EXHIBIT 4.1
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EXECUTION COPY
________________________________________________________________________________
Sealy Mattress Company
SERIES A AND SERIES B
9-7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007
INDENTURE
_____________________________
Dated as of December 18, 1997
_____________________________
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
Trustee
______________
________________________________________________________________________________
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Act Section Indenture Section
310 (a)(1).................................................. 7.10
(a)(2)...................................................... 7.10
(a)(3)...................................................... N.A.
(a)(4)...................................................... N.A.
(a)(5)...................................................... 7.10
(i)(b)...................................................... 7.10
(ii)(c)..................................................... N.A.
311(a)...................................................... 7.11
(b)......................................................... 7.11
(iii(c)..................................................... N.A.
312 (a)..................................................... 2.05
(b)......................................................... 11.03
(iv)(c)..................................................... 11.03
313(a)...................................................... 7.06
(b)(2)...................................................... 7.07
(v)(c)...................................................... 7.06;
11.02
(vi)(d)..................................................... 7.06
314(a)...................................................... 4.03;
11.02
(c)(1)...................................................... 11.04
(c)(2)...................................................... 11.04
(c)(3)...................................................... N.A.
(vii)(e).................................................... 11.05
(f)......................................................... N.A.
315 (a)..................................................... 7.01
(b)......................................................... 7.05,
11.02
(A)(c)...................................................... 7.01
(d)......................................................... 7.01
(e)......................................................... 6.11
316 (a)(last sentence)...................................... 2.09
(a)(1)(A)................................................... 6.05
(a)(1)(B)................................................... 6.04
(a)(2)...................................................... N.A.
(b)......................................................... 6.07
(B)(c)...................................................... 2.12
317 (a)(1).................................................. 6.08
(a)(2)...................................................... 6.09
(b)......................................................... 2.04
318 (a)..................................................... 11.01
(b)......................................................... N.A.
(c)......................................................... 11.01
N.A. means not applicable.
*This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE
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ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE............................................................ 1
Section 1.01. Definitions....................................................................................... 1
Section 1.02. Other Definitions.................................................................................20
Section 1.03. Trust Indenture Act Definitions...................................................................21
Section 1.04. Rules of Construction.............................................................................21
ARTICLE 2. THE NOTES.............................................................................................21
Section 2.01. Form and Dating...................................................................................21
Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication......................................................................23
Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent........................................................................23
Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust...............................................................24
Section 2.05. Holder Lists......................................................................................24
Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.............................................................................24
Section 2.07. Replacement Notes.................................................................................35
Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes.................................................................................36
Section 2.09. Treasury Notes....................................................................................36
Section 2.10. Temporary Notes...................................................................................36
Section 2.11. Cancellation......................................................................................36
Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest................................................................................37
ARTICLE 3. REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT.............................................................................37
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee................................................................................37
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to be Redeemed.................................................................37
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption..............................................................................38
i
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption...................................................................... 39
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price......................................................................... 39
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.............................................................................. 39
Section 3.07. Optional Redemption................................................................................. 39
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption................................................................................ 40
Section 3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Net Proceeds Offer Amount....................................... 40
ARTICLE 4. COVENANTS............................................................................................... 42
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes.................................................................................... 42
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency..................................................................... 42
Section 4.03. Reports............................................................................................. 43
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate.............................................................................. 43
Section 4.05. Taxes............................................................................................... 44
Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws...................................................................... 44
Section 4.07. Restricted Payments................................................................................. 44
Section 4.08. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries...................................... 47
Section 4.09. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.......................................... 47
Section 4.10. Asset Sales......................................................................................... 50
Section 4.11. Transactions with Affiliates........................................................................ 52
Section 4.12. Liens............................................................................................... 53
Section 4.13. Conduct of Business................................................................................. 53
Section 4.14. Corporate Existence................................................................................. 53
Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.......................................................... 54
Section 4.16. No Senior Subordinated Debt......................................................................... 55
Section 4.17. Additional Note Guarantees.......................................................................... 55
ARTICLE 5. SUCCESSORS.............................................................................................. 55
ii
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets............................................................ 55
Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted................................................................... 56
ARTICLE 6. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES................................................................................... 56
Section 6.01. Events of Default................................................................................... 56
Section 6.02. Acceleration........................................................................................ 57
Section 6.03. Other Remedies...................................................................................... 58
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults............................................................................. 58
Section 6.05. Control by Majority................................................................................. 59
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits................................................................................. 59
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment....................................................... 59
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.......................................................................... 59
Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.................................................................... 60
Section 6.10. Priorities.......................................................................................... 60
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs............................................................................... 60
ARTICLE 7. TRUSTEE................................................................................................. 61
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee................................................................................... 61
Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee................................................................................... 62
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee........................................................................ 62
Section 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer................................................................................ 62
Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.................................................................................. 63
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.......................................................... 63
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.......................................................................... 63
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.............................................................................. 64
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.................................................................... 65
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification....................................................................... 65
iii
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company................................................... 65
ARTICLE 8. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE................................................................ 65
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance............................................ 65
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge...................................................................... 65
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance................................................................................. 66
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.......................................................... 66
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions....... 68
Section 8.06. Repayment to Company................................................................................ 68
Section 8.07. Reinstatement....................................................................................... 68
ARTICLE 9. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER........................................................................ 69
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes................................................................. 69
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes.................................................................... 70
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act................................................................. 71
Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents................................................................... 71
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.................................................................... 71
Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc..................................................................... 71
ARTICLE 10. SUBORDINATION.......................................................................................... 72
Section 10.01. Agreement to Subordinate........................................................................... 72
Section 10.02. Certain Definitions................................................................................ 72
Section 10.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy............................................................... 73
Section 10.04. Default on Designated Senior Debt.................................................................. 73
Section 10.05. Acceleration of Securities......................................................................... 74
Section 10.06. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over................................................................ 74
Section 10.07. Notice by Company.................................................................................. 74
iv
Section 10.08. Subrogation........................................................................................ 74
Section 10.09. Relative Rights.................................................................................... 75
Section 10.10. Subordination May Not be Impaired by Company....................................................... 75
Section 10.11. Distribution or Notice to Representative........................................................... 75
Section 10.12. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent................................................................. 75
Section 10.13. Authorization to Effect Subordination.............................................................. 76
Section 10.14. Amendments......................................................................................... 76
ARTICLE 11. NOTE GUARANTEES...............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Section 11.01. Guarantee.......................................................................................... 76
Section 11.02. Subordination of Note Guarantee.................................................................... 77
Section 11.03. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.................................................................. 77
Section 11.04. Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee........................................................... 78
Section 11.05. Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms................................................. 78
Section 11.06. Releases Following Sale of Assets.................................................................. 79
ARTICLE 12. MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................................................... 79
Section 12.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls....................................................................... 79
Section 12.02. Notices............................................................................................ 79
Section 12.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes...................................... 81
Section 12.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent................................................. 81
Section 12.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion...................................................... 81
Section 12.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents........................................................................ 81
Section 12.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders........................... 82
Section 12.08. Governing Law...................................................................................... 82
Section 12.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements...................................................... 82
Section 12.10. Successors......................................................................................... 82
v
Section 12.11. Severability....................................................................................... 82
Section 12.12. Counterpart Originals.............................................................................. 82
Section 12.13. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc................................................................... 82
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A FORM OF NOTE
Exhibit B FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Exhibit C FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Exhibit D FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Exhibit E FORM OF NOTE GUARANTEE
Exhibit F FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
vi
INDENTURE dated as of December 18, 1997 between Sealy Mattress
Company, a Ohio corporation (the "Company"), the Guarantors (as herein defined)
and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee").
The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for
the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders
of the 9-7/8% Series A Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Series A Notes")
and the 9-7/8% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Series B Notes"
and, together with the Series A Notes, the "Notes"):
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01. Definitions.
"144A Global Note" means a global note in the form of Exhibit A-1
hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and
deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or
its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding
principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
"Acquired Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of a Person or any of
its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company or that is assumed by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the acquisition of assets from such
Person, in each case excluding any Indebtedness incurred by such Person in
connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or such acquisition.
"Additional Notes" means up to $175.0 million in aggregate
principal amount of Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this
Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.02 and 4.09 hereof.
"Affiliate" means a Person who directly or indirectly through one
or more intermediaries controls, or controlled by, or is under common control
with, the Company. The term "control" means the possession directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person (other than the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company) in whom a Securitization Entity makes
an Investment in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction shall be
deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries solely by
reason of such Investment.
"Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
"all or substantially all" shall have the meaning given such
phrase in the Revised Model Business Corporation Act.
"Applicable Premium" means, with respect to any Note on any
Redemption Date, the greater of (i) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note or
(ii) the excess of (A) the present value at the Redemption Date of (1) the
redemption price of such Note at December 15, 2002 (such redemption price being
set forth in Section 3.07 hereof) plus (2) all required interest payments due on
such Note through December 15, 2002 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest),
computed using a discount rate equal to the
1
Treasury Rate at the Redemption Date plus 75 basis points over (B) the principal
amount of such Note, if greater.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or
exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and
procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Cedel that apply to such transfer or
exchange.
"Asset Acquisition" means (a) an Investment by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in any other Person if, as a result of such
Investment, such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or
shall be merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company, or (b) the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company of all or substantially all of the assets of any other Person or any
division or line of business of any other Person.
"Asset Sale" means any direct or indirect sale, issuance,
conveyance, transfer, lease (other than operating leases entered into in the
ordinary course of business), assignment or other transfer for value by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any Person other than the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of (a) any Capital Stock of
any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (b) any other property or assets of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other than in the
ordinary course of business; provided, however, that Asset Sales shall not
include (i) a transaction or series of related transactions for which the
Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries receive aggregate consideration of less
than $1.0 million, (ii) the sale, lease, conveyance, disposition or other
transfer of all substantially all of the assets of the Company as permitted by
Section 5.01 hereof or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control,
(iii) the sale or discount, in each case without recourse, of accounts
receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection
with the compromise or collection thereof, (iv) the factoring of accounts
receivable arising in the ordinary course of business pursuant to arrangements
customary in the industry, (v) the licensing of intellectual property, (vi)
disposals or replacements of obsolete, uneconomical, negligible, worn out or
surplus property in the ordinary course of business, (vii) the sale, lease
conveyance, disposition or other transfer by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of assets or property to one or more Restricted Subsidiaries in
connection with Investments permitted by Section 4.07 hereof, (viii) sales of
accounts receivable, equipment and related assets (including contract rights) of
the type specified in the definition of "Qualified Securitization Transaction"
to a Securitization Entity for the fair market value thereof, including cash in
an amount at least equal to 75% of the fair market value thereof. For the
purposes of clause (viii), Purchase Money Notes shall be deemed to be cash.
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal
or state law for the relief of debtors.
"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company,
or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
"Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination
thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease
that would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in
accordance with GAAP.
2
"Capital Stock" means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate
stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all
shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however
designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited
liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or
limited) and (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person
the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of
assets of, the issuing Person.
"Cash Equivalents" means: (i) marketable direct obligations
issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or
issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition thereof; (ii) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of
the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or
any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the two
highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or Moody's; (iii) commercial paper
maturity no more than one year from the date of creation thereof and at the time
of acquisition, having a rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from
Moody's; (iv) certificates of deposit or bankers' acceptances (or, with respect
to foreign banks, similar instruments) maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition thereof issued by any bank organized under the laws of the United
States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, Japan or any
member of the European Economic Community or any U.S. branch of a foreign bank
having at the date of acquisition thereof combined capital and surplus of not
less than $200.0 million; provided that instruments issued by banks not having
one for the two highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or Moody's or by
banks organized under the laws of Japan or any member of the European Economic
Community shall not constitute Cash Equivalents for purposes of the
subordination provisions of this Indenture; (v) repurchase obligations with a
term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types
described in clause (i) above entered into with any bank meeting the
qualifications specified in clause (iv) above; and (vi) investments in money
market funds which invest substantially all their assets in securities of the
types described in clauses (i) through (v) above.
"Cedel" means Cedel Bank, SA.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of one or more of the
following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one
transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company to any Person or group of related Persons, as defined
in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (a "Group"), whether or not otherwise in
compliance with the provisions hereof, other than Bain Capital, Inc. and its
Related Parties (ii) the approval by the holders of Capital Stock of the Company
of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company
(whether or not otherwise in compliance with the provisions hereof); (iii) any
Person or Group (other than Bain Capital, Inc. and its Related Parties) shall
become the owner, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, of shares
representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by
the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of Parent or any successor to all or
substantially all of its assets; (iv) the first day on which a majority of the
members of the Board of Directors of the Company or Parent are not Continuing
Directors; or (v) the first day on which Parent ceases to hold 100% of the
outstanding Equity Interests of the Company (other than as a result of a Merger
of the Company and Parent permitted by Indenture).
"Company" means Sealy Mattress Company, and any and all
successors thereto.
3
"Consolidated EBITDA" means, with respect to any Person, for any
period, the sum (without duplication) of such Person's (i) Consolidated Net
Income and (ii) to the extent Consolidated Net Income has been reduced thereby,
(A) all income taxes and foreign withholding taxes of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP for such period,
(B) Consolidated Interest Expense, (C) Consolidated Noncash Charges, (D) all
one-time cash compensation payments made in connection with the Transactions,
(E) any payments related to addressing the Company's or any Restricted
Subsidiary's "Year 2000" information systems issue and Emerging Issues Task
Force 97-13 "Reengineering" Efforts and (F) all bad debt and factoring losses
incurred specifically with respect to the bankruptcy of Montgomery Ward.
"Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, with respect to
any Person, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person during the most
recent four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are
available (the "Four-Quarter Period") ending on or prior to the date of the
transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio (the "Transaction Date") to Consolidated Fixed Charges of such
Person for the Four-Quarter Period. In addition to and without limitation of the
foregoing, for purposes of this definition, Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated
Fixed Charges shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for
the period of such calculation to (i) the incurrence of any Indebtedness or the
issuance of any preferred stock of such Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (and the application of the proceeds thereof) and any repayment of
other Indebtedness or redemption of other preferred stock occurring during the
Four-Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four-
Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such incurrence,
repayment, issuance or redemption, as the case may be (and the application of
the proceeds thereof), occurred on the first day of the Four-Quarter Period and
(ii) any Asset Sale or Asset Acquisition (including, without limitation, any
Asset Acquisition giving rise to the need to make such calculation as a result
of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any Person who
becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the Asset Acquisition) incurring,
assuming or otherwise being liable for Acquired Indebtedness and also including
any Consolidated EBITDA (including any Pro Forma Cost Savings) associated with
any such Asset Acquisition) occurring during the Four-Quarter Period or at any
time subsequent to the last day of the Four-Quarter Period and on or prior to
the Transaction Date, as if such Asset Sale or Asset Acquisition (including the
incurrence of, or assumption or liability for any such Indebtedness or Acquired
Indebtedness) occurred on the first day of the Four-Quarter Period. If such
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly Guarantees
Indebtedness of a third Person, the preceding sentence shall give effect to the
incurrence of such guaranteed Indebtedness as if such Person or any Restricted
Subsidiary of such Person had directly incurred or otherwise assumed such
guaranteed Indebtedness. Furthermore, in calculating Consolidated Fixed Charges
for purposes of determining the denominator (but not the numerator) of this
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, (1) interest on outstanding
Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis as of the Transaction Date and
which will continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have
accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest on such
Indebtedness in effect on the Transaction Date; (2) if interest on any
Indebtedness actually incurred on the Transaction Date may optionally be
determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a
eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rates, then the interest rate in
effect on the Transaction Date will be deemed to have been in effect during the
Four-Quarter Period; and (3) notwithstanding clause (1) above, interest on
Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is
covered by agreements relating to Interest Swap Obligations, shall be deemed to
accrue at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the operation of
such agreements.
"Consolidated Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any Person
for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (i) Consolidated Interest
Expense (before amortization or write-off of debt
4
issuance costs) plus (ii) the amount of all cash dividend payments on any series
of preferred stock of such Person plus (iii) the amount of all dividend payments
on any series of Permitted Foreign Subsidiary Preferred Stock or Permitted
Domestic Subsidiary Preferred Stock; provided that with respect to any series of
preferred stock that was not paid cash dividends during such period but that is
eligible to be paid cash dividends during any period prior to the maturity date
of the Notes, cash dividends shall be deemed to have been paid with respect to
such series of preferred stock during such period for purposes of clause (ii) of
this definition.
"Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person
for any period, the sum of, without duplication, (i) the aggregate of all cash
and non-cash interest expense with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of
such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including the net costs associated
with Interest Swap Obligations, for such period determined on a consolidated
basis in conformity with GAAP, (ii) the consolidated interest expense of such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period,
and (iii) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued
and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued by such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries during such period as determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Net Income" of the Company means, for any period,
the aggregate net income (or loss) of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance
with GAAP, provided that there shall be excluded therefrom (a) gains and losses
from Asset Sales (without regard to the $1.0 million limitation set forth in the
definition thereof) or abandonments or reserves relating thereto and the related
tax effects according to GAAP, (b) gains and losses due solely to fluctuations
in currency values and the related tax effects according to GAAP, (c) items
classified as a cumulative effect accounting change or as extraordinary, unusual
or nonrecurring gains and losses (including, without limitation, severance,
relocation and other restructuring costs), and the related tax effects according
to GAAP, (d) the net income (or loss) of any Person acquired in a pooling of
interests transaction accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company or is merged or consolidated with the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (e) the net income of any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company to the extent that the declaration of dividends or
similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of that
income is restricted by contract, operation, operation of law or otherwise, (f)
the net loss of any Person, other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,
(g) the net income of any Person, other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company, except to the extent of cash dividends or distributions paid to the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company by such Person, (h) only for
purposes of clause (c)(i) of the first paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof, any
amounts included pursuant to clause (c)(iii) of the first paragraph of Section
4.07 hereof, and (i) one time non-cash compensation charges, including any
arising from existing stock options resulting from any merger or
recapitalization transaction. For purposes of clause (c)(i) of the first
paragraph of Section 4.07, Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by any cash
dividends paid with respect to any series of Designated Preferred Stock.
