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EXHIBIT 4.1
EXECUTION COPY
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AAI.FOSTERGRANT, INC.
SERIES A AND SERIES B
10 3/4 % SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006
INDENTURE
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Dated as of July 21, 1998
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IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company
Trustee
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
(a) TRUST INDENTURE
ACT SECTION INDENTURE SECTION
310(a)(1).............................................................. 7.10
(a)(2) ................................................................ 7.10
(a)(3)................................................................. N.A.
(a)(4)................................................................. N.A.
(a)(5)................................................................. 7.10
(i)(b)................................................................. 7.10
(ii)(c)................................................................ N.A.
311(a)................................................................. 7.11
(b).................................................................... 7.11
(iii(c)................................................................ N.A.
312(a)................................................................. 2.05
(b).................................................................... 10.02
(iv)(c)................................................................ 10.02
313(a)................................................................. 7.06
(b)(2)................................................................. 7.07
(v)(c)................................................................. 7.06
(vi)(d)................................................................ 7.06
314(a)................................................................. 4.03
(c)(1)................................................................. 10.03
(c)(2)................................................................. 10.03
(c)(3)................................................................. N.A.
(vii)(e)............................................................... 10.04
(f).................................................................... NA
315 (a)................................................................ 7.01
(b).................................................................... 7.05
(A)(c)................................................................. 7.01
(d).................................................................... 7.01
(e).................................................................... 6.11
316(a)(last sentence).................................................. 2.09
(a)(1)(A).............................................................. 6.05
(a)(1)(B).............................................................. 6.04
(a)(2)................................................................. N.A.
(b).................................................................... 6.07
(B)(c)................................................................. 2.12
317(a)(1).............................................................. 6.08
(a)(2)................................................................. 6.09
(b) ................................................................... 2.04
318(a)................................................................. 10.01
(b).................................................................... N.A.
(c).................................................................... 10.01
N.A. means not applicable.
*This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE....................... 1
SECTION 1.01. DEFINITIONS................................................... 1
SECTION 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONS............................................. 14
SECTION 1.03. PROVISIONS OF THE TIA......................................... 15
SECTION 1.04. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION......................................... 15
ARTICLE 2. THE NOTES........................................................ 16
SECTION 2.01. FORM AND DATING............................................... 16
SECTION 2.02. EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION.................................. 17
SECTION 2.03. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT.................................... 18
SECTION 2.04. PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST........................... 18
SECTION 2.05. HOLDER LISTS.................................................. 19
SECTION 2.06. TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE......................................... 19
SECTION 2.07. REPLACEMENT NOTES............................................. 31
SECTION 2.08. OUTSTANDING NOTES............................................. 31
SECTION 2.09. TREASURY NOTES................................................ 31
SECTION 2.10. TEMPORARY NOTES............................................... 32
SECTION 2.11. CANCELLATION.................................................. 32
SECTION 2.12. DEFAULTED INTEREST............................................ 32
ARTICLE 3. REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT........................................ 32
SECTION 3.01. NOTICES TO TRUSTEE............................................ 32
SECTION 3.02. SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED............................. 32
SECTION 3.03. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.......................................... 33
SECTION 3.04. EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION................................ 34
SECTION 3.05. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE................................... 34
SECTION 3.06. NOTES REDEEMED IN PART........................................ 34
SECTION 3.07. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION........................................... 34
SECTION 3.08. MANDATORY REDEMPTION.......................................... 35
SECTION 3.09. OFFER TO PURCHASE BY APPLICATION OF EXCESS PROCEEDS........... 35
ARTICLE 4. COVENANTS........................................................ 36
SECTION 4.01. PAYMENT OF NOTES.............................................. 37
SECTION 4.02. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY............................... 37
SECTION 4.03. REPORTS....................................................... 37
SECTION 4.04. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE........................................ 38
SECTION 4.05. TAXES......................................................... 38
SECTION 4.06. STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS................................ 39
SECTION 4.07. RESTRICTED PAYMENTS........................................... 39
SECTION 4.08. DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING
SUBSIDIARIES................................................ 40
SECTION 4.09. INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF
PREFERRED STOCK............................................. 41
SECTION 4.10. ASSET SALES................................................... 43
SECTION 4.11. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.................................. 44
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SECTION 4.12. LIENS......................................................... 45
SECTION 4.13. CORPORATE EXISTENCE........................................... 45
SECTION 4.14. OFFER TO REPURCHASE UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL.................... 45
SECTION 4.15. LIMITATION ON SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS................. 46
SECTION 4.16. LIMITATION ON ISSUANCES AND SALES OF EQUITY INTERESTS
IN WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES................................ 46
SECTION 4.17. PAYMENTS FOR CONSENT.......................................... 47
SECTION 4.18. ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES.............................. 47
ARTICLE 5. SUCCESSORS....................................................... 47
SECTION 5.01. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS...................... 47
SECTION 5.02. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED............................. 48
ARTICLE 6. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES............................................ 48
SECTION 6.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT............................................. 48
SECTION 6.02. ACCELERATION.................................................. 49
SECTION 6.03. OTHER REMEDIES................................................ 50
SECTION 6.04. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS....................................... 50
SECTION 6.05. CONTROL BY MAJORITY........................................... 51
SECTION 6.06. LIMITATION ON SUITS........................................... 51
SECTION 6.07. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF NOTES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT................. 51
SECTION 6.08. COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE.................................... 51
SECTION 6.09. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.............................. 52
SECTION 6.10. PRIORITIES.................................................... 52
SECTION 6.11. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS......................................... 52
ARTICLE 7. TRUSTEE ......................................................... 53
SECTION 7.01. DUTIES OF TRUSTEE............................................. 53
SECTION 7.02. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE............................................. 54
SECTION 7.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.................................. 54
SECTION 7.04. TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER.......................................... 54
SECTION 7.05. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS............................................ 55
SECTION 7.06. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES.................... 55
SECTION 7.07. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY.................................... 55
SECTION 7.08. REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE........................................ 56
SECTION 7.09. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.............................. 57
SECTION 7.10. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION................................. 57
SECTION 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY............. 57
ARTICLE 8. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE......................... 57
SECTION 8.01. OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT
DEFEASANCE.................................................. 57
SECTION 8.02. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE................................ 58
SECTION 8.03. COVENANT DEFEASANCE........................................... 58
SECTION 8.04. CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.................... 58
SECTION 8.05. DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE
HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS............... 60
SECTION 8.06. REPAYMENT TO COMPANY.......................................... 60
SECTION 8.07. REINSTATEMENT................................................. 60
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ARTICLE 9. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER................................. 61
SECTION 9.01. WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES........................... 61
SECTION 9.02. WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES.............................. 61
SECTION 9.03. COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT........................... 63
SECTION 9.04. REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS............................. 63
SECTION 9.05. NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF NOTES.............................. 63
SECTION 9.06. TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC............................... 63
ARTICLE 10. SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES........................................... 63
SECTION 10.01. GUARANTEE.................................................... 64
SECTION 10.02. LIMITATION ON GUARANTOR LIABILITY............................ 64
SECTION 10.03. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE............... 65
SECTION 10.04. GUARANTORS MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ON CERTAIN TERMS........... 65
SECTION 10.05. RELEASES FOLLOWING SALE OF ASSETS............................ 66
ARTICLE 11. MISCELLANEOUS................................................... 66
SECTION 11.01. TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS................................. 66
SECTION 11.02. NOTICES...................................................... 66
SECTION 11.03. COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF NOTES WITH OTHER
HOLDERS OF NOTES........................................... 68
SECTION 11.04. CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT........... 68
SECTION 11.05. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION................ 68
SECTION 11.06. RULES BY TRUSTEE AND AGENTS.................................. 68
SECTION 11.07. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS,
EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS................................. 68
SECTION 11.08. GOVERNING LAW................................................ 69
SECTION 11.09. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS................ 69
SECTION 11.10. SUCCESSORS................................................... 69
SECTION 11.11. SEVERABILITY................................................. 69
SECTION 11.12. COUNTERPART ORIGINALS........................................ 69
SECTION 11.13. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC............................. 69
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A FORM OF NOTE
Exhibit B FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Exhibit C FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Exhibit D FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Exhibit E FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE
Exhibit F FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
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INDENTURE dated as of July 21, 1998 among AAi.FosterGrant, Inc., a
Rhode Island corporation (the "Company"), the guarantors listed on the signature
pages hereto (the "Guarantors") and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as
trustee (the "Trustee").
