall also in any event:
(i) within 15 days of each Required
Filing Date transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and
addresses appear in the Security Register, without cost to such
Holders, and file with the Trustee, copies (without exhibits) of the
annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents which the Company
files with the Commission pursuant to such Section 13(a) or 15(d) or
any successor provision thereto or would have been required to file
with the Commission pursuant to such Section
40
13(a) or 15(d) or any successor provisions thereto if the Company were
required to be subject to such Sections and
(ii) if filing such documents by the
Company with the Commission is not permitted under the Exchange Act,
promptly upon written request supply copies of such documents to any
prospective Holder and the Trustee.
SECTION 3.12 MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS AND CERTAIN SALES OF ASSETS
In addition to conditions set forth in Section 801 of the
Original Indenture, the Company shall not, in a single transaction or a series
of related transactions: (1) consolidate with or merge into any other Person or
permit any other Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company or (2)
directly or indirectly, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of
all or substantially all of its assets unless:
(a) immediately before and after giving pro
forma effect to such transaction and treating any Debt which becomes an
obligation of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such
transaction as having been Incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
at the time of the transaction, no Event of Default or event that with the
passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(b) except in the case of any such consolidation
or merger of the Company with or into a Restricted Subsidiary, immediately after
giving pro forma effect to such transaction and treating any Debt which becomes
an obligation of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such
transaction as having been Incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
at the time of the transaction, the Company (or the Successor Company) could
Incur at least $1.00 of additional Debt pursuant to the provisions of the first
paragraph of Section 3.01 hereof; and
(c) if, as a result of any such transaction,
property or assets of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary would become
subject to a Lien prohibited by the provisions of Section 3.05 hereof, the
Company and/or such Restricted Subsidiary or the Successor Company shall have
secured the Notes or such Restricted Subsidiary's Subsidiary Guarantee, as
applicable, as required by Section 3.05.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
41
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first
above written.
THE COMPANY:
GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Executive Vice President
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
GROUP 1 REALTY, INC.
GROUP 1 FL HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: President
BOB HOWARD AUTOMOTIVE-EAST, INC.
BOB HOWARD AUTOMOTIVE-H, INC.
BOB HOWARD CHEVROLET, INC.
BOB HOWARD DODGE, INC.
BOB HOWARD MOTORS, INC.
BOB HOWARD NISSAN, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-DC, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-F, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-GM, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-S, INC.
CASA CHEVROLET INC.
CASA CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH JEEP INC.
DANVERS-DC, INC.
DANVERS-DCII, INC.
DANVERS-DCIII, INC.
DANVERS-GM, INC.
DANVERS-N, INC.
DANVERS-NII, INC.
DANVERS-S, INC.
DANVERS-SU, INC.
DANVERS-T, INC.
DANVERS-TII, INC.
DANVERS-TL, INC.
FMM, INC.
42
GPI ATLANTA-F, INC.
GPI ATLANTA-FLM, INC.
GPI ATLANTA-FLM II, INC.
GPI ATLANTA-T, INC.
GROUP 1 ASSOCIATES, INC.
HARVEY-T, INC.
HIGHLAND AUTOPLEX, INC.
HOWARD FORD, INC.
HOWARD PONTIAC-GMC, INC.
HOWARD-DC, INC.
HOWARD-DCII, INC.
HOWARD-GM, INC.
HOWARD-GMII, INC.
HOWARD-GMIII, INC.
HOWARD-H, INC.
HOWARD-HA, INC.
HOWARD-FLM, INC.
HOWARD-SB, INC.
HOWARD-SI, INC.
JIM TIDWELL FORD, INC.
LUBY CHEVROLET CO.
MIKE SMITH AUTOMOTIVE-H, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOMOTIVE-N, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLAZA, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX BUICK, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX DODGE, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX-GERMAN IMPORTS, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX-V, INC.
MIKE SMITH GM, INC.
MIKE SMITH IMPORTS, INC.
MIKE SMITH MOTORS, INC.
MILLBRO, INC.
MILLER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
MILLER FAMILY COMPANY, INC.
MILLER IMPORTS, INC.
MILLER INFINITI, INC.
MILLER MOTORS VAN NUYS, INC.
MILLER NISSAN, INC.
MILLER-NII, INC.
PERIMETER FORD, INC.
43
SUNSHINE BUICK PONTIAC GMC TRUCK, INC.
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
AMARILLO MOTORS-C, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-F, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-FM, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-J, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-SM, LTD.
CHAPERRAL DODGE, LTD.
COLONIAL CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH, LTD.
GPI, LTD.
KUTZ-DC, LTD.
KUTZ-N, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-F, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-S, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-SH, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-T, LTD.
MAXWELL CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP, LTD.
MAXWELL FORD, LTD.
MAXWELL-G, LTD.
MAXWELL-N, LTD.
MAXWELL-NII, LTD.
MAXWELL-SM, LTD.
MCCALL-H, LTD.
MCCALL-HA, LTD.
MCCALL-N, LTD.
MCCALL-T, LTD.
MCCALL-TII, LTD.
MCCALL-TL, LTD.
PRESTIGE CHRYSLER NORTHWEST, LTD.
PRESTIGE CHRYSLER SOUTH, LTD.
ROCKWALL AUTOMOTIVE-DCD, LTD.
44
ROCKWALL AUTOMOTIVE-F, LTD.
By: GROUP 1 ASSOCIATES, INC.,
as general partner
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-DC, L.L.C.
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-F, L.L.C.
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-GM, L.L.C.
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-H, L.L.C.
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-N, L.L.C.
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-S, L.L.C.
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-T, L.L.C.
By: GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Executive Vice President
COURTESY FORD, LLC
GULF BREEZE FORD, LLC
KEY FORD, LLC
KOONS FORD, LLC
By: GROUP 1 FL HOLDINGS, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: President
45
BOHN-DC, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-DC, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
BOHN-FII, LLC
BOHN-FIII, LLC
HARVEY FORD, LLC
HARVEY-FLM, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-F, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
HARVEY GM, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-GM, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
HARVEY SM, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-S, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
46
HARVEY OPERATIONS-T, LLC
By: HARVEY-T, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
IRA AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, LLC
By: DANVERS-T, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-F, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-DC, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-T, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-GM, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-H, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-S, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-N, INC.
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-DC, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-DC, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
47
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-F, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-F, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-GM, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-GM, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-N, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-N, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-T, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-T, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
48
TRUSTEE:
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,
as Trustee
By: /s/ Melissa Scott
________________________________
Name: Melissa Scott
Title: Vice President
49
Exhibit 4.7
RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX
PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES,
PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTES
AND EXCHANGE NOTES
1. Definitions
1.1 Definitions.
For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated below:
"Clearstream" means Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, or any
successor securities clearing agency.