"Consolidated Noncash Charges" means, with respect to any Person
for any period, the aggregate depreciation, amortization and other non-cash
expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated
Net Income of such Person for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP excluding any such non-cash charge constituting an
extraordinary item or loss or any such non-cash charge which requires an accrual
of or a reserve for cash charges for any future period.
"Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination,
any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who (i) was a member of such
Board of Directors on the date of this
5
Indenture or (ii) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of
Directors by any of the Principals or with the approval of a majority of the
Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such
nomination or election.
"Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" shall be at the address
of the Trustee specified in Section 12.02 hereof or such other address as to
which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.
"Credit Facilities" means one or more debt facilities (including,
without limitation, the Senior Credit Agreements) or commercial paper facilities
with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans,
term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to
such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders
against such receivables) and/or letters of credit.
"Currency Agreement" means any foreign exchange contract,
currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to
protect the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company against
fluctuations in currency values.
"Default" means any event that is or with the passage of time or
the giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default.
"Definitive Note" means a certificated Note registered in the
name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, in
the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global
Note Legend and shall not have the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the
Global Note" attached thereto.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued
in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof
as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto
appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the
applicable provision of this Indenture.
"Designated Noncash Consideration" means any non-cash
consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in
connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Noncash
Consideration pursuant to an Officers' Certificate executed by the principal
executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary. Such Officers' Certificate shall state the basis of such
valuation, which shall be a report of a nationally recognized investment banking
firm with respect to the receipt in one or a series of related transactions of
Designated Noncash Consideration with a fair market value in excess of $10.0
million.
"Designated Preferred Stock" means Preferred Stock that is so
designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers' Certificate
executed by the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer
of the Company, on the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are
excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (iii) of the first paragraph
of Section 4.07.
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms
(or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it
is exchangeable, at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of
any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund
obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the Holder thereof, in
whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on
which the Notes mature; provided, however, that any Capital Stock that would
constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right
to
6
require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a
Change of Control or an Asset Sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if
the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or
redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase
or redemption complies with Section 4.07 hereof.
"Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options
or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that
is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
"Equity Offering" means any offering of Qualified Capital Stock
of Parent or the Company; provided that, in the event of any Equity Offering by
Parent, Parent contributes to the common equity capital of the Company (other
than as Disqualified Stock) the portion of the net cash proceeds of such Equity
Offering necessary to pay the aggregate redemption price (plus accrued interest
to the redemption date) of the Notes to be redeemed pursuant to the preceding
paragraph.
"Euroclear" means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
Brussels office, as operator of the Euroclear system.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Exchange Notes" means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer
pursuant to Section 2.06(f) hereof.
"Exchange Offer" has the meaning set forth in the Registration
Rights Agreement.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth
in the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Agreements) in
existence on the date hereof, until such amounts are repaid.
"Foreign Subsidiaries" means the Company's current and future
non-U.S. Subsidiaries.
"Four-Quarter Period" has the meaning specified in the definition
of Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth
in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and
pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other
statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment
of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the date hereof.
"Global Note Legend" means the legend set forth in Section
2.06(g)(ii), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under
this Indenture.
"Global Notes" means, individually and collectively, each of the
Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes, in the form of
Exhibit A hereto issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(iv),
2.06(d)(ii) or 2.06(f) hereof.
7
"Government Securities" means direct obligations of, or
obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for
which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.
"Guarantee" means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of
negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business),
direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, by way of a
pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in
respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.
"Guarantors" means (i) Sealy Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
Sealy Mattress Company of Puerto Rico, an Ohio corporation, Ohio--Sealy Mattress
Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Randolph), a Massachusetts corporation, Ohio--Sealy
Mattress Manufacturing Co.--Ft. Worth, a Texas corporation, Ohio--Sealy Mattress
Manufacturing Co., a Georgia corporation, Ohio--Sealy Mattress Manufacturing
Co.--Houston, a Texas corporation, Sealy Mattress Company of Michigan, Inc., a
Michigan corporation, Sealy Mattress Company of Kansas City, Inc., a Missouri
corporation, Sealy of Maryland and Virginia, Inc., a Maryland corporation, Sealy
Mattress Company of Illinois, an Illinois corporation, A. Brandwein & Company,
an Illinois corporation, Sealy Mattress Company of Albany, Inc., a New York
corporation, Sealy of Minnesota, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, Sealy Mattress
Company of Memphis, a Tennessee corporation, The Stearns & Foster Bedding
Company, a Delaware corporation, The Stearns & Foster Upholstery Furniture
Company, an Ohio corporation, Sealy, Inc., an Ohio corporation, The Ohio
Mattress Company Licensing and Components Group, a Delaware corporation, Sealy
Mattress Manufacturing Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation and (ii) any future
U.S. Subsidiary.
"Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the
obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest
rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements (including Interest Swap
Obligations) and (ii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such
Person against fluctuations in interest rates (including Currency Agreements).
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
"IAI Global Note" means the global Note in the form of Exhibit A-
1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and
deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or
its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding
principal amount of the Notes sold to Institutional Accredited Investors.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, any
indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed
money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters
of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker's
acceptances or representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred
and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging
Obligations, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or
trade payable, if and to the extent any of the foregoing (other than letters of
credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet
of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as all Indebtedness of
others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person (whether or not such
Indebtedness is assumed by such Person) and, to the extent not otherwise
included, the Guarantee by such Person of any indebtedness of any other Person.
The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (i) the
accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original
issue discount, and (ii) the principal amount thereof, together with any
interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other
Indebtedness. For purposes of calculating the amount of Indebtedness of a
Securitization Entity outstanding as of any date, the face
8
or notional amount of any interest in receivables or equipment that is
outstanding as of such date shall be deemed to be Indebtedness but any such
interests held by Affiliates of such Securitization Entity shall be excluded for
purposes of such calculation.
"Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from
time to time.
"Indirect Participant" means a Person who holds a beneficial
interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
"Initial Notes" means $125.0 million in aggregate principal
amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.
"Initial Public Offering" means the first underwritten public
offering of Qualified Capital Stock by either Parent or by the Company pursuant
to a registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities
Act for aggregate net cash proceeds of a least $50.0 million; provided that in
the event the Initial Public Offering is consummated by Parent, Parent
contributes to the common equity capital of the Company at least $50.0 million
of the net cash proceeds of the Initial Public Offering.
"Institutional Accredited Investor" means an institution that is
an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the
Securities Act, who are not also QIBs.
"Interest Swap Obligations" means the obligations of any Person,
pursuant to any arrangement with any other Person, whereby, directly or
indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic
payments calculated by applying either a floating or a fixed rate of interest on
a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such other
Persons calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the
same notional amount.
"Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all investments
by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or
indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations),
advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business),
purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity
Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be
classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.
If the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of
any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company such
that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no
longer a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an
Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the fair market
value of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an
amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07.
"Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which
banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are
authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment
date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place
on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall
accrue on such payment for the intervening period.
"Letter of Transmittal" means the letter of transmittal to be
prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such
Holders in connection with the Exchange Offer.
9
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien,
pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such
asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable
law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any
lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a
security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any
jurisdiction).
"Liquidated Damages" means all liquidated damages then owing
pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Marketable Securities" means publicly traded debt or equity
securities that are listed for trading on a national securities exchange and
that were issued by a corporation whose debt securities are rated in one of the
three highest rating categories by either S&P or Moody's.
"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
"Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale
(including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other
disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of
the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation,
legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any
relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a
result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or
deductions and any tax sharing arrangements) and any reserve for adjustment in
respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with
GAAP.
"Non-Guarantors" means (i) the Foreign Subsidiaries and (ii)
Advanced Sleep Products, a California corporation, Sealy Components--Pads, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation, Sealy Mattress Company of San Diego, a California
corporation, Sealy Connecticut, Inc., a Connecticut corporation, and Sealy
Mattress Company of S.W. Virginia, a Virginia corporation.
"Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness (i) as to which neither
the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support
of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would
constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor
or otherwise), or (c) constitutes the lender; and (ii) no default with respect
to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take
enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon
notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other
Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to
its stated maturity; and (iii) as to which the lenders have been notified in
writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Non-U.S. Person" means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.
"Note Custodian" means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to
the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
"Note Guarantee" means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the
Company's payment obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, executed
pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.
10
"Notes" has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this
Indenture.
"Obligations" means any principal, interest (including, without
limitation, interest that, but for the filing of a petition in bankruptcy with
respect to an obligor, would accrue on such obligations), penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
"Offering" means the offering of the Notes by the Company.
"Officer" means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer,
the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the
Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed on behalf of
the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal
executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the
principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of
Section 12.05 hereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section
12.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.
"Parent" means Sealy Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
"Parent Notes" means the existing 10 1/4% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2003 of Parent.
"Parent Note Indenture" means the indenture governing the Parent
Notes between The Bank of New York (as successor trustee to Mellon Bank, F.S.B.
(as successor trustee to KeyBank National Association)) and Parent.
"Participant" means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or
Cedel, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Cedel,
respectively (and, with respect to The Depository Trust Company, shall include
Euroclear and Cedel).
"Participating Broker-Dealer" has the meaning set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement.
"Permitted Business" means any business (including stock or
assets) that derives a majority of its revenues from the manufacture,
distribution and sale of mattresses, foundation and other bedding products and
activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary or related to, or a reasonable
extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the date of this Indenture.
"Permitted Domestic Subsidiary Preferred Stock" means any series
of Preferred Stock of a domestic restricted Subsidiary of the Company that
constitutes Qualified Capital Stock and has a fixed dividend rate, the
liquidation value of all series of which, when combined with the aggregate
amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred
pursuant to clause (xvi) of Section 4.09 does not exceed $30.0 million; provided
that such amount shall increase to $50.0 million upon consummation of an Initial
Public Offering.
11
"Permitted Investments" means (i) Investments by the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company that is a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary (whether existing on the
date of this Indenture or created thereafter) or in any other Person (including
by means of any transfer of cash or other property) if as a result of such
Investment such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that
is a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary and Investments in the Company by any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) cash and Cash Equivalents, (iii)
Investments existing on the date of this Indenture, (iv) loans and advances to
employees and officers of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the
ordinary course of Business, (v) accounts receivable created or acquired in the
ordinary course of Business, (vi) Currency Agreements and Interest Swap
Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of the Company's businesses and
otherwise in compliance with the applicable Indenture, (vii) Investments in
Unrestricted Subsidiaries in an amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed
$20.0 million; (viii) Investments in securities of trade creditors or customers
received pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the
bankruptcy or insolvency of such trade creditors or customers, (ix) guarantees
by the Company of Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred by Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Company that are either Guarantors or Foreign Subsidiaries
under this Indenture, (x) additional Investments having an aggregate fair market
value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause
(x) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed 5% of Total Assets at the
time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being
measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in
value), (xi) any Investment by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company in a
Securitization Entity or any Investment by a Securitization Entity in any other
Person in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction; provided that
any Investment in a Securitization Entity is in the form of a Purchase Money
Note or an equity interest, (xii) any transaction to the extent it constitutes
an Investment that is permitted by, and made in accordance with, clause (b) of
Section 4.11 (other than transactions described in clause (v) of such clause
(b)), (xiii) Investments the payment for which consists exclusively of Qualified
Capital Stock of the Company and (xiv) Investments received by the Company or
its Restricted Subsidiaries as consideration for asset sales, including Asset
Sales; provided that in the case of an Asset Sale, such Asset Sale is effected
in compliance with Section 4.10.
"Permitted Foreign Subsidiary Preferred Stock" means any series
of Preferred Stock of a foreign Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that
constitutes Qualified Capital Stock and has a fixed dividend rate, the
liquidation value of all series of which, when combined with the aggregate
amount of Indebtedness of foreign Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company
incurred pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness,
does not exceed $15.0 million; provided that such amount shall increase to $30.0
million upon consummation of an Initial Public Offering.
"Permitted Liens" means the following types of Liens:
(i) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or
claims either (a) not delinquent or (b) contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and as to which the Company or its Restricted
Subsidiaries shall have set aside on its books such reserves as may be
required pursuant to GAAP;
(ii) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers,
warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and other
Liens imposed by law incurred in the ordinary course of business for
sums not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith, if such
reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required
by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof;
12
(iii) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of
business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment
insurance and other types of social security, including any Lien
securing letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice in connection therewith, or to secure
the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal
bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-
money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations
for the payment of borrowed money);
(iv) judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default;
(v) easements, rights-of-way, zoning restrictions and other
similar charges or encumbrances in respect of real property not
interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the
business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(vi) any interest or title of a lessor under any Capitalized
Lease Obligation;
(vii) purchase money Liens to finance property or assets of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired in the
ordinary course of business; provided, however, that (A) the related
purchase money Indebtedness shall not exceed the cost of such property
or assets and shall not be secured by any property or assets of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other than the
property and assets so acquired and (B) the Lien securing such
Indebtedness shall be created with 90 days of such acquisition;
(viii) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and
proceeds of any Person securing such Person's obligations in respect
of bankers' acceptances issued or created for the account of such
Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment, or storage of such
inventory or other goods;
(ix) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect
to commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and other
property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds
thereof;
(x) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations
arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual, or warranty
requirements of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
including rights of offset and set-off;
(xi) Liens securing Interest Swap Obligations which Interest
Swap Obligations relate to Indebtedness that is otherwise permitted
under this Indenture;
(xii) Liens securing Indebtedness under Currency Agreements;
(xiii) Liens securing Indebtedness of foreign Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Company incurred in reliance on clause (iii) of
the second paragraph of Section 4.09;
(xiv) Liens securing Acquired Indebtedness incurred in
reliance on clause (viii) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09;
13
(xv) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to obligations that
do not in the aggregate exceed $10.0 million at any one time
outstanding;
(xvi) Liens on assets transferred to a Securitization Entity
or on assets of a Securitization Entity, in either case incurred in
connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction;
(xvii) leases or subleases granted to others that do not
materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(xviii) Liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code
financing statements regarding leases;
(xix) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising
as a matter of law to secure payment of customer duties in connection
with the importation of goods;
(xx) Liens on assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries that secure
Non-Recourse Debt of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and
(xxi) Liens existing on the date hereof, together with any
Liens securing Indebtedness incurred in reliance on clause (xiv) of
the Section 4.09 in order to refinance the Indebtedness secured by
Liens existing on the date of this Indenture; provided that the Liens
securing the refinancing Indebtedness shall not extend to property
other than that pledged under the Liens securing the Indebtedness
being refinanced.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or agency or political subdivision thereof (including any subdivision
or ongoing business of any such entity or substantially all of the assets of any
such entity, subdivision or business).
"Preferred Stock," of any person, means Capital Stock of such
Person of any class or series (however designated) that ranks prior, as to
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 or series of such Person.
"Principals" means Parent, Bain Capital, Inc. and any other
stockholder of Parent that owns at least 10% of the outstanding Equity Interests
of Parent as of the date of issuance of the Notes.
"Private Placement Legend" means the legend set forth in Section
2.06(g)(i) to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where
otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
"Pro Forma Cost Savings" means, with respect to any period, the
reduction in costs that occurred during the Four-Quarter Period or after the end
of the Four-Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date that were (i)
directly attributable to an Asset Acquisition and calculated on a basis that is
consistent with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act as in effect and applied
as of January 1, 1997 or (ii) implemented by the business that was the subject
any such Asset Acquisition within six months of the date of the Asset
Acquisition and that are supportable and quantifiable by the underlying
accounting
14
records of such business, as if, in the case of each of clause (i) and (ii), all
such reductions in costs had been effected as of the beginning of such period.
"Productive Assets" means assets (including Capital Stock) that
are used or usable by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in Permitted
Businesses.
"Purchase Money Note" means a promissory note of a Securitization
Entity evidencing a line of credit, which may be irrevocable, from the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in connection with a Qualified
Securitization Transaction, which note shall be repaid from cash available to
the Securitization Entity, other than amounts required to be established as
reserves pursuant to agreements, amounts paid to investors in respect of
interest, principal and other amounts owing to such investors and amounts paid
in connection with the purchase of newly generated receivables or newly acquired
equipment.
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule
144A.
"Qualified Capital Stock" means any Capital Stock that is not
Disqualified Stock.
"Qualified Securitization Transaction" means any transaction or
series of transactions pursuant to which the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a Securitization
Entity (in the case of a transfer by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries) and (b) any other Person (in case of a transfer by a
Securitization Entity), or may grant a security interest in, any accounts
receivable or equipment (whether now existing or arising or acquired in the
future) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and any assets
related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing such
accounts receivable and equipment, all contracts and contract rights and all
Guarantees or other obligations in respect such accounts receivable and
equipment, proceeds of such accounts receivable and equipment an other assets
(including contract rights) which are customarily transferred or in respect of
which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset
securitization transactions involving accounts receivable and equipment.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of December 18, 1997, by and among the Company and the other
parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time and, with respect to any Additional
Notes, one or more registration rights agreements between the Company and the
other parties thereto, as such agreement(s) may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time, relating to rights given by the Company to the
purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes under the
Securities Act.