The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the
benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of
the 10 3/4 % Series A Senior Notes due 2006 (the "Series A Notes") and the
10 3/4 % Series B Senior Notes due 2006 (the "Series B Notes" and together, with
the Series A Notes, the "Notes"):
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01. DEFINITIONS.
"144A Global Note" means a global note in the form of Exhibit A-1
hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and
deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or
its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding
principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
"Acquired Debt" 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.
"Additional Notes" means up to $75.0 million in aggregate principal
amount of Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this Indenture in
accordance with Sections 2.02 and 4.09 hereof.
"Affiliate" 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 Stock of a Person shall be
deemed to be control.
"Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or exchange
of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of
the Depositary, Euroclear and Cedel that apply to such transfer or exchange.
"Asset Sale" means (i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition
of any assets or rights (including, without limitation, by way of a sale and
leaseback) other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business
(provided that the sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be
governed by the provisions
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of Section 4.14 hereof and/or Section 5.01 hereof and not by Section 4.10
hereof, and (ii) the issue or sale by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
Equity Interests of any of the Company's Subsidiaries, in the case of either
clause (i) or (ii), whether in a single transaction or a series of related
transactions (a) that have a fair market value in excess of $1.0 million or (b)
for net proceeds in excess of $1.0 million. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Sales: (i) 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, (ii) an issuance of Equity
Interests by a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the Company or to another Wholly Owned
Subsidiary, and (iii) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07
hereof.
"Attributable Debt" in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction
means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate
of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP) of
the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term
of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any
period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the
lessor, be extended).
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or
state law for the relief of debtors.
"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company, or
any authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
"Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination thereof
is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that
would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in
accordance with GAAP.
"Capital Stock" means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate
stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all
shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however
designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited
liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or
limited) and (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person
the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of
assets of, the issuing Person.
"Cash Equivalents" means (i) United States dollars, (ii) securities
issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States
government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full
faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having
maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition, (iii)
certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six
months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers' acceptances with
maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case
with any lender party to the Senior Credit Facility or with any domestic
commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a
Thompson Bank Watch Rating of "B" or better, (iv) repurchase obligations with a
term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types
described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above entered into with any financial
institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iii) above, (v)
commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Corporation and in each case maturing within
six months after the date of acquisition and (vi) money market funds at least
95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in
clauses (i)--(v) of this definition.
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"Cedel" means Cedel Bank, SA.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following: (i)
the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of
merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole to any "person" (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act) other than a Principal or a Related Party; (ii) the adoption of a plan
relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (iii) the
consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or
consolidation) the result of which is that any "person" (as defined above) other
than the Principals, their Related Parties or a Permitted Group becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under
the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have "beneficial
ownership" of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether
such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence
of a subsequent condition), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the
Voting Stock of the Company (measured by voting power rather than number of
shares); or (iv) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board
of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors.
"Company" means AAi.FosterGrant, Inc., and any and all successors
thereto.
"Consolidated Assets" means, with respect to any Person as of any date,
the total assets of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such
date, calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus (i) an
amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized in connection
with an Asset Sale (to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income), plus (ii) provision for taxes based on income or
profits of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that
such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income,
plus (iii) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for
such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including,
without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue
discount, noncash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred
payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with
Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt,
commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter
of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant
to Hedging Obligations), to the extent that any such expense was deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (iv) depreciation, amortization
(including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles but excluding
amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and
other noncash expenses (excluding any such noncash expense to the extent that it
represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or
amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such
Person and its Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such
depreciation, amortization and other noncash expenses were deducted in computing
such Consolidated Net Income, plus (v) Restructuring Charges, minus (vi) noncash
items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period (other than items
that were accrued in the ordinary course of business), in each case, on a
consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the provision for taxes on the income or profits of, and the
depreciation and amortization and other noncash expenses of, a Subsidiary of the
referent Person shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute
Consolidated Cash Flow only to the extent that a corresponding amount would be
permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Company by such
Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and
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without direct or indirect restriction 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 shareholders.
"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 (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly,
by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment,
decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that
Subsidiary or its shareholders, (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 and (iv) the cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principles shall be excluded.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means, with respect to any Person as of any
date, the sum of (i) the consolidated equity of the common shareholders of such
Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date plus (ii) the
respective amounts reported on such Person's balance sheet as of such date with
respect to any series of preferred stock (other than Disqualified Stock) that by
its terms is not entitled to the payment of dividends unless such dividends may
be declared and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the year of such
declaration and payment, but only to the extent of any cash received by such
Person upon issuance of such preferred stock, less (a) all write-ups (other than
write-ups resulting from foreign currency translations and write-ups of tangible
assets of a going concern business made within 12 months after the acquisition
of such business) subsequent to the date of this Indenture in the book value of
any asset owned by such Person or a consolidated Subsidiary of such Person, (b)
all investments as of such date in unconsolidated Subsidiaries and in Persons
that are not Subsidiaries (except, in each case, Permitted Investments) and (c)
all unamortized debt discount and expense and unamortized deferred charges as of
such date, all of the foregoing determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any
member of the Board of Directors of the Company who (i) was a member of such
Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture or (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 at the time of such
nomination or election.
"Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" shall be at the address of the
Trustee specified in Section 11.02 hereof or such other address as to which the
Trustee may give notice to the Company.
"Credit Facilities" means, with respect to the Company or a Foreign
Subsidiary, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the
Senior Credit Facility) or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks
or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans,
receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders
or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such
receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified,
renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.
Indebtedness under Credit Facilities outstanding on the date on which Notes are
first issued and authenticated under this Indenture shall be deemed to have been
incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (i) of
Section 4.09(b) hereof.
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"Custodian" means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes
in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
"Default" means any event that is or with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default.
"Definitive Note" means a certificated Note registered in the name of
the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, in the
form of Exhibit A-1 hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note
Legend and shall not have the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global
Note" attached thereto.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in
whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as
the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto
appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the
applicable provision of this Indenture.
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by
the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is
exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the
happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a
sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the
Holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days
after the date on which the Notes mature; provided, however, that any Capital
Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders
thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock
upon the occurrence of a Change of Control or an Asset Sale shall not constitute
Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company
may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions
unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 hereof.
"Domestic Subsidiary" means, with respect to the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States of
America or that guarantees or otherwise provides credit support for any
Indebtedness of the Company.
"Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or
other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
"Euroclear" means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels
office, as operator of the Euroclear system.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Exchange Notes" means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer pursuant
to Section 2.06(f) hereof.
"Exchange Offer" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in
the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facility) in
existence on the date of this Indenture (calculated
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in the case of contingent Indebtedness on the basis of the maximum amount due
under agreements existing as of the date of this Indenture), until such
Indebtedness is repaid.
"Existing Leases" means (i) that certain Lease effective January 1,
1998 by and between Sunrise Properties LLC and the Company, covering the
premises at 4 Warren Avenue, North Providence, Rhode Island; (ii) that certain
Lease effective January 1, 1998 by and between 299 Carpenter Street Associates,
LLC and the Company, covering the premises located at 299 Carpenter Street,
Providence, Rhode Island; and (iii) that certain Standard Net Commercial Lease
dated December 11, 1996, by and between Foster Grant Group L.P. and OCR
Management Corporation, covering the Texas Property.
"Fantasma Agreement" means and includes that certain Member Agreement
dated as of June 23, 1998 by and among the Company, Roger D. Dreyer and Houdini
Capital LTD and that certain Member Agreement dated as of June 23, 1998 by and
between the Company and Paul Michaels.
"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 debt issuance costs and original issue
discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred
payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with
Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt,
commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter
of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant
to Hedging Obligations) and (ii) the consolidated interest expense of such
Person and its Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period, and (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 dividend payments, whether or not
in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than dividend payments on Equity Interests payable solely in
Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or to the
Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of
which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined
federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a
decimal, in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
"Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means with respect to any Person for any
period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period
to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the
referent Person or any of its Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, Guarantees or
redeems any Indebtedness (other than revolving credit borrowings) or issues or
redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but 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, Guarantee or
redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of preferred stock,
as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter
reference period. In addition, 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 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 Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference period shall be calculated
without giving effect to clause (iii) of the proviso set forth in the definition
of Consolidated Net Income, and (ii) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to
discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations
or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be
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12
excluded, and (iii) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations,
as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of
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 Subsidiary of the Company that is not a
Domestic Subsidiary.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession, which are in effect on the date of this Indenture.