"Depository" means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their
respective successors.
"Euroclear" means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. or any successor securities
clearing agency.
"Exchange Notes" means (1) the 8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due
August 15, 2013 issued pursuant to the Indenture in connection with a Registered
Exchange Offer pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement and (2) Additional
Notes, if any, issued pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC
under the Securities Act.
"Initial Purchasers" means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued
on the Closing Date, Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Banc
One Capital Markets, Inc. and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional
Notes, the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related Purchase
Agreement.
"Initial Notes" means (1) $150 million aggregate principal amount of
8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due August 15, 2013 issued on the Closing Date
and (2) Additional Notes, if any, issued in a transaction exempt from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act.
"Notes" means the Initial Notes, the Additional Notes, the Exchange
Notes and the Private Exchange Notes, treated as a single class.
"Notes Custodian" means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as
appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person thereto and shall
initially be the Trustee.
"Private Exchange" means the offer by the Company, pursuant to a
Registration Rights Agreement, to an Initial Purchaser to issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser, in exchange for the Initial Notes held by the Initial
Purchaser as part of its initial distribution, a like aggregate principal amount
of Private Exchange Notes.
1
"Private Exchange Notes" means any 8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due
August 15, 2013 issued in connection with a Private Exchange.
"Purchase Agreement" means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued
on the Initial Closing Date, the Purchase Agreement dated August 8, 2003 among
the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers, and (2) with
respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the purchase agreement or
underwriting agreement among the Company and the Persons purchasing such
Additional Notes.
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A.
"Registered Exchange Offer" means the offer by the Company, pursuant to
a Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial Notes, to issue
and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Notes, a like aggregate
principal amount of Exchange Notes registered under the Securities Act.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means (1) with respect to the Initial
Notes issued on the Closing Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
August 13, 2003 among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial
Purchasers, and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes issued in
a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act,
the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Company and the Persons
purchasing such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means the registration statement issued
by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Notes or Private
Exchange Notes pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.
"Transfer Restricted Securities" means Notes that bear or are required
to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b) hereof.
1.2 Other Definitions.
Term Defined in Section:
---- -------------------
"Agent Members".......................... 2.1(b)
"Global Note"............................ 2.1(a)
"Regulation S"........................... 2.1(a)
"Restricted Global Note"................. 2.1(a)
"Rule 144A".............................. 2.1(a)
2. The Notes.
2.1 (a) Form and Dating. Initial Notes offered and sold to a QIB
in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A") or in reliance
on Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S"), in each case as
provided in a Purchase Agreement, and Private Exchange Notes, as provided in a
Registration Rights Agreement, shall be issued initially in the form of
2
one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without
interest coupons with the global Notes legend and restricted Notes legend set
forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (each, a "Restricted Global Note"), which shall be
deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Initial Notes represented thereby
with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depository (or with such other custodian
as the Depository may direct), and registered in the name of the Depository or a
nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the
Trustee as hereinafter provided. Prior to the 40th day after the Initial
Issuance Date, beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Note representing
Initial Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S may only be held through
Euroclear or Clearstream, and any resale or transfer of such interests to U.S.
persons (as defined in Regulation S) shall not be permitted during such period
unless such resale or transfer is made pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation S.
The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be
increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the
Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided. Exchange Notes shall be
issued in global form (with the global Notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1
hereto) or in certificated form as provided in Section 2.4 of this Appendix.
Exchange Notes issued in global form and Restricted Global Notes are sometimes
referred to in this Appendix as "Global Notes".
For the avoidance of doubt, the Company agrees that no Private Exchange
Notes shall be issuable in relation to the Initial Notes issued on the Closing
Date, inasmuch as the initial Registration Rights Agreement makes no provision
for Private Exchange Notes.
(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to
a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.
The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with
this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes
that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Note
or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depository and (b) shall be delivered by
the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such Depository's instructions or
held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depository.
Members of, or participants in, the Depository ("Agent Members") shall
have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on
their behalf by the Depository or by the Trustee as the custodian of the
Depository or under such Global Note, and the Company, the Trustee and any agent
of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Depository as the
absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any
agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written
certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or
impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of
customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a
holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.
(c) Certificated Notes. Except as provided in this Section 2.1 or
Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes
shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Notes.
2.2 Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver:
(1) on the Closing Date, an aggregate principal amount of $150 million 8.25%
Senior Subordinated Notes due August 15, 2013, (2) any Additional Notes for an
original issue in an aggregate principal amount
3
specified in the Company Order given pursuant to Section 303 of the Original
Indenture and (3) Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes for issue only in a
Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, respectively, pursuant to a
Registration Rights Agreement, for a like principal amount of Initial Notes, in
each case upon delivery to the Trustee of a Company Order. Such Company Order
shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated and the date on which
the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and, in the case of any
issuance of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.13 of this Supplemental
Indenture, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 3.01
of this Supplemental Indenture.
2.3 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. (i) The transfer and
exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected
through the Depository, in accordance with the Indenture (including applicable
restrictions on transfer set forth in this Appendix, if any) and the procedures
of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global
Note shall deliver to the Security Registrar a written order given in accordance
with the Depository's procedures containing information regarding the
participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest
in the Global Note. The Security Registrar shall, in accordance with such
instructions instruct the Depository to credit to the account of the Person
specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note and to
debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in
the Global Note being transferred.
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix
(other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Note may
not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of
the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or
another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such
nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor
Depository.
(iii) In the event that a Restricted Global Note is
exchanged for Notes in certificated registered form pursuant to Section
2.4 of this Appendix, prior to the consummation of a Registered
Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement
with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in
accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with
the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification
requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Notes intended to
ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A, Regulation S or
another exemption from registration under the Securities Act) and such
other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.
(b) Legend.
(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii),
(iii) and (iv), each Note certificate evidencing the Restricted Global
Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution
thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A
TRANSACTION THAT WAS NOT REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "SECURITIES ACT") AND MAY NOT BE
OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) (1)
TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY
4
BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING
OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN
ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER
IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (2) IN
AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (3) PURSUANT TO AN
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED
BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (4) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL
ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (5)
PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER
JURISDICTIONS. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE
AGREED TO INDEMNIFY THE ISSUER AND THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
AGAINST CERTAIN LOSSES ARISING OUT OF INFORMATION FURNISHED IN
WRITING BY THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR INCLUSION IN ANY SHELF
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES CONTEMPLATED BY
THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted
Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a
Restricted Global Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
the Security Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange
such Transfer Restricted Security for a certificated Note that does not
bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the
transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security, if the transferor
thereof certifies in writing to the Registrar that such sale or
transfer was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in
the form set forth on the reverse of the Note).
