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Exhibit 4.1
Steel Heddle Mfg. Co.
as Issuer
Heddle Capital Corp.
Steel Heddle International, Inc.
as Guarantors
$100,000,000
10.625% Senior Subordinated Notes
due June 1, 2008
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INDENTURE
Dated as of May 26, 1998
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United States Trust Company of New York
Trustee
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.01 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.02 Other Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1.04 Rules of Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.01 Form and Dating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.02 Execution and Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2.05 Holder Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2.06 Transfer and Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2.07 Replacement Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2.08 Outstanding Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
2.09 Treasury Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
2.10 Temporary Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
2.11 Cancellation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
2.12 Defaulted Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3.01 Notices to Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3.03 Notice of Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
3.07 Optional Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
3.08 No Mandatory Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.01 Payment of Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.03 Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.04 Compliance Certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.05 Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
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4.07 Change of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.08 Asset Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
4.09 Restricted Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4.10 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock . . . . . . . 39
4.11 Liens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4.12 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries . . . . . 41
4.13 Limitation on Layering Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
4.14 transactions with affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
4.15 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4.16 Line of business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4.17 Corporate Existence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4.18 Status as an investment company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
6.01 Events of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
6.02 Acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
6.03 Other Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
6.05 Control by Majority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
6.06 Limitation on Suits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.10 Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
6.11 Undertaking for Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
6.12 Restoration of Rights and Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
7.01 Duties of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
7.02 Rights of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
7.04 Trustee's Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
7.05 Notice of Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
7.07 Compensation and Indemnity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
7.08 Replacement of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
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ARTICLE 8
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance . . . . . . . . 56
8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
8.03 Covenant Defeasance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust;
Other Miscellaneous Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
8.06 Repayment to Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
8.07 Reinstatement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
ARTICLE 10
SUBORDINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
10.01 Agreement to Subordinate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
10.02 Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
10.03 Default on Designated Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
10.04 Acceleration of Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
10.05 When Distribution Must Be Paid Over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
10.06 Notice by Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
10.07 Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
10.08 Relative Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
10.09 Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
10.10 Distribution or Notice to Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
10.11 Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
10.12 Authorization to Effect Subordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
10.13 Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
ARTICLE 11
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
11.01 Subsidiary Guarantees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
11.02 Execution and Delivery of Subsidiary Guarantees . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
11.03 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms . . . . . . . . . . . 70
11.04 Releases Following Sale of Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
11.05 Limitation of Guarantor's Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
11.06 Application of Certain Terms and Provisions to the Guarantor . . . . . . 72
11.07 Subordination of Subsidiary Guarantees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
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ARTICLE 12
MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
12.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
12.02 Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
12.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes . . . . . . 74
12.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent . . . . . . . . . . . 74
12.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
12.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
12.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders 75
12.08 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
12.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
12.10 Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
12.11 Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
12.12 Counterpart Originals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
12.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A FORM OF NOTE A-1
Exhibit B FORM OF GUARANTEE B-1
Exhibit C CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFEROR C-1
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Trust Indenture
Act Section Indenture Section
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310(a)(1)
7.10
(a)(2) 7.10
(a)(3) N.A.
(a)(4) N.A.
(b) 7.08; 7.10; 12.02
(c) N.A.
311(a) 7.11
(b) 7.11
(c) N.A.
312(a) 2.05
(b) 12.03
(c) 12.03
313(a) 7.06
(b)(1) N.A.
(b)(2) 7.06
(c) 7.06; 12.02
(d) 7.06
314(a) 4.09; 12.02
(b) N.A.
(c)(1) 12.04
(c)(2) 7.02; 12.04
(c)(3) N.A.
(d) N.A.
(e) 12.05
(f) N.A.
315(a) 7.01(2)
(b) 7.05; 12.02
(c) 7.01(1)
(d) 7.01(3)
(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
317(a)(1) 6.08
(a)(2) 6.09
(b) 2.04
318(a) 12.01
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N.A. means not applicable.
*This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.
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INDENTURE dated as of May 26, 1998, among Steel Heddle Mfg.
Co., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"), Heddle Capital Corp., a
Delaware corporation, and Steel Heddle International, Inc., a South Carolina
corporation, as guarantors (collectively, the "Guarantors"), and United States
Trust Company of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee").
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of each other
and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 10.625% Series A
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "Series A Notes") and the 10.625%
Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "Series B Notes" and, together
with the Series A Notes, the "Notes"):
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01 DEFINITIONS
"Acquired Indebtedness" means, with respect to any specified
Person, (i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other
Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person,
including, without limitation, Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in
contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a
Subsidiary of such specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien
encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.
"Acquisition Transactions" means, the series of transactions
whereby pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated May 1, 1998 AIP will
purchase (the "Stock Purchase") from Butler Capital Corporation and certain
other persons all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of SH
Holdings Corp., a Pennsylvania corporation ("Old Holdings"). Pursuant to the
Stock Purchase and certain related transactions that will be consummated
substantially simultaneously, (i) AIP and certain management investors will
purchase common equity of Steel Heddle Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("SH
Group"), (ii) the Company will issue and sell the Notes, together with the
guarantee thereof of the Guarantors, (iii) the Company will enter into a Credit
Agreement with the lenders and administrative and collateral agents named
therein pursuant to which it will borrow $30,000,000 in term loans and
approximately $3,600,000 in revolving loans, (iv) the Company will advance
$63,000,000 to SH Group in the form of an intercompany note, and (v) SH Group
will purchase the issued and outstanding capital stock of Old Holdings.
Immediately upon the consummation of the Stock Purchase, (a) SH Intermediate
Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Old Holdings will
merge with and into its wholly owned subsidiary, the Company, with the Company
being the surviving corporation, (b) Old Holdings will merge with and into the
Company, with the Company being the surviving corporation, and (c) SH-AIP
Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
SH Group will merge with and into the Company, with the Company being the
surviving corporation.
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"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition,
"control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling,"
"controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any
Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise;
provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a
Person shall be deemed to be control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
limited partners in AIP shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of AIP solely by
reason of their investment in such funds.
"Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
"AIP" means, collectively, American Industrial Partners
Capital Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and American Industrial
Partners Capital Fund II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
"Asset Sale" means (i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other
disposition that does not constitute a Restricted Payment or an Investment by
such person of any of its non-cash assets (including, without limitation, by
way of a sale and leaseback and including the issuance, sale or other transfer
of any of the capital stock of any Subsidiary of such person but excluding Cash
Equivalents liquidated in the ordinary course of business) other than to the
Company or to any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries that is a Guarantor
(including the receipt of proceeds of insurance paid on account of the loss of
or damage to any asset and awards of compensation for any asset taken by
condemnation, eminent domain or similar proceeding, and including the receipt
of proceeds of business interruption insurance); and (ii) the issuance of
Equity Interests in any Subsidiaries or the sale of any Equity Interests in any
Subsidiaries, in each case, in one or a series of related transactions,
provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Asset Sale" shall not
include: (a) the sale, lease, conveyance, disposition or other transfer of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company, as permitted pursuant to
Section 5.01 hereof, (b) the sale or lease of equipment, inventory, accounts
receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice, (c) the sale or disposal of damaged, worn out or other obsolete
personal property in the ordinary course of business so long as such property
is no longer necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Company or
such Subsidiary, as applicable; (d) a transfer of assets by the Company to a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary or by a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the Company or to
another Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (e) an issuance of Equity Interests by a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the Company or to another Wholly Owned Subsidiary,
(f) the surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or
surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind, (g) the grant in the
ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license of patents,
trademarks, registrations therefor and other similar intellectual property and
(h) Permitted Investments.
"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the
Company, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
"Business Day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New
York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
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"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.
"Capital Contribution" means any contribution to the equity
of the Company for which no consideration is given other than common stock with
no redemption rights and no special privileges, preferences, or special voting
rights.
"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, partnership
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 (a) securities issued or directly
and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency
or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the
United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities not more than
twelve months from the date of acquisition, (b) U.S. dollar denominated (or
foreign currency fully hedged) time deposits, certificates of deposit,
Eurodollar time deposits or Eurodollar certificates of deposit of (i) any
domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in
excess of $100,000,000 or (ii) any bank whose short-term commercial paper
rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody's is at
least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an "Approved Lender"),
in each case with maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of
acquisition, (c) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by
any Approved Lender (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate
notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-2 (or the
equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or
better by Moody's and maturing within twelve months of the date of acquisition,
(d) repurchase agreements with a bank or trust company or recognized securities
dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000 for direct
obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States of America in
which the Company shall have a perfected first priority security interest
(subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair
market value of at least 100% of the amount of repurchase obligations, and (e)
interests in money market mutual funds which invest solely in assets or
securities of the type described in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d) hereof.
"Change of Control" means such time as (i) prior to the
initial public offering by the Company of any shares of its common stock (other
than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8), AIP
and its Affiliates (collectively, the "Initial Investors") cease to be,
directly or indirectly, the beneficial owners, in the aggregate of at least 51%
of the voting power of the voting common stock of the Company or (ii) after the
initial public offering by the Company of any shares of its common stock (other
than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8), (A)
any Schedule 13D, Form 13F or Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act, or any
amendment to such Schedule or Form, is received by the Company which indicates
that, or the Company otherwise becomes aware that, a "person" or "group"
(within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act)
(except, in the case of the Company, the Parent) has become,
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directly or indirectly, the "beneficial owner," by way of merger, consolidation
or otherwise, of 35% or more of the voting power of the voting capital stock of
the Company and (B) any such person or group has become, directly or
indirectly, the beneficial owner of a greater percentage of the voting capital
stock of the Company than is beneficially owned by the Initial Investors, or
(iii) the sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company to any person or group (other than the Initial Investors or their
Related Parties (as defined below)), or (iv) during any period of two
consecutive calendar years, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any Continuing
Directors) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors of
the Company then in office. "Related Party" with respect to any Initial
Investor means (A) any controlling stockholder, 80% (or more) owned Subsidiary,
or spouse, or immediate family member (in the case of any individual) of such
Initial Investor 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 Initial
Investor and/or such other persons referred to in the immediately preceding
clause (A).
"Consolidated EBITDA" means, with respect to the Company and
its Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of, without duplication, (i) the
Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus (ii) the Fixed Charges for such
period, plus (iii) provision for taxes based on income or profits for such
period (to the extent such income or profits were included in computing
Consolidated Net Income for such period), plus (iv) consolidated depreciation,
amortization and other non-cash charges of the Company and its Subsidiaries
required to be reflected as expenses on the books and records of the Company,
minus (v) cash payments with respect to any non-recurring, non-cash charges
previously added back pursuant to clause (iv), and (vi) excluding the impact of
foreign currency translations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision
for taxes based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and
amortization and other non-cash charges of, a Subsidiary of a Person shall be
added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated EBITDA only to the
extent (and in the same proportion) that the Net Income of such Subsidiary was
included in calculating the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and only if
a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be
paid as a dividend to the Company by such Subsidiary without prior approval
(that has not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all
agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and
governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders.
"Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person
for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its
Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance
with GAAP; provided that (i) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that
is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting
shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or
distributions paid in cash to the referent Person or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary
thereof, (ii) the Net Income of any Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent
that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that
Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted
without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or,
directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any
agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental
regulation applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders, (iii) the Net
Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction for any
period prior to the date of such acquisition shall be excluded, (iv) the
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be
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excluded, (v) the Net Income of, or any dividends or other distributions from,
any Unrestricted Subsidiary, to the extent otherwise included, shall be
excluded, whether or not distributed to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries,
and (vi) all other extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses shall be
excluded.
"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 Issue Date, (ii) was nominated for
election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority
of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the
time of such nomination or election or (iii) was appointed by AIP pursuant to
the Shareholders Agreements.
"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 Agreement" means that certain Credit Agreement,
dated as of the date of this Indenture, by and among the Company and
NationsBank, N.A., as administrative agent and the lenders parties thereto,
including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and
agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended,
modified, renewed, refunded, replaced, extended, restated or refinanced from
time to time, including any agreement restructuring or adding Subsidiaries of
the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the
same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders; provided that the total
amount of Senior Indebtedness is not thereby increased beyond the amount that
may then be incurred at such time pursuant to the covenant described in Section
4.10.
"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 Notes" means Notes that are in the form of the
Notes attached hereto as Exhibit A, that do not include the information called
for by footnotes 1 and 2 thereof.
"Depository" 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 Depository with respect to the Notes, until a successor shall
have been appointed and become such Depository pursuant to the applicable
provision of this Indenture, and, thereafter, "Depository" shall mean or
include such successor.
"Designated Senior Indebtedness" means (i) so long as the
Senior Bank Debt is outstanding, the Senior Bank Debt and (ii) thereafter, any
other Senior Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture the principal amount
of which is $25,000,000 or more and that has been designated by the Company as
"Designated Senior Indebtedness."
"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), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is
mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,
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or redeemable at the option of the Holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or
prior to the date on which the Notes mature.
"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 an underwritten public offering of
Equity Interests of the Company or the Parent, other than Disqualified Stock,
pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the
Securities Act.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Exchange Offer" means the offer that may be made by the
Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to exchange Series B
Notes for Series A Notes.
"Existing Indebtedness" means the Indebtedness of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit
Agreement) in existence on the date of this Indenture until such amounts are
repaid.
"Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the consolidated interest expense
of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued
(including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount,
amortization of deferred financing fees, non-cash interest payments, the
interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component
of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions,
discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or
bankers' acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging
Obligations), (ii) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its
Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period, (iii) any interest
expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or
one of its Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of
its Subsidiaries (whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon) and
(iv) the product of (a) all cash dividend payments (and non-cash dividend
payments in the case of a Person that is a Subsidiary) on any series of
preferred stock of such Person payable to a party other than the Company or a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one
and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal,
state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, on a
consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
"Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, with respect to any
Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person and
its Subsidiaries for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person and its
Subsidiaries for such period. In the event that the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, retires, Guarantees or redeems any Indebtedness
(other than revolving credit borrowings) or issues preferred stock subsequent
to the commencement of the four-quarter reference period for which the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but on or prior to the date on which
the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made
(the "Calculation Date"), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be
calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, retirement,
Guarantee or redemption of Indebtedness, or
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such issuance or redemption of preferred stock, as if the same had occurred at
the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period. For purposes of
making the computation referred to above, (i) acquisitions that have been made
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including through mergers or
consolidations and including any related financing and refinancing
transactions, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such
reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be deemed to
have occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, and (ii)
the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to discontinued operations, as determined
in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of on or prior
to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, and (iii) the Fixed Charges
attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP,
and operations or businesses disposed of on or prior to the Calculation Date,
shall be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to
such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the referent Person or any of its
Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date.
"Foreign Subsidiary" means any Wholly Owned Subsidiary
organized and incorporated in a jurisdiction outside of the United States that
is not a Guarantor.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set
forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and
pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other
statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment
of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the date of this
Indenture.
"Global Note" means a Note that contains the paragraph
referred to in footnote 1 and the additional schedule referred to in footnote 2
to the form of the Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.
"Government Securities" means direct obligations of, or
obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of
which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States
is pledged.
"Guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise,
of any person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any
Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or
payment of) such Indebtedness of such Person (whether arising by virtue of
agreements to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, letters of credit,
reimbursement agreements, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain
financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for the
purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the
payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in
whole or in part); provided, however, that the term "Guarantee" shall not
include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business. The term "Guarantee" used as a verb has corresponding meaning.
"Guarantor Senior Indebtedness" means (i) the Senior Bank
Debt and any Guarantees by any Guarantor of the Senior Bank Debt and (ii) any
other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by any Guarantor 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 Subsidiary Guarantees. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in the foregoing, Guarantor Senior Indebtedness will not include (w) any
liability for federal, state, local, or other taxes owed or owing
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15
by any Guarantor, (x) any Indebtedness of any Guarantor to any of its
Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, (y) any trade payables or (z) any
Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of this Indenture.
"Guarantors" means each Subsidiary of the Company that
executes a Subsidiary Guarantee guaranteeing the Notes in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns.
"Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the
obligations of such Person under (i) currency exchange or interest rate swap
agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements
and (ii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person
against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered
on the Registrar's books.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, any (i)
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, incurred in the ordinary course of business, but other than with
respect to, letters of credit and Hedging Obligations only, if and to the
extent any of the foregoing indebtedness would appear as a liability upon a
consolidated balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP,
(ii) all Obligations of such Person with respect to any conditional sale or
title retention agreement, (iii) the amount of all Obligations of such Person
with respect to redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified
Stock or, with respect to any Subsidiary of such Person, any preferred stock,
(iv) 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, (v) to the
extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by such Person of any indebtedness
of any other Person.
"Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented
from time to time.
"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, but excluding guarantees of Indebtedness of the Company or any
Subsidiary to the extent such guarantee is permitted in Section 4.10), advances
or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to
officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), transfers of
assets outside the ordinary course of business (other than Asset Sales),
purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity
Interests or other securities and all other items that are or would be
classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP;
provided that an acquisition of assets, Equity Interests or other securities by
the Company for consideration consisting of common equity securities of the
Company shall not be deemed to be an Investment.
"Issue Date" means the date of first issuance of the Notes
under this Indenture.
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"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 for the intervening period.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien,
pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such
asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable
law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any
lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a
security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any
jurisdiction).
"Liquidated Damages" means all liquidated damages then owing
pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Net Cash Proceeds" means the aggregate amount of cash or
Cash Equivalents received by the Company in the case of a sale or equity
contribution in respect of Qualified Capital Stock plus, in the case of an
issuance of Qualified Capital Stock upon any exercise, exchange or conversion
of securities (including options, warrants, rights and convertible or
exchangeable debt) of the Company that were issued for cash after the Issue
Date, the amount of cash originally received by the Company upon the issuance
of such securities (including options, warrants, rights and convertible or
exchangeable debt) less, the sum of all payments, fees, commissions, and
customary and reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, the fees and
expenses of legal counsel and investment banking fees and expenses) incurred in
connection with such sale or equity contribution in respect of Qualified
Capital Stock.
"Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, the net
income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any
reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (i) any
gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain
(but not loss), realized in connection with (a) any Asset Sale (including,
without limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions)
or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of
its Subsidiaries and (ii) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not
loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary or
nonrecurring gain (but not loss).
"Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash and Cash
Equivalents received by the Company or any of its 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)
and, with respect to Section 4.09 hereof, by the Company or any Subsidiary in
respect of the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary and the sale, liquidation or
repayment for cash of a Restricted Investment, in each case, net of the direct
costs relating thereto (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
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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-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness (i) as to which
neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of SH Group (a) provides credit support
of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would
constitute Indebtedness) or (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a
guarantor or otherwise), and (ii) 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 the stock or assets of any Subsidiary of the Company, including the
stock of any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
"Note Custodian" means the Trustee, as custodian with
respect to the Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.
"Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties,
fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable
under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
"Offering" means the Offering of the Notes by the Company.
"Officer" means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating
Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer,
the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed on behalf
of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the
principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or
the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of
Section 12.05 hereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written 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 Steel Heddle Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, or its successor.
"Permitted Investments" means (a) any Investments in the
Company or in a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company and that is engaged in
one or more Related Businesses; (b) any Investments in Cash Equivalents; (c)
Investments by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in a Person if as a
result of such Investment (i) such Person becomes a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
the Company that is engaged in one or more Related Businesses or (ii) such
Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or
conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company
or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company that is engaged in one or more
Related Businesses; (d) Investments made as a result of the receipt of non-cash
consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance
with Section 4.08; (e) Investments outstanding as of the date of this
Indenture; (f) Investments in the form of promissory notes of members of the
Company's management in consideration of the purchase by such members
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of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) in the Company; (g)
Investments which constitute Existing Indebtedness of the Company of any of its
Subsidiaries; (h) accounts receivable, endorsements for collection or deposits
arising in the ordinary course of business; and (i) other Investments in any
Person or persons that do not in the aggregate exceed $10,000,000 at any time
outstanding; provided, however, that to the extent there would be, and to
avoid, any duplication in determining the amounts of investments outstanding
under this clause (i), any amounts which were credited under clause (c) of
Section 4.09 hereof shall reduce the amounts outstanding under this clause (i).
"Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens securing Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount
at any time outstanding not to exceed amounts permitted under Section 4.10
hereof; (ii) Liens in favor of the Company; (iii) Liens on property of a Person
existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company including any permitted Refinancings
thereof; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation
of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than
those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company; (iv) Liens on
property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to
the contemplation of such acquisition; (v) Liens to secure the performance of
statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other
obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; (vi)
Liens existing on the date of this Indenture; (vii) Liens for taxes,
assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or
that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly
instituted and diligently concluded, provided that any reserve or other
appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have
been made therefor; (viii) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations that
do not exceed in the aggregate $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding and that
(a) are not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining
of advances or credit (other than trade credit in the ordinary course of
business) and (b) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of
the property or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of business
by the Company or such Subsidiary; (ix) Liens incurred or deposits made in the
ordinary course of business in connection with workers' compensation,
unemployment insurance and other types of social security; (x) easements,
rights-of-way, restrictions, minor defects or irregularities in title and other
similar charges or encumbrances not interfering in any material respect with
the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (xi) Purchase Money
Liens (including extensions and renewals thereof); (xii) Liens securing
reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit which encumber only
documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and the
products and proceeds thereof; (xiii) judgment and attachment Liens not giving
rise to an Event of Default; (xiv) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure
obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty
requirements; (xv) Liens arising out of consignment or similar arrangements for
the sale of goods; (xvi) any interest or title of a lessor in property subject
to any capital lease obligation or operating lease; (xvii) Liens on assets of
Subsidiaries with respect to Acquired Indebtedness (including Liens securing
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof); provided, such Liens are only on
assets or property acquired with such Acquired Indebtedness and that such Liens
were not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Acquisition;
and (xviii) Liens granted by a Foreign Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness of
such Foreign Subsidiary.
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"Permitted Payments to Parent" means without duplication,
(a) payments to Parent in an amount sufficient to permit Parent to pay
reasonable and necessary operating expenses and other general corporate
expenses to the extent such expenses relate or are fairly allocable to the
Company and its Subsidiaries including any reasonable professional fees and
expenses, but excluding all expenses payable to or to be paid to or on behalf
of AIP, its other Affiliates and its Related Parties not in excess of $500,000
in any fiscal year; and (b) payments to Parent to enable Parent to pay foreign,
federal, state or local tax liabilities ("Tax Payment"), not to exceed the
amount of any tax liabilities that would be otherwise payable by the Company
and its Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the appropriate taxing
authorities if they filed separate tax returns to the extent that Parent has an
obligation to pay such tax liabilities relating to the operations, assets or
capital of the Company or its Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
provided, however, that (i), notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of
determining the amount of a Tax Payment that is permitted to be paid by Company
and any of its United States subsidiaries in respect of their Federal income
tax liability, such payment shall be determined assuming that the Company is
the parent company of an affiliated group (the "Company Affiliated Group")
filing a consolidated Federal income tax return and that Parent and each such
United States subsidiary is a member of the Company Affiliated Group and (ii)
any Tax Payments shall either be used by Parent to pay such tax liabilities
within 90 days of Parent's receipt of such payment or refunded to the payee.
"Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net
proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or
refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided
that: (a) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does
not exceed (after deduction of reasonable and customary fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the refinancing and the amount of any premium or
prepayment penalty paid in connection with such refinancing transaction to the
extent in accordance with the terms of the document governing such Indebtedness
(except for any modification to any such document made in connection with or in
contemplation of such refinancing) the lesser of (i) the principal amount of
the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded and (ii) if such Indebtedness being refinanced was issued with an
original issue discount, the accreted value thereof (as determined in
accordance with GAAP) at the time of such refinancing, plus, in each case
accrued interest on such Indebtedness being refinanced; (b) such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or
greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; (c) if the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final
maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on
terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the
documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded; and (d) such Indebtedness is incurred either by
the Company or by the Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.
"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).
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"Purchase Money Lien" means a Lien granted on an asset or
property to secure a Purchase Money Obligation permitted to be incurred under
this Indenture and incurred solely to finance the acquisition, including, in
the case of a Capital Lease, the lease, of such asset or property; provided,
however, that such Lien encumbers only such asset or property and is granted
within 180 days of such acquisition.
"Purchase Money Obligations" of any person means any
obligations of such person to any seller or any other person incurred or
assumed to finance solely the acquisition, including, in the case of a Capital
Lease, the lease, of real or personal property to be used in the business of
such person or any of its Subsidiaries in an amount that is not more than 100%
of the cost of such property, and incurred within 180 days after the date of
such acquisition (excluding accounts payable to trade creditors incurred in the
ordinary course of business).
"Qualified Capital Stock" means any Capital Stock of the
Company, or, if expressly applicable, the Parent, that is not Disqualified
Stock.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration
Rights Agreement, dated as of the date of this Indenture, by and among the
Company and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such
agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
"Regulation S" means Regulation S promulgated under the
Securities Act.
"Related Business" means the business conducted (or proposed
to be conducted) by the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date and
any and all businesses that in the good faith judgment of the Board of
Directors of the Company are materially related businesses, including
reasonable extensions or expansions thereof.
"Representative" means the indenture trustee or other
trustee, agent or representative for any Senior Indebtedness.
"Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the
Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Department of the Trustee
(or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate
trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a
Permitted Investment.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities
Act.
"SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
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"Senior Bank Debt" means all Obligations in respect of the
Indebtedness (including, without limitation, interest accruing after filing of
a petition in bankruptcy, whether or not such interest is an allowable claim in
such proceeding) outstanding under the Credit Agreement.
"Senior Indebtedness" means (i) the Senior Bank Debt and
(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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
foregoing, Senior Indebtedness shall 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.
"Senior Revolving Debt" means revolving credit borrowings
and letters of credit under the Credit Agreement and/or any successor facility
or facilities.
"Senior Term Debt" means term loans under the Credit
Agreement and/or any successor facility or facilities.
"SH-AIP Acquisition Corporation" means the predecessor to
the Company, immediately before the consummation of the Acquisition
Transactions.
"Shareholders Agreement" means the shareholders agreement by
and between Parent and certain of its shareholders.
"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 Exchange Act, as such Regulation is in effect
on the date hereof.
"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). Unrestricted
Subsidiaries shall not be included in the definition of Subsidiary for any
purposes of this Indenture (except, as the context may otherwise require, for
purposes of the definition of "Unrestricted Subsidiary").
"Subsidiary Guarantees" means the Subsidiary Guarantees of
the Guarantors in the form set forth as Exhibit B hereto.
"Subsidiary Guarantor" means a Subsidiary which has
guaranteed the Notes in accordance with this Indenture.
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"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is
qualified under the TIA.
"Transfer Restricted Notes" means Notes that bear or are
required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.06 hereof.