"Regulation S" means Regulation S promulgated under the
Securities Act.
"Regulation S Global Note" means a Regulation S Temporary Global
Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as appropriate.
"Regulation S Permanent Global Note" means a permanent global
Note in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the
Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in
the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the
outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon
expiration of the Restricted Period.
15
"Regulation S Temporary Global Note" means a temporary global
Note in the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto bearing the Private Placement Legend and
deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or
its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount
of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.
"Related Party" with respect to any Principal means (A) any
controlling stockholder, 80% (or more) owned Subsidiary, or spouse or immediate
family member (in the case of an individual) of such Principal or (B) any trust,
corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders,
partners, owners or Persons beneficially holding an 80% or more controlling
interest of which consist of such Principal and/or such other Persons referred
to in the immediately preceding clause (A).
"Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the Trustee,
means any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or
any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust
matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Restricted Definitive Note" means a Definitive Note bearing the
Private Placement Legend.
"Restricted Global Note" means a Global Note bearing the Private
Placement Legend.
"Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a
Permitted Investment.
"Restricted Period" means the 40-day restricted period as defined
in Regulation S.
"Restricted Subsidiary" of a Person means any Subsidiary of the
referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 903" means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 904" means Rule 904 promulgated the Securities Act.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Securitization Entity" means a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the
Company (or another Person in which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
makes an Investment and to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
transfers accounts receivable or equipment and related assets) that engages in
no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable
or equipment and that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (as
provided below) as a Securitization Entity (a) no portion of the Indebtedness or
any other Obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
16
(excluding guarantees of Obligations (other than the principal of, and interest
on, Indebtedness)) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, (ii) is
recourse to or obligates the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or (iii)
subjects any property or asset of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the
satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization
Undertakings, (B) with which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or
understanding other than on terms no less favorable to the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons
that are not Affiliates of the Company, other than fees payable in the ordinary
course of business in connection with servicing receivables of such entity, and
(c) to which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity's financial condition or
cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results. Any such
designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to each
of the Trustees by filing with the Trustees a certified copy of the resolution
of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and
an Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the
foregoing conditions.
"Senior Credit Agreements" means, collectively, (i) that certain
Credit Agreement, dated as of December 18, 1997, and (ii) that certain AXEL
Credit Agreement, dated as of December 18, 1997, in each case by and among the
Company, Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., as arranging agent and syndication
agent, Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as administrative agent,
Bankers Trust Company, as documentation agent, and the financial institutions
party thereto, initially providing for up to $550.0 million of revolving and
term credit borrowings, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral
documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in
each case as amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof),
modified, renewed, refunded, replaced, refinanced or restructured (including,
without limitation, any amendment increasing the amount of available borrowing
thereunder) from time to time and whether with the same or any other agent,
lender or group of lenders.
"Senior Subordinated Discount Note Indenture" means the indenture
among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York, as trustee, dated as
of December 18, 1997, governing the Company's 10-7/8% Senior Subordinated
Discount Notes due 2007.
"Senior Subordinated Discount Notes" means the Company's 10-7/8%
Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2007, issued pursuant to the Senior
Subordinated Discount Note Indenture.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means the Shelf Registration
Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that would be a
"significant subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X,
promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on
the date of this Indenture.
"Standard Securitization Undertakings" means representations,
warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company that are reasonably customary in an accounts
receivable or equipment transactions.
17
"Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any installment of
interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such
payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original
documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent
obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior
to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any
corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the
total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the
occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or
trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by
such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a
combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or
the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such
Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or
more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof), but shall not
include any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
"Subsidiary Guarantors" means each of (i) all Restricted
Subsidiaries (but excluding the Non-Guarantors) and (ii) any other subsidiary
that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and
their respective successors and assigns.
"Tax Allocation Agreement" means that certain tax allocation
agreement between Parent and the Company, dated as of December 18, 1997.
"Total Assets" means the total consolidated assets of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as set forth on the Company's most recent
consolidated balance sheet.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. (S)(S)
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified
under the TIA.
"Transactions" means concurrent with the consummation of the
Offering and the offering of the Senior Subordinated Discount Notes
(collectively, the "Offerings"), the Company's consummation of (i) the merger
whereby, among other things, funds managed by Bain (the "Bain Funds"), together
with other equity investors, including members of management (the "Management
Investors" and collectively with the other investors, the "Investors"), acquired
an approximate 90% equity stake in Parent (the "Merger"), (ii) the offer to
purchase for cash all of the Parent Notes (the "Tender Offer") and the related
consent solicitation (the "Consent Solicitation") to modify certain terms of the
Parent Note Indenture and (iii) a refinancing (the "Refinancing") whereby the
Company entered into and borrowed under the Senior Credit Agreements and Parent
indebtedness outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement. The Merger will be
accounted for as a recapitalization. The Offerings, the Merger, the Tender Offer
and related Consent Solicitation and the Refinancing are collectively referred
to herein as the "Transactions."
"Treasury Rate" means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to
maturity as of such Redemption Date of United States Treasury securities with a
constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve
Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two
Business Days prior to such Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is
no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most
nearly equal to the period from such Redemption Date to December 15, 2002;
provided, however, that if the period from such Redemption Date to December 15,
2002 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United
States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be
used.
18
"Trustee" means the party named as such above until a successor
replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and
thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
"Unrestricted Global Note" means a permanent global Note in the
form of Exhibit A-1 attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that
has the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name
of the Depositary, representing a series of Notes that do not bear the Private
Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Definitive Note" means one or more Definitive Notes
that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that is designated
by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution
of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary: (a) has
no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; (b) is not party to any agreement,
contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract,
arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons
who are not Affiliates of the Company; (c) is a Person with respect to which
neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or
indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (y) to
maintain or preserve such Person's financial condition or to cause such Person
to achieve any specified levels of operating results; (d) has not guaranteed or
otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (e) has at least one
director on its board of directors that is not a director or executive officer
of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and has at least one
executive officer that is not a director or executive officer of the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. Any such designation by the Board of
Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a
certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such
designation and an Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation
complied with the foregoing conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 hereof.
If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing
requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of
such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be
incurred as of such date under the Section 4.09 hereof, the Company shall be in
default of such covenant). The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time
designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided
that such designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such
Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation shall only be permitted if (i) such
Indebtedness is permitted under the Section 4.09 hereof, calculated on a pro
forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-
quarter reference period, (ii) such Subsidiary shall execute a Note Guarantee
and deliver an Opinion of Counsel, in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture and (iii) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence
following such designation.
"U.S. Person" means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(o) under
the Securities Act.
"U.S. Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company that is
incorporated in a State in the United States or the District of Columbia or that
Guarantees or otherwise becomes an obligor with respect to any Indebtedness of
the Company or another Guarantor.
19
"Voting Stock" of any Person as of any date means the Capital
Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the
Board of Directors of such Person.
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any
Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum
of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding principal
amount of such Indebtedness.
"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 and one
or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
"Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary" of any Person means a
Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or
other ownership interests of which (other than directors' qualifying shares)
shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiaries of such Person.
Section 1.02. Other Definitions.
Defined in
Term Section
"Acceleration Notice"......................... 6.02
"Affiliate Transaction"....................... 4.11
"Asset Sale Offer"............................ 3.09
"Authentication Order"........................ 2.02
"Change of Control Offer"..................... 4.15
"Change of Control Payment"................... 4.15
"Change of Control Payment Date".............. 4.15
"Covenant Defeasance"......................... 8.03
"Event of Default"............................ 6.01
"incur"....................................... 4.09
"Legal Defeasance"............................ 8.02
"Net Proceeds Offer".......................... 4.10
"Net Proceeds Offer Amount"................... 4.10
"Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date"............. 4.10
"Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date"............. 4.10
"Offer Period"................................ 3.09
"Payment Blockage Notice"..................... 10.04
"Paying Agent"................................ 2.03
"Permitted Indebtedness"...................... 4.09
"Purchase Date"............................... 3.09
"Redemption Date"............................. 3.07
"Refunding Capital Stock"..................... 4.07
"Registrar"................................... 2.03
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"Restricted Payments"......................... 4.07
"Retired Capital Stock"....................... 4.07
Section 1.03. Trust Indenture Act Definitions
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the
provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following
meanings:
"indenture securities" means the Notes;
"indenture security Holder" means a Holder of a Note;
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;
"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee;
and
"obligor" on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Company
and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and
the Note Guarantees, respectively.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the
TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under
the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.04. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning
assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) "or" is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural
include the singular;
(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(6) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act
shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor
sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.
ARTICLE 2.
THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Form and Dating.
(a) General.
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The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations,
legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each
Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and
are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the
Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture,
expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However,
to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of
this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be
controlling.
(b) Global Notes.
Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibits A-1 or A-2 attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon
and the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-1 attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and
without the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as
shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed
thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented
thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to
reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect
the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Note
Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions
given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.
(c) Temporary Global Notes.
Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued
initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall be
deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the
Trustee, at its New York office, as custodian for the Depositary, and registered
in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts
of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Cedel Bank, duly executed
by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The
Restricted Period shall be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of (i) a
written certificate from the Depositary, together with copies of certificates
from Euroclear and Cedel Bank certifying that they have received certification
of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal
amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any
beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted
Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act
and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global
Note or an IAI Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as
contemplated by Section 2.06(a)(ii) hereof), and (ii) an Officers' Certificate
from the Company. Following the termination of the Restricted Period,
beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall be
exchanged for beneficial interests in Regulation S Permanent Global Notes
pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication
of Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel the Regulation
S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S
Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes may from time
to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the
Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection
with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.
22
(d) Euroclear and Cedel Procedures Applicable.
The provisions of the "Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System"
and "Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear" and the "General Terms and
Conditions of Cedel Bank" and "Customer Handbook" of Cedel Bank shall be
applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary
Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes that are held by
Participants through Euroclear or Cedel Bank.
Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or
facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office
at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature
of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has
been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by two
Officers (an "Authentication Order"), authenticate Notes for original issue up
to the aggregate principal amount stated in paragraph 4 of the Notes. The
aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed such
amount except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the
Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes
whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to
authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An
authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an
Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be
presented for registration of transfer or for exchange ("Registrar") and an
office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent"). The
Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange.
The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional
paying agents. The term "Registrar" includes any co-registrar and the term
"Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any
Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company shall
notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party
to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity
as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any
of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") to
act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and
Paying Agent and to act as Note Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
23
Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to
agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of
Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of
principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes, and
will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such
payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying
Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may
require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment
over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a
Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a
Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust
fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon
any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the
Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
Section 2.05. Holder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of
all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA (S) 312(a). If the Trustee is
not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven
Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the
Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the
Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of
Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA (S) 312(a).
Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.
A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the
Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the
Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, the Depositary or any such
nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.
All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if (i)
the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is
unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a
clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a
successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the
date of such notice from the Depositary or (ii) the Company in its sole
discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be
exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to
the Trustee; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Temporary Global
Note be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes prior to (x) the
expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any
certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(c)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities
Act. Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (i) or (ii)
above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall
instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole
or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note
authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any
portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof,
shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global
Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as
provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note
may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b),(c) or (f)
hereof.
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.
24
The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes
shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of
this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the
Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable
to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act.
Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require
compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as
one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial
interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted
Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the
Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of
the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Temporary
Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account
or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Beneficial
interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who
take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be
delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section
2.06(b)(i).
(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global
Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests
that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) above, the transferor of such
beneficial interest must deliver to the Depositary either (A) (1) a written
order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in
accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit
or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an
amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2)
instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing
information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such
increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect
Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable
Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in
an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and
(2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing
information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be
registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above
provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer
or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note
prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by
the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903 under the
Securities Act]. Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in
accordance with Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section
2.06(b)(ii) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the
Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered
by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes.
Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of
beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes
or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the
principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h)
hereof.
(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note.
A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a
Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in
another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements
of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:
25
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial
interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a
certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications
in item (1) thereof;
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial
interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note or the Regulation S
Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form
of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
and
(C) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial
interest in the IAI Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a
certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications
and certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if
applicable.
(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global
Note for Beneficial Interests in the Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial
interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof
for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a
Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the
requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange
Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder
of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange,
or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable
Letter of Transmittal or via the Depositary's book-entry system that it
is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with
the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial
interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in
the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a)
thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall
take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
26
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar
so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of
Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that
such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that
the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement
Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the
Securities Act.
If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D)
above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the
Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance
with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more
Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to
subparagraph (B) or (D) above.
Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be
exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form
of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted
Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted
Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes
delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon
receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted
Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C
hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;
(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in
accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (1) thereof;
(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S.
Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904
under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in
accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an
Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed
in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and
Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;
27
(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit
B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or
(G) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate
to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications
in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable
Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof,
and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in
the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange
for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this
Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such
authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial
interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the
Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall
deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are
so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial
interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i)
shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all
restrictions on transfer contained therein.
(ii) Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(i)(A) and (C) hereof, a beneficial
interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be exchanged for a
Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the
form of a Definitive Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period
and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to
Rule 903(c)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act, except in the case of a
transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.
(iii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted
Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note
or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange
Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder
of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the
transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter
of Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person
participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person
who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with
the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
28
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note
that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such
holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in
item (1)(b) thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall
take delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note that does not bear
the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form of
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar
so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of
Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that
such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that
the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement
Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the
Securities Act.
(iv) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted
Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive
Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause
the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced
accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company shall execute
and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the
instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any
Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this
Section 2.06(c)(iii) shall be registered in such name or names and in such
authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial
interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary
and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such
Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.
Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to
this Section 2.06(c)(iii) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.
(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted
Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to
transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note,
then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note,
a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including
the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB
in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to
the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (1) thereof;
29
(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-
U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or
Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth
in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant
to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to
the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an
Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed
in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and
Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;
(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth
in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof;
or
(G) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant
to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause
to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause
(A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause
(B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (c) above, the
Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, the IAI Global Note.
(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted
Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note
for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such
Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form
of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange
Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the
Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a
transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is
not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution
of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in
Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with
the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
30
(1) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such
Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a
certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such
Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from
such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications
in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar
so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of
Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that
such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that
the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement
Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the
Securities Act.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this
Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive Notes and
increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the
Unrestricted Global Note.
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or
transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the
form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time.
Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall
cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be
increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global
Notes.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a
beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or
(iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued,
the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in
accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more
Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.
(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.
Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder's compliance
with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the
transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of
transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the
Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written
instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by
such Holder or by his attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the
requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and
information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of
this Section 2.06(e).
(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any
Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of
Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note
if the Registrar receives the following:
31
(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the
form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1)
thereof;
(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904,
then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor
must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)
thereof, if applicable.
(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any
Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take
delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange
Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the
Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a
transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is
not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution
of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in
Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) any such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with
the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to
exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from
such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications
in item (1)(d) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to
transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form
of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the
form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar
so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the
Company to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with
the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein
and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
32
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A
Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person
who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.
Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall
register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from
the Holder thereof.
(f) Exchange Offer.
Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02, the Trustee shall
authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the
Restricted Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that certify in the
applicable Letters of Transmittal that (x) they are not broker-dealers, (y) they
are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (z) they are
not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company, and accepted for
exchange in the Exchange Offer and (ii) Definitive Notes in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive
Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the
issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount
of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive
Notes in the appropriate principal amount.
(g) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the face of all
Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless
specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
(i) Private Placement Legend.
(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note
and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or
substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the
following form:
"THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE 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 THE
ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144a, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, (3) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT
FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (4) PURSUANT TO
AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE
144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) 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."
33
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note
issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii),
(d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) to this Section 2.06 (and all Notes
issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the
Private Placement Legend.
(ii) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear a legend in
substantially the following form:
"THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE
GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS
MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL
NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a)
OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE
FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS
GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR
WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY."
(iii) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend. The Regulation S
Temporary Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
"THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE
CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES,
ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER
NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL
BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON."
(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.
At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note
have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been
redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global
Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance
with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any
beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person
who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another
Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented
by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be
made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of
the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being
exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the
form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note
shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global
Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to
reflect such increase.
(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
34
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive
Notes upon the Company's order or at the Registrar's request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest
in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of
transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection
therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge
payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10,
4.15 and 9.05 hereof).
(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or
exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration
of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid
obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same
benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes
surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(v) The Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the
transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening
of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of notice of redemption
under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on such day, (B)
to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption
in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed
in part or (c) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a
record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any
Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in
whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the
purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and
for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company
shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.
(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required
to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a
registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
Section 2.07. Replacement Notes
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company
and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss
or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of
an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee's
requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity
bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the
Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any
authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is
replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.
35
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and
shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by
the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for
cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the
Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this
Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note
does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of
the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section
3.07(b) hereof.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be
outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section
4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money
sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such
Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue
interest.
Section 2.09. Treasury Notes.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of
Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the
Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with the Company, shall be considered as
though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent,
only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.10. Temporary Notes
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the
Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order,
shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in
the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company
considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable
to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the
Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of
this Indenture.
Section 2.11. Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for
cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any
Notes surrendered to them for registration of
36
transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all
Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement
or cancellation and shall return canceled Notes to the Company. Certification of
the destruction of all canceled Notes shall be delivered to the Company. The
Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have
been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it
shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent
lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are
Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided
in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall notify the Trustee
in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note
and the date of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be
fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided that no such
special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date
for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date,
the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the
name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed to
Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date
and the amount of such interest to be paid.