(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Notes or Private
Exchange Notes pursuant to and during the period of the effectiveness
of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Notes or
Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining
to legends on such Initial Note or such Private Exchange Note will
cease to apply, the requirements requiring any such Initial Note or
such Private Exchange Note issued to certain Holders be issued in
global form will cease to apply, and a certificated Initial Note or
Private Exchange Note or an Initial Note or Private Exchange Note in
global form, in each case without restrictive transfer legends, will be
available to the transferee of the Holder of such Initial Notes or
Private Exchange Notes upon exchange of such transferring Holder's
certificated Initial Note or Private Exchange Note or directions to
transfer such Holder's interest in the Global Note, as applicable.
(iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer
with respect to the Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to such
Initial Notes that Initial Notes issued to certain Holders be issued in
global form will still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial
Notes that do not exchange their Initial Notes, and Exchange Notes in
certificated
5
or global form will be available to Holders that exchange such Initial
Notes in such Registered Exchange Offer.
(v) Upon the consummation of a Private Exchange with
respect to the Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to such
Initial Notes that Initial Notes issued to certain Holders be issued in
global form will still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial
Notes that do not exchange their Initial Notes, and Private Exchange
Notes in global form with the global Notes legend and the Restricted
Notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto will be available to Holders
that exchange such Initial Notes in such Private Exchange.
(c) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all
beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for
certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be
returned to the Depository for cancellation or retained and canceled by the
Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a
Global Note is exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or
canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be
reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee
(if it is then the Notes Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such
Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, to reflect such reduction.
(d) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges,
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate
certificated Notes and Global Notes at the Security Registrar's
request.
(ii) Prior to the due presentation for registration of
transfer of any Note, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the
Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar may deem and treat
the Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of
such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of,
premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, on such Note
and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is
overdue, and none of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the
Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall be affected
by notice to the contrary.
(iii) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange
pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall evidence the same debt and
shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture (including,
without limitation, accrued but unpaid interest) as the Notes
surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
(e) No Obligation of the Trustee.
(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or
obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a
participant in the Depository or other Person with respect to the
accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any
participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest
in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant,
member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of
any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any
amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and
communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made
to Holders under
6
the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the
registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the
case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global
Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the
applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely
and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by
the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any
beneficial owners.
(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to
monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on
transfer imposed under the Indenture or under applicable law with
respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any
transfers between or among Depository participants, members or
beneficial owners 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.
2.4 Certificated Notes.
(a) A Global Note deposited with the Depository or with the
Trustee as custodian for the Depository pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be
transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of certificated Notes
in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global
Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with
Section 2.3 and (i) the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or
unable to continue as Depository for such Global Note or if at any time such
Depository ceases to be a "clearing agency" registered under the Exchange Act
and in either event a successor Depository is not appointed by the Company
within 90 days of such notice, (ii) such Global Note is (a) held for the account
of Euroclear or Clearstream and (b) Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may
be, (1) is closed for business for a continuous period of 14 days (other than by
reason of statutory or other holidays) or (2) announces an intention permanently
to cease business or does in fact do so or (iii) an Event of Default with
respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing and DTC notifies the Trustee
of its decision to exchange such Global Note, or (iv) the Company, in its sole
discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance
of certificated Notes under this Indenture.
(b) Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners
thereof pursuant to this Section shall be surrendered by the Depository or the
Notes Custodian to the Trustee located at its Corporate Trust Office to be so
transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of
such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated Notes of
authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to
this Section shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in
denominations of $1,000 principal amount and any integral multiple thereof and
registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any certificated Note
or Private Exchange Note delivered in exchange for an interest in the Global
Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(b), bear the restricted
Notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b), the Holder of a
Global Note shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any
Person, including Agent Members and
7
Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which
a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.
(d) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified
in Section 2.4(a), the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a
reasonable supply of certificated Notes in definitive, fully registered form
without interest coupons.
8
EXHIBIT 1 TO RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX
[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL NOTE]
[Global Notes Legend]
THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A NOTE
REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED,
IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF,
EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), NEW YORK, NEW
YORK, 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 IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY
PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR
VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED
OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
[Restricted Notes Legend]
THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION
THAT WAS NOT REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE
"SECURITIES ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT (A) (1) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (3) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (4) TO AN
INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (5) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS. THE
HOLDER
1
OF THIS NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED TO INDEMNIFY THE ISSUER AND THE
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS AGAINST CERTAIN LOSSES ARISING OUT OF INFORMATION
FURNISHED IN WRITING BY THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR INCLUSION IN ANY SHELF
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES CONTEMPLATED BY THE REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
2
GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
No. $
CUSIP No.
ISIN No.
8.25% Senior Subordinated Note due August 15, 2013
Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to
__________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of _______ Dollars on
August 15, 2013 [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on
Schedule A hereto].(1)
Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15.
Regular Record Dates: February 1 and August 1.
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of
this Note.
GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,
as Trustee, certifies that
this is one of the Notes
referred to in the Indenture.
By__________________________________
Authorized Signatory
Dated: ________________________
- ------------------------
(1) If this Note is a Global Note, add this provision.
3
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL NOTE]
8.25% Senior Note due August 15, 2013
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings
assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Interest. Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), promises (i) to pay interest on the principal amount of this
Note at 8.25% per annum from August 13, 2003 until maturity, provided that any
principal and premium, and any installment of interest, which is overdue shall
bear interest at the rate of 9.25% per annum (to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable), and (ii) to pay the Special
Interest payable pursuant to Section 2(c) of the Registration Rights Agreement
referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Special Interest, if any,
semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing
February 15, 2004, 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 original issuance; provided, however,
that if this Note is authenticated between a Regular 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, except in the case of
the original issuance of Notes, in which case interest shall accrue from the
date of authentication. 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
and Special Interest to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the
close of business on the February 1 or August 1 (each a "Regular Record Date")
next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are cancelled after
such Regular Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as
provided in Section 307 of the Original Indenture with respect to Defaulted
Interest. Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect payments
of principal and premium, if any. The Notes will be payable as to principal,
premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, at the office or agency
of the Company maintained for such purpose within the Borough of Manhattan, The
City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of
interest and Additional Interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at
their addresses set forth in the Security Register, and provided that payment by
wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to
principal of and interest, premium and Additional Interest on all Global Notes.
Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America
as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private
debts.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,
the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Security
Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Security Registrar without
notice to any Holder. The Company may act in any such capacity.