"Global Notes" means, individually and collectively, each of the
Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes, in the form of
Exhibit A-1 hereto issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(iv),
2.06(d)(ii) or 2.06(f) hereof.
"Global Note Legend" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(ii)
hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this
Indenture.
"Government Securities" means direct Obligations of, or Obligations
guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the
United States pledges its full faith and credit.
"Guarantee" means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or
indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of
assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.
"Guarantors" means (i) each current and future Domestic Subsidiary of
the Company and (ii) any other Subsidiary of the Company that executes a
Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and
their respective successors and assigns.
"Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the
Obligations of such Person under (i) 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.
"IAI Global Note" means the global Note in the form of Exhibit A-1
hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and
deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or
its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding
principal amount of the Notes sold to Institutional Accredited Investors.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any indebtedness
of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or
evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of
credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker's acceptances
or representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of
the purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging Obligations,
except any such balance that constitutes an
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accrued expense or trade payable, if and to the extent any of the foregoing
indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear
as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with
GAAP, (ii) 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 (iii) to
the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by such Person of any
indebtedness of any other Person. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as
of any date shall be (i) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any
Indebtedness issued with original issue discount, and (ii) the principal amount
thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due,
in the case of any other Indebtedness.
"Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time
to time.
"Indirect Participant" means a Person who holds a beneficial interest
in a Global Note through a Participant.
"Initial Notes" means $75,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.
"Initial Purchasers" means NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC,
Prudential Securities Incorporated and BancBoston Securities Inc.
"Institutional Accredited Investor" means an institution that is an
"accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the
Securities Act, who is not also a QIB.
"Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all investments by
such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or
indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations),
advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and
advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as
accounts receivable of the lender), purchases or other acquisitions for
consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together
with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet
prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or
indirect Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such
sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company, the
Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale
or disposition equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such
Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the
final paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof.
"Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by
law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a
Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the
next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on
such payment for the intervening period.
"Letter of Transmittal" means the letter of transmittal to be prepared
by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in
connection with the Exchange Offer.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law
(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease
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14
in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under
the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction).
"Liquidated Damages" means all liquidated damages then owing pursuant
to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss)
of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in
respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (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 gain (but not loss), together with any related provision
for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).
"Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including,
without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any
non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs
relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting
and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any relocation expenses
incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after
taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing
arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness
secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset
Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset
or assets established in accordance with GAAP.
"Non-U.S. Person" means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.
"Notes" has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this
Indenture.
"Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
"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 11.05 hereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of
Section 11.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.
"Participant" means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or
Cedel, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Cedel,
respectively (and, with respect to The Depository Trust Company, shall include
Euroclear and Cedel).
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"Permitted Group" means, at any time prior to an initial public
offering of common stock of the Company, any group of investors that is deemed
to be a "person" (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act)
by virtue of the Shareholders Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time; provided that no single Person (together with
its Affiliates), other than the Principals and their Related Parties, is the
"beneficial owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under
the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have "beneficial
ownership" of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether
such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence
of a subsequent condition, and beneficial ownership shall be determined without
regard to the Shareholders Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the
Voting Stock of the Company (measured by voting power rather than number of
shares) that is "beneficially owned" (as defined above) by such Permitted Group.
"Permitted Investments" means (a) any Investment in the Company, in a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary or in a Guarantor; (b) any Investment in Cash
Equivalents; (c) any Investment by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
in a Person, if as a result of such Investment (i) such Person becomes a
Guarantor or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary 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 Guarantor or a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary; (d) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of
noncash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in
compliance with Section 4.10 hereof; (e) any acquisition of assets solely in
exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of
the Company; (f) other Investments in Subsidiaries of the Company that are not
Guarantors having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such
Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value),
when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (f)
that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed 10% of the Company's
Consolidated Assets on the date of such Investment; (g) Investments existing on
the date of this Indenture; (h) receivables owing to the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company if created or acquired in the ordinary course of
business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms;
provided that such trade terms may include concessionary terms as the Company of
such Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances; (i) loans or advances
to employees permitted by clause (v) of Section 4.11 hereof; (j) stock
obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the
ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or in satisfaction of judgments; and (k) other Investments in any Person having
an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was
made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken
together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (k) that are at
the time outstanding, not to exceed $5.0 million.
"Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens on assets of the Company or any of
the Guarantors or Foreign Subsidiaries securing obligations of such Persons
under Credit Facilities that was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be
incurred; (ii) Liens in favor of the Company; (iii) Liens on property of a
Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated
with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were
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 to secure Indebtedness
(including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by Section 4.09(b)(iv) hereof
covering only the assets acquired with such Indebtedness; (vii) Liens existing
on the date of this
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Indenture; (viii) Liens on the Smithfield Property incurred in connection with a
sale and leaseback transaction permitted under the terms of this Indenture; (ix)
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; (x) Liens to secure Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness,
provided that such Liens extend only to the assets that secured the Indebtedness
refinanced with the proceeds of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; (xi)
statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics,
suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and other Liens imposed by law incurred in the
ordinary course of business for sums not delinquent or being contested in good
faith, if such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be
required by GAAP shall have been made in respect thereof; (xii) Liens securing
Hedging Obligations; (xiii) easements, rights-of-way, municipal and zoning
ordinances and similar charges, encumbrances, title defects or other
irregularities that do not materially interfere with the ordinary course of
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (xiv) Liens on assets of
Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness of such persons that was permitted by the
terms of this Indenture to be incurred; and (xv) 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 $5.0 million at any one time outstanding.
"Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds
of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than intercompany
Indebtedness); provided that: (i) the principal amount (or accreted value, if
applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the
principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus accrued interest
on, the Indebtedness extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded (plus the amount of reasonable expenses incurred in connection
therewith); (ii) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity
date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to
Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded; (iii) 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 (iv) such Indebtedness is incurred either by
the Company or by the Subsidiary that 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).
"Principals" means Gerald F. Cerce, John H. Flynn, Jr., Robert V. Lallo
and Felix A. Porcaro, Jr.
"Private Placement Legend" means the legend set forth in Section
2.06(g)(i) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except
where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A.
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"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of July 21, 1998, by and among the Company and the other
parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time and, with respect to any Additional
Notes, one or more registration rights agreements between the Company and the
other parties thereto, as such agreement(s) may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time, relating to rights given by the Company to the
purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes under the
Securities Act.
"Regulation S" means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Regulation S Global Note" means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note
or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as appropriate.
"Regulation S Permanent Global Note" means a permanent global Note in
the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private
Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name
of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the
outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon
expiration of the Restricted Period.
"Regulation S Temporary Global Note" means a temporary global Note in
the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto bearing the Private Placement Legend and
deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or
its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount
of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.
"Related Party" with respect to any Principal means (i) any controlling
shareholder, 80% (or more) owned Subsidiary, or spouse or immediate family
member (in the case of an individual) of such Principal or (ii) any trust,
corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries, shareholders,
partners, owners or Persons beneficially holding an 80% or more controlling
interest of which consist of such Principal and/or such other Persons referred
to in the immediately preceding clause (i).
"Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the Trustee, means any
officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any
successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter,
any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Restricted Broker-Dealer" has the meaning set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement.
"Restricted Definitive Note" means a Definitive Note bearing the
Private Placement Legend.
"Restricted Global Note" means a Global Note bearing the Private
Placement Legend.
"Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.
"Restricted Period" means the 40-day restricted period as defined in
Regulation S.
"Restructuring Charges" means any charges or write-offs associated with
the discontinuance of operations at the Company's Texas Property less any tax
benefit received from any
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such charge being deducted from the taxable income of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such charges or write-offs are charged
within 12 months of the date of this Indenture and the maximum amount of charges
that may be treated as "Restructuring Charges" shall be $2.6 million.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 903" means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 904" means Rule 904 promulgated the Securities Act.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Senior Credit Facility" means that certain Amended and Restated
Financing and Security Agreement, dated as of May 9, 1997, by and among the
Company, certain of its Subsidiaries, NationsBank, N.A., as agent, and the other
lenders party thereto, as amended by the Second Amended and Restated Financing
and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company,
its existing Domestic Subsidiaries and NationsBank, N.A., as agent and the other
lenders party thereto, providing for up to $60.0 million of revolving credit
borrowings, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents,
instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as
amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time.