Section 2.13. CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Notes may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then
generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of
redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state
that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as
printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice 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 the
omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any
change in the CUSIP numbers.
ARTICLE 3.
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional
redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee,
at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an
Officers' Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to
which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal
amount of Notes to be redeemed, (iv) the redemption price, (v) the CUSIP numbers
of the Notes to be redeemed.
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an
offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed
or purchased among the Holders of the Notes in compliance with the requirements
of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are
listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in
accordance with any other method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate. In
the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed
shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor
37
more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the
outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial
redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of
Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000;
except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire
outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of
$1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence,
provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also
apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but
not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause
to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed, including CUSIP
numbers, and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal
amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon
surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;
(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying
Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment,
interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the
redemption date;
(g) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant
to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of
the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the
redemption date, an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such
notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided
in the preceding paragraph.
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Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption
Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03
hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the
redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be
conditional.
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price
Prior to 10 a.m. on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit
with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption
price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The
Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money
deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the
amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all
Notes to be redeemed.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding
paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on
the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed
on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest
payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person
in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record
date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for
redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding
paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption
date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not
paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes
and in Section 4.01 hereof.
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall
issue and, upon the Company's written request, the Trustee shall authenticate
for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal
amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
Section 3.07. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as provided below, the Notes will not be redeemable at the
Company's option prior to December 15, 2002. Thereafter, the Notes will be
subject to redemption at any time at the option of the Company, in whole or in
part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption
prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus
accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon to the applicable
redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on
December 15 of the years indicated below:
PERCENTAGE OF
PRINCIPAL
YEAR Amount
---- ------
2002....................................... 104.937%
2003....................................... 103.292%
2004....................................... 101.646%
2005 and thereafter........................ 100.000%
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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the first 36 months after
the date of this Offering Circular, the Company may on any one or more occasions
redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued
under the Indenture at a redemption price of 109.875% of the principal amount
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if
any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of any Equity Offerings;
provided that at least $80.0 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes
remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption
(excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and provided further
that such redemption shall occur within 120 days of the date of the closing of
any such Equity Offering.
(c) At any time prior to December 15, 2002, the Notes may also be
redeemed, as a whole but not in part, at the option of the Company upon the
occurrence of a Change of Control, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
prior notice (but in no event may any such redemption occur more than 90 days
after the occurrence of such Change of Control) mailed by first-class mail to
each Holder's registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to, the date of redemption (the
"Redemption Date").
(d) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made
pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption.
The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption
payments with respect to the Notes.
Section 3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Net Proceeds Offer Amount.
In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall
be required to commence a Net Proceeds Offer, it shall follow the procedures
specified below.
The Net Proceeds Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business
Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a
longer period is required by applicable law (the "Offer Period"). No later than
five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the "Purchase
Date"), the Company shall purchase the Net Proceeds Offer Amount or, if less
than the Net Proceeds Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in
response to the Net Proceeds Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be
made in the same manner as interest payments are made.
If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or
before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall
be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of
business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to
Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer.
Upon the commencement of a Net Proceeds Offer, the Company shall send,
by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a
copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials
necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Net Proceeds
Offer. The Net Proceeds Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which
shall govern the terms of the Net Proceeds Offer, shall state:
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(a) that the Net Proceeds Offer is being made pursuant to this Section
3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Net Proceeds Offer shall
remain open;
(b) the Net Proceeds Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase
Date;
(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to
accrete or accrue interest;
(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note
accepted for payment pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer shall cease to accrete
or accrue interest after the Purchase Date;
(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Net
Proceeds Offer may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may not
elect to have only a portion of such Note purchased;
(f) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Net
Proceeds Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled
"Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Note completed, or
transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a depositary, if appointed by
the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least
three days before the Purchase Date;
(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the
Company, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not
later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal
amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such
Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;
(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by
Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes to be
purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed
appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or
integral multiples thereof, shall be purchased); and
(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued
new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes
surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).
On or before 10:00 a.m on the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the
extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary,
the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Net
Proceeds Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes
tendered, and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that
such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in
accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or
the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later
than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder
an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and
accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall promptly issue a new
Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Company shall authenticate
and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to
any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall
be promptly
41
mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall
publicly announce the results of the Net Proceeds Offer on the Purchase Date.
Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase
pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of
Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
ARTICLE 4.
COVENANTS
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes.
The Company or a Guarantor shall pay or cause to be paid the principal
of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes
on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if
any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, shall be considered paid on
the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary
thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by
the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to
pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any,
then due. The Company shall pay all Liquidated Damages, if any, in the same
manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
The Company or a Guarantor shall pay interest (including post-petition
interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the
rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the
Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition
interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of
interest and Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace period)
at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of
New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an
affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and
demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be
served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the
location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any
time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or
all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided,
however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company shall give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and
of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section
2.03.
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Section 4.03. Reports.
(a) Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so
long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company shall furnish to the Holders of
Notes (i) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required
to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company
were required to file such forms, including a "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" that describes the
financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries (showing in reasonable detail, either on the face of
the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto and in Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, the
financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of
the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company) and, with respect to the annual
information only, a report thereon by the Company's certified independent
accountants and (ii) all current reports that would be required to be filed with
the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports, in each
case, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and regulations. For
so long as the Parent is a Guarantor of the Notes, Company may satisfy its
obligations in this covenant with respect to financial information relating to
Parent; provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating information that
explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating
to Parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis, on the other hand. In addition,
following consummation of the Exchange Offer, whether or not required by the
rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company shall file a copy of all such
information and reports with the SEC for public availability within the time
periods specified in the SEC's rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not
accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities analysts
and prospective investors upon request. The Company shall at all times comply
with TIA (S) 314(a).
(b) For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Company and the
Guarantors shall furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and
prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be
delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate.
(a) The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is
so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after
the end of each fiscal year, an Officers' Certificate stating that a review of
the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal
year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to
determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its
obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer
signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company
has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in
this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of
the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of
Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is
taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or
her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which
payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is
prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what
action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. For
purposes of this paragraph, such compliance shall be determined without regard
to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under the Indenture.
43
(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial
statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03(a) above shall be accompanied by a
written statement of the Company's independent public accountants (who shall be
a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination
necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to
their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated
any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has
occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being
understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to
any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.
(c) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding,
deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default
or Event of Default, an Officers' Certificate specifying such Default or Event
of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with
respect thereto.
Section 4.05. Taxes.
The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to
pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental
levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings
or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material
respect to the Holders of the Notes.
Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that
it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in
any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay,
extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force,
that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the
Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so)
hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants
that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the
execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and
permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.07. Restricted Payments.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or
make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company's Equity
Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any
merger or consolidation involving the Company) or to the direct or indirect
holders of the Company's Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than
dividends or distributions payable in Qualified Capital Stock of the Company);
(ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including,
without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the
Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of
the Company; or (iii) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and
other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) above being collectively
referred to as "Restricted Payments"), unless, at the time of and after giving
effect to such Restricted Payment:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; and
44
(b) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and
after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had
been made at the beginning of the applicable Four-Quarter Period, have been
permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to
the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first
paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; and
(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all
other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries after the date of this Indenture (excluding Restricted
Payments permitted by clauses (3), (5), (6), (8) and (9) of the next
succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of (i)
50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as
one accounting period) from the beginning of the first fiscal quarter
commencing after the date of this Indenture to the end of the Company's
most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements
are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such
Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such
deficit), plus (ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds (including the
fair market value of property other than cash that would constitute
Marketable Securities or a Permitted Business) received by the Company
since the date of this Indenture as a contribution to its common equity
capital (other than from a Subsidiary or that were financed with loans from
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) or from the issue or sale of
Qualified Capital Stock (including Capital Stock issued upon the conversion
of convertible Indebtedness or in exchange for outstanding Indebtedness) of
the Company (excluding any net proceeds from an Equity Offering or capital
contribution to the extent used to redeem Notes in accordance with the
optional redemption provisions of the Notes) or from the issue or sale of
Disqualified Stock or debt securities of the Company that have been
converted into Qualified Capital Stock (other than Qualified Capital Stock
(or Disqualified Stock or convertible debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary
of the Company), plus (iii) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds (including
the fair market value of property other than cash that would constitute
Marketable Securities or a Permitted Business) of any (A) sale or
other disposition of Restricted Investments made by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries or (B) dividend from, or the sale of the stock of,
an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions set forth in the
immediately preceding paragraph will not prohibit (1) the payment of any
dividend or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after
the date of declaration of such dividend or notice of such redemption if the
dividend or payment of the redemption price, as the case may be, would have been
permitted on the date of declaration or notice; (2) if no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing or shall occur as a consequence thereof, the
acquisition of any shares of Capital Stock of the Company (the "Retired Capital
Stock"), either (i) solely in exchange for shares of Qualified Capital Stock of
the Company (the "Refunding Capital Stock"), or (ii) through the application of
the net proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale for cash (other than to a
Subsidiary of the Company) of shares of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company,
and, in the case of subclause (i) of this clause (2), if immediately prior to
the retirement of the Retired Capital Stock the declaration and payment of
dividends thereon was permitted under clause (3) of this paragraph, the
declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock in an
aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per
annum that was declarable and payable on such Retired Capital Stock immediately
prior to such retirement; provided that at the time of the declaration of any
such dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock, no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;
(3) if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or
would occur as a consequence thereof, the declaration and payment of dividends
to holders of any class
45
or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued
after the date of this Indenture (including, without limitation, the declaration
and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock in excess of the dividends
declarable and payable thereon pursuant to clause (2) of this paragraph);
provided that, at the time of such issuance, the Company, after giving effect to
such issuance on a pro forma basis, would have had a Consolidated Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio of at least 2.0 to 1.0 for the most recent Four-Quarter Period;
(4) payments to Parent for the purpose of permitting, and in an amount equal to
the amount required to permit, Parent to redeem or repurchase Parent's common
equity or options in respect thereof, in each case in connection with the
repurchase provisions of employee stock option or stock purchase agreements or
other agreements to compensate management employees; provided that all such
redemptions or repurchases pursuant to this clause (4) shall not exceed $12.5
million (which amount shall be increased by the amount of any net cash proceeds
received from the sale since the date of this Indenture of Equity Interests
(other than Disqualified Stock) to members of the Company's management team that
have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments pursuant
to the terms of the preceding paragraph (c) and by the cash proceeds of any
"key-man" life insurance policies which are used to make such redemptions or
repurchases) in the aggregate since the date of this Indenture; provided,
further, that the cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company from members
of management of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection
with such a repurchase of Capital Stock of Parent will not be deemed to
constitute a Restricted Payment under this Indenture; (5) the making of
distributions, loans or advances to Parent in an amount not to exceed $1.5
million per annum in order to permit Parent to pay the ordinary operating
expenses of Parent (including, without limitation, directors' fees,
indemnification obligations, professional fees and expenses, but excluding any
payments on or repurchases of the Seller Note); (6) payments to Parent in
respect of taxes pursuant to the terms of the Tax Allocation Agreement as in
effect on the date of this Indenture and as amended from time to time pursuant
to amendments that do not increase the amounts payable by the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder; (7) if no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof
and the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional
Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) in compliance with Section 4.09
hereof, other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $12.5
million since the date of this Indenture; (8) repurchases of Capital Stock
deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options if such Capital Stock
represents a portion of the exercise price thereof; and (9) distributions to
Parent to fund the Transactions and payments with respect to Parent Notes
whether made at or subsequent to the date hereof.
In determining the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made
subsequent to the date of this Indenture in accordance with clause (c) of the
immediately preceding paragraph, (a) amounts expended pursuant to clauses (1),
(2), (4), and (7) shall be included in such calculation; provided such
expenditures pursuant to clause (4) shall not be included to the extent of the
cash proceeds received by the Company from any "key man" life insurance policies
and (b) amounts expended pursuant to clauses (3), (5), (6), (8) or (9) shall be
excluded from such calculation.
The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be
an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such designation would not cause a Default. For
purposes of making such determination, all outstanding Investments by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid in cash) in
the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments at the
time of such designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted
Payments under the first paragraph of this covenant. All such outstanding
Investments will be deemed to constitute Investments in an amount equal to the
fair market value of such Investments at the time of such designation. Such
designation will only be permitted if such Restricted Payment would be permitted
at such time and if such Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of
an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
46
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the
fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or
securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.
Section 4.08. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or permit to
exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction
on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any
other distributions on or in respect of its Capital Stock, (b) make loans or
advances or to pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to the Company or
any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (c) transfer any of its
property or assets to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by
reason of: (1) applicable law; (2) the Indenture or the Senior Subordinated
Discount Note Indenture; (3) non-assignment provisions of any contract or any
lease entered into in the ordinary course of business; (4) any instrument
governing Acquired Indebtedness, which encumbrance or restriction is not
applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than
the Person or the properties or assets of the Person so acquired; (5) agreements
existing on the date of this Indenture (including, without limitation, the
Senior Credit Agreements and the Existing Note Indenture); (6) restrictions on
the transfer of assets subject to any Lien permitted under the applicable
Indenture imposed by the holder of such Lien; (7) restrictions imposed by any
agreement to sell assets or Capital Stock permitted under the applicable
Indenture to any Person pending the closing of such sale; (8) any agreement or
instrument governing Capital Stock of any Person that is in effect on the date
such Person is acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company; (9) any Purchase Money Note, or other Indebtedness or other contractual
requirements of a Securitization Entity in connection with a Qualified
Securitization Transaction; provided that such restrictions apply only to such
Securitization Entity; (10) any agreement or instrument governing Indebtedness
or Permitted Foreign Subsidiary Preferred Stock (whether or not outstanding) of
Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company that was permitted by the applicable
Indenture to be incurred; (11) other Indebtedness or Domestic Subsidiary
Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred subsequent to the date of this
Indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.09; provided that any such
restrictions are ordinary and customary with respect to the type of Indebtedness
or preferred stock being incurred or issued (under the relevant circumstances);
(12) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers
under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and (13) any
encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, modifications,
restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or
refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses
(1) through (12) above; provided that such amendments, modifications,
restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or
refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Company's Board of
Directors, no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment
restrictions than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions
prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase,
supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
Section 4.09. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee
or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise,
with respect to (collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness and, the Company shall
not issue any Disqualified Stock and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that the
Company may incur Indebtedness
47
or issue shares of Disqualified Stock if (i) no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing at the time or as a consequence of the
incurrence of any such Indebtedness or the issuance of any such Disqualified
Stock and (ii) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company's
most recently ended Four-Quarter Period would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0,
determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net
proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the
Disqualified Stock had been issued, at the beginning of such Four-Quarter
Period.