"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 Subsidiary" means (i) any Subsidiary (other
than Guarantors or any successors) that is designated by the Board of Directors
as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution; but only to the
extent that such Subsidiary: (a) has no Indebtedness other than Non-recourse
Debt; (b) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding
with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such
agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the
Company or such 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 Subsidiaries has any direct or
indirect obligation to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or maintain or
preserve such Person's financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve
any specified levels of operating results; and (d) has not guaranteed or
otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) any Subsidiary of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary. Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall
be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the
Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers' Certificate
certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions and was
permitted by Section 4.09 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 Subsidiary of the Company as of such date (and, if such
Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.10
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 Subsidiary; provided that such designation shall be deemed to be an
incurrence of Indebtedness by a 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 Section 4.10 hereof, and
(ii) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such
designation.
"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 of the
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-twentieth) 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
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shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly
Owned Subsidiaries of such Person. Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall not be
included in the definition of Wholly Owned Subsidiary for any purposes of this
Indenture (except, as the context may otherwise require, for purposes of the
definition of "Unrestricted Subsidiary.")
SECTION 1.02 OTHER DEFINITIONS
Defined in
Term Section
---- -------
"Acceleration Notice" 6.02
"Affiliate Transaction" 4.14
"Asset Sale Offer" 4.08
"Bankruptcy Law" 6.01
"Benefited Party" 11.01
"Change of Control Offer" 4.07
"Change of Control Payment" 4.07
"Change of Control Payment Date" 4.07
"Covenant Defeasance" 8.03
"DTC" 2.03
"Event of Default" 6.01
"Excess Proceeds" 4.08
"incur" 4.10
"Legal Defeasance" 8.02
"Offer Amount" 4.08
"Offer Period" 4.08
"Paying Agent" 2.03
"Payment Blockage Notice" 10.03
"Payment Default" 10.03
"Purchase Date" 4.08
"Registrar" 2.03
"Restricted Payments" 4.09
SECTION 1.03 INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA,
the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this
Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the
following meanings:
"indenture securities" means the Notes;
"indenture security Holder" means a Holder of a Note;
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;
"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the
Trustee;
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"obligor" on the Notes means the Company, the Guarantors and
any successor obligor upon the Notes.
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
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 and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture,
expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. In the
event of a conflict, the terms of the Indenture shall control.
Global Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
attached hereto (including the text referred to in footnotes 1 and 2 thereto).
Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
attached hereto (but without including the text referred to in footnotes 1 and
2 thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as
shall be specified
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therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of
outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate
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 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.
SECTION 2.02 EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION
Two Officers shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual
or facsimile signature. The Company's seal shall be reproduced on the Notes
and may be in facsimile form.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds
that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be
valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual
signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the
Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company
signed by two Officers, 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 the Company
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 Depository with respect to the Global Notes.
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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.
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 and
account for any funds disbursed, and the Trustee may at any time during the
continuance of any default in the payment of principle of, premium, if any or
accrued interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes pursuant to
Sections 6.01(1) and 6.01(2) hereof, upon written request to a Paying Agent,
require such Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to
account for all funds disbursed. 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 Section 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 Section
312(a).
SECTION 2.06 TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes.
When Definitive Notes are presented by a Holder to the Registrar with a
request: (x) to register the transfer of the Definitive Notes; or (y) to
exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive
Notes of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the
transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements for such
transactions are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Notes presented or
surrendered for register of transfer or exchange: (i) shall be 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; and (ii) in the case of a Definitive Note that is a Transfer
Restricted Note, such request shall be accompanied by the following additional
information and documents, as applicable: (A) if such Transfer Restricted Note
is being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of
such Holder, without transfer, a certification to that effect from such Holder
(in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto); or (B) if such Transfer
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Restricted Note is being transferred to a "qualified institutional buyer" (as
defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in accordance with Rule 144A
under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration in
accordance with Rule 144 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act or pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certification to
that effect from such Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto);
or (C) if such Transfer Restricted Note is being transferred in reliance on
another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, a
certification to that effect from such Holder (in substantially the form of
Exhibit C hereto) and an Opinion of Counsel from such Holder or the transferee
reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar to the effect that
such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.
(b) Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial
Interest in a Global Note. A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a
beneficial interest in a Global Note except upon satisfaction of the
requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive
Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in
form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with: (i) if such Definitive Note is
a Transfer Restricted Note, a certification from the Holder thereof (in
substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto) to the effect that such Definitive
Note is being transferred by such Holder to a "qualified institutional buyer"
(as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in accordance with Rule 144A
under the Securities Act; and (ii) whether or not such Definitive Note is a
Transfer Restricted Note, written instructions from the Holder thereof
directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Note Custodian to make, an
endorsement on the Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate
principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note, in which case the
Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note in accordance with Section 2.11
hereof and cause, or direct the Note Custodian to cause, in accordance with the
standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depository and the
Note Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the
Global Note to be increased accordingly. If no Global Notes are then
outstanding, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an authentication
order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate a
new Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.
(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. The
transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be
effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture and the
procedures of the Depository therefor, which shall include restrictions on
transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the
Securities Act.
(d) Transfer of a Beneficial Interest in a Global
Note for a Definitive Note.
(i) Any Person having a beneficial
interest in a Global Note may upon request exchange such beneficial interest
for a Definitive Note. Upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions or
such other form of instructions as is customary for the Depository, from the
Depository or its nominee on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest
in a Global Note, and, in the case of a Transfer Restricted Note, the following
additional information and documents (all of which may be submitted by
facsimile): (A) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Person
designated by the Depository as being the beneficial owner, a certification to
that effect from such Person (in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto);
or (B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a "qualified
institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in
accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption
from registration in
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accordance with Rule 144 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act or pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certification to
that effect from the transferor (in substantially the form of Exhibit C
hereto); or (C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred in reliance on
another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, a
certification to that effect from the transferor (in substantially the form of
Exhibit C hereto) and an Opinion of Counsel from the transferee or transferor
reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar to the effect that
such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, in which case the
Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, shall, in
accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the
Depository and the Note Custodian, cause the aggregate principal amount of
Global Notes to be reduced accordingly and, following such reduction, the
Company shall execute and, upon receipt of an authentication order in
accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver
to the transferee a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount.
(ii) Definitive Notes issued in exchange
for a beneficial interest in a Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(d)
shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the
Depository, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants
or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such
Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.
(e) Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange of Global
Notes. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture (other than the
provisions set forth in subsection (f) of this Section 2.06), a Global Note may
not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the
Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another
nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a
successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.
(f) Authentication of Definitive Notes in Absence of
Depository. If at any time: (i) the Depository for the Notes notifies the
Company that the Depository is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository
for the Global Notes and a successor Depository for the Global Notes is not
appointed by the Company within 90 days after delivery of such notice; or (ii)
the Company, at its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it
elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes under this Indenture, then the
Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an authentication
order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, authenticate and deliver,
Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount
of the Global Notes in exchange for such Global Notes.
(g) Legends.
(i) Except as permitted by the following
paragraphs (ii) and (iii), each Note certificate evidencing Global Notes and
Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution
thereof) shall bear legends in substantially the following form:
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY
OR A NOMINEE OR A DEPOSITORY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY.
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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 DEPOSITORY TO A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY
OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE
TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) ("DTC"), TO THE ISSUER 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.
THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND,
ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN
THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT
AS SET FORTH IN THE NEXT SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A
BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER:
(1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (As defined in Rule 144A
under the Securities Act) (A "QIB") OR (B) IT
HAS ACQUIRED THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR
ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM
THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB
PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE
ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (C) IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903
OR 904 OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN A
TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) IN ACCORDANCE
WITHANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED
UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE
COMPANY) OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS
OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND
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(3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO
WHOM THIS NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS
TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT
OF THIS LEGEND.
AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" AND
"UNITED STATES" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE
902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE
INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO
REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN
VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING.
(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer
Restricted Note (including any Transfer Restricted Note represented by a Global
Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act: (A) in the case of any
Transfer Restricted Note that is a Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit
the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive
Note that does not bear the first legend set forth in (i) above and rescind any
restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note; and (B) in the
case of any Transfer Restricted Note represented by a Global Note, such
Transfer Restricted Note shall not be required to bear the first legend set
forth in (i) above, but shall continue to be subject to the provisions of
Section 2.06(c) hereof; provided, however, that with respect to any request for
an exchange of a Transfer Restricted Note that is represented by a Global Note
for a Definitive Note that does not bear the first legend set forth in (i)
above, which request is made in reliance upon Rule 144, the Holder thereof
shall certify in writing to the Registrar that such request is being made
pursuant to Rule 144 (such certification to be substantially in the form of
Exhibit C hereto).
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon
consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt
of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee
shall authenticate Series B Notes in exchange for Series A Notes accepted for
exchange in the Exchange Offer, which Series B Notes shall not bear the first
legend set forth in (i) above, and the Registrar shall rescind any restriction
on the transfer of such Notes, in each case unless the Holder of such Series A
Notes is either (A) a broker-dealer, (B) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Series A Notes or (C) a Person who is an affiliate (as
defined in Rule 144A) of the Company.
(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.
At such time as all beneficial interests in Global Notes have been exchanged
for Definitive Notes, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, all Global Notes
shall be returned to or retained and cancelled 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 Definitive Notes,
redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, 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 the Notes Custodian, at the
direction of the Trustee, to reflect such reduction.
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(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and
Exchanges.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers
and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate
Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Registrar's request.
(ii) No service charge shall be made to a
Holder 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 4.07 and 4.08 hereto).
(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 Definitive Notes and Global Notes
issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes or
Global Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Definitive
Notes or Global 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 Notes during a period
beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of
Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of
business on the day of selection; or (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 neither the Trustee, any Agent nor the
Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate
Definitive Notes and Global Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section
2.02 hereof.
SECTION 2.07 REPLACEMENT NOTES
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, or the
Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the
Trustee, upon the written order of the Company signed by two Officers of the
Company, 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
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any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is
replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the
Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally
and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
SECTION 2.08 OUTSTANDING NOTES
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes
authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered
to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note
effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those
described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section
2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it
ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it
that the replaced Note is held by a 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, amendment, supplement, 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, amendment, supplement, waiver or consent, only Notes that
the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Company shall
notify the Trustee in writing, when it or any Affiliate of the Company
repurchases or otherwise acquires Notes, and of the aggregate principle amount
of such Notes so repurchased or otherwise acquired.
SECTION 2.10 TEMPORARY NOTES
Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company
may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes upon a written
order of the Company signed by two Officers of the Company. Temporary Notes
shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations
that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be
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reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company
shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange
for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the
benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.11 CANCELLATION
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for
cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any
Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment.
The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration
of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy
cancelled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange
Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled 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.
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 (unless a shorter period is consented to in writing
by the Trustee) but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an
Officers' Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant
to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the
principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.
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SECTION 3.02 SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any
time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of
the Notes in compliance with the requirements of the principal national
securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are
not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in accordance with any other
method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate. In the event of partial
redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected,
unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior
to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously
called for redemption.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of
the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for
partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and
portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000 or integral 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 an integral
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 3.07 hereof, at least
30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall
mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each
Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and
shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the
portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that,
after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or
Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be
issued upon cancellation of the original Note;
(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
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(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness
or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or
printed on the Notes.
At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice
of redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that
the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the
redemption date, an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such
notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as
provided in the preceding paragraph.
SECTION 3.04 EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION
Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with
Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and
payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption
may not be conditional.
SECTION 3.05 DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE
One Business Day prior to the redemption date, the Company
shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent in immediately
available funds 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 and Liquidated Damages, if any, 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 unless the Company
defaults in such payments due on the redemption date. 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 set forth in clause (b) of this Section 3.07,
the Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this
Section 3.07 prior to June 1, 2003. Thereafter, the Company shall have the
option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor
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more than 60 days notice to the Holders, at the redemption prices (expressed as
percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable redemption
date if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on June 1 of the
years indicated below:
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105.313%
2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103.542%
2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101.771%
2006 and thereafter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this
Section 3.07, at any time prior to June 1, 2001, the Company may (but shall not
have the obligation to) redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal
amount of Notes at a redemption price of 110.625% of the principal amount
thereof, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages,
if any, thereon to the redemption date, with the Net Cash Proceeds received by
the Company from one or more Equity Offerings; provided that, in each case, at
least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued
remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and
provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 60 days of the date
of the closing of such Equity Offering.
(c) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be
made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
SECTION 3.08 NO MANDATORY REDEMPTION
The Company shall not be required to make mandatory
redemption payments with respect to the Notes.
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01 PAYMENT OF NOTES
The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner
provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be
considered paid on the date due if the Trustee or Paying Agent, if other than
the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the
due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and
designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and
interest then due. The Company shall pay all Liquidated Damages, if any, in
the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration
Rights Agreement. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the amount of
Liquidated Damages, if any, within one day of any payment date. In the absence
of such notice, the Trustee is conclusively entitled to assume that no
Liquidated Damages are payable under the Registration Rights Agreement.
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The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition
interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at
the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate
on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including
post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue
installments of interest and Liquidated Damages (without regard to any
applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency
The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the
City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or
an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and
demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may
be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the
location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any
time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one
or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or
surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such
designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall
in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or
agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such
designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other
office or agency.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance
with Section 2.03 hereof.
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 all
Holders (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" 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 addition, whether or not required by the rules and
regulations of the SEC, at any time after the effectiveness of a registration
statement with respect to the Exchange Offer, the Company shall file a copy of
all such information with the SEC for public availability (unless the SEC will
not accept such a filing) and shall promptly make such information available to
all securities analysts and prospective investors upon request.