4
4. Indenture. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of
Securities of the Company, issued and to be issued under an Indenture dated as
of August 13, 2003 ("Original Indenture") among the Company, the Subsidiary
Guarantors and the Trustee, as supplemented and amended by the First
Supplemental Indenture of even date (the "Supplemental Indenture"). The Original
Indenture, as so supplemented and amended, is referred to herein as the
"Indenture." 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. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the
Company limited to $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount in the case of Notes
issued on the Closing Date.
5. Optional Redemption; Repurchases.
The Notes of this series are subject to redemption upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail in the event that on or
before August 15, 2006 the Company receives net proceeds from the sale of its
Common Stock in one or more Equity Offerings, in which case the Company may, at
its option, use all or a portion of any such net proceeds to redeem up to 35% of
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes)
issued under the Indenture, provided, however, that at least 65% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued
under the Indenture remains outstanding after each such redemption. Any such
redemption must occur on a Redemption Date within 90 days of any such sale at a
Redemption Price of 108.25% of the principal amount of the Notes, together in
the case of any such redemption with accrued interest to the Redemption Date,
but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such
Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Notes, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Regular Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the
Indenture.
The Notes are further subject to redemption upon not less than
30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail, at any time on or after August 15,
2008, as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following
Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount), if
redeemed during the 12-month period beginning August 15 of the years indicated:
Year Redemption Price
- ---- ----------------
2008 104.125%
2009 102.750%
2010 101.375%
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption with accrued interest to the
Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior
to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Notes, or one or
more Predecessor Securities, of record
5
at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates referred to on the
face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.
Prior to August 15, 2008, upon not less than 30 nor more than
60 days' notice by mail the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at a Redemption Price equal to
the greater of:
(1) 100% of the principal amount thereof; or
(2) the present value, as determined by an
Independent Investment Banker, of
(A) 104.125% of the principal amount of
the Notes being redeemed calculated as of August 15,
2008 (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day months), plus
(B) all required interest payments due
on such Notes through August 15, 2008 (excluding
accrued interest), discounted to the Redemption Date
on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted
Treasury Rate, plus in each case accrued interest to
but excluding the Redemption Date (subject to the
right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular
Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest
Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption
Date).
The Notes are also subject to repurchase by the Company at the
option of the Holders in the event of a Change of Control or following certain
Asset Dispositions, all as provided in the Indenture.
In the event of redemption or repurchase of this Note in part
only, a new Note or Notes of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will
be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
6. Subordination. The indebtedness evidenced by this Note is, to
the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of
payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt of the Company, and this
Note is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.
Each Holder of this Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be
bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf
to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the
subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for
any and all such purposes.
7. Subsidiary Guarantees. As provided in the Indenture and
subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the obligations of the Company
under this Note are guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis pursuant to the
Subsidiary Guarantees endorsed hereon. The Indenture provides that a Subsidiary
Guarantor shall be released from its Subsidiary Guarantee upon compliance with
certain conditions.
6
8. Events of Default; Remedies, Etc.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur
and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in
the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture,
the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given
the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Notes, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the
time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute
proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the
Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes at the time Outstanding a
direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any
such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of
this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium
or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company,
which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and
interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency,
herein prescribed.
9. Amendments. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as
therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and
obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the
time Outstanding to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions
permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the
time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by
the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults
under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the
Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon
all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
10. Transfer and Exchange of Notes.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the
Security Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at
the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any
premium and interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied
by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to
7
the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or
his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of
like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal
amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons
in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the
Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes are
exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes and of like tenor of
a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the
same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of
transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
11. Owner. Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration
of transfer, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and any agent
of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is
registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this
Note is overdue, and neither the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee
nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
12. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes are subject to Covenant
Defeasance, Defeasance and satisfaction and discharge upon the terms and
conditions specified in the Indenture.
13. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual
or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform
services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the
Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
14. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future
director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder or
other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as
such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any
Subsidiary 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.
15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until
authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee
or an Authenticating Agent.
16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name
of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).
8
17. Additional Rights and Obligations of Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes
under the Indenture, Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall have all
the rights and obligations set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated
as of August 13, 2003, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the
Initial Purchasers named on the signature page thereof (the "Registration Rights
Agreement").
18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers and corresponding ISIN 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.
19. Governing Law. THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
20. Successor Company. In the event a successor assumes all the
obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture, pursuant to the
terms thereof, the Company will be released from all such obligations.
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:
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
950 Echo Lane, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77024
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer this Note to
________________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)
and irrevocably appoint __________________ agent 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
other side of this Note.
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this
certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act after the later of the date of original issuance
of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the
Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such
Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
(1) [ ] to the Company; or
(2) [ ] pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act of 1933; or
(3) [ ] inside the United States to a "qualified
institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under
the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its
own account or for the account of a qualified
institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such
transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in
each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule
144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(4) [ ] outside the United States in an offshore transaction
within the meaning of Regulation S under the
Securities Act in compliance with Rule 903 or 904
under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(5) [ ] pursuant to the exemption from registration provided
by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(6) [ ] to an institutional accredited investor in a
transaction exempt from the registration requirements
of the Securities Act.
10
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of
the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the
registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4), (5) or (6) is
checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such
transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information
as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being
made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the
registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption
provided by Rule 144 under such Act.
___________________________________
Signature
Signature Guarantee:
____________________________ ___________________________________
Signature must be guaranteed Signature
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the
requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such
other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in
addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
________________________________________________________________________________
11
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its
own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment
discretion and that it and any such account is a "qualified institutional buyer"
within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware
that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that
it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has
requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such
information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the
undersigned's foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from
registration provided by Rule 144A.
Dated:_____________________ ______________________________________________
Notice: To be executed by an executive officer
12
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 306 or 309 of the Supplemental Indenture, check the box
below:
[ ] Section 306 [ ] Section 309
If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 306 or Section 309 of the Supplemental Indenture,
state the amount (in minimum denomination of $1,000 or integral multiples
thereof) you elect to have purchased: $____________
Date: ___________________ Your Signature: __________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears
on the Note)
Soc. Sec. or Tax Identification No.: _____________
Signature Guarantee: ___________________________________
(Signature must be guaranteed)
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the
requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such
other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in
addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
13
[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTE]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE
The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:
Amount of Amount of Principal Amount
decrease in increase in of this Global Signature of
Principal Amount Principal Amount Note following authorized officer
of this Global of this Global such decrease or of Trustee or
Date Note Note increase Notes Custodian
- ---- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------
14
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE
For value received, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors named
(or deemed herein to be named) below hereby jointly and severally fully and
unconditionally guarantees to the Holder of the Note upon which this Subsidiary
Guarantee is endorsed, and to the Trustee on behalf of such Holder, the due and
punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such
Note when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated
Maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, offer to purchase or otherwise,
according to the terms thereof and of the Indenture referred to therein and to
cover all the rights of the Trustee under Section 607 of the Original Indenture.