The provisions of the first paragraph of this covenant will not apply
to the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively,
"Permitted Indebtedness"):
(i) the Notes, the Senior Subordinated Discount Notes and, in each
case, the Note Guarantees thereof;
(ii) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to one or more Credit Facilities
in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding (with letters of
credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum
potential liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder) not to
exceed $550.0 million less (A) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of
Securitization Entities at the time outstanding less (B) the amount of all
optional or mandatory principal payments actually made by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of this Indenture in
respect of term loans under Credit Facilities (excluding any such payments
to the extent refinanced at the time of payment under a Credit Facility)
and (C) further reduced by any repayments of revolving credit borrowings
under Credit Facilities that are accompanied by a corresponding commitment
reduction thereunder; provided that the amount of Indebtedness permitted to
be incurred pursuant to the Senior Credit Agreements in accordance with
this clause (ii) shall be in addition to any Indebtedness permitted to be
incurred pursuant to the Senior Credit Agreements in reliance on, and in
accordance with, clauses (x) and (xvi) below;
(iii) the incurrence of Indebtedness and/or the issuance of Permitted
Foreign Subsidiary Preferred Stock by Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company,
which together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred
pursuant to this clause (iii) and the aggregate liquidation value of all
Permitted Foreign Subsidiary Preferred Stock issued pursuant to this clause
(iii), does not exceed $15.0 million at any one time outstanding; provided
that such amount shall increase to $30.0 million upon the consummation of
an Initial Public Offering;
(iv) other Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries
outstanding on the date of this Indenture for so long as such Indebtedness
remains outstanding;
(v) Interest Swap Obligations of the Company covering Indebtedness
of the Company; provided that any Indebtedness to which any such Interest
Swap Obligations correspond is otherwise permitted to be incurred under the
applicable Indenture; and provided, further, that such Interest Swap
Obligations are entered into, in the judgment of the Company, to protect
the Company from fluctuation in interest rates on its outstanding
Indebtedness;
(vi) Indebtedness of the Company under Currency Agreements;
(vii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (i) if the
Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness,
48
such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in
cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes and (ii)(A) any
subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any
such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a
Subsidiary thereof and (B) any sale or other transfer of any such
Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary thereof shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an
incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause
(vii);
(viii) the incurrence of Acquired Indebtedness of Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Company to the extent the Company could have incurred
such Indebtedness in accordance with the first paragraph of this covenant
on the date such Indebtedness became Acquired Indebtedness;
(ix) Guarantees by the Company and the Guarantors of each other's
Indebtedness; provided that such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred
under the applicable Indenture;
(x) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) incurred
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to finance the
purchase, lease or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment
(whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any
Person owning such assets) in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not
to exceed 5% of Total Assets at the time of any incurrence thereof
(including any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect thereto) (which amount
may, but need not, be incurred in whole or in part under the Senior Credit
Agreements);
(xi) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters
of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including, without
limitation, letters of credit in respect of workers' compensation claims or
self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type
obligations regarding workers' compensation claims;
(xii) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company providing for indemnification,
adjustment of purchase price, earn out or other similar obligations, in
each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any
business, assets or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, other than
guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any
portion of such business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose
of financing such acquisition; provided that the maximum assumable
liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the
gross proceeds actually received by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;
(xiii) obligations in respect of performance and surety bonds and
completion guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company in the ordinary course of business;
(xiv) any refinancing, modification, replacement, renewal,
restatement, refunding, deferral, extension, substitution, supplement,
reissuance or resale of existing or future Indebtedness (other than
intercompany Indebtedness), including any additional Indebtedness incurred
to pay interest or premiums required by the instruments governing such
existing or future Indebtedness as in effect at the time of issuance
thereof ("Required Premiums") and fees
49
in connection therewith ("Refinancing Indebtedness"); provided that any such
event shall not (1) directly or indirectly result in an increase in the
aggregate principal amount of Permitted Indebtedness (except to the extent such
increase is a result of a simultaneous incurrence of additional Indebtedness (A)
to pay Required Premiums and related fees or (B) otherwise permitted to be
incurred under the applicable Indenture) of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries and (2) create Indebtedness with a Weighted Average Life to
Maturity at the time such Indebtedness is incurred that is less than the
Weighted Average Life to Maturity at such time of the Indebtedness being
refinanced, modified, replaced, renewed, restated, refunded, deferred, extended,
substituted, supplemented, reissued or resold (except that this subclause (2)
will not apply in the event the Indebtedness being refinanced, modified,
replaced, renewed, restated, refunded, deferred, extended, substituted,
supplemented, reissued or resold was originally incurred in reliance upon clause
(xvi) of this paragraph);
(xv) the incurrence by a Securitization Entity of Indebtedness in a
Qualified Securitization Transaction that is Non-Recourse Debt with respect
to the Company and its other Restricted Subsidiaries (except for Standard
Securitization Undertakings);
(xvi) the incurrence of additional Indebtedness by the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries and/or the issuance of Permitted Domestic
Subsidiary Preferred Stock by the Company's U.S. Subsidiaries, which
together with the aggregate principal amount of other Indebtedness incurred
pursuant to this clause (xvi) and the aggregate liquidation value of all
other Permitted Domestic Subsidiary Preferred Stock issued pursuant to this
clause (xvi), does not exceed $30.0 million at any one time outstanding
(which amount, in the case of Indebtedness, may, but need not, be incurred
in whole or in part under the Senior Credit Agreements); provided that such
amount shall increase to $50.0 million upon the consummation of an Initial
Public Offering.
For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the
event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the
categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (xvi)
above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this
covenant, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of
Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this covenant. Accrual of
interest, accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of
interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the
same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of
additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to
be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for
purposes of this covenant; provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof
is included in Consolidated Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued.
Section 4.10. Asset Sales
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless (i) the Company or the
applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at
the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the
assets sold or otherwise disposed of (as determined in good faith by the
Company's Board of Directors), (ii) at least 75% of the consideration received
by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, from such Asset
Sale shall be cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of (a) any
liabilities (as shown on the Company's or such Restricted Subsidiary's most
recent balance sheet) of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary (other
than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) that are
assumed by the transferee of any such assets, (b) any notes or other obligations
50
received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee
that are immediately converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into
cash (to the extent of the cash received) and (c) any Designated Noncash
Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in
such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all
other Designated Noncash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that
is at that time outstanding, not to exceed 10% of Total Assets at the time of
the receipt of such Designated Noncash Consideration (with the fair market value
of each item of Designated Noncash Consideration being measured at the time
received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), shall be
deemed to be cash for the purposes of this provision, and (iii) upon the
consummation of an Asset Sale, the Company shall apply, or cause such Restricted
Subsidiary to apply, the Net Cash Proceeds relating to such Asset Sale within
365 days of receipt thereof either (A) to repay any Senior Debt and, in the case
of any Senior Debt under any revolving credit facility, effect a commitment
reduction under such revolving credit facility, (B) to reinvest in Productive
Assets, or (C) a combination of prepayment, repurchase and investment permitted
by the foregoing clauses (iii)(A) and (iii)(B). Pending the final application
of any such Net Cash Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may
temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or
otherwise invest such Net Cash Proceeds in Cash Equivalents. On the 366th day
after an Asset Sale or such earlier date, if any, as the Board of Directors of
the Company or of such Restricted Subsidiary determines not to apply the Net
Cash Proceeds relating to such Asset Sale as set forth in clauses (iii)(A),
(iii)(B) or (iii)(C) of the next preceding sentence (each, a "Net Proceeds Offer
Trigger Date"), the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds that have not been
applied on or before such Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date as permitted in
clauses (iii)(A), (iii)(B) and (iii)(C) of the next preceding sentence (each a
"Net Proceeds Offer Amount") shall be applied by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary to make an offer to purchase (the "Net Proceeds Offer") on a date
(the "Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date") not less than 30 nor more than 45 days
following the applicable Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, from all Holders on a
pro rata basis that amount of Notes equal to the Net Proceeds Offer Amount at a
price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be purchased, plus
accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the date
of purchase; provided, however, that if at any time any non-cash consideration
(including any Designated Noncash Consideration) received by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as the case may be, in connection with any
Asset Sale is converted into or sold or otherwise disposed of for cash (other
than interest received with respect to any such non-cash consideration), then
such conversion or disposition shall be deemed to constitute an Asset Sale
hereunder and the Net Cash Proceeds thereof shall be applied in accordance with
this covenant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Net Proceeds Offer Amount is less
than $10.0 million, the application of the Net Cash Proceeds constituting such
Net Proceeds Offer Amount to a Net Proceeds Offer may be deferred until such
time as such Net Proceeds Offer Amount plus the aggregate amount of all Net
Proceeds Offer Amounts arising subsequent to the Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date
relating to such initial Net Proceeds Offer Amount from all Asset Sales by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries aggregates at least $10.0 million, at
which time the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary shall apply all Net Cash
Proceeds constituting all Net Proceeds Offer Amounts that have been so deferred
to make a Net Proceeds Offer (the first date the aggregate of all such deferred
Net Proceeds Offer Amounts is equal to $10.0 million or more shall be deemed to
be a "Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date").
Notwithstanding the two immediately preceding paragraphs, the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be permitted to consummate an Asset Sale
without complying with such paragraphs to the extent (i) at least 75% of the
consideration for such Asset Sale constitutes Productive Assets, cash, Cash
Equivalents and/or Marketable Securities and (ii) such Asset Sale is for fair
market
51
value (as determined in good faith by the Company's Board of Directors);
provided that any consideration not constituting Productive Assets received by
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any Asset
Sale permitted to be consummated under this paragraph shall be subject to the
provisions of the two preceding paragraphs.
To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or
regulations conflict with the Asset Sale provisions of this Indenture, the
Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and
shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Asset Sale
provisions of this Indenture by virtue thereof.
Section 4.11. Transactions with Affiliates.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to occur any
transaction or series or related transactions (including, without limitation,
the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any
service) with, or for the benefit of, any of its Affiliates involving aggregate
consideration in excess of $2.5 million (an "Affiliate Transaction"), other than
(x) Affiliate Transactions permitted under paragraph (b) below and (y) Affiliate
Transactions on terms that are not materially less favorable than those that
might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on
an arm's-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company;
provided, however, that for a transaction or series of related transactions with
an aggregate value of $7.5 million or more, at the Company's option, either (i)
a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company
shall determine in good faith that such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that
are not materially less favorable than those that might reasonably have been
obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm's-length basis from
a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company or (ii) the Board of Directors
of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary party to such Affiliate
Transaction shall have received an opinion from a nationally recognized
investment banking firm that such Affiliate Transaction is on terms not
materially less favorable than those that might reasonably have been obtained in
a comparable transaction at such time on an arm's-length basis from a Person
that is not an Affiliate of the Company; and provided, further, that for an
Affiliate Transaction with an aggregate value of $10.0 million or more the Board
of Directors of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary party to such
Affiliate Transaction shall have received an opinion from a nationally
recognized investment banking firm that such Affiliate Transaction is on terms
not materially less favorable than those that might reasonably have been
obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm's-length basis from
a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company.
(b) The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (i) reasonable fees
and compensation paid to and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers,
directors, employee or consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary as
determined in good faith by the Company's Board of Directors or senior
management; (ii) transactions exclusively between or among the Company and any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries or exclusively between or among such Restricted
Subsidiaries, provided such transactions are not otherwise prohibited by the
applicable Indenture; (iii) transactions effected as part of a Qualified
Securitization Transaction; (iv) any agreement as in effect as of the date of
this Indenture or any amendment or replacement thereto or any transaction
contemplated thereby (including pursuant to any amendment or replacement
thereto) so long as any such amendment or replacement agreement is not more
disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect than the original
agreement as in effect on the date of this Indenture; (v) Restricted Payments
permitted by this Indenture; (vi) the payment of customary annual management,
consulting and advisory fees and related expenses to the Principals and their
Affiliates made pursuant to any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or
placement agreement
52
or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without
limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures which are approved
by the Board of Directors of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in good
faith; (viii) payments or loans to employees or consultants that are approved by
the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, (ix) the existence of, or
the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its
obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement (including any
registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it
is a party as of the date of this Indenture and any similar agreements which it
may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the
performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations
under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar
agreement entered into after the date of this Indenture shall only be permitted
by this clause (ix) to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new
agreement are not disadvantageous to the Holders of the applicable series of
Notes in any material respect; (x) transactions permitted by, and complying
with, Section 5.01 hereof; and (xi) transactions with customers, clients,
suppliers, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services,
in each case in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation,
pursuant to joint venture agreements) and otherwise in compliance with the terms
of the applicable Indenture which are fair to the Company or its Restricted
Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the
Company or the senior management thereof, or are on terms at least as favorable
as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party.
Section 4.12. Liens.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Liens of any kind
against or upon any of its property or assets, or any proceeds therefrom, unless
(i) in the case of Liens securing Indebtedness that is expressly subordinate or
junior in right of payment to the Notes, the Notes are secured by a Lien on such
property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens and (ii)
in all other cases, the Notes are equally and ratably secured, except for (A)
Liens existing as of the date of this Indenture and any extensions, renewals or
replacements thereof, (B) Liens securing Senior Debt, (C) Liens securing the
Notes, (D) Liens securing intercompany Indebtedness of the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company on assets of any Subsidiary of the Company,
(E) Liens securing Indebtedness that is incurred to refinance Indebtedness that
was secured by a Lien permitted under the Indenture and the Senior Subordinated
Discount Note Indenture that was incurred in accordance with the provisions of
the Indenture and the Senior Subordinated Discount Note Indenture; provided,
however, that such Liens do not extend to or cover any property or assets of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries not securing the Indebtedness so
refinanced, and (F) Permitted Liens.
Section 4.13. Conduct of Business.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, engage in any businesses a majority of whose revenues are not
derived from the same or reasonably similar, ancillary or related to, or a
reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the date of this
Indenture.
Section 4.14. Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done
all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its
corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each
of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective
53
organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the
Company or any such Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory),
licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or
franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its
Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation
thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in
any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Notes will
have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to
$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's Notes pursuant to the
offer described below (the "Change of Control Offer") at an offer price in cash
(the "Change of Control Payment") equal to 101% of the aggregate principal
amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon,
if any, to the date of purchase. Within ten days following any Change of
Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder describing the
transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering
to repurchase Notes on the date specified in such notice, which date shall be no
earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is
mailed (the "Change of Control Payment Date"), pursuant to the procedures
required by the applicable Indenture and described in such notice. The Company
shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any
other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and
regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a
result of a Change of Control.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the
extent lawful, (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly
tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying
Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes
or portions thereof so tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the
applicable Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate
stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being
purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of
Notes so tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee
shall promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry)
to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion
of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a
principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company shall
publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as
practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
Prior to the mailing of any notice required by the Indenture, but in
any event within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall (i)
repay in full in cash and terminate all commitments under Indebtedness under the
Senior Credit Agreements and all other Senior Debt the terms of which require
repayment upon a Change of Control or offer to repay in full in cash and
terminate all commitments under all Indebtedness under the Senior Credit
Agreements and all other such Senior Debt and to repay the Indebtedness owed to
each lender under the Senior Credit Agreements that has accepted such offer or
(ii) obtain the requisite consents under the Senior Credit Agreements and all
such other Senior Debt to permit the repurchase of the Notes as provided above.
The Company shall first comply with this covenant before it shall be required to
repurchase Notes pursuant to the provisions described herein. The Company's
failure to comply with the immediately preceding sentence shall constitute an
Event of Default described in clause (c) and not in clause (b) under "Events of
Default" below.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.15, the
Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of
Control if (i) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at
the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this
Section 4.15 and Section 3.09 hereof and purchases all Notes validly tendered
and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (ii) the Company
exercises its option to purchase all the Notes upon a Change of Control as
described in Section 3.07(c).
Section 4.16. No Senior Subordinated Debt.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.09 hereof, (i) the Company
shall not incur, create, issue, assume, Guarantee or otherwise become liable for
any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior
Debt and senior in any respect in right of payment to the Notes, and (ii) no
Subsidiary Guarantor shall incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise
become liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of
payment to any Senior Debt of any Subsidiary Guarantor and senior in any respect
in right of payment to the Note Guarantees.
Section 4.17. Additional Note Guarantees
If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall acquire or
create another U.S. Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, or if any
Subsidiary becomes a U.S. Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, then such
newly acquired or created Subsidiary, shall execute a Note Guarantee and deliver
an Opinion of Counsel, in accordance with the terms hereof; provided, that all
Subsidiaries that have properly been designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in
accordance herewith shall not be subject to the requirements of this covenant
for so long as they continue to constitute Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.
The Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into (whether or
not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease,
convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or
assets in one or more related transactions, to another corporation, Person or
entity unless (i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the entity or the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing
under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of
Columbia; (ii) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the entity or Person to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition
shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a
supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; (iii)
immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists; and
(iv) except in the case of a merger of the Company with or into a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of the Company and except in the case of a merger entered into solely
for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction, the
Company or the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or
merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made will, at the time of
such transaction and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such
transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable
55
Four-Quarter Period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional
Indebtedness pursuant to the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set
forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof.
Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation
formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is
made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date
of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the
provisions of this Indenture referring to the "Company" shall refer instead to
the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may exercise every right
and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such
successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that
the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the
principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of
the Company's assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01. Events of Default.
"Event of Defaults" are:
(a) the failure to pay interest on any Notes when the same becomes due and
payable if the default continues for a period of 30 days, whether or not such
payment shall be prohibited by Article 10 hereof;
(b) the failure to pay the principal on any Notes when such principal
becomes due and payable, at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise (including
the failure to make a payment to purchase Notes tendered pursuant to a Change of
Control Offer or a Net Proceeds Offer), whether or not such payment shall be
prohibited by Article 10 hereof;
(c) a default in the observance or performance of any other covenant or
agreement contained herein if the default continues for a period of 30 days
after the Company receives written notice specifying the default (and demanding
that such default be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25%
of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes;
(d) the failure to pay at final stated maturity (giving effect to any
extensions thereof) the principal amount of any Indebtedness of the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Entity), which failure
continues for at least 10 days, or the acceleration of the maturity of any such
Indebtedness, which acceleration remains uncured and unrescinded for at least 10
days, if the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the
principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay
principal at final maturity or which has been accelerated, aggregates $20.0
million or more at any time;
(e) one or more judgments in an aggregate amount in excess of $20.0
million shall have been rendered against the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries and such judgments remain undischarged, unpaid or unstayed for a
period of 60 days after such judgment or judgments become final and non-
appealable;
56
(f) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of
Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary
pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an
involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or
substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or
(g) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under
any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would
constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;
(ii) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would
constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the
property of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of
Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary; or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would
constitute a Significant Subsidiary;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive
days; or
(h) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in
any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any
reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on
behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under such
Guarantor's Note Guarantee.
Section 6.02. Acceleration.
If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in
clause (f) or (g) of Section 6.01 hereof with respect to the Company, any
Significant Subsidiary or any group of Significant Subsidiaries that, taken as a
whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) occurs and is continuing, the
Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately
and the same (i) shall become immediately due and payable or (ii) if there are
any amounts outstanding under either of the Senior Credit Agreements, shall
become immediately due and payable upon the first to occur of an acceleration
under either of the Senior Credit Agreements or five Business Days after receipt
by the Company and the Representative under the applicable Senior Credit
Agreement of such Acceleration Notice but only if such Event of Default is then
continuing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in
clause (f) or (g) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company, any
of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a
whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes
57
shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice. The
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders
rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not
conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default
(except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has become due solely
because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.