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(b) For so long as any Transfer Restricted Notes remain
outstanding, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall furnish to all
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 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.
(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) hereof
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.
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SECTION 4.06 STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS
The Company 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 (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 CHANGE OF CONTROL
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of
Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part
(equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's Notes
pursuant to the offer described below (the "Change of Control Offer") at an
offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof
plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the
date of purchase (the "Change of Control Payment") on a date (the "Change of
Control Payment Date") no later than 60 Business Days after the occurrence of
the Change of Control. Within 35 days following any Change of Control, the
Company shall mail a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee,
describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of
Control and offering to repurchase Notes pursuant to the procedures required by
this Indenture and described in such notice, which offer shall remain open for
at least 20 Business Days following its commencement, but in any event no
longer than 30 Business Days. The Company shall comply with the requirements
of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and
regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable
in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of
Control. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or
regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.07, compliance by
the Company or any of the Guarantors with such laws and regulations shall not
in and of itself cause a breach of its obligations under this Section 4.07.
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 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 complying with the provisions of this covenant,
but in any event within 30 days following a Change of Control, the Company will
either repay all outstanding Designated
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Senior Indebtedness or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all
agreements governing outstanding Designated Senior Indebtedness to permit the
repurchase of Notes required by this Section 4.07. The Company will not be
required to purchase any Notes until it has complied with the preceding
sentence, but the Company's failure to make a Change of Control Offer when
required or to purchase tendered Notes when tendered shall constitute an Event
of Default.
If the Change of Control Payment Date hereunder is on or
after an interest payment Record Date and on or before the associated Interest
Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any)
due on such Interest Payment Date will be paid to the person in whose name a
Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and such
interest (and Liquidated Damages, if applicable) will not be payable to Holders
who tender the Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.
SECTION 4.08 ASSET SALES
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, engage in an Asset Sale in excess of $1,000,000 unless (i) the
Company (or the Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the
time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value, of the assets
or Equity Interests sold or otherwise disposed of and, in the case of a lease
of assets, a lease providing for rent and other conditions which are no less
favorable to the Company (or such Subsidiary, as the case may be) in any
material respect than the then prevailing market conditions (evidenced in each
case by a resolution of the Board of Directors of such entity set forth in an
Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) and (ii) at least 75% (100% in
the case of lease payments) of the consideration therefor received by the
Company or such Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided
that the amount of (x) any liabilities (as shown on the Company's or such
Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto, but excluding
contingent liabilities and trade payables) of the Company or any Subsidiary
(other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or
any Guarantee thereof) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets
and from which the Company or such Subsidiary are unconditionally released from
liability and (y) any notes, securities or other obligations received by the
Company or any such Subsidiary from such transferee that are promptly, but in
no event more than 30 days after receipt, converted by the Company or such
Subsidiary into cash shall (to the extent of the cash received) be deemed to be
cash for purposes of this provision and the receipt of such cash shall be
treated as cash received from the Asset Sale for which such Notes or
obligations were received.
The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may apply the Net
Proceeds from each Asset Sale, at its option, within 360 days after the
consummation of such Asset Sale, (a) to permanently reduce any Senior
Indebtedness, Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or, in the case of an Asset Sale by
a Foreign Subsidiary, to permanently reduce Indebtedness of such Foreign
Subsidiary (and in the case of any senior revolving indebtedness to
correspondingly permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto), (b) to
make capital expenditures, for the acquisition of another business or the
acquisition of other long-term assets, in each case, in the same or a Related
Business or (c) to reimburse the Company or its Subsidiaries for expenditures
made, and costs incurred, to repair, rebuild, replace or restore property
subject to loss, damage or taking to the extent that the Net Proceeds consist
of insurance proceeds received on account of such loss, damage or taking.
Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may
temporarily reduce Senior
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Revolving Debt or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not
prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not
applied or invested as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph shall
be deemed to constitute "Excess Proceeds." When the aggregate amount of Excess
Proceeds exceeds $5,000,000, the Company shall be required to make an offer to
all Holders of Notes (an "Asset Sale Offer") and to holders of other
Indebtedness of the Company outstanding ranking on a parity with the Notes with
similar provisions requiring the Company to make a similar offer with proceeds
from asset sales, pro rata in proportion to the respective principal amounts
(or accreted values in the case of Indebtedness issued with an original issue
discount) of the Notes and such other Indebtedness then outstanding, to
purchase the maximum principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of
Notes and such other Indebtedness, if any, that may be purchased out of the
Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the
principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) thereof plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of
purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. If
the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and
such Indebtedness surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess
Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such Indebtedness to be
purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the
amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
Any Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for at least 20
Business Days, but in any event no longer than 30 Business Days, except to the
extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the "Offer Period").
No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the
"Purchase Date"), the Company shall purchase the principal amount of Notes
required to be purchased pursuant to this Section 4.08 (the "Offer Amount") or,
if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response
to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in
the same manner as interest payments are made. Any Asset Sale Offer shall be
made in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including,
if applicable, Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder and all other applicable Federal and state securities laws. To the
extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with
the provisions of this Section 4.08, compliance by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries with such laws and regulations shall not in and of itself cause a
breach of its obligations under this Section 4.08.
If the payment date in connection with an Asset Sale
Offer hereunder is on or after an interest payment Record Date and on or before
the associated Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest (and
Liquidated Damages, if any, due on such Interest Payment Date) will be paid to
the person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such
Record Date, and such interest (or Liquidated Damages, if applicable) will not
be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to such Asset Sale Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company
shall send, by first class mail, a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy
to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials
necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale
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Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which
shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:
(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made
pursuant to this Section 4.08 and the length of time the
Asset Sale Offer shall remain open;
(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the
Purchase Date;
(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for
payment shall continue to accrete or accrue interest;
(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making
such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the
Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrete or accrue interest on
and after the Purchase Date;
(e) that Holders electing to have a Note
purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale 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 Asset Sale Offer shall be required
to surrender the Note, with the form entitled "Option of
Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Note
completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the
Company, a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a
Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least
three days before the Purchase Date;
(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw
their election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying
Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the
expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder,
the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for
purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his
election to have such Note purchased;
(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount of
Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the
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 the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the
extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary,
the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset
Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes
tendered, and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating
that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in
accordance with the terms of this Section 4.08. The Company, the Depository or
the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly
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(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 mailed or delivered by
the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the
results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.
SECTION 4.09 RESTRICTED PAYMENTS
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or
make any distribution on account of the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries'
or direct or indirect parent's Equity Interests (including, without limitation,
any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the
Company) (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests
(other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or dividends or distributions
payable to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (ii) purchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or
any direct or indirect parent of the Company or other Affiliate or Subsidiary
of the Company (other than any such Equity Interests owned by the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company); (iii) make any principal payment on or
purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any
Indebtedness that is subordinated to or pari passu (unless, in the case of pari
passu Indebtedness only, such purchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition, or
retirement is made, or offered (if applicable), pro rata with the Notes or the
Subsidiary Guarantees, if applicable) with the Notes or any of the Subsidiary
Guarantees, as applicable (and other than Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees,
as applicable), except for any scheduled repayment or at the final maturity
thereof; or (iv) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other
actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred
to as "Restricted Payments"), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to
such Restricted Payment:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;
(b) the Company would, at the time of such
Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as
if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the
applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least
$1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.10 hereof; and
(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the
aggregate of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company
and its Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including Restricted
Payments permitted by clauses (i), (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix), but
excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii), (iii), (iv),
(v) and (x) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of
(i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income (adjusted to exclude any amounts
that are otherwise included in this clause (c) to the extent there
would be, and to avoid, any duplication in the crediting of any such
amounts) of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period)
from the beginning of the first fiscal quarter commencing
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after the Issue Date 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 Proceeds received by the
Company after the Issue Date from a Capital Contribution or from the
issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or of debt securities
of the Company that have been converted into such Equity Interests
(other than Equity Interests (or convertible debt securities) sold to a
Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company and other than
Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into
Disqualified Stock), plus (iii) 100% of any cash dividends received by
the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company after the Issue
Date from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company, plus (iv) 100% of
the Net Proceeds realized by the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary
of the Company upon the sale of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (less the
amount of any reserve established for purchase price adjustments and
less the maximum amount of any indemnification or similar contingent
obligation for the benefit of the purchaser, any of its Affiliates or
any other third party in such sale, in each case as adjusted for any
permanent reduction in any such amount on or after the date of such
sale, other than by virtue of a payment made to such person) following
the Issue Date, plus (v) to the extent that any Restricted Investment
that was made after the Issue Date is sold for cash or otherwise
liquidated or repaid for cash, the amount of Net Proceeds received by
the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company with respect to
such Restricted Investment.
The foregoing provisions will not prohibit (i) the payment of
any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at said
date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of
this Indenture; (ii) the payment of a fee to AIP or its designee on the Issue
Date of not more than $2,000,000 for certain investment banking, advisory and
management services rendered to the Company in connection with the Acquisition
Transactions and if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing (and shall not have been waived) or shall occur as a consequence
thereof, the payment by the Company (either directly or indirectly, e.g.
through the Parent) of a management fee to AIP in an amount not to exceed
$895,000 in any year plus an additional amount in such year (not to exceed
$895,000) to the extent such management fee was not payable by reason of this
clause (ii) in any prior fiscal year and the reimbursement by the Company of
AIP's reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the
rendering of management services to or on behalf of the Company; provided,
however, that the obligation of the Company to pay such management fee will be
subordinated to the payment of all Obligations with respect to the Notes (and
any Subsidiary Guarantee thereof); (iii) the making of any Restricted
Investment, directly or indirectly, in exchange for, or out of the Net Cash
Proceeds of, the substantially concurrent capital contribution or sale (other
than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of Equity Interests of the Company (other
than Disqualified Stock); provided, that any Net Cash Proceeds that are
utilized for any such Restricted Investment shall be excluded from clauses
(c)(i) and (c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph; (iv) the redemption, repurchase,
retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests of the Company in
exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale
(other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of other Equity Interests of the
Company (other than any Disqualified Stock); provided that any Net Cash
Proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement or
other acquisition shall be excluded from clauses (c)(i) and (c)(ii) of the
preceding paragraph; (v) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, acquisition or
other retirement of pari passu or subordinated Indebtedness with the Net Cash
Proceeds from an incurrence
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of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or, in exchange for, or out of the Net
Cash proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary
of the Company) of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified
Stock); provided, that any Net Cash Proceeds that are utilized for any such
defeasance, redemption, repurchase shall be excluded from clauses (c)(i) and
(c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph; (vi) the repurchase, redemption or other
acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company held by any member of the Company's (or any
Subsidiaries') management pursuant to any management agreement or stock option
agreement; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased,
redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests shall not exceed $5,000,000 in
the aggregate (net of the Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from
subsequent reissuances of such Equity Interests to new members of management),
and no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
immediately after such transaction; (vii) so long as no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and is continuing, Restricted Payments in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000; (viii) pro rata dividends and other
distributions on the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Company by such
Subsidiary; (ix) payments in lieu of fractional shares in an amount not to
exceed $250,000 in the aggregate; and (x) Permitted Payments to Parent.
Additionally, the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.09
will not prohibit, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, any payment to Parent (i) made not more than 10
Business Days after an Interest Payment Date if the Company shall first have
paid to the Holders all principal, premium (if any) and interest (and
Liquidated Damages, if any) due and owing on the Notes on or prior to such
Interest Payment Date and (ii) used by Parent concurrently with such payment to
make a scheduled interest payment on the SH Group Debentures as required by the
SH Group Debentures as they exist on the Issue Date. The full amount of any
Restricted Payments made pursuant to this paragraph, however, will be deducted
in the calculation of the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments available to
be made pursuant to clause (c) of the first paragraph of this Section 4.09.
The Board of Directors may designate any 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 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 Section 4.09. All such outstanding
Investments will be deemed to constitute Investments in an amount equal to the
greatest of (x) the net book value of such Investments at the time of such
designation, (y) the fair market value of such Investments at the time of such
designation and (z) the original fair market value of such Investments at the
time they were made. Such designation will only be permitted if such
Restricted Payment would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary
otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall
be the fair market value (evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors
set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) on the date of
the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) proposed to be transferred by the
Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted
Payment. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company
shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such
Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the
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calculation required by this Section 4.09 were computed, which calculations may
be based upon the Company's latest available financial statements.
SECTION 4.10 INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guaranty
or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise,
with respect to (collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including Acquired
Indebtedness) and that the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and
will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock
or Disqualified Stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur
Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified
Stock and the Company's Subsidiaries that are Guarantors may incur Indebtedness
and issue preferred stock or Disqualified Stock if, in each case: (i) the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company's most recently ended four full fiscal
quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately
preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such
Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued would have been at least 2.0 to
1, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the
net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred,
or the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock had been issued, as the case may
be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period; and (ii) no Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a
consequence thereof; provided, that no Guarantee may be incurred pursuant to
this paragraph, unless the guaranteed Indebtedness is incurred by the Company
or a Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to this paragraph.