In case of the failure of the Company punctually to make any such payment, each
of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agrees to cause such
payment to be made punctually when and as the same shall become due and payable,
whether at the Stated Maturity or by acceleration, call for redemption, offer to
purchase or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Company.
Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby jointly and severally
agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional,
irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, the validity, regularity or
enforceability of such Note or the Indenture, the absence of any action to
enforce the same or any release, amendment, waiver or indulgence granted to the
Company or any other guarantor, or any consent to departure from any requirement
of any other guarantee of all or of any of the Notes, or any other circumstances
which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a
surety or guarantor; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no
such release, amendment, waiver or indulgence shall, without the consent of such
Subsidiary Guarantor, increase the principal amount of such Note, or increase
the interest rate thereon, or alter the Stated Maturity thereof. Each of the
Subsidiary Guarantors hereby waives the benefits of diligence, presentment,
demand of payment, any requirement that the Trustee or any of the Holders
protect, secure, perfect or insure any security interest in or other lien on any
property subject thereto or exhaust any right or take any action against the
Company or any other Person or any collateral, 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 or notice with respect to such
Note or the indebtedness evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever, and
covenants that this Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by
complete performance of the obligations contained in such Note and in this
Subsidiary Guarantee. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that if, after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the
Notes, the Trustee or any of the Holders are prevented by applicable law from
exercising their respective rights to accelerate the maturity of the Notes, to
collect interest on the Notes, or to enforce or exercise any other right or
remedy with respect to the Notes, such Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to pay to the
Trustee for the account of the Holders, upon demand therefor, the amount that
would otherwise have been due and payable had such rights and remedies been
permitted to be exercised by the Trustee or any of the Holders.
The indebtedness of each Subsidiary Guarantor evidenced by
this Subsidiary Guarantee is, to the extent provided in the Indenture,
subordinate in right of
15
payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt of such Subsidiary
Guarantor, and the Subsidiary Guarantee of each Subsidiary Guarantor is issued
subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
Subsidiary Guarantee or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the Subsidiary
Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, of
the due and punctual payment of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest
on the Note upon which this Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of
the Holder of this Note against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by
such Subsidiary Guarantor on account of this Note pursuant to the provisions of
its Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture; provided, however, that such
Subsidiary Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments
arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest on this Note and all other Notes issued under
the Indenture shall have been paid in full.
This Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain in full force and
effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against
the Company for liquidation or reorganization, should the Company become
insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a
receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any part of the Company's assets,
and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or
be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the
Notes is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must
otherwise be restored or returned by any Holder of the Notes, whether as a
"voidable preference," "fraudulent transfer," or otherwise, all as though such
payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any
part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by
such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.
The Subsidiary Guarantors or any particular Subsidiary
Guarantor shall be released from this Subsidiary Guarantee upon the terms and
subject to certain conditions provided in the Indenture.
By delivery to the Trustee of a supplement to the Indenture
referred to in the Note upon which this Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture, each Person that becomes a
Subsidiary Guarantor after the date of first issuance of the Notes will be
deemed to have executed and delivered this Subsidiary Guarantee for the benefit
of the Holder of the Note upon which this Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed with
the same effect as if such Subsidiary Guarantor was named below and has executed
and delivered this Subsidiary Guarantee.
All terms used in this Subsidiary Guarantee which are defined
in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in such Indenture.
16
This Subsidiary Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for
any purpose until the certificate of authentication on the Note upon which this
Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed shall have been executed by the Trustee under
the Indenture by manual signature.
Reference is made to the Indenture for further provisions with
respect to this Subsidiary Guarantee.
This Subsidiary Guarantee shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors has
caused this Subsidiary Guarantee to be duly executed.
GROUP 1 REALTY, INC.
GROUP 1 FL HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: President
BOB HOWARD AUTOMOTIVE-EAST, INC.
BOB HOWARD AUTOMOTIVE-H, INC.
BOB HOWARD CHEVROLET, INC.
BOB HOWARD DODGE, INC.
BOB HOWARD MOTORS, INC.
BOB HOWARD NISSAN, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-DC, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-F, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-GM, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-S, INC.
CASA CHEVROLET INC.
CASA CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH JEEP INC.
DANVERS-DC, INC.
DANVERS-DCII, INC.
DANVERS-DCIII, INC.
DANVERS-GM, INC.
DANVERS-N, INC.
DANVERS-NII, INC.
DANVERS-S, INC.
DANVERS-SU, INC.
DANVERS-T, INC.
DANVERS-TII, INC.
DANVERS-TL, INC.
FMM, INC.
GPI ATLANTA-F, INC.
GPI ATLANTA-FLM, INC.
GPI ATLANTA-FLM II, INC.
GPI ATLANTA-T, INC.
GROUP 1 ASSOCIATES, INC.
HARVEY-T, INC.
HIGHLAND AUTOPLEX, INC.
HOWARD FORD, INC.
HOWARD PONTIAC-GMC, INC.
HOWARD-DC, INC.
HOWARD-DCII, INC.
18
HOWARD-GM, INC.
HOWARD-GMII, INC.
HOWARD-GMIII, INC.
HOWARD-H, INC.
HOWARD-HA, INC.
HOWARD-FLM, INC.
HOWARD-SB, INC.
HOWARD-SI, INC.
JIM TIDWELL FORD, INC.
LUBY CHEVROLET CO.
MIKE SMITH AUTOMOTIVE-H, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOMOTIVE-N, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLAZA, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX BUICK, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX DODGE, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX-GERMAN IMPORTS, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX-V, INC.
MIKE SMITH GM, INC.
MIKE SMITH IMPORTS, INC.
MIKE SMITH MOTORS, INC.
MILLBRO, INC.
MILLER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
MILLER FAMILY COMPANY, INC.
MILLER IMPORTS, INC.
MILLER INFINITI, INC.
MILLER MOTORS VAN NUYS, INC.
MILLER NISSAN, INC.
MILLER-NII, INC.
PERIMETER FORD, INC.
SUNSHINE BUICK PONTIAC GMC TRUCK, INC.
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
AMARILLO MOTORS-C, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-F, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-FM, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-J, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-SM, LTD.
CHAPERRAL DODGE, LTD.