"Shareholders Agreement" means the Tag-Along, Transfer Restriction and
Voting Agreement dated as of December 11, 1996, as amended, among the Company
and the shareholders and option holders party thereto.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means the Shelf Registration Statement
as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that would be a
"significant subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X,
promulgated pursuant to the Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date
hereof.
"Smithfield Property" means the real property and fixtures located at
500 George Washington Highway, Smithfield, Rhode Island, which are used by the
Company as an office and distribution facility.
"Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any installment of interest or
principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of
interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to
repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date
originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation,
association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting
power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of
any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or
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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).
"Subsidiary Guarantee" means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the
Company's payment obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, executed
pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.
"Texas Property" means the real property and fixtures located at Valley
View Lane, Farmers Branch, Texas, which are leased by the Company.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.ss.ss.
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified
under the TIA.
"Trustee" means the party named as such above until a successor
replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and
thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
"Unrestricted Global Note" means a permanent global Note in the form of
Exhibit A-1 attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the
"Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto, and
that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the
Depositary, representing a series of Notes that do not bear the Private
Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Definitive Note" means one or more Definitive Notes that
do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
"U.S. Person" means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(o) under the
Securities Act.
"Voting Stock" of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of
such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of
Directors of such Person.
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any
Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum
of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding principal
amount of such Indebtedness.
"Wholly Owned Subsidiary" of any Person means a Subsidiary of such
Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of
which (other than directors' qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by
such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person and one
or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
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SECTION 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONS.
Defined in
Term Section
"Affiliate Transaction"......................................... 4.11
"Asset Sale Offer".............................................. 3.09
"Authentication Order".......................................... 2.02
"Change of Control Offer"....................................... 4.14
"Change of Control Payment"..................................... 4.14
"Change of Control Payment Date" ............................... 4.14
"Covenant Defeasance"........................................... 8.03
"Event of Default".............................................. 6.01
"Excess Proceeds"............................................... 4.10
"incur"......................................................... 4.09
"Legal Defeasance".............................................. 8.02
"Offer Amount".................................................. 3.09
"Offer Period".................................................. 3.09
"Paying Agent".................................................. 2.03
"Payment Default"............................................... 6.01
"Permitted Debt"................................................ 4.09
"Purchase Date"................................................. 3.09
"Registrar"..................................................... 2.03
"Restricted Payments"........................................... 4.07
SECTION 1.03 PROVISIONS OF THE TIA.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision
is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following
meanings:
"indenture securities" means the Notes;
"indenture security Holder" means a Holder of a Note;
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;
"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee; and
"obligor" on the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees means the Company
and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and
the Subsidiary Guarantees, respectively.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA,
defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA
have the meanings so assigned to them.
SECTION 1.04. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
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(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the
meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) "or" is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the
plural include the singular;
(5) provisions apply to successive events and
transactions; and
(6) references to sections of or rules under the
Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of
successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.
ARTICLE 2.
THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01. FORM AND DATING.
(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto. The
Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock
exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.
The Notes shall be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and
are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the
Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture,
expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However,
to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of
this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be
controlling.
(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 attached hereto (including the Global
Note Legend thereon and the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global
Note" attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially
in the form of Exhibits A-1 or A-2 attached hereto (but without the Global Note
Legend thereon and without the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global
Note" attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the
outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it
shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to
time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding
Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as
appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global
Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the
Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance
with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06
hereof.
(c) Temporary Global Notes. Notes offered and sold in reliance on
Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary
Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes
represented thereby with the Trustee, at its New York office, as custodian for
the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of
the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of
Euroclear or Cedel Bank, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the
Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Restricted
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Period shall be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of (i) a written
certificate from the Depositary, together with copies of certificates from
Euroclear and Cedel Bank certifying that they have received certification of
non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount
of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any
beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted
Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act
and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global
Note or an IAI Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as
contemplated by Section 2.06(a)(ii) hereof), and (ii) an Officers' Certificate
from the Company. Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial
interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall be exchanged for
beneficial interests in Regulation S Permanent Global Notes pursuant to the
Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication of Regulation S
Permanent Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel the Regulation S Temporary
Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global
Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes may from time to time be
increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the
Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of
interest as hereinafter provided.
d) Euroclear and Cedel Procedures Applicable. The provisions of
the "Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System" and "Terms and Conditions
Governing Use of Euroclear" and the "General Terms and Conditions of Cedel Bank"
and "Customer Handbook" of Cedel Bank shall be applicable to transfers of
beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the
Regulation S Permanent Global Notes that are held by Participants through
Euroclear or Cedel Bank.
SECTION 2.02. EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION.
Two Officers shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or
facsimile signature. The Company's seal shall be reproduced on the Notes and may
be in facsimile form.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office
at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature
of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has
been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by two
Officers (an "Authentication Order"), authenticate Notes for original issue up
to the aggregate principal amount stated in paragraph 4 of the Notes, plus up to
$75.0 million of Additional Notes issued pursuant to this Section 2.02 and
Section 4.09 hereof. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any
time may not exceed such amount except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the
Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes
whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to
authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An
authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an
Affiliate of the Company.
SECTION 2.03. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be
presented for registration of transfer or for exchange ("Registrar") and an
office or agency where Notes may be
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presented for payment ("Paying Agent"). The Registrar shall keep a register of
the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or
more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term
"Registrar" includes any co-registrar and the term "Paying Agent" includes any
additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar
without notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of
the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company
fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the
Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as
Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") to
act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and
Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
SECTION 2.04. PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to
agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of
Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of
principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes, and
will promptly notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any
such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying
Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may
require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment
over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a
Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a
Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust
fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon
any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the
Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
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, and premium,
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on any Note and remaining unclaimed for
two years after such principal, and premium, interest and Liquidated Damages, if
any, 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 an unsecured 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
(national edition) and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that
such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which
shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or
publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid
to the Company.
SECTION 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 ss. 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
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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 ss. 312(a).
SECTION 2.06. TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not
be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the
Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another
nominee of the Depositary, the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor
Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes shall be
exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if (i) the Company delivers to the
Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to
act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the
Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary or
(ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in
whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a
written notice to such effect to the Trustee; provided that in no event shall
the Regulation S Temporary Global Note be exchanged by the Company for
Definitive Notes prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y)
the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule
903(c)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act. Upon the occurrence of either of the
preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such
names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be
exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and
2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu
of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or
Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form
of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another
Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial
interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in
Section 2.06(b),(c) or (f) hereof.
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global
Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes
shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of
this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the
Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable
to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act.
Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require
compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as
one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global
Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be
transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance
with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement
Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the
Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Temporary
Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the
account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser).
Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred
to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or
instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to
effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).
(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial
Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and
exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section
2.06(b)(i) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must
deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1)
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a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to
the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing
the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest
in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to
be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance
with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the
Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a
written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to
the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing
the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount
equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2)
instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing
information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note
shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in
(1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued
upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation
S Temporary Global Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted
Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates
required pursuant to Rule 903 under the Securities Act. Upon
consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with
Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(ii)
shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of
the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by
the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes.
Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange
of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and
the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee
shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s)
pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.
(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another
Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global
Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the
form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the
transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above
and the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the
form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then
the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1)
thereof;
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the
form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary
Global Note or the Regulation S Global Note, then the
transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transferee will take delivery in the
form of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, then the
transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications and certificates and an
Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if
applicable.
(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a
Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in the Unrestricted
Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be
exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global
Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of
Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected
pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial
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interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the
transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the
applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a
broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution
of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as
defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement or pursuant to any other
effective registration statement under the Securities Act and
a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto is
received by the Registrar;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Restricted
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial
interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial
interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a
certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C
hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a)
thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial
interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who
shall take delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a
certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (4)
thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if
the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so
require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable
to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer
is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the
restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private
Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act.
If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D)
above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the
Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance
with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more
Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to
subparagraph (B) or (D) above.
Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged
for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive
Notes.