The foregoing provisions will not apply to:
(i) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company or its
Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement 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
an amount (including any Indebtedness incurred to refinance, retire,
renew, defease, refund or otherwise replace any such Indebtedness)
equal to $70,000,000, less (i) an amount equal to the cumulative
mandatory amortization payments required under the Credit Agreement in
existence as of the Issue Date (irrespective of whether any such
payments are actually made or whether the Credit Agreement remains in
existence and (ii) the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset
Sales applied to permanently reduce the outstanding amount or, as
applicable the commitments with respect to such Indebtedness pursuant
to Section 4.08 hereof;
(ii) the Existing Indebtedness;
(iii) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness
represented by the Notes (up to an aggregate principal amount
of $100,000,000) and by the Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by
the Subsidiary Guarantees of such Notes;
(iv) the incurrence by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease
Obligations, mortgage financings or Purchase Money Obligations, in each
case incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the
purchase
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price or cost of construction or improvement of property used
in the business of the Company or such Subsidiary, in an
aggregate principalamount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any
time outstanding (including any Indebtedness incurred to
refinance, retire, renew, defease, refund or otherwise
replace any such Indebtedness);
(v) the incurrence by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in
exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to
extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund,
Indebtedness that was permitted by this Indenture to be
incurred or was outstanding on the Issue Date, after giving
effect to the Acquisition Transactions;
(vi) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Wholly
Owned Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or
among the Company and any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries or
between or among any Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; provided,
however, that (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of
Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being
held by a Person other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and
(ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a
Person that is not either the Company or a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an
incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be;
(vii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations that are incurred for the
purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect
to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by this
Indenture to be incurred;
(viii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount
at any time outstanding (including any Indebtedness incurred
to refinance, retire, renew, defease, refund or otherwise
replace any such Indebtedness) not to exceed $10,000,000;
(ix) the incurrence by the Company or any Subsidiary of
Indebtedness in respect of judgment, appeal, surety,
performance and other like bonds, bankers acceptance and
letters of credit provided by the Company and its
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in an
aggregate amount outstanding (including any indebtedness
incurred to refinance, retire, renew, defease, refund or
otherwise replace any such indebtedness) at any time of not
more than $500,000; and
(x) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries arising from agreements providing for
indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar
obligations, or from guarantees of letters of credit, surety
bonds or performance bonds securing the performance of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any person acquiring
all or a portion of such business, or assets of a Subsidiary
of the Company for the purpose of financing such acquisition,
in a principal amount not to exceed 25% of the gross proceeds
(with proceeds other than cash or Cash Equivalents being
valued at the fair market value thereof as determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company in good faith) actually
received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
connection with such disposition.
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.10, a
Guarantee by a Guarantor of Indebtedness of the Company or another Guarantor
permitted by the terms of this Indenture at the time such Indebtedness was
incurred will not constitute a separate incurrence of Indebtedness.
Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of any person which is
outstanding at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company
(including upon designation of any subsidiary or other person as a Subsidiary)
or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or a Subsidiary of
the Company shall be deemed to have been incurred at the time such Person
becomes such a Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into or
consolidated with the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable.
SECTION 4.11 LIENS
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or
profits therefrom or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom,
except Permitted Liens, unless the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees of the
Guarantors are secured by such Lien on an equal and ratable basis; provided,
that if the Obligation secured by any Lien is subordinate or junior in right of
payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantees, the Lien securing such
Obligation shall be subordinate and junior to the Lien securing the Notes and
such Subsidiary Guarantees with the same or lesser relative priority as such
Obligation shall have been with respect to the Notes and such Subsidiary
Guarantees.
SECTION 4.12 DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING
SUBSIDIARIES
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to
exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Subsidiary to (i)(a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or (2) with respect
to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or (b)
pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) make
loans or advances to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) transfer
any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (a)
Existing Indebtedness as in effect on the date of this Indenture, (b) the
Credit Agreement as in effect as of the date of this Indenture, and any
amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements,
refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof; provided that such
amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements,
refundings, replacements or refinancings may be no more restrictive with
respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than the most
restrictive of those contained in the Credit Agreement as in effect on the date
of this Indenture, (c) this Indenture and the Notes or Indebtedness permitted
to be incurred pursuant to the Indenture and ranking pari passu with the Notes
or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as applicable, to the extent such restrictions
are no more restrictive than those of the Indenture, (d) applicable law, (e)
any instrument governing Acquired Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person
acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of
such acquisition (except to the extent such Acquired Indebtedness was incurred
in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance
or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of
any Person,
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other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired,
(f) by reason of customary non-assignment provisions in leases and licenses
entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practices, (g) Purchase Money Obligations or Capital Lease Obligations for
property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions
of the nature described in clause (iii) above only on the property so acquired,
(h) agreements relating to the financing of the acquisition of real or tangible
personal property acquired after the date of this Indenture, provided, that
such encumbrance or restriction relates only to the property which is acquired
and in the case of any encumbrance or restriction that constitutes a Lien, such
Lien constitutes a Permitted Lien as set forth in clause (xi) of the definition
of "Permitted Lien," (i) any restriction or encumbrance contained in contracts
for sale of assets permitted by this Indenture in respect of the assets being
sold pursuant to such contract, (j) Senior Indebtedness, Guarantor Senior
Indebtedness or Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary permitted to be incurred
under this Indenture and incurred on or after the date of this Indenture,
provided, that such encumbrances or restrictions in such Indebtedness are no
more onerous than the most restrictive of the restrictions contained in the
Credit Agreement on the date of this Indenture, or (k) Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements
governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive than
those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced.
SECTION 4.13 LIMITATION ON LAYERING DEBT
The Company shall not incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee
or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that by its terms or the terms
of any document or instrument relating thereto is subordinate or junior in
right of payment to any Senior Indebtedness and senior in any respect in right
of payment to the Notes. No Guarantor shall incur, create, issue, assume,
guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that by its terms or
the terms of any document or instrument relating thereto is subordinate or
junior in right of payment to any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness and senior in
any respect in right of payment to any Subsidiary Guarantees.
SECTION 4.14 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to enter into any transaction (including the sale, lease,
exchange, transfer or other disposition of any of its properties or assets or
services, or the purchase of any property, assets or services) or enter into or
make any contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with,
or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an "Affiliate
Transaction"), unless (i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no
less favorable to the Company or the relevant Subsidiary than those that would
have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such
Subsidiary with an unrelated Person and (ii) the Company delivers to the
Trustee (a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related
Affiliate Transactions entered into after the date of this Indenture involving
aggregate consideration in excess of $5,000,000, a resolution of the Board of
Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate certifying that such Affiliate
Transactions comply with clause (i) above and that such Affiliate Transactions
have been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of
Directors and (b) with respect to any Affiliate Transactions or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of
$10,000,000, a favorable written opinion as to the fairness to the Company or
such Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transactions from a financial point of view
issued by an investment banking firm of national standing in the United States,
or in the event
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such transaction is a type that investment bankers do not generally render
fairness opinions, a valuation or appraisal firm of national standing; provided
that the following shall not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions: (w) the
provision of administrative or management services by the Company or any of its
officers to any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, (x) any employment agreement entered into by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with the past practice of the Company or such Subsidiary, (y)
transactions between or among the Company and/or its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries
or Guarantors and (z) transactions permitted by Section 4.09 hereof. In
addition, none of the Acquisition Transactions shall be deemed to be Affiliate
Transactions.
SECTION 4.15 ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
All Subsidiaries of the Company (other than Foreign
Subsidiaries) shall be Guarantors. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture
to the contrary, if any subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor
guarantees any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company that is a Guarantor, or the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company
pledges more than 65% of the capital stock of such subsidiary to a United
States lender, then such Subsidiary must become a Guarantor.
SECTION 4.16 LINE OF BUSINESS
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall
directly or indirectly engage to any substantial extent in any line or lines of
business activity other than that which, in the reasonable good faith judgment
of the Board of Directors of the Company, is a Related Business.
Section 4.17 Corporate Existence
Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or
cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and
effect (i) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other
existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective
organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the
Company or any such Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory),
licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or
franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its
Subsidiaries if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation
thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not
adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 4.18 STATUS AS AN INVESTMENT COMPANY
The Company and its Subsidiaries are not required to register
as an "investment company" (as that term is defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended), or otherwise become subject to regulation under the
Investment Company Act.
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ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSORS
SECTION 5.01 MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS
The Company will not in a single transaction or series of
related transactions consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the
Company is the surviving corporation), or directly or indirectly 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 Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees and this
Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee, (iii) immediately after such transaction, no
Default or Event of Default exists; (iv) 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 four-quarter period, be permitted to incur
at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph in Section 4.10 hereof; and (v) the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer
and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the mergers and the related transactions
comprising the Acquisition Transactions shall be deemed to be expressly
permitted under the Indenture and shall not require the execution and delivery
of a supplemental indenture.
SECTION 5.02 SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any transfer 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 transfer is made shall succeed to,
and (except in the case of a lease) be substituted for and may exercise every
right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if
such successor corporation had been named therein as the Company, and (except
in the case of a lease) the Company shall be released from the obligations
under the Notes and the Indenture except with respect to any obligations that
arise from, or are related to, such transaction.
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For the purposes of this Article 5, the transfer (by lease,
assignment, sale or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the properties
and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, the Company's interest
in which constitutes all or substantially all of the properties and assets of
the Company shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of
the properties and assets of the Company.
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An "Event of Default" occurs if:
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of interest or
Liquidated Damages, if any on any Note when the same becomes due and
payable and the Default continues for a period of 30 days, whether or
not such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article 10 hereof;
(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of
or premium, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable
at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, whether or not such payment
is prohibited by the provisions of Article 10 hereof;
(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant,
condition or agreement on the part of the Company to be observed or
performed pursuant to Sections 4.07 or 4.08 hereof, which failure
remains uncured for 30 days;
(4) the Company fails to comply with any of its other
agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the Notes or this
Indenture;
(5) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or
instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be
secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is
Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), whether such
Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists or shall be created hereafter,
which default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or
premium on such Indebtedness when due (after giving effect to any
applicable grace period provided in such Indebtedness) or (b) results
in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity
and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness,
together with the principal amount of any other Indebtedness as to
which there has been such a payment default or the maturity of which
has been so accelerated, aggregates $5,000,000 or more;
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(6) one or more nonappealable final judgments for the
payment of money (not fully covered by insurance) are entered by a
court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the Company or any
of its Significant Subsidiaries and such judgment or judgments are not
paid, bonded, discharged or stayed for a period (during which
execution shall not be effectively stayed) of 60 days, provided that
the aggregate of all such undischarged judgments exceeds $5,000,000;
(7) any Subsidiary Guarantee shall be held in any judicial
proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any
reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person
acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its
obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee;
(8) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(a) commences a voluntary case,
(b) consents to the entry of an order for relief
against it in an involuntary case,
(c) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of
it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of
its creditors, or
(e) generally is not paying its debts as they
become due; or
(9) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or
decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(a) is for relief against the Company or any
Subsidiary in an involuntary case,
(b) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any
Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of
the Company or any Subsidiary, or
(c) orders the liquidation of the Company or any
Subsidiary,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60
consecutive days.
The term "Bankruptcy Law" means title 11, U.S. Code or any
similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term "Custodian"
means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any
Bankruptcy Law.
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An Event of Default shall not be deemed to have occurred
under clause (3), (5) or (6) until the Trustee shall have received written
notice from the Company or any of the Holders or unless a Responsible Officer
shall have knowledge of such Event of Default. A Default under clause (4) is
not an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders
of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes notify the
Company and the Trustee, of the Default and the Company does not cure the
Default within 60 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify
the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a "Notice
of Default."
SECTION 6.02 ACCELERATION
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default
specified in clauses (8) and (9) of Section 6.01 relating to the Company, any
Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would
constitute a Significant Subsidiary) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or
the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if
given by the Holders) and the representative of holders of Indebtedness under
the Credit Agreement, if any amounts are outstanding thereunder (an
"Acceleration Notice"). Upon such declaration the principal and interest shall
be due and payable immediately (together with the premium referred to in
Section 6.01, if applicable). If an Event of Default specified in clause (8)
or (9) of Section 6.01 relating to the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or
any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary occurs all outstanding Notes will become due and payable 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
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 or interest that has become due solely because
of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.
SECTION 6.03 OTHER REMEDIES
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee
may pursue any available remedy by preceeding at law or in equity to collect
the payment of principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest
on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or
this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not
possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A
delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any
right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or
remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All
remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 6.04 WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes by written 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
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any, or interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to
purchase) (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and
its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such
acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and
any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for
every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 6.05 CONTROL BY MAJORITY
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any
trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any
direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee, in its
sole discretion, determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other
Holders of Notes, that may involve the Trustee in personal liability or if the
Trustee determines that it does not have adequate indemnification against any
loss or espense; provided, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed
proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction. This
Section 6.05 shall be in lieu of TIA Section 315(d)(3) and said TIA section is
hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture, as permitted by the TIA.
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 30 days after receipt of the request and the offer
and, if requested, the provision of in the indemnity; and
(e) during such 30-day period the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction which,
in the opinion of the Trustee, is 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.
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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 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 and
any other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.07.
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.
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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 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
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.
SECTION 6.12 RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to
enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been
discountinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to
the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every case, subject to any
determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders
shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions
hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders
shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
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ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01 DUTIES OF TRUSTEE
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a
prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
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, in the case of an Officers' Certificate
or Opinion of Counsel, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and
opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements
of this Indenture. This subparagraph (b)(ii) shall be in lieu of TIA
Section 315(d)(3) and said TIA section is hereby expressly excluded
from this Indenture, as permitted by the TIA.
(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; provided, that the standard of
liability of the Trustee under this Indenture shall be interpreted in
accordance with New York law.