COLONIAL CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH, LTD.
GPI, LTD.
19
KUTZ-DC, LTD.
KUTZ-N, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-F, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-S, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-SH, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-T, LTD.
MAXWELL CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP, LTD.
MAXWELL FORD, LTD.
MAXWELL-G, LTD.
MAXWELL-N, LTD.
MAXWELL-NII, LTD.
MAXWELL-SM, LTD.
MCCALL-H, LTD.
MCCALL-HA, LTD.
MCCALL-N, LTD.
MCCALL-T, LTD.
MCCALL-TII, LTD.
MCCALL-TL, LTD.
PRESTIGE CHRYSLER NORTHWEST, LTD.
PRESTIGE CHRYSLER SOUTH, LTD.
ROCKWALL AUTOMOTIVE-DCD, LTD.
ROCKWALL AUTOMOTIVE-F, LTD.
By: GROUP 1 ASSOCIATES, INC.,
as general partner
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-DC, L.L.C. GROUP 1
HOLDINGS-F, L.L.C. GROUP 1
HOLDINGS-GM, L.L.C. GROUP 1
HOLDINGS-H, L.L.C. GROUP 1
HOLDINGS-N, L.L.C. GROUP 1
HOLDINGS-S, L.L.C. GROUP 1
HOLDINGS-T, L.L.C.
By: GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Executive Vice President
20
COURTESY FORD, LLC
GULF BREEZE FORD, LLC
KEY FORD, LLC
KOONS FORD, LLC
By: GROUP 1 FL HOLDINGS, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: President
BOHN-DC, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-DC, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
BOHN-FII, LLC
BOHN-FIII, LLC
HARVEY FORD, LLC
HARVEY-FLM, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-F, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
HARVEY GM, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-GM, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
21
HARVEY SM, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-S, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
HARVEY OPERATIONS-T, LLC
By: HARVEY-T, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
IRA AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, LLC
By: DANVERS-T, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-F, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-DC, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-T, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-GM, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-H, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-S, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-N, INC.
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President
22
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-DC, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-DC, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
-----------------------------------------------
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-F, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-F, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
----------------------------------------------
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-GM, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-GM, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
----------------------------------------------
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-N, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-N, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
----------------------------------------------
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
23
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-T, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-T, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
----------------------------------------------
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
24
EXHIBIT A TO RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX
[FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE NOTE
OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTE] ___*/**/
*/ If the Note is to be issued in global form add the Global Notes Legend from
Exhibit 1 to Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix and the attachment from such
Exhibit 1 captioned "[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES] - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR
DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE".
**/ If the Note is a Private Exchange Note issued in a Private Exchange to an
Initial Purchaser holding an unsold portion of its initial allotment, add the
Restricted Notes Legend from Exhibit 1 to Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix and
replace the Assignment Form included in this Exhibit A with the Assignment Form
included in such Exhibit 1.
All references to "Special Interest" in the Note shall be deleted unless if at
the date of issuance of the Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note (as the case
may be) any Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) has occurred with respect to the related Initial Notes during the
interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.
A-1
[FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE NOTE OR
PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTE]
GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
No. $
CUSIP No.
ISIN No.
8.25% Senior Subordinated Note due August 15, 2013
Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to
__________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ______ Dollars on August
15, 2013 [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A
hereto].(2)
Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15.
Regular Record Dates: February 1 and August 1.
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of
this Note.
GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
By:_____________________
Name:
Title:
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,
as Trustee, certifies that
this is one of the Notes
referred to in the Indenture.
By________________________________
Authorized Signatory
Dated: ___________________________
- --------------
(2) If this Note is a Global Note, add this provision.
A-2
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE NOTE OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTE]
8.25% Senior Subordinated Note due August 15, 2013
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings
assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Interest. Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), promises (i) to pay interest on the principal amount of this
Note at 8.25% per annum from August 13, 2003 until maturity, provided that any
principal and premium, and any installment of interest, which is overdue shall
bear interest at the rate of 9.25% per annum (to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable), and (ii) to pay the Special
Interest payable pursuant to Section 2(c) of the Registration Rights Agreement
referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Special Interest, if any,
semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing
February 15, 2004, 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 original issuance; provided, however,
that if this Note is authenticated between a Regular 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, except in the case of
the original issuance of Notes, in which case interest shall accrue from the
date of authentication. 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
and Special Interest to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the
close of business on the February 1 or August 1 (each a "Regular Record Date")
next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are cancelled after
such Regular Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as
provided in Section 307 of the Original Indenture with respect to Defaulted
Interest. Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect payments
of principal and premium, if any. The Notes will be payable as to principal,
premium, if any, interest and Special Interest, if any, at the office or agency
of the Company maintained for such purpose within the Borough of Manhattan, The
City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of
interest and Additional Interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at
their addresses set forth in the Security Register, and provided that payment by
wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to
principal of and interest, premium and Additional Interest on all Global Notes.
Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America
as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private
debts.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,
the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Security
Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Security Registrar without
notice to any Holder. The Company may act in any such capacity.
4. Indenture. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of
Securities of the Company, issued and to be issued under an Indenture dated as
of August 13, 2003 ("Original
A-3
Indenture") among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, as
supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture of even date (the
"Supplemental Indenture"). The Original Indenture, as so supplemented and
amended, is referred to herein as the "Indenture." 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. The Notes are
senior unsecured obligations of the Company limited to $150,000,000 aggregate
principal amount in the case of Notes issued on the Closing Date.
5. Optional Redemption; Repurchase.
The Notes of this series are subject to redemption upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail in the event that on or
before August 15, 2006 the Company receives net proceeds from the sale of its
Common Stock in one or more Equity Offerings, in which case the Company may, at
its option, use all or a portion of any such net proceeds to redeem up to 35% of
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes)
issued under the Indenture, provided, however, that at least 65% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) issued
under the Indenture remains outstanding after each such redemption. Any such
redemption must occur on a Redemption Date within 90 days of any such sale at a
Redemption Price of 108.25% of the principal amount of the Notes, together in
the case of any such redemption with accrued interest to the Redemption Date,
but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such
Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Notes, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Regular Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the
Indenture.
The Notes are further subject to redemption upon not less than
30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail, at any time on or after August 15,
2008, as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following
Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount), if
redeemed during the 12-month period beginning August 15 of the years indicated:
Year Redemption Price
- ---- ----------------
2008 104.125%
2009 102.750%
2010 101.375%
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption with accrued interest to the
Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior
to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Notes, or one or
more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Regular Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the
Indenture.