If an Event of Default occurs on or after December 15, 2002 by reason
of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the
Company with the intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the Company
would have had to pay if the Company then had elected to redeem the Notes
pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, then, upon acceleration of the Notes, an
equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately due and payable, to the
extent permitted by law, anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the
contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default occurs prior to December 15,
2002 by reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on
behalf of the Company with the intention of avoiding the prohibition on
redemption of the Notes prior to such date, then, upon acceleration of the
Notes, an additional premium shall also become and be immediately due and
payable in an amount, for each of the years beginning on December 15 of the
years set forth below, as set forth below (expressed as a percentage of the
aggregate principal amount to the date of payment that would otherwise be due
but for the provisions of this sentence):
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
1997........................................ 113.167%
1998........................................ 111.521%
1999........................................ 109.875%
2000........................................ 108.229%
2001........................................ 106.583%
Section 6.03. Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may
pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if
any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes or to enforce the
performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any
of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or
omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or
remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies
are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders
of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its
consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the
payment of the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest
on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase) (provided,
however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences,
including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration).
Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be
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deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
Section 6.05. Control by Majority.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power
conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that
conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly
prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the
Trustee in personal liability.
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.
A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture
or the Notes only if:
(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if
requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against
any loss, liability or expense;
(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after
receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of
indemnity; and
(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction
inconsistent with the request.
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights
of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another
Holder of a Note.
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of
any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium and Liquidated
Damages, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates
expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to
bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective
dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and
is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and
as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of
principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest remaining
unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful,
interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and
expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
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Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other
papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims
of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the
Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall
be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other
property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such
judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to
the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of
such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to
it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and
any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in
any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall
be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions,
dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be
entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan
of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall
be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt
on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the
Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.10. Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall
pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under
Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and
liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and
expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes
for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest, ratably,
without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and
payable on the Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any and
interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent
jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to
Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by
it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party
litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the
court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to
the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party
60
litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a
Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more
than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE 7.
TRUSTEE
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee
shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and
use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent man would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties
that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no
implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the
Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of
the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the
Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or
not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent
action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this
Section;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in
good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes
or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it
pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this
Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a),
(b), and (c) of this Section.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the
request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee
security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by
it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in
trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
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Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to
be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The
Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an
Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not
be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on
such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with
counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of
Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be
responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to
take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand,
request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by
an Officer of the Company.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of
the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the
owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not
Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting
interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for
permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with
like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11
hereof.
Section 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer.
The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation
as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be
accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money
paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction under any provision of this
Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money
received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be
responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or
any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this
Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.
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Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.
(a) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event
of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge
thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is
received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such
notice references the Securities and this Indenture.
(b) If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is
known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the
Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case
of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a
committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding
the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.
Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following
the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the
Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such
reporting date that complies with TIA (S) 313(a) (but if no event described in
TIA (S) 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting
date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA
(S) 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required
by TIA (S) 313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of
Notes shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock
exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA (S) 313(d). The
Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock
exchange.
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company and the Guarantors shall pay to the Trustee from time to
time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services
hereunder as the parties shall agree from time to time. The Trustee's
compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an
express trust. The Company and the Guarantors shall reimburse the Trustee
promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses
incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such
expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses
of the Trustee's agents and counsel.
The Company and the Guarantors shall indemnify the Trustee against any
and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this
Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against
the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending
itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company and the Guarantors or
any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any
such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad
faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company and the Guarantors promptly of any
claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the
Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company
shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The
Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees
and expenses of such
63
counsel. The Company and the Guarantors need not pay for any settlement made
without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section
7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
To secure the Company's and the Guarantors' payment obligations in
this Section, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or
property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay
principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) hereof occurs, the expenses and the
compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and
counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
Bankruptcy Law.
The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA (S) 313(b)(2) to
the extent applicable.
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor
Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of
appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from
the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of Notes of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the
Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may
remove the Trustee if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for
relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its
property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a
successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the
retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or
the Holders of Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Trustee.
If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who has
been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with Section
7.10, such Holder of a Note may petition any
64
court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the
appointment of a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the
successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee
under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its
succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly
transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided
all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien
provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee
pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07
hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all
or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation,
the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor
Trustee.
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or
of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0
million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the
requirements of TIA (S) 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA
(S) 310(b).
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA (S) 311(a), excluding any creditor
relationship listed in TIA (S) 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been
removed shall be subject to TIA (S) 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE 8.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by
a resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time, elect to have
either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes upon
compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Eight.
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been
discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on
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the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal
Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be
deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the
outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be "outstanding" only for
the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture
referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other
obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of
and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive
until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of
outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section
8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments
are due, (b) the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under Article
2 and Section 4.02 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities
of the Trustee hereunder and the Company's obligations in connection therewith
and (d) this Article Eight. Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the
Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the
prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its
obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10,
4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16 and 4.17 hereof with respect to the outstanding
Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are
satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant Defeasance"), and the Notes shall thereafter
be deemed not "outstanding" for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent
or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in
connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed "outstanding"
for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not
be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant
Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company may
omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term,
condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or
indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or
by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or
in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default
or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified
above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected
thereby. In addition, upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of
the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(d) through
6.01(f) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to the application of either
Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for
the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable
Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants, to pay the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any,
and interest on the
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outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable
redemption date, as the case may be;
(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has
received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a
ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the
applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based
thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the
outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the
outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting
from the incurrence of Indebtedness all or a portion of the proceeds of which
will be used to defease the Notes pursuant to this Article Eight concurrently
with such incurrence) or insofar as Sections 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) hereof is
concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of
deposit;
(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Senior Credit
Agreements or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this
Indenture and other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the
incurrence of Indebtedness all or a portion of the proceeds of which will be
used to defease the Notes pursuant to this Article Eight concurrently with such
incurrence) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
(which may be subject to customary exceptions) to the effect that on the 91st
day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of
any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent
of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the
intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of
the Company; and
(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant
Defeasance have been complied with.
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Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust;
Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government
Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other
qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the
"Trustee") pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes
shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the
provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or
through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the
Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to
become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but
such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required
by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee
or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable
Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal
and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other
charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request
of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as
provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under
Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be
required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance.
Section 8.06. Repayment to Company.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held
by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any,
or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such
principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be
paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be
discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as a
secured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all
liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money,
and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease;
provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required
to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be
published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national
edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date
specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such
notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining
will be repaid to the Company.
Section 8.07. Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States
dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or
8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court
or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such
application, then the Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes
shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to
Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03
hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any
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payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the
reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights
of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the
Trustee or Paying Agent.
Section 8.08. Survival.
The Trustee's rights under Article 8 shall survive termination of the
Indenture.
ARTICLE 9.
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company, the
Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Note
Guarantees or the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a Note:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of
certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article 2 hereof (including the
related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any
Holder;
(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company's or a Guarantor's
obligations to the Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Company or a
Guarantor pursuant to Article 5 or Article 11 hereof;
(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal
rights hereunder of any Holder of the Note;
(e) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain
the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
(f) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the
limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the date hereof; or
(g) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a
Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its
Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section
7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the
execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by
the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and
stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be
obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its
own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
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Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes.
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the
Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including Section 3.09, 4.10 and
4.15 hereof), the Note Guarantees and the Notes may be amended or supplemented
with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of
the Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding voting as a
single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or
exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04
and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default
or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration
that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the
Note Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including Additional
Notes, if any) voting as a single class (including consents obtained in
connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the
Notes). Without the consent of at least 75% in principal amount of the Notes
then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer
or exchange offer for, or purchase of, such Notes), no waiver or amendment to
this Indenture may make any change in the provisions of Article 10 hereof that
adversely affects the rights of any Holder of Notes. Section 2.08 hereof shall
determine which Notes are considered to be "outstanding" for purposes of this
Section 9.02.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its
Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the
Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by
the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall
join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture
unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case
the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into
such amended or supplemental Indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes
under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment
or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance
thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes
effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a
notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of
the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in
any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes,
if any) then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a
particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the
Notes. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or
waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-
consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an
amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or
alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the
Notes, other than provisions relating to Sections 3.09 or 4.15 hereof;
70
(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest,
including default interest, on any Note;
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration
of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) and a waiver
of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration;
(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;
(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to
waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments
of principal of or interest on the Notes;
(g) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note, other than a
payment required by Section 3.09 or 4.15;
(h) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions; or
(i) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note
Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture.
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be
set forth in a amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as
then in effect.
Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent
to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and
every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same
debt as the consenting Holder's Note, even if notation of the consent is not
made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a
Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written
notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes
effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance
with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment,
supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in
exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment,
supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not
affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental Indenture
authorized pursuant to this Article Nine if the amendment or supplement does not
adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities
71
or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amendment or
supplemental Indenture until the Board of Directors approves it. In executing
any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive
and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon,
in addition to the documents required by Section 11.04 hereof, an Officer's
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended
or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.
ARTICLE 10.
SUBORDINATION
Section 10.01. Agreement to Subordinate.
The Company agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Note agrees, that
the Company's Obligations with respect to the Notes are subordinated in right of
payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article 10, to the
prior payment in full in cash or Cash Equivalents of all Senior Debt (whether
outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or
guaranteed), and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders of
Senior Debt. The foregoing provisions regarding subordination are solely for
the purpose of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Senior Debt on
the one hand and the Holders on the other hand. Such provisions shall be
enforceable by the holders of Senior Debt directly against the Holders (and
their successors and assigns). This Article 10 shall constitute a continuing
offer to all persons who become holders of, or continue to hold, Senior Debt
(whether such Senior Debt was created or acquired before or after the issuance
of the Notes).
Section 10.02. Certain Definitions.
"Designated Senior Debt" means (i) any Indebtedness outstanding under
the Senior Credit Agreements and (ii) after payment in full of all Indebtedness
outstanding under the Senior Credit Agreements, any other Senior Debt permitted
under the Indentures the principal amount of which is $25.0 million or more and
that has been designated by the Company as "Designated Senior Debt."
"Permitted Junior Securities" means Equity Interests in the Company or
any Guarantor or debt securities that are unsecured and are subordinated to all
Senior Debt (and any debt securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt) to
substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Notes are
subordinated to Senior Debt pursuant to Article 10 hereof (without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, such securities shall have no required principal
payments until after the final maturity of all Senior Debt).
"Representative" means the indenture trustee or other trustee, agent
or representative for any Senior Debt.
"Senior Debt" means (i) all Indebtedness of the Company or any of the
Guarantors outstanding under Credit Facilities and all Hedging Obligations with
respect thereto, (ii) any other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the
Company under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which
such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and (iii) all Obligations with
respect to the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
foregoing, Senior Debt will not include (w) any liability for federal, state,
local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company, (x) any Indebtedness of the
Company to any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, (y) any trade payables
or (z) any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture.
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A distribution may consist of cash, securities or other property, by
set-off or otherwise.
Section 10.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.
Upon any distribution to creditors of the Company in a liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property, in
an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshalling of the Company's
assets and liabilities:
(1) holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled to receive payment in
full in cash or Cash Equivalents of all Obligations due in respect of such
Senior Debt (including interest after the commencement of any such proceeding at
the rate specified in the applicable Senior Debt) before Holders of the Notes
shall be entitled to receive any payment with respect to the Notes (except that
Holders may receive (i) Permitted Junior Securities and (ii) payments and other
distributions made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.01
hereof); and
(2) until all Obligations with respect to Senior Debt (as provided in
subsection (1) above) are paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, any
distribution to which Holders would be entitled but for this Article 10 shall be
made to holders of Senior Debt (except that Holders of Notes may receive (i)
Permitted Junior Securities and (ii) payments and other distributions made from
any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof), as their
interests may appear.
Section 10.04. Default on Designated Senior Debt.
The Company may not make any payment or distribution to the Trustee or
any Holder in respect of Obligations with respect to the Notes and may not
acquire from the Trustee or any Holder any Notes for cash or property (other
than (a) Permitted Junior Securities and (b) payments and other distributions
made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof) until
all principal and other Obligations with respect to the Senior Debt have been
paid in full if:
(i) a default in the payment of any principal or other Obligations with
respect to Designated Senior Debt occurs and is continuing beyond any
applicable grace period in the agreement, indenture or other document
governing such Designated Senior Debt; or
(ii) a default, other than a payment default, on Designated Senior Debt
occurs and is continuing that then permits holders of the Designated Senior
Debt to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of the
default (a "Payment Blockage Notice") from the trustee, agent or other
representative of the holders of Designated Senior Debt, or the holders of
Designated Senior Debt or the Company. If the Trustee receives any such
Payment Blockage Notice, no subsequent Payment Blockage Notice shall be
effective for purposes of this Section unless and until (i) at least 360 days
shall have elapsed since the effectiveness of the immediately prior Payment
Blockage Notice and (ii) all scheduled payments of principal, premium, if any,
and interest on the Notes that have come due have been paid in full in cash.
No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery
of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis
for a subsequent Payment Blockage Notice unless such default shall have been
waived for a period of not less than 180 days.
The Company may and shall resume payments on and distributions in
respect of the Notes and may acquire them upon the earlier of:
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(1) the date upon which the default is cured or waived, or
(2) in the case of a default referred to in Section 10.04(ii) hereof,
179 days pass after the Payment Blockage Notice is received if the maturity of
such Designated Senior Debt has not been accelerated,
if this Article 10 otherwise permits the payment, distribution or acquisition at
the time of such payment or acquisition.
Section 10.05. Acceleration of Securities.
If payment of the Securities is accelerated because of an Event of
Default, the Company shall promptly notify holders of Senior Debt of the
acceleration.
Section 10.06. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over.
In the event that the Trustee or any Holder receives any payment of
any Obligations with respect to the Notes at a time when the Trustee or such
Holder, as applicable, has actual knowledge that such payment is prohibited by
Section 10.03 or 10.04 hereof, such payment shall be held by the Trustee or such
Holder, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over and
delivered, upon written request, to, the holders of Senior Debt as their
interests may appear or their Representative under the indenture or other
agreement (if any) pursuant to which such Senior Debt may have been issued, as
their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of all
Obligations with respect to Senior Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary
to pay such Obligations in full in cash or Cash Equivalents in accordance with
their terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or
for the holders of Senior Debt.
With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to
perform only such obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically set
forth in this Article 10, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect
to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the
Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the
holders of Senior Debt, and shall not be liable to any such holders if the
Trustee shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders or the Company
or any other Person money or assets to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be
entitled by virtue of this Article 10, except if such payment is made as a
result of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Trustee.
Section 10.07. Notice by Company.
The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent of
any facts known to the Company that would cause a payment of any Obligations
with respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10, but failure to give such
notice shall not affect the subordination of the Notes to the Senior Debt as
provided in this Article 10.
Section 10.08. Subrogation.
After all Senior Debt is paid in full and all commitments to lend
thereunder have been terminated and until the Notes are paid in full, Holders of
Notes shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all other Indebtedness pari
passu with the Notes) to the rights of holders of Senior Debt to receive
distributions applicable to Senior Debt to the extent that distributions
otherwise payable to the Holders of
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Notes have been applied to the payment of Senior Debt. A distribution made under
this Article 10 to holders of Senior Debt that otherwise would have been made to
Holders of Notes is not, as between the Company and Holders, a payment by the
Company on the Notes.
Section 10.09. Relative Rights.
This Article 10 defines the relative rights of Holders of Notes and
holders of Senior Debt. Nothing in this Indenture shall:
(1) impair, as between the Company and Holders of Notes, the
obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal
of and interest on the Notes in accordance with their terms;
(2) affect the relative rights of Holders of Notes and creditors of
the Company other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior Debt; or
(3) prevent the Trustee or any Holder of Notes from exercising its
available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of
holders and owners of Senior Debt to receive distributions and payments
otherwise payable to Holders of Notes.
If the Company fails because of this Article 10 to pay principal of or
interest on a Note on the due date, the failure shall nevertheless be a Default
or Event of Default.
Section 10.10. Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company.
No right of any holder of Senior Debt to enforce the subordination of
the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes shall be impaired by any act or failure
to act by the Company or any Holder or by the failure of the Company or any
Holder to comply with this Indenture.
Section 10.11. Distribution or Notice to Representative.
Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of
Senior Debt, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their
Representative.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to
in this Article 10, the Trustee and the Holders of Notes shall be entitled to
rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction or
upon any certificate of such Representative or of the liquidating trustee or
agent or other Person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders
of Notes for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in
such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other Indebtedness of the
Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or
distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 10.
Section 10.12. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 10 or any other
provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of
the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment or
distribution by the Trustee, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent may continue
to make payments on the Notes, unless the Trustee shall have received at its
Corporate Trust Office at least five Business Days prior to the date of such
payment written notice of facts that would cause the payment of any Obligations
with respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10. Only the
75
Company or a Representative may give the notice. Nothing in this Article 10
shall impair the claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to
Section 7.07 hereof. Nothing in this Section 10.12 is intended to or shall
relieve any Holder of Notes from the obligations imposed under Section 10.06
with respect to other distributions received in violation of the provisions
hereof.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior
Debt with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may
do the same with like rights.
Section 10.13. Authorization to Effect Subordination.
Each Holder of Notes, by the Holder's acceptance thereof, authorizes
and directs the Trustee on such Holder's behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this
Article 10, and appoints the Trustee to act as such Holder's attorney-in-fact
for any and all such purposes. If the Trustee does not file a proper proof of
claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to in
Section 6.09 hereof at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file
such claim, the Representatives are hereby authorized to file an appropriate
claim for and on behalf of the Holders of the Notes.
Section 10.14. Amendments.
The provisions of this Article 10 shall not be amended or modified
without the written consent of the majority of the lenders under each of the
Senior Credit Agreements.
Section 10 15. Changes in Senior Debt.