(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
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rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of the Company or any
Holders, unless the Company or such Holder, as the case may be, 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.
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, which shall
conform to Section 10.05 hereof. The Trustee shall not be liable for any
action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers'
Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and
the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance
thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and
shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent
appointed with due care.
(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 two Officers 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.
(g) Except with respect to Section 4.01 herein, the Trustee
shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company's covenants
in Article 4 hereof. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except (i) any Event of Default
occurring pursuant to Sections 6.01(1), 6.01(2) and 4.01 or (ii) any Default or
Event of Default of which the Trustee shall have received written notification
or obtained actual knowledge.
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SECTION 7.03 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may
become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or
any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not
Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting
interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for
permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with
like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11
hereof.
SECTION 7.04 TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER
The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no
representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes,
it shall not be accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the
Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction under
any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or
application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee,
and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any
statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the
Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of
authentication.
SECTION 7.05 NOTICE OF DEFAULTS
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and
if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a
notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs.
Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice
if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith
determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of
the Notes. The second sentence of this Section 7.05 shall be in lieu of the
proviso to TIA Section 315(b) and said TIA section is hereby expressly excluded
from this Indenture, as permitted by the TIA.
SECTION 7.06 REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES
Within 60 days after each December 1 beginning with the
December 1 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 Section 313(a)
(but if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve
months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The
Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also
transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA Section 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 Section
313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are
listed on any stock exchange.
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SECTION 7.07 COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time
reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services
hereunder. The Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on
compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the
Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and
expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its
services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation,
disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's agents, accountants, experts and
counsel.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee for, and hold the
Trustee harmless against, any and all losses, liabilities or expenses
(including, without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses)
incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and
expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this
Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the
Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the
exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the
extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its
negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any
claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the
Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The
Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense.
The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable
fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement
made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall
survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and/or the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture.
To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section,
the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held
or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and
interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an
Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(8) or (9) 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 Section
313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.
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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, and may appoint a successor Trustee with the Company's consent. 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 aggregate 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 aggregate principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction
for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder
of a Note may petition any 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.
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SECTION 7.09 SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.
Subject to Section 7.10, 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. The provisions of TIA Section 310 shall
apply to the Company as obligor on the Notes.
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 $50,000,000 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 Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to
TIA Section 310(b).
SECTION 7.11 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY
The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any
creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned
or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated
therein. The provisions of TIA Section 311 shall apply to the Company as
obligor on the Notes.
ARTICLE 8
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.01 OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE
The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors
evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time,
elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding
Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
SECTION 8.02 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the
option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company 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 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
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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
and Liquidated Damages, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due, (b)
the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and
Section 4.01 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of
the Trustee hereunder and the Company's obligations in connection therewith
including, without limitation, Section 7.07 hereof, and (d) this Article 8.
The Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the
prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.
SECTION 8.03 COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the
option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company 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 and 4.14 hereof with respect to the outstanding
Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth below 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(5) through 6.01(7) 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, if any,
and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the
outstanding Notes on the stated maturity
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or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be and
the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased
to maturity or to a particular redemption date;
(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 Event of Default or Default shall have occurred
and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than an
Event of Default or Default resulting from the borrowing of
funds to be applied to such deposit) or insofar as Sections
6.01(8) or 6.01(9) 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 will
not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
default under the Senior Bank Debt or any other material
agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Opinion of Counsel 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 creditors of the
Company or others; and
(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating
that all conditions precedent provided for, in the case of
the Officer's Certificate, (a) through (g) and, in the case
of the Opinion of Counsel, clauses (a) (with respect to the
validity and perfection of the trust), (b), (c) and (e) of
this paragraph
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relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance,
as applicable, have been complied with.
SECTION 8.05 DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN
TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable
Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the
Trustee (or other qualifying trustee satisfactory to the Company and the
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, Liquidated Damages, if any,
and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to
the extent required by law.
The Company 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 8 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, Liquidated Damages, or interest on any Note and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, Liquidated
Damages 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.
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SECTION 8.07 REINSTATEMENT
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United
States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section
8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of
any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise
prohibiting such application, then the Company's obligations under this
Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit
had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the
Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with
Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if
the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, Liquidated
Damages, 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.
ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 9.01 WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company
and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the
consent of any Holder of a Note:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition
to or in place of certificated Notes;
(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company's
obligations to the Holders of the Notes in the case of a merger or
consolidation pursuant to Article 5 hereof;
(d) to provide for additional Guarantors as set forth
in Section 4.15;
(e) to make any change that would provide any
additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes
(including the addition of any Subsidiary Guarantors) or that does not
adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder of the Note;
(f) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order
to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under
the TIA; or
(g) to evidence, and provide for acceptance of,
the appointment of a successor Trustee hereunder.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution
of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such
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amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the
documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, states that the execution of such
amended or supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture,
the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any amended or
supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture
and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be
therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such
amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 9.02 WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company
and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including Sections 4.07
and 4.08 hereof) and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the written
consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a
tender offer or exchange offer for 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,
Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment default
resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any
provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the written consent
of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender
offer or exchange offer for the Notes).
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution
of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or
supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence
satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as
aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in
Section 9.06 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution
of such amended or supplemental Indenture unless such amended or supplemental
Indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this
Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its sole 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. The calculation of Holders of Notes so consenting shall be
made pursuant to Section 2.09 hereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section
becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected
thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any
failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not,
however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or
supplemental Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof,
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with
any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the written
consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not (with respect
to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the aggregate principal amount of Notes whose
Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
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(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity
of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the
redemption of the Notes, except as provided above with respect to
Sections 4.07 and 4.08 hereof;
(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of
interest, including default interest, on any Note;
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of
principal of, premium, if any, Liquidated Damages, if any, or
interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes
by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted
from such acceleration);
(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in
the Notes;
(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture
relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders
of Notes to receive payments of principal of or interest on the Notes;
(g) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note
(other than a payment required by Section 4.07 or 4.08 hereof);
or
(h) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in
the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.
In addition, any amendment to the subordination provisions of
this Indenture will require the consent of the holders of Designated Senior
Indebtedness if the amendment would adversely affect the holders of Designated
Senior Indebtedness.
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.
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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 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 9 if the amendment or supplement does not
adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.
The Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board
of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture,
the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be
fully protected in relying upon, 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 and that such supplemental indenture
and this Indenture, as so amended or supplemented, constitute the valid and
binding obligations of the Issuers, enforceable against each of them in
accordance with their respective terms (subject to customary and necessary
exceptions) and all conditions precedent have been complied with.
ARTICLE 10
SUBORDINATION
SECTION 10.01 AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE
The Company agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Note
agrees, that the Indebtedness evidenced by the Note is subordinated in right of
payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article 10, to the
prior payment in full in cash or Cash Equivalents of all Obligations in respect
of Senior Indebtedness (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 Indebtedness. This Article 10 shall
constitute a continuing offer to all Persons who become holders of, or continue
to hold, Senior Indebtedness, and such provisions are made for the benefit of
the holders of Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 10.02 LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY
Upon any distribution to creditors of the Company or a
Guarantor in a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a Guarantor or in a
bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding
relating to the Company or a Guarantor or its property, whether voluntary or
involuntary, an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshalling of
the Company's or Guarantors' assets and liabilities:
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(1) holders of Senior Indebtedness or the applicable
Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, shall be entitled
to receive payment in full in cash or Cash Equivalents of all
Obligations due in respect of such Senior Indebtedness or the
applicable Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable (including
interest after the commencement of any such proceeding at the rate
specified in the applicable Senior Indebtedness or the applicable
Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, whether or not allowable
as a claim in any such proceeding), before Holders shall be entitled to
receive any payment with respect to the Notes or the applicable
Guarantees (except that Holders may receive (i) securities that are
subordinated to at least the same extent as the Notes to (a) Senior
Indebtedness and (b) any securities issued in exchange for Senior
Indebtedness 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 the
applicable Senior Indebtedness or the applicable Guarantor
Senior Indebtedness, as applicable (as provided in subsection (1)
above) are paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, any distribution
to which Holders or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantees would be
entitled but for this Article shall be made to holders of Senior
Indebtedness or the applicable Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as
applicable (except that Holders or the applicable Guarantees may
receive (i) securities that are subordinated to at least the same
extent as the Notes or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantees to (a)
Senior Indebtedness or the applicable Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as
applicable, and (b) any securities issued in exchange for the
applicable Senior Indebtedness or the applicable Guarantor Senior
Indebtedness, as applicable, and that have a final maturity date and
weighted average life to maturity that is the same as or greater than
the Notes or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantees, and that are not
secured by collateral and (ii) payments made from the trust described
under Section 8.02), as their interests may appear.
SECTION 10.03 DEFAULT ON DESIGNATED SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS
The Company and the Guarantors may not make any payment or
distribution to the Trustee or any Holder in respect of Obligations with
respect to the Notes or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantees and may not
acquire from the Trustee or any Holder any Notes or the applicable Subsidiary
Guarantees for cash or property (other than (i) securities that are
subordinated to at least the same extent as the Notes or the applicable
Subsidiary Guarantees to (a) Senior Indebtedness or the applicable Guarantor
Senior Indebtedness and (b) any securities issued in exchange for Senior
Indebtedness or the applicable Guarantor Senior Indebtedness and (ii) payments
and other distributions made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to
Section 8.04 hereof) until all principal and other Obligations with respect to
the Senior Indebtedness or the applicable Guarantor Senior Indebtedness have
been paid in full if:
(i) a default in the payment of any principal or other
Obligations with respect to Designated Senior Indebtedness
occurs and is continuing beyond any applicable grace period in the
agreement, indenture or other document governing such Designated Senior
Indebtedness (a "Payment Default"); or
(ii) a default, other than a Payment Default, on
Designated Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing that
then permits holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness to
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accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of
the default (a "Payment Blockage Notice") from a Person who may give it
pursuant to Section 10.11 hereof. If the Trustee receives any such
Payment Blockage Notice, no subsequent Payment Blockage Notice shall be
effective for purposes of this Section 10.03 unless and until at least
360 days shall have elapsed since the effectiveness of the immediately
prior Payment Blockage Notice. No nonpayment default that existed or
was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice
to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment
Blockage Notice (it being acknowledged that any subsequent action, or
any breach of any financial covenant for a period ending after the
expiration of such period of payment blockage that, in either case,
would give rise to a new event of default, even though it is a breach
pursuant to any provision under which a prior event of default
previously existed, shall constitute a new event of default for this
purpose).
The Company may and shall resume payments on and
distributions in respect of the Notes and may acquire them upon the earlier of:
(1) the date upon which the default is cured or
waived, or
(2) in the case of a default referred to in Section
10.03(ii) hereof, 179 days pass after notice is received if the
maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness has not been
accelerated,
if this Article 10 otherwise permits the payment, distribution or acquisition
at the time of such payment or acquisition.
SECTION 10.04 ACCELERATION OF NOTES
If payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of
Default, the Company shall promptly notify holders of Senior Indebtedness of
the acceleration.
SECTION 10.05 WHEN DISTRIBUTION MUST BE PAID OVER
In the event that the Trustee or any Holder receives any
payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes at a time when the Trustee
or such Holder, as applicable, has actual knowledge that such payment is
prohibited by Section 10.03 hereof, such payment shall be held by the Trustee
or such Holder, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over
and delivered, upon written request, to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or
Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, as their interests may appear or
their Representative under the indenture or other agreement (if any) pursuant
to which Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable,
may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application
to the payment of all Obligations with respect to Senior Indebtedness or
Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, remaining unpaid to the extent
necessary to pay such Obligations in full in accordance with their terms, after
giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders
of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable.
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With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, or
Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, 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 Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable,
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 Indebtedness, or
Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, 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 Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, shall
be entitled by virtue of this Article 10, except if such payment is made as a
result of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Trustee.
SECTION 10.06 NOTICE BY COMPANY
The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying
Agent of any facts known to the Company that would cause a payment of any
Obligations with respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10, but failure
to give such notice shall not affect the subordination of the Notes to the
Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, as
provided in this Article 10.
SECTION 10.07 SUBROGATION
After all Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior
Indebtedness, as applicable, is paid in full and until the Notes are paid in
full, Holders shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all other
Indebtedness pari passu with the Notes) to the rights of holders of Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, to receive
distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior
Indebtedness, as applicable, to the extent that distributions otherwise payable
to the Holders have been applied to the payment of Senior Indebtedness or
Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable. A distribution made under this
Article 10 to holders of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness,
as applicable, that otherwise would have been made to Holders is not, as
between the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, and Holders, a payment by
the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, on the Notes.
SECTION 10.08 RELATIVE RIGHTS
This Article 10 defines the relative rights of Holders and
holders of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable.
Nothing in this Indenture shall:
(1) impair, as between the Company and Holders, 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 and
creditors of the Company other than their rights in relation to
holders of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as
applicable; or
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(3) prevent the Trustee or any Holder from
exercising its available remedies upon a Default or Event of
Default, subject to the rights of holders and owners of Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, to
receive distributions and payments otherwise payable to Holders.
If the Company fails because of this Article 10 to pay
principal of or interest on a Note on the due date, the failure is still a
Default or Event of Default.
SECTION 10.09 SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED BY COMPANY
No right of any holder of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor
Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, 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 a
Guarantor, as applicable, or any Holder to comply with this Indenture.