(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted
Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global
Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive
Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the
Registrar of the following documentation:
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(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in
a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial
interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from
such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;
(B) if such beneficial interest is being
transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such beneficial interest is being
transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in
accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D) if such beneficial interest is being
transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule
144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such beneficial interest is being
transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in
reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs
(B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth
in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications,
certificates and an Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)
thereof, if applicable;
(F) if such beneficial interest is being
transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or
(G) if such beneficial interest is being
transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the
applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section
2.06(h) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a
Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive
Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) shall be registered in
such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations
as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar
through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or
Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes
to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any
Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) shall bear
the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions
on transfer contained therein.
(ii) Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(i)(A) and (C) hereof, a
beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be
exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (x) the expiration of the
Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates
required pursuant to Rule
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903(c)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act, except in the case of a transfer
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.
(iii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to
Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive
Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and
the holder of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or
the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable
Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person
participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person
who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement or pursuant to any other effective registration statement and
a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto is received
by the Registrar;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Restricted
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in
a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial
interest for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private
Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form
of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in
item (1)(b) thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in
a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial
interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the
form of a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private
Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form
of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4)
thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so
requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in
form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or
transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on
transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer
required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(iv) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to
Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a
Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes
delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of
the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(iii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause
the aggregate principal amount of the applicable
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Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate
principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial
interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iv) shall be registered in such name
or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of
such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from
the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall
deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so
registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest
pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iv) shall not bear the Private Placement
Legend.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial
Interests.
(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes
to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or
to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then,
upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note
proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of
Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (1) thereof;
(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in
accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2)
thereof;
(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements
of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications, certificates and an Opinion of Counsel required by item
(3) thereof, if applicable;
(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to
the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications
in item (3)(b) thereof; or
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(G) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be
increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above,
the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the
144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note,
and in all other cases, the IAI Global Note.
(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange
such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer
such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the
form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and
the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case
of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that
it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement or pursuant to any other effective registration statement and
a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto is received
by the Registrar;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Restricted
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes
proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in
the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder
in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications
in item (1)(c) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes
proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the
Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in
the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if
the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so
require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable
to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer
is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the
restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private
Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act.
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Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section
2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause
to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests
in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive
Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person
who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for
such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable
Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the
aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial
interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or (iii) above
at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company
shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with
Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted
Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of
Definitive Notes so transferred.
(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive
Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder's compliance
with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the
transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer
or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar
the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or
by his attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder
shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as
applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this
Section 2.06(e).
(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive
Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and
registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form
of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the
following:
(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to
Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in
the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (1) thereof;
(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to
Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a
certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any
other exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate
in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications,
certificates and an Opinion of Counsel required by item (3)
thereof, if applicable.
(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted
Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by
the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred
to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an
Unrestricted Definitive Note if:
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(A) such exchange or transfer is effected
pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of
an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer,
certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is
not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an
affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement or pursuant to any other
effective registration statement and a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto is received by the
Registrar;
(C) any such transfer is effected by a
Restricted Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration
Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Restricted
Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for
an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from
such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof;
or
(2) if the Holder of such Restricted
Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a
Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of
an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from
such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph
(D), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of
Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company
to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in
compliance with the Securities Act and that the
restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the
Private Placement Legend are no longer required in
order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted
Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may
transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form
of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to
register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted
Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.
(f) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and,
upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02, the
Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial
interests in the Restricted Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that
certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (x) they are not
broker-dealers, (y) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange
Notes and (z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company,
and accept for exchange in the Exchange Offer and (ii) Definitive Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted
Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with
the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal
amount of the applicable
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Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company shall execute
and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the
Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive Notes in the appropriate
principal amount.
(g) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the face of all
Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless
specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
(i) Private Placement Legend.
(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B)
below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all
Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof)
shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:
"THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT
BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT
PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR IN
ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (SUBJECT TO THE DELIVERY OF
SUCH EVIDENCE, IF REQUIRED UNDER THE INDENTURE PURSUANT TO
WHICH THIS NOTE IS ISSUED) AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES
OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY
EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE
RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF
THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER OR ANOTHER
EXEMPTION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY
EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT
(A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED ONLY (1) (a) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY
BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN
RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING
THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING
THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c)
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A FOREIGN PERSON IN A TRANSACTION
MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED
UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS),
SUBJECT TO THE RECEIPT BY THE REGISTRAR OF A CERTIFICATION OF
THE TRANSFEROR AND AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE EFFECT THAT
SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) TO
THE COMPANY OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES
OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL
AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER
FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE
RESTRICTION SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE."
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(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global
Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs
(b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii),
(e)(iii) or (f) to this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in
exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the
Private Placement Legend.
(ii) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear a
legend in substantially the following form:
"THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE
INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT
TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT
(I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE
REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS
GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT
TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE
MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN
CONSENT OF AAI.FOSTERGRANT, INC."
(iii) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend. The
Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially
the following form:
"THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL
NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE
FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS
DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS
OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON."
(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time
as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for
Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or
canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or
retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At
any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note
is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in
the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive
Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be
reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the
Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such
reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred
to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest
in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly
and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the
Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges,
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global
Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order or
at the Registrar's request.
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(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a
beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive
Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or
similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than
any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon
exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14
and 9.05 hereof).
(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the
transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in
part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any
registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive
Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the
same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as
the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration
of transfer or exchange.
(v) The Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to
register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period
beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any
selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending
at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the
transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole
or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in
part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a
record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a
transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem
and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the
absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of
principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and
none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by
notice to the contrary.
(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and
Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02
hereof.
(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of
Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this
Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be
submitted by facsimile.
SECTION 2.07. REPLACEMENT NOTES.
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and
the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or
theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee's
requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity
bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the
Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any
authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is
replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and
shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
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SECTION 2.08. OUTSTANDING NOTES.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by
the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for
cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the
Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this
Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note
does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company holds the Note.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be
outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under
Section4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to
accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money
sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such
Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue
interest.
SECTION 2.09. TREASURY NOTES.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of
Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the
Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with the Company, shall be considered as
though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent,
only Notes that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 2.10. TEMPORARY NOTES.
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the
Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order,
shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in
the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company
considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable
to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the
Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of
this Indenture.
SECTION 2.11. CANCELLATION.
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for
cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any
Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The
Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of
transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy
canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange
Act). Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes shall be delivered
to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has
paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
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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 but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an
Officers' Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to
which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal
amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.
SECTION 3.02. SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED.
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an
offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed
or purchased among the Holders of the Notes in compliance with the requirements
of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are
listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in
accordance with any other method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate. In
the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed
shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, at least 30 but not more
than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding
Notes not previously called for redemption.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial
redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of
Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000;
except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire
outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of
$1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence,
provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also
apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.
SECTION 3.03. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but
not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause
to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.
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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
(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or
accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the
Notes.
At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the
redemption date, an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such
notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided
in the preceding paragraph.
SECTION 3.04. EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.
Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with
Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and
payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption
may not be conditional.
SECTION 3.05. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.
One Business Day prior to the redemption date, the Company
shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay
the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that
date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any
money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of
the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on,
all Notes to be redeemed.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding
paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on
the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed
on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest
payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person
in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record
date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for
redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the
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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 receipt of an Authentication Order, 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) The Notes shall not be redeemable at the Company's option
prior to July 15, 2002. Thereafter, the Notes shall be subject to redemption at
any time at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than
30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as
percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable redemption
date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on July 15th of the
years indicated below:
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
2002..................................................... 105.375%
2003..................................................... 102.688%
2004 and thereafter...................................... 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time on or before
July 15, 2001, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal
amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of
110.750% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the redemption date, with the net cash
proceeds of a public sale of common stock of the Company; provided that at least
65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this
Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such
redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries); and
provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 45 days after the
date of the closing of such public sale.
(c) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made
pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
SECTION 3.08. MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption
or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
SECTION 3.09. OFFER TO PURCHASE BY APPLICATION OF EXCESS PROCEEDS.
In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the
Company shall be required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes
(an "Asset Sale Offer"), it shall follow the procedures specified below.
The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20
Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent
that a longer period is required by applicable law (the
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"Offer Period"). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the
Offer Period (the "Purchase Date"), the Company shall purchase the principal
amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (the
"Offer Amount") or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes
tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased
shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.