Any holder of Senior Debt may at any time and from time to time
without the consent of or notice to any Holder or the Trustee: (a) extend,
renew, modify, waive or amend the terms of the Senior Debt; (b) sell, exchange,
release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise
securing Senior Debt; (c) release any guarantor or any other person (except the
Company) liable in any manner for the Senior Debt or amend or waive the terms of
any guaranty of Senior Debt; (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights
against the Company or any other Person; (e) apply any sums by whomever paid or
however realized to Senior Debt; and (f) take any other action which otherwise
might be deemed to impair the rights of the holders of Senior Debt without
incurring any responsibility to any Holder or the Trustee and without impairing
or releasing the obligations of any Holder or the Trustee to the holders of
Senior Debt.
ARTICLE 11.
NOTE GUARANTEES
Section 11.01. Guarantee.
Subject to this Article 11, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and
severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns,
irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or
the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (a) the principal
of and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at
maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue
principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other
obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder
will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms
hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or
renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that
76
same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the
terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration
or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any
performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly
and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that
this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the
Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any
waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions
hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action
to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby
waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court
in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever
and covenant that this Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete
performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.
If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to
return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or
other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the
Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note
Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full
force and effect.
Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of
subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed
hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each
Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and
the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the
obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof
for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or
other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations
guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of
such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or
not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors
for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to
seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such
right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.
Section 11.02. Subordination Of Note Guarantee.
The Obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee pursuant to
this Article 11 shall be junior and subordinated to the Senior Debt of such
Guarantor on the same basis as the Notes are junior and subordinated to Senior
Debt of the Company. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee
and the Holders shall have the right to receive and/or retain payments by any of
the Guarantors only at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in
respect of the Notes pursuant to this Indenture, including Article 11 hereof.
Section 11.03. Limitation On Guarantor Liability.
Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby
confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of
such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes
of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent
Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any
Note
77
Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and
the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor
under its Note Guarantee and this Article 11 shall be limited to the maximum
amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other
contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such
laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive
contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in
respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 11, result
in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a
fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
Section 11.04. Execution And Delivery Of Note Guarantee.
To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01, each
Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in
the form included in Exhibit E shall be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor
on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture
shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President or one of its
Vice Presidents.
Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in
Section 11.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure
to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.
If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note
Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the
Note on which a Note Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee shall be valid
nevertheless.
The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication
thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth
in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
In the event that the Company creates or acquires any new Subsidiaries
subsequent to the date of this Indenture, if required by Section 4.17 hereof,
the Company shall cause such Subsidiaries to execute supplemental indentures to
this Indenture and Note Guarantees in accordance with Section 4.17 hereof and
this Article 11, to the extent applicable.
Section 11.05. Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., On Certain Terms.
No Guarantor may consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or
not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person whether or not
affiliated with such Guarantor unless:
(a) subject to Section 11.05 hereof, the Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than a Guarantor or the
Company) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant
to a supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee, under the Notes, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and
the Note Guarantee on the terms set forth herein or therein;
(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default
or Event of Default exists; and
(c) the Company would be permitted, immediately after giving effect
to such transaction, to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant
to the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first
paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof.
78
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon
the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and
delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note
Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of
the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor,
such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with
the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor
Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be
endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not
have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note
Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit
under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in
accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note
Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.
Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding
clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the
Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the
Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the
property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the
Company or another Guarantor.
Section 11.06. Releases Following Sale Of Assets.
In the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets of
any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other
disposition of all of the capital stock of any Guarantor, then such Guarantor
(in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or
otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such Guarantor) or the corporation
acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved
of any obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds of
such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof.
Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by
the Company in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture,
including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof, the Trustee shall execute any
documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor
from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.
Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note
Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest
on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture
as provided in this Article 11.
ARTICLE 12.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with
the duties imposed by TIA (S) 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.
Section 12.02. Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the
Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or
mailed by first class mail (registered or
79
certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier or overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others' address:
If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:
Sealy Mattress Company
Halle Building
10th Floor
1228 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Telecopier No.: (216) 522-1366
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
Kirkland & Ellis
153 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
Telecopier No.: (212) 446-4900
Attention: Lance Balk
If to the Trustee:
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
Floor 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Telecopier No.:(212) 815-5915
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
The Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders)
shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if
personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to
the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class
mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept
by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any
Person described in TIA (S) 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure
to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not
affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above
within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee
receives it.
80
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall
mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 12.03. Communication By Holders Of Notes With Other Holders Of Notes.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA (S) 312(b) with other Holders
with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company,
the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA (S)
312(c).
Section 12.04. Certificate And Opinion As To Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take
any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all
conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture
relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such
conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
Section 12.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate
provided pursuant to TIA (S) 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA
(S) 314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion
has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has or
they have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him
to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been satisfied; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person,
such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
Section 12.06. Rules By Trustee And Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of
Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set
reasonable requirements for its functions.
81
Section 12.07. No Personal Liability Of Directors, Officers, Employees And
Stockholders
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator
or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any
liability for any obligations of the Company or such Guarantor under the Notes,
the Note Guarantees, this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or
by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a
Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of
the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
Section 12.08. Governing Law.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO
CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT
TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION
OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
Section 12.09. No Adverse Interpretation Of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan
or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person.
Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this
Indenture.
Section 12.10. Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall
bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind
its successors.
Section 12.11. Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 12.12. Counterpart Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each
signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same
agreement.
Section 12.13. Table Of Contents, Headings, Etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the
Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of
reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in
no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[Indenture signature pages(s) follow]
82
[Indenture signature pages(s)]
Dated as of December 18, 1997
Sealy Mattress Company
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Guarantors:
Sealy Corporation
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Sealy Mattress Company Of Puerto Rico
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Ohio-Sealy Mattress Manufacturing Co., Inc.
(Randolph)
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Ohio-Sealy Mattress Manufacturing Co. - Ft.
Worth
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Ohio-Sealy Mattress Manufacturing Co.
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
83
Ohio-Sealy Mattress Manufacturing Co.-
Houston
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Sealy Mattress Company Of Michigan, Inc.
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Sealy Mattress Company Of Kansas City, Inc.
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Sealy Of Maryland And Virginia, Inc.
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Sealy Mattress Company Of Illinois
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
A. Brandwein & Company
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
84
Sealy Mattress Company of Albany, Inc.
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Sealy Of Minnesota, Inc.
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Sealy Mattress Company of Memphis
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
The Stearns & Foster Bedding Company
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
The Stearns & Foster Upholstery Furniture
Company
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Sealy, Inc.
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
85
The Ohio Mattress Company Licensing and
Components Group
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
Sealy Mattress Manufacturing Company, Inc.
By: /s/ RONALD H. STOLLE
___________________________________
Name: Ronald H. Stolle
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
The Bank of New York
By: /s/ LUCILLE FIRRINCIELI
___________________________________
Name: Lucille Firrincieli
Title: Vice President
86
EXHIBIT A-1
(Face of Note)
[INSERT THE GLOBAL NOTE LEGEND, IF APPLICABLE PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE
INDENTURE]
[INSERT THE PRIVATE PLACEMENT LEGEND, IF APPLICABLE PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS
OF THE INDENTURE]
CUSIP/CINS _________________
9-7/8% [SERIES A] [SERIES B] SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007
No. $ __________________
SEALY MATTRESS COMPANY
promises to pay to ________________________________
or registered assigns,
the principal sum of__________________________
Dollars on December 15, 2007.
Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15.
Record Dates: June 1 and December 1.
Sealy Mattress Company
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
This is one of the Global
Notes referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee
By:________________________ Dated: December 18, 1997
Name:
Title:
A-1-1
(Back of Note)
9-7/8% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them
in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Interest. Sealy Mattress Company, an Ohio corporation (the
"Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 9-
7/8% per annum from December 18, 1997 until maturity and shall pay the
Liquidated Damages payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights
Agreement referred to below. The Company shall pay interest and Liquidated
Damages semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 of each year, or if any such
day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an
"Interest Payment Date"). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent
date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the
date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment
of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to
on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall
accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that
the first Interest Payment Date shall be June 15, 1998. The Company shall pay
interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on
demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it
shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages
(without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at
the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
2. Method Of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes
(except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages to the Persons who are
registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1
next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after
such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided
in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes
will be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and
interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose
within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the
Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages may be made by check mailed
to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and
provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be
required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated
Damages on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have
provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such
payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at
the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
3. Paying Agent And Registrar. Initially, The Bank of New York, the
Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company
may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The
Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.
4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated
as of December 18, 1997 ("Indenture") between the Company and the Trustee. The
terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of
the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15
U.S. Code (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and
A-1-2
Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such
terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express
provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the indenture shall govern and be
controlling. The Notes are obligations of the Company limited to $300.0 million
in aggregate principal amount.
5. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the
Notes will not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to December 15, 2002.
Thereafter, the Notes will be subject to redemption at any time at the option of
the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount)
set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon
to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period
beginning on December 15 of the years indicated below:
PERCENTAGE OF
PRINCIPAL
YEAR AMOUNT
---- ------
2002................................ 104.937%
2003................................ 103.292%
2004................................ 101.646%
2005 and thereafter................. 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph 5, during the first 36 months after December 11, 1997, the Company may
on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount
of Notes originally issued under the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture at a
redemption price of 109.875 of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the redemption date,
with the net cash proceeds of any Equity Offerings; provided that at least $80.0
million in aggregate principal amount of Notes remain outstanding immediately
after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Senior Subordinated Notes
held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and provided further that such
redemption shall occur within 120 days of the date of the closing of any such
Equity Offering.
(c) At any time prior to December 15, 2002, the Notes may also be
redeemed, as a whole but not in part, at the option of the Company upon the
occurrence of a Change of Control, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
prior notice (but in no event may any such redemption occur more than 90 days
after the occurrence of such Change of Control) mailed by first-class mail to
each Holder's registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to, the date of redemption (the
"Redemption Date").
6. Mandatory Redemption.
Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be
required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.
7. Repurchase At Option Of Holder.
A-1-3
(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company shall be required to
make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all or any part (equal
to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's Notes at a purchase
price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the date of purchase
(the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 10 days following any Change of
Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the
procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.
(b) If the Company or a Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales,
within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Net Proceeds
Offer Amount exceeds $10.0 million, the Company shall commence an offer to all
Holders of Notes (as "Net Proceeds Offer") pursuant to Section 3.09 of the
Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any
Additional Notes) that may be purchased out of the Net Proceeds Offer Amount at
an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount
thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any,
to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount
of Notes (including any Additional Notes) tendered pursuant to an Net Proceeds
Offer is less than the Net Proceeds Offer Amount, the Company (or such
Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for general corporate purposes. If the
aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the
amount of Net Proceeds Offer Amount, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be
purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer
to purchase will receive an Net Proceeds Offer from the Company prior to any
related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing
the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the
Notes.
8. Notice Of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed at
least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in
denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole
multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be
redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes
or portions thereof called for redemption.
9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as
provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents
and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law
or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company
need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days
before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record
date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
10. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be
treated as its owner for all purposes.
11. Amendment, Supplement And Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions,
the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented
with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single
class, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the
Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of
the Holders of a majority in
A-1-4
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any,
voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the
Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented to
cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes
in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption
of the Company's or Guarantor's obligations to Holders of the Notes in case of a
merger or consolidation, to make any change that would provide any additional
rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect
the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the
requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification
of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, to provide for the Issuance of
Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture,
or to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture
and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes.
12. Defaults And Remedies.
Events of Default include: (i) the failure to pay interest on any
Notes when the same becomes due and payable if the default continues for a
period of 30 days, whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article 10
hereof; (ii)the failure to pay the principal on any Notes when such principal
becomes due and payable, at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise (including
the failure to make a payment to purchase Notes tendered pursuant to a Change of
Control Offer or a Net Proceeds Offer), whether or not such payment shall be
prohibited by Article 10 of the Indenture; (iii) a default in the observance or
performance of any other covenant or agreement contained herein if the default
continues for a period of 30 days after the Company receives written notice
specifying the default (and demanding that such default be remedied) from the
Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of
the Notes; (iv) the failure to pay at final stated maturity (giving effect to
any extensions thereof) the principal amount of any Indebtedness of the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Entity), which failure
continues for at least 10 days, or the acceleration of the maturity of any such
Indebtedness, which acceleration remains uncured and unrescinded for at least 10
days, if the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the
principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay
principal at final maturity or which has been accelerated, aggregates $20.0
million or more at any time; (v) one or more judgments in an aggregate amount in
excess of $20.0 million shall have been rendered against the Company or any of
its Significant Subsidiaries and such judgments remain undischarged, unpaid or
unstayed for a period of 60 days after such judgment or judgments become final
and non-appealable; (vi) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect
to the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries; and (vii) except as
permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial
proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in
full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any
Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under such Guarantor's Note
Guarantee. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may
declare all the Notes to be due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or
insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further
action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as
provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the
Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from
Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default
(except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or
interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the
Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under
the Indenture except a continuing Default or
A-1-5
Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes.
The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding
compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required upon becoming aware
of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement
specifying such Default or Event of Default.
13. Trustee Dealings With Company. The Trustee, in its individual or
any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform
services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the
Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
14. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or
for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or
their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the
issuance of the Notes.
15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated
by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name
of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).
17. Additional Rights of Holders Of Restricted Global Notes And
Restricted Definitive Notes. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of
Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted
Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the A/B Exchange
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 18, 1997, between the Company
and the parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of
Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive
Notes shall have the rights set forth in one or more registration rights
agreements, if any, between the Company and the other parties thereto, relating
to rights given by the Company to the purchasers of any Additional Notes
(collectively, the "Registration Rights Agreement").
18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made
as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers placed thereon.
A-1-6
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:
Sealy Mattress Company
Halle Building
10th Floor
1228 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Attention: General Counsel
A-1-7
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer
this Note to
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint_________________________________________________________
to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute
another to act for him.
________________________________________________________________________________
Date:________________
Your Signature:___________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of
this Note)
Tax Identification No:____________________________
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE:
________________________________
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible
guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of
the 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.
A-1-8
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:
SECTION 4.10 SECTION 4.15
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the
amount you elect to have purchased: $________
Date:______________
Your Signature:___________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of
this Note)
Tax Identification No:____________________________
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE:
_________________________________
Signatures must be guaranteed by an
"eligible guarantor institution" meeting the
requirements of the 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.
A-1-9
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE (1)/
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest
in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of
another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have
been made:
Principal Amount
Amount of decrease Amount of increase of this Global Signature of
in Principal in Principal Note following authorized officer
Amount of this Amount of this such decrease (or of Trustee or Note
Date of Exchange Global Note Global Note increase) Custodian
- ---------------- ------------------- ------------------ ----------------- -------------------
A-1-10
EXHIBIT A-2
(Face of Regulation S Temporary Global Note)
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND
THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE
AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE
BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN
DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE
DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO
THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY
SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR
DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) ("DTC"),
TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT,
AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER
NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT
IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
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 THE ACCOUNT
OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
RULE 144a, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903
OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (3) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL
ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (4) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) 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.
CUSIP/CINS____________
9-7/8% SERIES A SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007
No.___ $_________
A-2-1
SEALY MATTRESS COMPANY
promises to pay to ____________________________________
or registered assigns,
the principal sum of ______________________________
Dollars on December 15, 2007.
Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15.
Record Dates: June 1 and December 1.
Sealy Mattress Company
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
Name:
Title:
This is one of the Global
Notes referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
as Trustee
By: Dated: December 18, 1997
Name:
Title:
A-2-2
(Back of Regulation S Temporary Global Note)
9-7/8% Series A Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them
in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Interest. Sealy Mattress Company, an Ohio corporation (the
"Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 9-
7/8% per annum from December 18, 1997 until maturity and shall pay the
Liquidated Damages payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights
Agreement referred to below. The Company shall pay interest and Liquidated
Damages semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 of each year, or if any such
day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an
"Interest Payment Date"). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most
recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid,
from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the
payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date
referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date,
interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided,
further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be June 15, 1998. The
Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding
under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to
time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in
effect; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and
Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to
time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Until this Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchanged for one or
more Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Holder hereof shall not be
entitled to receive payments of interest hereon; until so exchanged in full,
this Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall in all other respects be entitled
to the same benefits as other Notes under the Indenture.
2. Method Of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes
(except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages to the Persons who are
registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1
next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after
such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided
in Section 2.12 of the Indenture (as herein defined) with respect to defaulted
interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated
Damages, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained
for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the
option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages may be made by
check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of
Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available
funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and
Liquidated Damages on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which
shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying
Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of
America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts.
3. Paying Agent And Registrar. Initially, The Bank of New York, the
Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The
Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder.
The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.
A-2-3
4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated
as of December 18, 1997 ("Indenture") between the Company and the Trustee. The
terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of
the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15
U.S. Code (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and
Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such
terms. The Notes are obligations of the Company limited to $300.0 million in
aggregate principal amount.
5. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the
Notes will not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to December 15, 2002.
Thereafter, the Notes will be subject to redemption at any time at the option of
the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount)
set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon
to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period
beginning on December 15 of the years indicated below:
PERCENTAGE OF
PRINCIPAL
YEAR AMOUNT
---- ------
2002....................................... 104.937%
2003....................................... 103.292%
2004....................................... 101.646%
2005 and thereafter........................ 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph 5, during the first 36 months after December 11, 1999 the Company may
on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount
of Notes originally issued under the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture at a
redemption price of 109.875% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the redemption date,
with the net cash proceeds of any Equity Offerings; provided that at least $80.0
million in aggregate principal amount of Notes remain outstanding immediately
after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Senior Subordinated Notes
held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and provided further that such
redemption shall occur within 120 days of the date of the closing of any such
Equity Offering.