SECTION 10.10 DISTRIBUTION OR NOTICE TO REPRESENTATIVE
Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to
holders of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable,
the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative. The
Company shall provide the Trustee with notice of the name and address of any
Representative. In the absence of such notice, the Trustee may conclusively
assume that no Representative exists.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company
referred to in this Article 10, the Trustee and the Holders 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
for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such
distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other Indebtedness of
the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid
or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article
10.
SECTION 10.11 RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 10 or any
other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with
knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any
payment or distribution by the Trustee, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent
may continue to make payments on the Notes, unless the Trustee shall have
received at its Corporate Trust Office at least five Business Days prior to the
date of such payment written notice of facts that would cause the payment of
any Obligations with respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10. Only the
Company or a Representative of Designated Senior Indebtedness 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.
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The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold
Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, with the
same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same
with like rights.
SECTION 10.12 AUTHORIZATION TO EFFECT SUBORDINATION
Each Holder of a Note by the Holder's acceptance thereof
authorizes and directs the Trustee on the 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 the 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 Representative is hereby authorized to file an
appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 10.13 AMENDMENTS
The provisions of this Article 10 shall not be amended or
modified in a manner materially adverse to the Holders of Senior Indebtedness
without the written consent of the holders of all Designated Senior
Indebtedness.
ARTICLE 11
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
SECTION 11.01 SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
Subject to the provisions of this Article 11, each Guarantor,
jointly and severally, hereby unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a
Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its
successors and assigns, that: (a) the principal of, and premium, if any,
Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes will be duly and
punctually paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, and interest on overdue principal of, and premium, if any,
Liquidated Damages, if any and (to the extent permitted by law) interest on any
interest, if any, on the Notes and all other obligations of the Company to the
Holders or the Trustee hereunder or under the Notes (including fees, expenses
or other) will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with
the terms hereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or
renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, 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.
Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or failing performance of
any other obligation of the Company to the Holders, for whatever reason, each
Guarantor will be obligated to pay, or to perform or to cause the performance
of, the same immediately. An Event of Default under this Indenture or the
Notes shall constitute an event of default under this Subsidiary Guarantee, and
shall entitle the Holders of Notes to accelerate the obligations of each
Guarantor hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the
obligations of the Company. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its 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
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respect to any thereof, the entry 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 and relinquishes: (a) any right to require the
Trustee, the Holders or the Company (each, a "Benefitted Party") to proceed
against the Company, the Subsidiaries or any other Person or to proceed against
or exhaust any security held by a Benefitted Party at any time or to pursue any
other remedy in any secured party's power before proceeding against the
Guarantors; (b) any defense that may arise by reason of the incapacity, lack of
authority, death or disability of any other Person or Persons or the failure of
a Benefitted Party to file or enforce a claim against the estate (in
administration, bankruptcy or any other proceeding) of any other Person or
Persons; (c) demand, protest and notice of any kind (except as expressly
required by this Indenture), including but not limited to notice of the
existence, creation or incurring of any new or additional Indebtedness or
obligation or of any action or non-action on the part of the Guarantors, the
Company, the Subsidiaries, any Benefitted Party, any creditor of the
Guarantors, the Company or the Subsidiaries or on the part of any other Person
whomsoever in connection with any obligations the performance of which are
hereby guaranteed; (d) any defense based upon an election of remedies by a
Benefitted Party, including but not limited to an election to proceed against
the Guarantors for reimbursement; (e) any defense based upon any statute or
rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither
larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the
principal; (f) any defense arising because of a Benefitted Party's election, in
any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Law, of the application of
Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code; and (g) any defense based on any
borrowing or grant of a security interest under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy
Code. The Guarantors hereby covenant that the Subsidiary Guarantee will not be
discharged except by payment in full of all principal, premium, if any,
Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other costs
provided for under this Indenture, or as provided in Section 8.01.
If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or
otherwise to return to either the Company or the Guarantors, or any trustee or
similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors,
any amount paid by the Company or the Guarantors to the Trustee or such Holder,
the Subsidiary Guarantees, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be
reinstated in full force and effect. Each of the Guarantors agrees that it
will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in
respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all
obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor agrees that, as between it, on
the one hand, and the Holders of Notes 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 hereof, notwithstanding any stay,
injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the
obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any 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 such Guarantor for
the purpose of the Subsidiary Guarantee.
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SECTION 11.02 EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
To evidence the Subsidiary Guarantees set forth in Section
11.01 hereof, each of the Guarantors agrees that a notation of the Subsidiary
Guarantees substantially in the form included in Exhibit B shall be endorsed on
each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture
shall be executed on behalf of the Guarantors by the Chairman of the Board, any
Vice Chairman, the President or one of the Vice Presidents of the Guarantors,
under a facsimile of its seal reproduced on this Indenture and attested to by
an Officer other than the Officer executing this Indenture.
Each of the Guarantors agree that the Subsidiary Guarantees
set forth in this Article 11 will remain in full force and effect and apply to
all the Notes notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of
the Subsidiary Guarantees.
If an Officer whose facsimile signature is on a Note no
longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on
which the Subsidiary Guarantees are endorsed, the Subsidiary Guarantees shall
be valid nevertheless.
The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the
authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the
Subsidiary Guarantees set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
SECTION 11.03 GUARANTORS MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ON CERTAIN TERMS
(a) Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Notes
shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the
Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent the transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of a Guarantor to the Company or another
Guarantor. Upon any such consolidation, merger, transfer or sale, the
Subsidiary Guarantee of such Guarantor shall no longer have any force or
effect.
(b) Except as set forth in paragraph (c) of this Section
11.03, a Guarantor may 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 the
provisions of the following paragraph, the Person formed by or surviving any
such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) is organized under
the laws of the United States or any state thereof, (ii) such person assumes
all the obligations of such Guarantor pursuant to a supplemental indenture in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee under the Indenture;
(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction no Default or Event
of Default exists; and (iv) such Guarantor, or any Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger, would be permitted by virtue of the
Company's pro forma Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to incur, immediately after
giving effect to such transaction, at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness
pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first
paragraph of Section 4.10 hereof. In case of any such consolidation, merger or
transfer of assets 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 Subsidiary Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and
the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this
Indenture to be performed by
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such Guarantor, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted
for such 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 Subsidiary Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable
hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and
delivered to the Trustee. All the Subsidiary Guarantees so issued shall in all
respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the
Subsidiary Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the
terms of this Indenture as though all of such Subsidiary Guarantees had been
issued at the date of the execution hereof.
(c) The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 11.04
hereof, shall be entitled to receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale or
conveyance, and any such assumption of Obligations, comply with the provisions
of this Section 11.03. Such certificate and opinion shall comply with the
provisions of Section 11.05.
SECTION 11.04 RELEASES FOLLOWING SALE OF ASSETS
Concurrently with any sale of assets (including, if
applicable, all of the Capital Stock of any Guarantor), any Liens in favor of
the Trustee in the assets sold thereby shall be released; provided that in the
event of an Asset Sale, the Net Proceeds from such sale or other disposition
are treated in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.08 hereof. If the
assets sold in such sale or other disposition include all or substantially all
of the assets of any Guarantor or all of the Capital Stock of any Guarantor in
each case, in compliance with the terms hereof, then such Guarantor (in the
event of a sale or other disposition 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)
shall be released from and relieved of its obligations under its Subsidiary
Guarantee or Section 11.03 hereof as the case may be; provided that in the
event of an Asset Sale, the Net Proceeds from such sale or other disposition
are treated in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.08 hereof. Upon
delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officer's Certificate and Opinion
of Counsel, and to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by
the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, including
without limitation Section 4.08 hereof, the Trustee shall execute any documents
reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any such Guarantor from
its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee. Any Guarantor not released
from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the
full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other
obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article
11.
SECTION 11.05 LIMITATION OF GUARANTOR'S LIABILITY
Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder,
hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee
by such Guarantor pursuant to its Subsidiary Guarantee not constitute a
fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Law, the
Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any
similar federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the
Holders and such Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of
such Guarantor under this Article 11 shall be limited to the maximum amount as
will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such
Guarantor and
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after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of
any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under
this Article 11, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under the
Subsidiary Guarantee of such Guarantor not constituting a fraudulent transfer
or conveyance.
SECTION 11.06 APPLICATION OF CERTAIN TERMS AND PROVISIONS TO THE GUARANTOR
(a) For purposes of any provision of this Indenture which
provides for the delivery by any Guarantor of an Officers' Certificate and/or
an Opinion of Counsel, the definitions of such terms in Section 1.01 shall
apply to such Guarantor as if references therein to the Company were references
to such Guarantor.
(b) Any request, direction, order or demand which by any
provision of this Indenture is to be made by any Guarantor, shall be sufficient
if evidenced as described in Section 12.02 as if references therein to the
Company were references to such Guarantor.
(c) Any notice or demand which by any provision of this
Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by
the holders of Notes to or on any Guarantor may be given or served as described
in Section 12.02 as if references therein to Company were references to such
Guarantor.
(d) Upon any demand, request or application by any Guarantor
to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, such Guarantor shall
furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as are required in
Section 11.04 hereof as if all references therein to the Company were
references to such Guarantor.
SECTION 11.07 SUBORDINATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
The Obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary
Guarantee pursuant to this Article 11 shall be junior and subordinated to all
Obligations in respect of the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor
on the same basis as the Notes are junior and subordinated to all Obligations
in respect of the Senior Indebtedness of the Company. For the purposes of the
foregoing sentence, (a) each Guarantor may make, and the Trustee and the
Holders of the Notes shall have the right to receive and/or retain, payments by
any of the Guarantors only at such times as they may receive and/or retain
payments in respect of the Notes pursuant to this Indenture, including Article
10 hereof, and (b) the rights and obligations of the relevant parties relative
to the Subsidiary Guarantees and the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be the
same as their respective rights and obligations relative to the Notes and
Senior Indebtedness of the Company pursuant to Article 10.
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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 Section 318(c), the imposed duties
shall control.
SECTION 12.02 NOTICES
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to
the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by
first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex,
telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the
others' address:
If to the Company:
Steel Heddle Mfg. Co.
1801 Rutherford Road
Greenville, South Carolina 29607
Telecopier No.: (864) 244-4110
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
If to the Trustee:
United States Trust Company
of New York
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036
Telephone No.: (212) 852-1000
Telecopier No.: (212) 852-1626
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
The Company 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; 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.
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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 Section 313(c), to the extent required
by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any
defect in it 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.
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 Section 312(b) with
other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes.
The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the
protection of TIA Section 312(c).
SECTION 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 12.05 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 Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of
TIA Section 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;
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(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such
Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as
is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether
or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion
of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
SECTION 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.
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, as such, shall have any liability
for any obligations of the Company under the Notes, 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 SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES,
WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THAT
THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
IF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE BROUGHT BY A HOLDER OF ANY OF THE NOTES OR
BY THE TRUSTEE IN ORDER TO ENFORCE ANY RIGHT OR REMEDY UNDER THIS INDENTURE OR
UNDER THE NOTES, THE ISSUERS HEREBY CONSENTS AND WILL SUBMIT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW
YORK OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. THE ISSUERS HEREBY
AGREES TO ACCEPT SERVICE OF PROCESS BY NOTICE GIVEN TO IT PURSUANT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTION 12.02.
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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.
[Signatures on following page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Indenture
as of the dates set forth opposite each signature block below.
Dated as of May 26, 1998 STEEL HEDDLE MFG. CO.
By: /s/ Benjamin G. Team
---------------------------------
Benjamin G. Team
President
Attest:
--------------------------
Name:
Title:
Dated as of May 26, 1998 HEDDLE CAPITAL CORP.
By: /s/ Jerry B. Miller
---------------------------------
Jerry B. Miller
President
Attest:
--------------------------
Name:
Title:
Dated as of May 26, 1998 STEEL HEDDLE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: /s/ Benjamin G. Team
---------------------------------
Benjamin G. Team
President
Attest:
--------------------------
Name:
Title:
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Dated as of May 26, 1998 UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW
YORK
By: /s/ Christine C. Collins
---------------------------------
Name: Christine C. Collins
Title: Assistant Vice President
(SEAL)
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Exhibit A
(Face of Note)
10.625% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008
No. $100,000,000
STEEL HEDDLE MFG. CO.
promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns, the principal
sum of
___________________ Dollars on June 1, 2008
Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1
Record Dates: May 15 and November 15
Dated: ____________, 1998
STEEL HEDDLE MFG. CO.
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
(SEAL)
This is one of the 10.625% Senior
Subordinated Notes referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture:
UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
as Trustee
By:
----------------------------------------------
A-1
87
(Back of Note)
10.625% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008
[THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY
OR A NOMINEE OR A DEPOSITORY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. 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 DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS
CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) ("DTC"), TO THE ISSUER 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.](1)
THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"),
AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR
BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE NEXT SENTENCE.
BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE
HOLDER:
(1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER" (As defined in Rule 144A under the Securities
Act) (A "QIB") OR (B) IT HAS ACQUIRED THIS NOTE IN AN
OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER
THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANYOR ANY OF ITS
SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY
BELIEVES IS A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR
THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS
- --------------------
(1) Include this paragraph only if the certificate represents a Global Note.
A-2
88
OF RULE 144A, (C) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 OF THE SECURITIES ACT,
(D) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE
144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) IN ACCORDANCE WITH
ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF
THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY
STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE
JURISDICTION AND
(3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS
NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE
SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.
AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" AND "UNITED
STATES" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE
CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO
REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE
FOREGOING.
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings
assigned to them in this Indenture referred to below unless otherwise
indicated.