If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date
and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid
interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the
close of business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be
payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company
shall send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the
Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions
and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the
Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice,
which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:
(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this
Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer
shall remain open;
(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;
(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall
continue to 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 accrue
interest 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 prior to
the expiration of the Offer Period;
(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
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(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be
issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the
Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).
On or before the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the
extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary,
the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset
Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes
tendered, and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that
such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in
accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or
the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later
than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder
an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and
accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall promptly issue a new
Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Company shall authenticate
and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to
any 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. 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 Notes in connection with an Asset Sale Offer and, to the extent
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, such laws and regulations
shall govern.
Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any
purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions
of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
ARTICLE 4.
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01. PAYMENT OF NOTES.
The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner
provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be
considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company
or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 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 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.
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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 the
Trustee and Holders of Notes (i) all quarterly and annual financial information
that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q
and 10-K if the Company were required to file such Forms, including a
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon
by the Company's certified independent accountants and (ii) all current reports
that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were
required to file such reports, in each case within the time periods specified in
the SEC's rules and regulations. In addition, following the consummation of the
Exchange Offer, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC,
the Company shall file a copy of all such information and reports with the SEC
for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and
regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and make such
information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon
request.
(b) In addition, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, the
Company and the Guarantors shall furnish to the Trustee and Holders and to
securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the
information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the
Securities Act.
SECTION 4.04. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE.
(a) The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such
Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90
days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers' Certificate stating that a
review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the
preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing
Officers with a view to determining whether the Company and the Guarantors have
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 and the Guarantors have 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
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have knowledge and what action the Company and the Guarantors are taking or
propose 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 and the Guarantors are taking or propose 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) above shall be accompanied by a
written statement of the Company's independent public accountants (who shall be
a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination
necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to
their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated
any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has
occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being
understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to
any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.
(c) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are
outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware
of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers' Certificate specifying such
Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to
take with respect thereto.
SECTION 4.05. TAXES.
The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and
governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not
adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 4.06. STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS.
The Company and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the
extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon,
plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of,
any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter
in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture;
and the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully
do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and
covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede
the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and
permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
SECTION 4.07. RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or make
any other payment or distribution on account of the Company's or any of its
Subsidiaries' Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in
connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company's or any of
its Subsidiaries' Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than
dividends or distributions (a) payable in Equity Interests (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the Company or (b) to the Company or a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of the Company); (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire
for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any
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merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the
Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (other than any such
Equity Interests owned by the Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the
Company); (iii) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem,
defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries that is subordinated to the Notes or any Subsidiary
Guarantee thereof, except a payment of interest or principal at Stated Maturity;
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; and
(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 Section 4.09 hereof; and (c)......such
Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted
Payments made by the Company and its Subsidiaries after the date of this
Indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii), (iii), (iv),
(v)(a) and (vi) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without
duplication, of (i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the
period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the first fiscal
quarter commencing after the date of this Indenture to the end of the Company's
most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are
available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net
Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit), plus (ii) 100%
of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company since the date of
this Indenture as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue
or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or
Disqualified Stock or debt securities of the Company that have been converted
into such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock
or convertible debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company), plus (iii)
to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the date of
this Indenture is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the
lesser of (A) the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted
Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (B) the initial amount of
such Restricted Investment, plus (iv) $3.0 million.
The foregoing provisions shall not prohibit (i) the payment of
any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the
date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this
Indenture; (ii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor or
Equity Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of the net cash 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 the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any
such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition shall
be excluded from clause (c) (ii) of the preceding paragraph; (iii) the
defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from an
incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; (iv) the payment of any
dividend by a Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its common Equity
Interests on a pro rata basis; (v) the repurchase, redemption or other
acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or
any Subsidiary of the Company held by any member of the Company's (or any of its
Subsidiaries') management pursuant to any stock purchase, stock
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redemption, stock option or similar agreement; provided that the aggregate price
paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests in
any twelve-month period shall not exceed the sum of (a) any amounts available to
the Company under insurance policies insuring the lives of such member of
management and (b) $250,000 in any twelve-month period and no Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately after such
transaction; and (vi) repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon exercise
of stock options if such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise
price of such options.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall
be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s)
or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair
market value of any asset or securities that are required to be valued by this
Section 4.07 shall be determined by the Board of Directors whose resolution with
respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee, such determination to be
based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or
investment banking firm of national standing if such fair market value exceeds
$1.0 million. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the
Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such
Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the
calculations required by this Section 4.07 were computed, together with a copy
of any fairness opinion or appraisal required by this Indenture.
SECTION 4.08. 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.
However, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to encumbrances or
restrictions existing under or by reason of (a) Existing Indebtedness as in
effect on the date of this Indenture, (b) the Senior Credit Facility 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, replacement or
refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such
dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the Senior
Credit Facility as in effect on the date of this Indenture, (c) the Notes and
the Subsidiary Guarantees, (d) applicable law, (e) any instrument governing
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 Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such
acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person,
or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the
property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that, in the case of
Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to
be incurred, (f) customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, (g) purchase
money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that
impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (iii) above on the
property so acquired, (h) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a
Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Subsidiary pending its sale or
other disposition, (i) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the
restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in
the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, (j) Liens securing
Indebtedness
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otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.12 hereof that limits
the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness, (k)
provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property
in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the
ordinary course of business and (l) restrictions on cash or other deposits or
net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary
course of business.
SECTION 4.09. INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee
or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise,
with respect to (collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including Acquired
Debt) and the Company shall not issue any Disqualified Stock and shall not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided,
however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or
issue shares of Disqualified Stock if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the
Company's most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal
financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such
additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred
stock is issued would have been at least 2 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.
(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) hereof shall not apply to
the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively,
"Permitted Debt"):
(i) the incurrence by the Company or a Foreign Subsidiary
of Indebtedness (including letters of credit, with letters of credit
being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential
liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder) under Credit
Facilities and the Guarantee thereof by the Guarantors; provided that
the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (including letters of credit) outstanding under Credit
Facilities after giving effect to such incurrence does not exceed an
amount equal to the greater of (a) $60.0 million less the aggregate
amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied to permanently repay
any Indebtedness under a Credit Facility pursuant to Section 4.10
hereof or (b) the sum of 85% of the accounts receivable plus 55% of the
jewelry inventory, 65% of the optical inventory and 55% of all other
inventory, in each case of the Company and its Subsidiaries net of
reserves, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company and
its Subsidiaries;
(ii) the incurrence by the Company and its Subsidiaries of
the Existing Indebtedness;
(iii) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness
represented by the Notes (other than any Additional Notes) and the
Exchange Notes (other than any Additional Notes) and the incurrence by
the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Subsidiary
Guarantees;
(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
price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or
equipment used in the business of the Company or such Subsidiary, in an
aggregate principal amount, together with any Attributable Debt with
respect to the Smithfield Property permitted pursuant to Section 4.15
hereof, not to exceed $10.0 million at any
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time outstanding, including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
incurred pursuant to clause (v) below to refund, refinance or replace
any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (iv);
(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 refund, refinance or replace
Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted
by this Indenture to be incurred by Section 4.09(a) hereof, or by
clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 4.09(b);
(vi) the incurrence by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company
and any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (a) if the Company
is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is expressly
subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations
with respect to the Notes and (b)(1) any subsequent issuance or
transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness
being held by a Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof
and (2) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person
that is not either the Company or a Subsidiary thereof shall be deemed,
in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the
Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted
by this clause (vi);
(vii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations that are incurred for the purpose
of (a) fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any
floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this
Indenture to be outstanding or (b) hedging currency exchange rate risks
in connection with transactions entered into in the ordinary course of
business;
(viii) the guarantee by the Company or any of the Guarantors
of Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company that was
permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09;
(ix) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness in
connection with a repurchase of Notes or Exchange Notes following a
Change of Control; provided that the principal amount of such
Indebtedness does not exceed 101% of the aggregate principal amount of
the Notes and the Exchange Notes repurchased, and such Indebtedness (a)
has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the
Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Notes and the Exchange Notes
and (b) does not mature prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes and
the Exchange Notes;
(x) the incurrence of Indebtedness arising from
agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price
or similar obligations, incurred in connection with the disposition of
any business, assets or Subsidiary of the Company (other than
Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any
portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of
financing such acquisition), provided that none of the foregoing
results in Indebtedness required to be reflected as Indebtedness on the
balance sheet of the Company or any such Subsidiary in accordance with
GAAP and the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such
Indebtedness shall at no time exceed 100% of the gross proceeds
actually received by the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection
with such disposition; and
(xi) the incurrence by the Company of additional
Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as
applicable) at any time outstanding not to exceed $7.5 million.