(c) At any time prior to December 15, 2002, the Notes may also be
redeemed, as a whole but not in part, at the option of the Company upon the
occurrence of a Change of Control, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
prior notice (but in no event may any such redemption occur more than 90 days
after the occurrence of such Change of Control) mailed by first-class mail to
each Holder's registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to, the date of redemption (the
"Redemption Date").
6. Mandatory Redemption.
Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be
required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.
A-2-4
7. Repurchase at Option of Holder.
(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company shall be required to
make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all or any part (equal
to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's Notes at a purchase
price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the date of purchase
(the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 10 days following any Change of
Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the
procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.
(b) If the Company or a Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales,
within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Net Proceeds
Offer Amount exceeds $10.0 million, the Company shall commence an offer to all
Holders of Notes (as "Net Proceeds Offer") pursuant to Section 3.09 of the
Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any
Additional Notes) that may be purchased out of the Net Proceeds Offer Amount at
an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount
thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any,
to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount
of Notes (including any Additional Notes) tendered pursuant to an Net Proceeds
Offer is less than the Net Proceeds Offer Amount, the Company (or such
Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for general corporate purposes. If the
aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the
amount of Net Proceeds Offer Amount, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be
purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer
to purchase will receive an Net Proceeds Offer from the Company prior to any
related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing
the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the
Notes.
8. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed at
least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in
denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole
multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be
redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes
or portions thereof called for redemption.
9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as
provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents
and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law
or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, it need not
exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a
selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and
the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
This Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchangeable in whole or in
part for one or more Global Notes only (i) on or after the termination of the
40-day restricted period (as defined in Regulation S) and (ii) upon presentation
of certificates (accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel, if applicable) required
by Article 2 of the Indenture. Upon exchange of this Regulation S Temporary
Global Note for one or more Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel this
Regulation S Temporary Global Note.
A-2-5
10. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be
treated as its owner for all purposes.
11. Amendment, Supplement And Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions,
the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of
the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the
Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. Without the consent
of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or
supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for
uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to
provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to Holders of the Notes
in case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that would provide any
additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not
adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, or to
comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain
the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
12. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (i) the
failure to pay interest on any Notes when the same becomes due and payable if
the default continues for a period of 30 days, whether or not such payment shall
be prohibited by Article 10 hereof; (ii)the failure to pay the principal on any
Notes when such principal becomes due and payable, at maturity, upon redemption
or otherwise (including the failure to make a payment to purchase Notes tendered
pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or a Net Proceeds Offer), whether or not
such payment shall be prohibited by Article 10 of the Indenture; (iii) a default
in the observance or performance of any other covenant or agreement contained
herein if the default continues for a period of 30 days after the Company
receives written notice specifying the default (and demanding that such default
be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the outstanding
principal amount of the Notes; (iv) the failure to pay at final stated maturity
(giving effect to any extensions thereof) the principal amount of any
Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a
Securitization Entity), which failure continues for at least 10 days, or the
acceleration of the maturity of any such Indebtedness, which acceleration
remains uncured and unrescinded for at least 10 days, if the aggregate principal
amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other
such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at final maturity or
which has been accelerated, aggregates $20.0 million or more at any time; (v)
one or more judgments in an aggregate amount in excess of $20.0 million shall
have been rendered against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
and such judgments remain undischarged, unpaid or unstayed for a period of 60
days after such judgment or judgments become final and non-appealable; (vi)
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of
its Material Subsidiaries; and (vii) except as permitted by the Indenture, any
Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid
or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor,
or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its
obligations under such Guarantor's Note Guarantee. If any Event of Default
occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be
due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of
Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding
Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may
not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture.
Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or
power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any
continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default
relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that
withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes then
A-2-6
outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the
Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under
the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of
interest on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver
to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and
the Company is required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default,
to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of
Default.
13. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or
any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform
services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the
Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
14. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as such,
shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or such
Guarantor under the Notes, the Note 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 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 of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and
Restricted Definitive Notes. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of
Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted
Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the A/B Exchange
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 18, 1997, between the Company
and the parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of
Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive
Notes shall have the rights set forth in one or more registration rights
agreements, if any, between the Company and the other parties thereto, relating
to rights given by the Company to the purchasers of any Additional Notes
(collectively, the "Registration Rights Agreement").
18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made
as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers placed thereon.
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and
without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.
Requests may be made to:
Sealy Mattress Company
Halle Building
10th Floor
A-2-7
1228 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Attention: General Counsel
A-2-8
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer
this Note to
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The
agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date:_________________
Your Signature:___________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of
this Note)
Tax Identification No:____________________________
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE:
_________________________________
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible
guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of
the 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.
A-2-9
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box
below:
[_] Section 4.10 [_] Section 4.15
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the
amount you elect to have purchased: $___________
________________________________________________________________________________
Date:___________
Your Signature:___________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of
this Note)
Tax Identification No:____________________________
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE:
_________________________________
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible
guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of
the 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.
A-2-10
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE
The following exchanges of a part of this Regulation S Temporary
Global Note for an interest in another Global Note, or of other Restricted
Global Notes for an interest in this Regulation S Temporary Global Note, have
been made:
Principal Amount
Amount of Amount of increase of this Global Note Signature of
decrease in in Principal following such authorized officer
Principal Amount Amount of this decrease (or of Trustee or Note
Date of Exchange of this Global Note Global Note increase) Custodian
- ---------------- ------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ------------------
A-2-11
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Sealy Mattress Company
Halle Building
10th Floor
1228 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Attention: General Counsel
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
Floor 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Re: 9-7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
-----------------------------------------
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 18,
1997 (the "Indenture"), between Sealy Mattress Company, as issuer (the
"Company"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
______________, (the "Transferor") owns and proposes to transfer the
Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the
principal amount of $___________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Transfer"),
to __________ (the "Transferee"), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In
connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is
- -----------------------------------------------------------
being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and,
accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial
interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor
reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or
Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to
which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each
such account is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule
144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is
in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the
United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with
the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive
Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private
Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and
in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2. CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and
- -----------------------------
in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904
B-1
under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further
certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United
States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was
outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf
reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United
States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a
designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person
acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in
the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in
contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S
under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme
to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the
proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted
Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or
benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of
the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the
transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the
restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on
the Regulation S Global Note, the Temporary Regulation S Global Note and/or the
Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
3. [_] CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL
-------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEREST IN THE IAI GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is
- ----------------------------------------------------------
being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to
beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes
and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable
blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the
Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):
(a) [_] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in
accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
or
(b) [_] such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a
subsidiary thereof;
or
(c) [_] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;
or
(d) [_] such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional
Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904,
and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any
general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act
and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to
beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes
and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported
by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the
Indenture and (2) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes
at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel provided by
the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to
this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the
Securities Act. Upon
B-2
consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be
subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement
Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Definitive Notes and in the
Indenture and the Securities Act.
4. [_] Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.
(a) [_] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer
is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the
Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the
Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United
States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the
Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or
Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer
enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global
Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(b) [_] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule
904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions
contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any
state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in
the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed
Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred
beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the
restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on
the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the
Indenture.
(c) [_] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule
903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in
the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the
United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture
and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial
interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer
enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global
Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company.
________________________________
[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:
Dated: __________, ____
B-3
ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:
[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
(a) [_] a beneficial interest in the:
(i) [_] 144A Global Note (CUSIP ________), or
(ii) [_] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP ________), or
(iii) [_] IAI Global Note (CUSIP _______); or
(b) [_] a Restricted Definitive Note.
2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:
[CHECK ONE]
(a) [_] a beneficial interest in the:
(i) [_] 144A Global Note (CUSIP _______), or
(ii) [_] Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _______), or
(iii) [_] IAI Global Note (CUSIP _______); or
(iv) [_] Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP _______); or
(b) [_] a Restricted Definitive Note; or
(c) [_] an Unrestricted Definitive Note,
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
B-4
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Sealy Mattress Company
Halle Building
10th Floor
1228 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Attention: General Counsel
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
Floor 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
Re: 9-7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
-----------------------------------------
(CUSIP ______________)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 18,
1997 (the "Indenture"), between Sealy Mattress Company, as issuer (the
"Company"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
____________, (the "Owner") owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s]
or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of
$____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Exchange"). In connection with
the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE
(a) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
--------------------------------------------------
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
connection with the Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal
principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is
being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange
has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the
Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), (iii) the restrictions on
transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not
required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in
compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the
United States.
(b) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
--------------------------------------------------
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the
- ------------------------------------------------------
Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note
is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such
Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to the Restricted Global Notes
C-1
and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the
restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement
Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act
and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable
blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(c) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
-------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the
- --------------------------------------------------
Owner's Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest
is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such
Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with
the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the
Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being
acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state
of the United States .
(d) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
-------------------------------------------------------
UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner's Exchange of a
- ----------------------------
Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby
certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner's
own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance
with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and
pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on
transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not
required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the
Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable
blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
2. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES
(a) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
--------------------------------------------------
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the
- ----------------------------------------------------
Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a
Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby
certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner's
own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note
issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in
the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in
the Indenture and the Securities Act.
(b) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
-------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the
- -----------------------------------------------
Exchange of the Owner's Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in
the [CHECK ONE] 144A Global Note, Regulation S Global Note, IAI Global Note
with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial
interest is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer and (ii)
such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with
the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities
laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed
Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest
issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private
Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the
Indenture and the Securities Act.
C-2
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company.
___________________________________
[Insert Name of Owner]
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
Dated: __________, ____
C-3
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Sealy Mattress Company
Halle Building
10th Floor
1228 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Attention: General Counsel
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
Floor 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Re: 9-7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
-----------------------------------------
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 18,
1997 (the "Indenture"), between Sealy Mattress Company, as issuer (the
"Company"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
In connection with our proposed purchase of $____________
aggregate principal amount of:
(a) [_] a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or
(b) [_] a Definitive Note,
we confirm that:
1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any
interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in
the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell,
pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in
compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been
registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein
may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We
agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting
as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein,
we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in
accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a "qualified institutional
buyer" (as defined therein), (c) to an institutional "accredited investor" (as
defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its
behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Company a signed letter
substantially in the form of this letter and,
D-1
if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes, at the time of
transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably
acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with
the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of
Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any
person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note
from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of
this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are
restricted as stated herein.
3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or
beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the
Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the
Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with
the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by
us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect. We further understand that any
subsequent transfer by us of the Notes or beneficial interest therein acquired
by us must be effected through one of the Placement Agents.
4. We are an institutional "accredited investor" (as defined in Rule
501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have
such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable
of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and
any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of
our or its investment.
5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein
purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which
is an institutional "accredited investor") as to each of which we exercise sole
investment discretion.
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are
irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested
party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with
respect to the matters covered hereby.
__________________________________________
[Insert Name of Accredited Investor]
By:_______________________________
Name:
Title:
Dated: __________________, ____
D-2
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor
Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally
guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the
provisions in the Indenture dated as of December 18, 1997 (the "Indenture")
among Sealy Mattress Company, the Guarantors listed on Schedule I thereto and
The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"), (a) the due and punctual
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes (as
defined in the Indenture), whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or
otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal and
premium, and, to the extent permitted by law, interest, and the due and punctual
performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the
Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any
extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other
obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed
in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to
the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the
Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture and reference
is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee.
Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound
by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee, on behalf of such
Holder, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the
subordination as provided in the Indenture and (c) appoints the Trustee
attorney-in-fact of such Holder for such purpose; provided, however, that the
Indebtedness evidenced by this Note Guarantee shall cease to be so subordinated
and subject in right of payment upon any defeasance of this Note in accordance
with the provisions of the Indenture.
[Name of Guarantor(s)]
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT F
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS
Supplemental Indenture (this "Supplemental Indenture"), dated as of
________________, among __________________ (the "Guaranteeing Subsidiary"), a
subsidiary of Sealy Mattress Company (or its permitted successor), an Ohio
corporation (the "Company"), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in
the Indenture referred to herein) and The Bank of New York, as trustee under the
indenture referred to below (the "Trustee").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the
Trustee an indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of December 18, 1997 providing
for the issuance of an aggregate principal amount of up to $300.0 million of 9-
7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Notes");
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental
indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally
guarantee all of the Company's Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on
the terms and conditions set forth herein (the "Note Guarantee"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is
authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the
equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:
1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without
definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
2. Agreement To Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees
as follows:
(a) Along with all Guarantors named in the Indenture, to jointly and
severally Guarantee to each Holder of a Note authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors
and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of
the Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company
hereunder or thereunder, that:
(i) the principal of and interest on the Notes will be promptly
paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration,
redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue
principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful,
and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or
the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in
full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof
and thereof; and
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(ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of
any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will
be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance
with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing
payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any
performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the
Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay
the same immediately.
(b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of
the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the
Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any
waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to
any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment
against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other
circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or
equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.
(c) The following is hereby waived: diligence presentment, demand of
payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency
or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding
first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands
whatsoever.
(d) This Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete
performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and the
Indenture.
(e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or
otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors, or any
custodian, Trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting
in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount
paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note
Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be
reinstated in full force and effect.
(f) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to any right of
subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any
obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all
obligations guaranteed hereby.
(g) As between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and
the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the
obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in
Article 6 of the Indenture for the purposes of this Note
Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other
prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the
obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any
declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in
Article 6 of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due
and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the
Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee.
(h) The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any
non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does
not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.
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(i) Pursuant to Section 11.02 of the Indenture, after giving effect
to any maximum amount and any other contingent and fixed
liabilities that are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or
fraudulent conveyance laws, and after giving effect to any
collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments
made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the
obligations of such other Guarantor under Article 11 of the
Indenture shall result in the obligations of such Guarantor under
its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or
conveyance.
3 Execution And Delivery. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that
the Note Guarantees shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any
failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.
4. Guaranteeing Subsidiary May Consolidate, Etc. On Certain Terms.
(a) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not consolidate with or merge with or
into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another
corporation, Person or entity whether or not affiliated with such
Guarantor unless:
(i) subject to Section 11.05 of the Indenture, the Person formed by
or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than a
Guarantor or the Company) unconditionally assumes all the
obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental
indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee, under the Notes, the Indenture and the Note Guarantee on
the terms set forth herein or therein; and
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default
or Event of Default exists.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon
the assumption by the successor corporation, by supplemental
indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in
form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and
the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and
conditions of the Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such
successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for the
Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a
Guarantor. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be
signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of
the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been
signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note
Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank
and benefit under the Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and
thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture as
though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the
execution hereof.
(c) Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 of the Indenture, and
notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in the Indenture or
in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor
with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or
conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an
entirety to the Company or another Guarantor.
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5. Releases.
(a) In the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the assets of
any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale
or other disposition of all to the capital stock of any Guarantor,
then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by
way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock
of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the
event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any
obligations under its Note Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds
of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Indenture, including without limitation
Section 4.10 of the Indenture. Upon delivery by the Company to the
Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, including without
limitation Section 4.10 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall execute
any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of
any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.
(b) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note
Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and
interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor
under the Indenture as provided in Article 10 of the Indenture.
6. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director,
officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing
Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company
or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the
Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect
of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the
Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver
and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such
waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities
laws and it is the view of the Commission that such a waiver is against public
policy.
7. New York Law To Govern. The Internal Law Of The State Of New York
Shall Govern And Be Used To Construe This Supplemental Indenture But Without
Giving Effect To Applicable Principles Of Conflicts Of Law To The Extent That
The Application Of The Laws Of Another Jurisdiction Would Be Required Thereby.
8. Counterparts The parties may sign any number of copies of this
Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them
together represent the same agreement.
9. Effect Of Headings. The Section headings herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
10 The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner
whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental
Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which
recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above
written.
Dated: _______________, ____
[Guaranteeing Subsidiary]
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
as Trustee
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF GUARANTORS
The following schedule lists each Guarantor under the Indenture as of
the Issue Date:
1. Sealy Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
2. Sealy Mattress Company of Puerto Rico, an Ohio corporation.
3. Ohio--Sealy Mattress Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Randolph), a
Massachusetts corporation.
4. Ohio--Sealy Mattress Manufacturing Co.--Ft. Worth, a Texas
corporation.
5. Ohio--Sealy Mattress Manufacturing Co., a Georgia corporation.
6. Ohio--Sealy Mattress Manufacturing Co.--Houston, a Texas
corporation.
7. Sealy Mattress Company of Michigan, Inc., a Michigan
corporation.
8. Sealy Mattress Company of Kansas City, Inc., a Missouri
corporation.
9. Sealy of Maryland and Virginia, Inc., a Maryland corporation.
10. Sealy Mattress Company of Illinois, an Illinois corporation.
11. A. Brandwein & Company, an Illinois corporation.
12. Sealy Mattress Company of Albany, Inc., a New York corporation.
13. Sealy of Minnesota, Inc., a Minnesota corporation.
14. Sealy Mattress Company of Memphis, a Tennessee corporation.
15. The Stearns & Foster Bedding Company, a Delaware corporation.
16. The Stearns & Foster Upholstery Furniture Company, an Ohio
corporation.
17. Sealy, Inc., an Ohio corporation
18. The Ohio Mattress Company Licensing and Components Group, a
Delaware corporation.
19. Sealy Mattress Manufacturing Company, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.