1. Interest. Steel Heddle Mfg. Corp., a Pennsylvania
corporation (the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount
of this Note at 10.625% per annum from May 26, 1998 until maturity and shall
pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to Section 5 of the
Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest
and Liquidated Damages semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year, or
if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day
(each an "Interest Payment Date"). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the
most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been
paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default
in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record
date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment
Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date;
provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be December 1,
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.
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2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the
Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the
Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the May
15 or November 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes
are cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment
Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to
defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium,
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, at the office or agency of the Company
maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York,
or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages,
if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth
in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of
immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of,
interest, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, 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, United States
Trust Company 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 May 26, 1998 ("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 Sections 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject
to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a
statement of such terms. The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company
limited to $100,000,000 in aggregate principal amount.
5. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in clause (b) of this Section
of this Note, the Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes prior
to June 1, 2003. Thereafter, the Company shall have the option to redeem the
Notes, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages
of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon, to the applicable redemption date, if
redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on June 1 of the years
indicated below:
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105.313%
2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103.542%
2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101.771%
2006 and thereafter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of
this Section of the Notes, at any time prior to June 1, 2001, the Company may
(but shall not have the obligation to) redeem up to 35% of the original
aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price of 110.625% of
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the principal amount thereof, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the redemption date, with the Net Cash
Proceeds received by the Company from one or more of Equity Offerings; provided
that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued
remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and
provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 60 days of the date
of the closing of such Equity Offering.
(c) 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. If any Note is to be
redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to such Note shall
state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note
in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in
the name of Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. Notes in
denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in integral
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 unless the Company defaults in such
payments due on the redemption date.
6. Mandatory Redemption.
The Company shall not be required to make mandatory
redemption payments with respect to the Notes.
7. Repurchase at Option of Holder.
(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 equal to 101% of the aggregate principal
amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any,
thereon to the date of purchase on a date (the "Change of Control Payment") no
later than 60 Business Days after the occurrence of the Change of Control.
Within 35 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice
to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the
Change of Control and offering to repurchase Notes pursuant to the procedures
required by the Indenture and described in such notice, which offer shall
remain open for at least 20 Business Days following its commencement, but in
any event no longer than 30 Business Days. The Company will comply with the
requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws
and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are
applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a
Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities
laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this paragraph, compliance
by the Company or any of the Guarantors with such laws and regulations shall
not in and of itself cause a breach of its obligations under such covenant.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to
the extent lawful, (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof
properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (2) deposit with the
Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all
Notes or portions thereof so tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered
to the
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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 will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so
tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will
promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to
each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of
the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a
principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. Prior to complying
with the provisions of this covenant, but in any event within 30 days following
a Change of Control, the Company will either repay all outstanding Designated
Senior Indebtedness or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all
agreements governing outstanding Designated Senior Indebtedness to permit the
repurchase of Notes required by this covenant. The Company will not be
required to purchase any Notes until it has complied with the preceding
sentence, but the Company's failure to make a Change of Control Offer when
required or to purchase tendered Notes when tendered shall constitute an Event
of Default. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of
Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment
Date.
(b) The Company will not, and will not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, engage in an Asset Sale in excess of $1,000,000 unless
(i) the Company (or the Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration
at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the
assets or Equity Interest sold or otherwise disposed of and, in the case of a
lease of assets, a lease providing for rent and other conditions which are no
less favorable to the Company (or the Subsidiary, as the case may be) in any
material respect than the then prevailing market conditions (evidenced in each
case by a resolution of the Board of Directors of such entity set forth in an
Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the assets or Equity
Interests sold or otherwise disposed of, and (ii) at least 75% (100% in the
case of lease payments) of the consideration therefor received by the Company
or such Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that
the amount of (x) any liabilities (as shown on the Company's or such
Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto, but excluding
contingent liabilities and trade payables) of the Company or any Subsidiary
(other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or
any Guarantee thereof) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets
and from which the Company or such Subsidiary are unconditionally released from
liability and (y) any notes, securities or other obligations received by the
Company or any such Subsidiary from such transferee that are promptly, but in
no event more than 30 days after receipt, converted by the Company or such
Subsidiary into cash shall (to the extent of the cash received) be deemed to be
cash for purposes of this provision and the receipt of such cash shall be
treated as cash received from the Asset Sale for which such Notes or
obligations were received.
The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may apply the Net
Proceeds from each Asset Sale, at its option within 360 days, (a) to
permanently reduce any Senior Indebtedness, Guarantor Senior Indebtedness or,
in the case of an Asset Sale by a Foreign Subsidiary to permanently reduce
Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary (and in the case of any senior
revolving indebtedness to correspondingly permanently reduce commitments with
respect thereto), (b) to make capital expenditures, to commit to the
acquisition of another business or the acquisition of other long-term assets,
in each case, in the same or a Related Business, or (c) to reimburse the
Company or its Subsidiaries for expenditures made, and costs incurred, to
repair, rebuild, replace or restore property subject to loss, damage or taking
to the extent that the Net Proceeds consist of insurance proceeds
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received on account of such loss, damage or taking. Pending the final
application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce Senior
Revolving Debt or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not
prohibited by the Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not
applied or invested as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph will be
deemed to constitute "Excess Proceeds." When the aggregate amount of Excess
Proceeds exceeds $5,000,000, the Company will be required to make an offer to
all Holders of Notes (an "Asset Sale Offer") and to holders of other
Indebtedness of the Company outstanding ranking on a parity with the Notes with
similar provisions requiring the Company to make a similar offer with proceeds
from asset sales, pro rata in proportion to the respective principal amounts
(or accreted values in the case of Indebtedness issued with an original issue
discount) of the Notes and such other Indebtedness then outstanding, to
purchase the maximum principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of
Notes and such other Indebtedness, if any, that may be purchased out of the
Excess Proceeds, 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, if any, thereon to the date of purchase, in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount (or
accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and such Indebtedness surrendered by
Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select
the Notes and such Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon
completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be
reset at zero.
8. 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.
9. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note
may be treated as its owner for all purposes.
10. 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 a majority in aggregate 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 aggregate 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 (including the
addition of any Subsidiary Guarantors) or that does not adversely affect the
legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the
requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the
Indenture under the
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Trust Indenture Act or to evidence and provide for acceptance of, the
appointment of a successor Trustee.
11. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (i)
default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on or Liquidated
Damages, if any, with respect to the Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of
principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when the same becomes due and
payable at maturity, upon redemption (including in connection with an offer to
purchase) or otherwise, (iii) failure by the Company to comply with Section
4.07 and 4.08 of the Indenture, which failure remains uncured for 30 days; (iv)
failure by the Company for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee
or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding to comply with certain other agreements in the Indenture or the
Notes; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of
the Company which default results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness
prior to its express maturity; (vi) certain nonappealable final judgments for
the payment of money that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days; (vii) a
declaration that any of the Subsidiary Guarantees is unenforceable; or (viii)
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any
of its Significant Subsidiaries. If any Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and
payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if
given by the Holders) and the representative of holders of Indebtedness under
the Credit Agreement, if any amounts are outstanding thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will (i)
become due and payable without further action or notice or (ii) if there are
any amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement, become due and immediately
payable upon the first to occur of an acceleration under the Credit Agreement
or five Business Days after receipt by the Company and the representative of
the holders of the Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement of the Acceleration
Notice, but only if an Event of Default is then continuing. Holders may not
enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject
to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust
or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any
continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default
relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that
withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the
Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing
Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a
continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the
principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee
annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company
is required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver
to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
12. Subordination. The payment of principal of, premium,
if any, and interest on the Notes will be subordinated in right of payment to
the prior payment in full of Senior Indebtedness as set forth in Article 10 of
the Indenture.
13. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its
individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and
perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with
the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
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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 Transfer Restricted
Notes. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the
Indenture, Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes shall have all the rights set
forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the date of the
Indenture, between the Company and the parties named on the signature pages
thereof (the "Registration Rights Agreement").
18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated
by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has
caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP
numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No
representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on
the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be
placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request
and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights
Agreement. Requests may be made to:
Steel Heddle Mfg. Co.
1801 Rutherford Road
Greenville, South Carolina 29607
Telecopier No.: (864) 268-3823
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF DEFINITIVE NOTE
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note
for Definitive Notes have been made:
Principal Amount of this Signature of
Amount of decrease in Amount of increase in Global Note following authorized officer of
Principal Amount of Principal Amount of such decrease Trustee or Note
Date of Exchange this Global Note this Global Note (or increase) Custodian
------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------
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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)
Signature Guarantee.
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Option of Holder to Elect Purchase
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.07 or 4.08 of the Indenture, check the box below:
[ ] Section 4.07 [ ] Section 4.08
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased
by the Company pursuant to Section 4.07 or Section 4.08 of the Indenture, state
the amount you elect to have purchased: $___________
Date: Your Signature:
--------------------- ------------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name
appears on the Note)
Tax Identification No.:
----------------------
Signature Guarantee.
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EXHIBIT B
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE
The Guarantors listed below (hereinafter referred to as the
"Guarantors," which term includes any successor or assign under the Indenture
(the "Indenture") and any additional Guarantors), has irrevocably and
unconditionally guaranteed (i) the due and punctual payment of the principal
of, premium, if any, and interest on the 10.625% Senior Subordinated Notes due
2008 (the "Notes") of Steel Heddle Mfg. Co., a Pennsylvania corporation (the
"Company"), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, the due
and punctual payment of interest on the overdue principal, and premium if any,
and (to the extent permitted by law) interest on any interest, if any, on the
Notes, 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 set
forth in Article 11 of the Indenture, (ii) in case of any extension of time of
payment or renewal of any Notes or any 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, and (iii) the payment of any and all costs and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in
enforcing any rights under this Subsidiary Guarantee.
The obligations of each Guarantor to the Holder and to the
Trustee pursuant to this Subsidiary Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly
set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to such
Indenture for the precise terms of this Guarantee.
No stockholder, officer, director or incorporator, as such,
past, present or future of each Guarantor shall have any liability under this
Subsidiary Guarantee by reason of his or its status as such stockholder,
officer, director or incorporator.
This is a continuing Guarantee and shall remain in full force
and effect and shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and
assigns until full and final payment of all of the Company's obligations under
the Notes and Indenture and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and
assigns of the Trustee and the Holders, and, in the event of any transfer or
assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges
herein conferred upon that party shall automatically extend to and be vested in
such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions hereof.
This is a Guarantee of payment and not of collectibility.
This Subsidiary Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for
any purpose until the certificate of authentication on the Note upon which this
Subsidiary Guarantee is noted shall have been executed by the Trustee under the
Indenture by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers.
The Obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary
Guarantee shall be limited to the extent necessary to insure that it does not
constitute a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law.
The Obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary
Guarantee pursuant to Article 11 of the Indenture shall be junior and
subordinated to the
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Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of such Guarantor
on the same basis as the Notes are junior and subordinated to the Senior
Indebtedness of the Company. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, (a)
each Guarantor may make, and the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes 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 the Indenture, including Article 10 thereof, and (b) the
rights and obligations of the relevant parties relative to the Subsidiary
Guarantees and the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be the same as their
respective rights and obligations relative to the Notes and Senior Indebtedness
of the Company pursuant to Article 10 of the Indenture.
THE TERMS OF ARTICLE 11 OF THE INDENTURE ARE INCORPORATED
HEREIN BY REFERENCE.
Capitalized terms used herein have the same meanings given in
the Indenture unless otherwise indicated.
Guarantors:
HEDDLE CAPITAL CORP.
By:
-------------------------------------
Jerry B. Miller
President
STEEL HEDDLE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Benjamin G. Team
President
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EXHIBIT C
CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF NOTES
Re: 10.625% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008
This Certificate relates to $____________ principal amount of
Notes held in * ________ book-entry or *_______ definitive form by
________________ (the "Transferor").
The Transferor*:
[ ] has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in
exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Note held by the Depository
a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations in
an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global
Note (or the portion thereof indicated above); or
[ ] has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or
register the transfer of a Note or Notes.
[ ] In connection with such request and in respect of each such
Note, the Transferor does hereby certify that Transferor is familiar with the
Indenture relating to the above captioned Notes and as provided in Section 2.06
of such Indenture, the transfer of this Note does not require registration
under the Securities Act (as defined below) because:*
[ ] Such Note is being acquired for the Transferor's own account,
without transfer (in satisfaction of Section 2.06(a)(ii)(A) or Section
2.06(d)(i)(A) of the Indenture).
[ ] Such Note is being transferred to a "qualified institutional
buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act")) in reliance on Rule 144A (in satisfaction of Section
2.06(a)(ii)(B), Section 2.06(b)(i) or Section 2.06(d)(i)(B) of the Indenture)
or pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 904 under
the Securities Act (in satisfaction of Section 2.06(a)(ii)(B) or Section
2.06(d)(i)(B) of the Indenture.)
[ ] Such Note is being transferred in accordance with Rule 144
under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act (in satisfaction of Section 2.06(a)(ii)(B) or Section
2.06(d)(i)(B) of the Indenture).
- --------------------
* Check applicable box.
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[] Such Note is being transferred in reliance on and in
compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, other than Rule 144A, 144 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act.
An Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such transfer does not require
registration under the Securities Act accompanies this Certificate (in
satisfaction of Section 2.06(a)(ii)(C) or Section 2.06(d)(i)(C) of the
Indenture).
----------------------------------------
[INSERT NAME OF TRANSFEROR]
By:
-------------------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------------
- --------------------
* Check applicable box.
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