A-4
Prior to August 15, 2008, upon not less than 30 nor more than
60 days' notice by mail the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at a Redemption Price equal to
the greater of:
(1) 100% of the principal amount thereof; or
(2) the present value, as determined by an
Independent Investment Banker, of
(A) 104.125% of the principal amount of
the Notes being redeemed calculated as of August 15,
2008 (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day months), plus
(B) all required interest payments due
on such Notes through August 15, 2008 (excluding
accrued interest), discounted to the Redemption Date
on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted
Treasury Rate, plus in each case accrued interest to
but excluding the Redemption Date (subject to the
right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular
Record Date to receive interest due on an Interest
Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption
Date).
The Notes are also subject to repurchase by the Company at the
option of the Holders in the event of a Change of Control or following certain
Asset Dispositions, all as provided in the Indenture.
In the event of redemption or repurchase of this Note in part
only, a new Note or Notes of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will
be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
6. Subordination. The indebtedness evidenced by this Note is, to
the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of
payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt of the Company, and this
Note is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.
Each Holder of this Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be
bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf
to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the
subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for
any and all such purposes.
7. Subsidiary Guarantees. As provided in the Indenture and
subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the obligations of the Company
under this Note are guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis pursuant to the
Subsidiary Guarantees endorsed hereon. The Indenture provides that a Subsidiary
Guarantor shall be released from its Subsidiary Guarantee upon compliance with
certain conditions.
A-5
8. Events of Default; Remedies, Etc.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur
and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in
the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture,
the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given
the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Notes, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the
time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute
proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the
Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes at the time Outstanding a
direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any
such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of
this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium
or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company,
which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and
interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency,
herein prescribed.
9. Amendments. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as
therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and
obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the
time Outstanding to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions
permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the
time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by
the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults
under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the
Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon
all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
10. Transfer and Exchange of Notes.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the
Security Register, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at
the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any
premium and interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied
by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of like tenor, of
authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be
issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
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The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons
in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the
Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes are
exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes and of like tenor of
a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the
same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of
transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
11. Owner. Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration
of transfer, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and any agent
of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is
registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this
Note is overdue, and neither the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee
nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
12. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes are subject to Covenant
Defeasance, Defeasance and satisfaction and discharge upon the terms and
conditions specified in the Indenture.
13. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual
or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform
services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the
Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
14. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future
director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder or
other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as
such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any
Subsidiary 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.
15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until
authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee
or an Authenticating Agent.
16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name
of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).
17. [Additional Rights and Obligations of Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes
under the Indenture, Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall have all
the rights and obligations set forth in the Registration Rights
A-7
Agreement dated as of August 13, 2003, among the Company, the Subsidiary
Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers named on the signature page thereof (the
"Registration Rights Agreement").](3)
18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers
and corresponding ISIN 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.
19. Governing Law. THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
20. Successor Company. In the event a successor assumes all the
obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture, pursuant to the
terms thereof, the Company will be released from all such obligations.
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without
charge a copy of the Indenture [and/or the Registration Rights Agreement](4).
Requests may be made to:
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
950 Echo Lane, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77024
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
- ---------------------
(3) Delete if this Note is not being issued in exchange for an Initial Note.
(4) Delete if this Note is not being issued in exchange for an Initial Note.
A-8
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer this Note to
________________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)
and irrevocably appoint __________________ agent 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 other side of this Note.
Soc. Sec. or Tax Identification No.:_________________
Signature Guarantee: __________________________________________
(Signature must be guaranteed)
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include
membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program
("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by
the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance
with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 306 or 309 of the Supplemental Indenture, check the box
below:
[ ] Section 306 [ ] Section 309
If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 306 or Section 309 of the Supplemental Indenture,
state the amount (in minimum denomination of $1,000 or integral multiples
thereof) you elected to have purchased: $____________
Date: ____________ Your Signature: _____________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the other side of this Note)
Soc. Sec. or Tax Identification No.: ________________
Signature Guarantee: _________________________________
(Signature must be guaranteed)
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include
membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program
("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by
the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance
with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE
For value received, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors named
(or deemed herein to be named) below hereby jointly and severally fully and
unconditionally guarantees to the Holder of the Note upon which this Subsidiary
Guarantee is endorsed, and to the Trustee on behalf of such Holder, the due and
punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such
Note when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated
Maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, offer to purchase or otherwise,
according to the terms thereof and of the Indenture referred to therein and to
cover all the rights of the Trustee under Section 607 of the Original Indenture.
In case of the failure of the Company punctually to make any such payment, each
of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agrees to cause such
payment to be made punctually when and as the same shall become due and payable,
whether at the Stated Maturity or by acceleration, call for redemption, offer to
purchase or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Company.
Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby jointly and severally
agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional,
irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, the validity, regularity or
enforceability of such Note or the Indenture, the absence of any action to
enforce the same or any release, amendment, waiver or indulgence granted to the
Company or any other guarantor, or any consent to departure from any requirement
of any other guarantee of all or of any of the Notes, or any other circumstances
which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a
surety or guarantor; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no
such release, amendment, waiver or indulgence shall, without the consent of such
Subsidiary Guarantor, increase the principal amount of such Note, or increase
the interest rate thereon, or alter the Stated Maturity thereof. Each of the
Subsidiary Guarantors hereby waives the benefits of diligence, presentment,
demand of payment, any requirement that the Trustee or any of the Holders
protect, secure, perfect or insure any security interest in or other lien on any
property subject thereto or exhaust any right or take any action against the
Company or any other Person or any collateral, 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 or notice with respect to such
Note or the indebtedness evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever, and
covenants that this Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by
complete performance of the obligations contained in such Note and in this
Subsidiary Guarantee. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that if, after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the
Notes, the Trustee or any of the Holders are prevented by applicable law from
exercising their respective rights to accelerate the maturity of Notes, to
collect interest on the Notes, or to enforce or exercise any other right or
remedy with respect to the Notes, such Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to pay to the
Trustee for the account of the Holders, upon demand therefor, the amount that
would otherwise have been due and payable had such rights and remedies been
permitted to be exercised by the Trustee or any of the Holders.
The indebtedness of each Subsidiary Guarantor evidenced by
this Subsidiary Guarantee is, to the extent provided in the Indenture,
subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt
of such Subsidiary Guarantor, and the Subsidiary Guarantee of each Subsidiary
Guarantor is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect
thereto.
A-11
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
Subsidiary Guarantee or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the Subsidiary
Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, of
the due and punctual payment of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest
on the Note upon which this Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of
the Holder of this Note against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by
such Subsidiary Guarantor on account of this Security pursuant to the provisions
of its Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture; provided, however, that such
Subsidiary Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments
arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest on this Note and all other Notes issued under
the Indenture shall have been paid in full.
This Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain in full force and
effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against
the Company for liquidation or reorganization, should the Company become
insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a
receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any part of the Company's assets,
and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or
be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the
Notes is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must
otherwise be restored or returned by any Holder of the Notes, whether as a
"voidable preference," "fraudulent transfer," or otherwise, all as though such
payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any
part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by
such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.
The Subsidiary Guarantors or any particular Subsidiary
Guarantor shall be released from this Subsidiary Guarantee upon the terms and
subject to certain conditions provided in the Indenture.
By delivery to the Trustee of a supplement to the Indenture
referred to in the Note upon which this Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture, each Person that becomes a
Subsidiary Guarantor after the date of first issuance of the Notes will be
deemed to have executed and delivered this Subsidiary Guarantee for the benefit
of the Holder of the Note upon which this Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed with
the same effect as if such Subsidiary Guarantor was named below and has executed
and delivered this Subsidiary Guarantee.
All terms used in this Subsidiary Guarantee which are defined
in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in such Indenture.
This Subsidiary Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for
any purpose until the certificate of authentication on the Note upon which this
Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed shall have been executed by the Trustee under
the Indenture by manual signature.
A-12
Reference is made to the Indenture for further provisions with
respect to this Subsidiary Guarantee.
This Subsidiary Guarantee shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
A-13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors has
caused this Subsidiary Guarantee to be duly executed.
GROUP 1 REALTY, INC.
GROUP 1 FL HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
---------------------------------
Name:Scott L. Thompson
Title: President
BOB HOWARD AUTOMOTIVE-EAST, INC.
BOB HOWARD AUTOMOTIVE-H, INC.
BOB HOWARD CHEVROLET, INC.
BOB HOWARD DODGE, INC.
BOB HOWARD MOTORS, INC.
BOB HOWARD NISSAN, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-DC, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-F, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-GM, INC.
BOHN HOLDINGS-S, INC.
CASA CHEVROLET INC.
CASA CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH JEEP INC.
DANVERS-DC, INC.
DANVERS-DCII, INC.
DANVERS-DCIII, INC.
DANVERS-GM, INC.
DANVERS-N, INC.
DANVERS-NII, INC.
DANVERS-S, INC.
DANVERS-SU, INC.
DANVERS-T, INC.
DANVERS-TII, INC.
DANVERS-TL, INC.
FMM, INC.
GPI ATLANTA-F, INC.
GPI ATLANTA-FLM, INC.
GPI ATLANTA-FLM II, INC.
GPI ATLANTA-T, INC.
GROUP 1 ASSOCIATES, INC.
HARVEY-T, INC.
HIGHLAND AUTOPLEX, INC.
HOWARD FORD, INC.
HOWARD PONTIAC-GMC, INC.
HOWARD-DC, INC.
HOWARD-DCII, INC.
HOWARD-GM, INC.
A-14
HOWARD-GMII, INC.
HOWARD-GMIII, INC.
HOWARD-H, INC.
HOWARD-HA, INC.
HOWARD-FLM, INC.
HOWARD-SB, INC.
HOWARD-SI, INC.
JIM TIDWELL FORD, INC.
LUBY CHEVROLET CO.
MIKE SMITH AUTOMOTIVE-H, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOMOTIVE-N, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLAZA, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX BUICK, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX DODGE, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX-GERMAN IMPORTS, INC.
MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX-V, INC.
MIKE SMITH GM, INC.
MIKE SMITH IMPORTS, INC.
MIKE SMITH MOTORS, INC.
MILLBRO, INC.
MILLER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
MILLER FAMILY COMPANY, INC.
MILLER IMPORTS, INC.
MILLER INFINITI, INC.
MILLER MOTORS VAN NUYS, INC.
MILLER NISSAN, INC.
MILLER-NII, INC.
PERIMETER FORD, INC.
SUNSHINE BUICK PONTIAC GMC TRUCK, INC.
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
--------------------------------------
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
AMARILLO MOTORS-C, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-F, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-FM, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-J, LTD.
AMARILLO MOTORS-SM, LTD.
CHAPERRAL DODGE, LTD.
COLONIAL CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH, LTD.
GPI, LTD.
KUTZ-DC, LTD.
A-15
KUTZ-N, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-F, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-S, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-SH, LTD.
LUBBOCK MOTORS-T, LTD.
MAXWELL CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP, LTD.
MAXWELL FORD, LTD.
MAXWELL-G, LTD.
MAXWELL-N, LTD.
MAXWELL-NII, LTD.
MAXWELL-SM, LTD.
MCCALL-H, LTD.
MCCALL-HA, LTD.
MCCALL-N, LTD.
MCCALL-T, LTD.
MCCALL-TII, LTD.
MCCALL-TL, LTD.
PRESTIGE CHRYSLER NORTHWEST, LTD.
PRESTIGE CHRYSLER SOUTH, LTD.
ROCKWALL AUTOMOTIVE-DCD, LTD.
ROCKWALL AUTOMOTIVE-F, LTD.
By: GROUP 1 ASSOCIATES, INC.,
as general partner
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
________________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-DC, L.L.C. GROUP 1
HOLDINGS-F, L.L.C.
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-GM, L.L.C.
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-H, L.L.C.
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-N, L.L.C.
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-S, L.L.C.
GROUP 1 HOLDINGS-T, L.L.C.
By: GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Executive Vice President
A-16
COURTESY FORD, LLC
GULF BREEZE FORD, LLC
KEY FORD, LLC
KOONS FORD, LLC
By: GROUP 1 FL HOLDINGS, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: President
BOHN-DC, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-DC, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
BOHN-FII, LLC
BOHN-FIII, LLC
HARVEY FORD, LLC
HARVEY-FLM, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-F, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
______________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
HARVEY GM, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-GM, INC.,
as sole member
A-17
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
HARVEY SM, LLC
By: BOHN HOLDINGS-S, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
HARVEY OPERATIONS-T, LLC
By: HARVEY-T, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
IRA AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, LLC
By: DANVERS-T, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
_______________________________________
Name: Scott L. Thompson
Title: Vice President
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-F, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-DC, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-T, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-GM, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-H, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-S, INC.
GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-N, INC.
A-18
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
_______________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-DC, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-DC, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
_______________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-F, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-F, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
_______________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-GM, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-GM, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
_______________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-N, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-N, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
________________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
DELAWARE ACQUISITION-T, LLC
By: GROUP 1 LP INTERESTS-T, INC.,
as sole member
By: /s/ Mathew J. Baer
________________________________________
Name: Mathew J. Baer
Title: President and Secretary
A-19