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For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in
the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than
one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (xi)
above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the
Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of Indebtedness on the
date of its incurrence in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09.
Accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount,
the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional
Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified
Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock
will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of
Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09; provided, in each such
case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as
accrued.
SECTION 4.10. ASSET SALES
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale 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 (evidenced by a resolution of the
Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the
Trustee) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed
of and (ii) at least 75% 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 (a) any liabilities (as shown on the Company's or such Subsidiary's
most recent balance sheet), of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than
contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to
the Notes or any guarantee thereof) that are assumed by the transferee of any
such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company
or such Subsidiary from further liability and (b) any securities, notes or other
obligations received by the Company or any such Subsidiary from such transferee
that are contemporaneously (subject to ordinary settlement periods) converted by
the Company or such Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received)
shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision; provided, further
that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to transactions pursuant
to the Fantasma Agreement, as in effect on the date of this Indenture.
Within 270 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an
Asset Sale, the Company may apply such Net Proceeds, at its option, (a) to
permanently repay Indebtedness of the Company under a Credit Facility or (b) to
acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or a majority of the Voting
Stock of, another business, (c) to make a capital expenditure or (d) to acquire
other long-term assets. Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds,
the Company may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise
invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.
Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided
in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to constitute "Excess
Proceeds." When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million,
the Company shall be required to make an offer to all Holders of Notes and all
holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing
provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers
to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (an "Asset Sale
Offer") to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari
passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer
price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the 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 this Indenture and
such other pari passu Indebtedness. To the extent that any Excess Proceeds
remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use such
Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If
the aggregate principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness
tendered into such Asset Sale Offer surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the
amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select
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the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata
basis. Upon completion of an Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds
shall be reset at zero.
SECTION 4.11. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or
assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract,
agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit
of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an "Affiliate Transaction"), unless
(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the
Company or such 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 involving
aggregate consideration in excess of $1.0 million, a resolution of the Board of
Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate certifying that such Affiliate
Transaction complies with clause (i) above and that such Affiliate Transaction
has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of
Directors and (b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related
Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0
million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Holders of such Affiliate
Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or
investment banking firm of national standing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
following items shall not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions: (i) any
employment agreement or benefit plan 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, (ii) transactions between or among
the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, (iii) payment of reasonable directors fees
to Persons who are not otherwise Affiliates of the Company, (iv) any sale or
other issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the
Company, (v) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices of the Company or its Subsidiaries in an
aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $1.0 million, (vi)
transactions pursuant to Existing Leases, (vii) purchases of Common Stock of
deceased shareholders pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement, (viii) reasonable
indemnities of officers, directors and employees of the Company or any
Subsidiary permitted by applicable law and (ix) Restricted Payments that are
permitted by Section 4.07 hereof.
SECTION 4.12. 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 securing Indebtedness, Attributable Debt or trade payables on any
asset now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens.
SECTION 4.13. 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.
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SECTION 4.14. OFFER TO REPURCHASE UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL.
(a) 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"). Within ten days following a
Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to the Trustee and each
Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of
Control and stating: (1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant
to this Section 4.14 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment;
(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30
days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the "Change
of Control Payment Date"); (3) that any Note not tendered will continue to
accrue interest; (4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the
Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change
of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control
Payment Date; (5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to
a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form
entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes
completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to
the expiration of the Change of Control Offer; (6) that Holders will be entitled
to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the
expiration of the Change of Control Offer, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal
amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is
withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and (7) that Holders whose
Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in
principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which
unpurchased portion must be equal to $1,000 in principal amount or an integral
multiple thereof. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1
under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder
to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the
repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control and, to the extent
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, such laws and regulations
shall govern.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to
the extent lawful, (i) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly
tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (ii) deposit with the Paying
Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes
or portions thereof so tendered and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to
the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating
the 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.
(c) The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control
Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control
Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the
requirements set forth in this Section 4.14 and Section 3.09 hereof and
purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of
Control Offer.
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SECTION 4.15. LIMITATION ON SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided that
the Company may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction if (i) the Company
could have (a) incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt
relating to such sale and leaseback transaction pursuant to the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof and (b) incurred a Lien to
secure such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.12 hereof , (ii) the gross cash
proceeds of such sale and leaseback transaction are at least equal to the fair
market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors and set
forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the property that
is the subject of such sale and leaseback transaction and (iii) the transfer of
assets in such sale and leaseback transaction is permitted by, and the Company
applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, Section 4.10
hereof. The foregoing provisions will not apply to a sale and leaseback
transaction relating to the Smithfield Property resulting in Attributable Debt
with respect to such transaction in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5.0
million at any time outstanding.
SECTION 4.16. LIMITATION ON ISSUANCES AND SALES OF EQUITY INTERESTS IN
WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES.
The Company (i) shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary
of the Company to, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any
Equity Interests in any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company to any Person
(other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company), unless (a)
such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition is of all the Equity
Interests in such Wholly Owned Subsidiary and (b) the cash Net Proceeds from
such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition are applied in
accordance with Section 4.10 hereof and (ii) shall not permit any Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of the Company to issue any of its Equity Interests (other than, if
necessary, shares of its Capital Stock constituting directors' qualifying
shares) to any Person other than to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
the Company.
SECTION 4.17. PAYMENTS FOR CONSENT.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall,
directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by
way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder of any Notes for or as an
inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions
of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid
or is paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in
the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent,
waiver or agreement.
SECTION 4.18. ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
If the Company or any of the Guarantors shall acquire or
create another Domestic Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, or if any
Subsidiary of the Company becomes a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company after the
date of the Indenture, then such newly acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary
shall become a Guarantor and execute a Supplemental Indenture in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit F and deliver an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee to
the effect that such Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by such Subsidiary and constitutes a valid and binding obligation
of such Subsidiary, enforceable against such Subsidiary in accordance with its
terms (subject to customary exceptions).
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ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS
SECTION 5.01. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS.
The Company may not, directly or indirectly, consolidate or
merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or
sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all
of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to another
Person unless (i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the Person formed
by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or
to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall
have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the
United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) the Person
formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the
Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or
other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the
Company under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Notes 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; and (iv) except in the case of a merger of the Company with or into a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company, the Company or the Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall
have been made (a) shall have Consolidated Net Worth immediately after the
transaction equal to or greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company
immediately preceding the transaction and (b) shall, immediately after such
transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing
transaction as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable
four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional
Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in
Section 4.09(a) hereof. The Company also may not, directly or indirectly, lease
all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related
transactions, to any other Person. This Section 5.01 shall not be applicable to
a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between
or among the Company and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.
SECTION 5.02. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment,
transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor
corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is
merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other
disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and
after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other
disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the "Company" shall
refer instead to the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may
exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same
effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein;
provided, however, that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the
obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case
of a sale of all of the Company's assets that meets the requirements of Section
5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
An "Event of Default" occurs if:
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(a) the Company defaults in the payment when due of interest on,
or Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to, the Notes and such default
continues for a period of 30 days;
(b) the Company defaults in the payment when due of principal of
or premium, if any, on the Notes;
(c) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails to comply with
any of the provisions of Section 4.07, 4.09, 4.10, 4.14 or 5.01 hereof;
(d) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails to comply with
any of its other agreements in this Indenture or the Notes for 60 days after
notice by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes;
(e) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument
under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced
any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created
after the date of this Indenture, which default (i) is caused by a failure to
pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to
the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of
such default (a "Payment Default") or (ii) results in the acceleration of such
Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal
amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other
such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity
of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $5.0 million or more;
(f) a final judgment or final judgments for the payment of money
are entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the Company
or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken
as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary and such judgment or
judgments remain undischarged for a period (during which execution shall not be
effectively stayed) of 60 days, provided that the aggregate of all such
undischarged judgments exceeds $5.0 million;
(g) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any
group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against
it in an involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or
for all or substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors, or
(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;
or
(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree
under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a
whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary
case;
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(ii) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a
whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or
substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a
whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a
whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60
consecutive days; or
(i) except as permitted by this Indenture, 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.
SECTION 6.02. ACCELERATION.
If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default
specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 hereof with respect to the
Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries
that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable
immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in
clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company, any
of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken
together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will
become due and payable without further action or notice. The Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to
the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its
consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree
and if all existing Events or Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest
or premium that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been
cured or waived.
If an Event of Default occurs on or after July 15, 2002 by
reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf
of the Company with the intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the
Company would have had to pay if the Company then had elected to redeem the
Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, then, upon acceleration of the Notes, an
equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately due and payable, to the
extent permitted by law, anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the
contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default occurs prior to July 15, 2002
by reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on
behalf of the Company with the intention of avoiding the prohibition on
redemption of the Notes prior to such date, then, upon acceleration of the
Notes, an additional premium shall also become and be immediately due and
payable in an amount, for each of the years beginning on July 15th of the years
set forth below, as set forth below (expressed as a percentage of the principal
amount):
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
1998.............................................. 116.125%
1999.............................................. 113.438%
2000.............................................. 110.750%
2001.............................................. 108.063%
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SECTION 6.03. OTHER REMEDIES.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee
may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium and
Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the
performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not
possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A
delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right
or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy
or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies
are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 6.04. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of
the Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default
and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default
in the payment of the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, or
interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase)
(provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences,
including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration).
Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose
of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 6.05. CONTROL BY MAJORITY.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any
trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any
direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines
may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may
involve the Trustee in personal liability.
SECTION 6.06. LIMITATION ON SUITS.
A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this
Indenture or the Notes only if:
(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if
requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against
any loss, liability or expense;
(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days
after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of
indemnity; and
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(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a
direction inconsistent with the request.
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the
rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over
another Holder of a Note.
SECTION 6.07. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF NOTES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the
right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium and
Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on such Note, on or after the
respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an
offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on
or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the
consent of such Holder.
SECTION 6.08. COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b)
hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment
in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the
whole amount of principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and
interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to
the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to
cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents
and counsel.
SECTION 6.09. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.
The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and
other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the
claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and
the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the
Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and
shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or
other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in
any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such
payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the
making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any
amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the
Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents
and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out
of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of
the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all
distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the
Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or
under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein
contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or
accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to
authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such
proceeding.
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SECTION 6.10. PRIORITIES.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6,
it shall pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts
due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense
and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs
and expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the
Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest,
ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts
due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if
any and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent
jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any
payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.
SECTION 6.11. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under
this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or
omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by
any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit,
and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due
regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party
litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a
Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more
than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE 7.
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01. DUTIES OF TRUSTEE.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a
prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his or her own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely
by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need
perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this
Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall
be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee
may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or
opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of
this Indenture. However, the Trustee
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shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not
they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own
negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful
misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph
(b) of this Section 7.01;
(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 7.01.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to
expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under
no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at
the request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee
security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money
received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.
Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds
except to the extent required by law.
SECTION 7.02. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed
by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person.
The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may
require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee
shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in
reliance on such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may
consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of
Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall
not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with
due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or
omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the
rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any
demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if
signed by an Officer of the Company.
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(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of
the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction
of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
SECTION 7.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become
the owner 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, the Notes or
the Subsidiary Guarantees, 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 actually 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
becomes known to the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default or Event of
Default in payment of principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or
interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a
committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding
the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary expressed in this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be
deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default hereunder, except in
the case of an Event of Default under Section 6.1(a) or (b) hereof (provided
that the Trustee is the Paying Agent), unless and until a Responsible Officer
shall have actual knowledge thereof or shall have received notice, at its
Corporate Trust Office as specified in Section 11.02 hereof, from the Company or
any Holder of Notes that such a Default or an Event of Default has occurred.
SECTION 7.06. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES.
Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15
following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain
outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report
dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA ss. 313(a) (but if no
event described in TIA ss. 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months
preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also
shall comply with TIA ss. 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all
reports as required by TIA ss. 313(c).
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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 ss. 313(d).
The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any
stock exchange.
SECTION 7.07. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such
compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the
Company and the Trustee shall agree. The Trustee's compensation shall not be
limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company
shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable
disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the
compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable
compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee and its officers,
directors, shareholders, agents and employees (each an "Indemnified Party") for
and hold each Indemnified Party harmless against any and all losses, liabilities
or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance
or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and
expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company and the Guarantors
(including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether
asserted by the Company and the Guarantors or any Holder or any other Person) or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may
be attributable to its negligence or bad faith. The Trustee and its officers,
directors, shareholders, agents and employees, in its capacity as Paying Agent,
Registrar and Custodian, and agent for services of notices shall have the full
benefit of the foregoing indemnity. An Indemnified Party shall notify the
Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by an
Indemnified Party to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its
obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Indemnified
Party shall cooperate in the defense. An Indemnified Party may have separate
counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such
counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall
survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
To secure the Company's payment and indemnity obligations in
this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money
or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay
principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an
Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) hereof occurs, the expenses
and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its
agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under
any Bankruptcy Law.
The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA ss.
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 7.08.
The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be
discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The
Holders of Notes of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing.
The Company may remove the Trustee if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order
for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or
its property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in
the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a
successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may
appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the
Company.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days
after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the
Company, or the Holders of Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note
who has been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with
Section 7.10 hereof, 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.
SECTION 7.09. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or
transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another
corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the
successor Trustee.
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SECTION 7.10. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of
America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by
federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at
least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of
condition.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the
requirements of TIA ss. 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA
ss. 310(b).
SECTION 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.
The Trustee is subject to TIA ss. 311(a), excluding any
creditor relationship listed in TIA ss. 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or
been removed shall be subject to TIA ss. 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE 8.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.01. OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.
The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors
evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time,
elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding
Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
SECTION 8.02. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the
option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and the Guarantors shall,
subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof,
be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all
outstanding Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees on the date the conditions set forth
below are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal
Defeasance means that the Company and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have
paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes
and Subsidiary Guarantees, 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, the Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture (and
the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute
proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions
which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the
rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the
principal of, and premium, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on such
Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to below, (b) the
Company's obligations with respect to the Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02
hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee,
and the Company's obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article 8.
Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option
under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under
Section 8.03 hereof.
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SECTION 8.03. COVENANT DEFEASANCE.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the
option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and each Guarantor shall,
subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof,
be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections
4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17 and 4.18, hereof with
respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth
in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant Defeasance"), and
the Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees 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 and Subsidiary Guarantees shall not be
deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant
Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Subsidiary
Guarantees, the Company and the Guarantors 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 and Subsidiary Guarantees 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, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions
set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(d) through 6.01(f) and Section
6.01(i) 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 and Subsidiary
Guarantees:
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 of the Notes, cash in U.S. 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, and premium, interest
and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the outstanding Notes on the stated maturity
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 Legal Defeasance 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 (i) the Company has
received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a
ruling or (ii) 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;
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(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance under Section 8.03 hereof,
the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the
United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders
of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject
to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same
times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default
resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) or insofar
as Events of Default under Section 6.01(g) or (h) hereof are concerned, at any
time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;
(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result
in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material
agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is bound;
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of
Counsel to the effect that after the 91st day following the deposit, the trust
funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent
of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Company 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 relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant
Defeasance have been complied with.
SECTION 8.05. DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN TRUST;
OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable
Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the
Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section
8.05, the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the
outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in
accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment,
either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as
Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all
sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and
interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any
tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable
Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal
and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other
charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Anything in this Article 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
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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, and
premium, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on any Note and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, 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 an unsecured
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 (national edition) and The Wall Street Journal (national
edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date
specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such
notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining
will be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 8.07. REINSTATEMENT.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United
States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section
8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of
any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise
prohibiting such application, then the Company's obligations under this
Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had
occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee
or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section
8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company
makes any payment of principal of, or premium, interest or Liquidated Damages,
if any, 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,
the Guarantors (with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture to which
it is a party) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes
or any Subsidiary Guarantees without the consent of any Holder of a Note:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place
of certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article 2 hereof (including
the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect
any Holder;
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(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to
Holders of Notes by a successor to the Company pursuant to Article 5 hereof or
of a Guarantor's obligations by a successor to the Guarantor pursuant to Section
10.04 hereof;
(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the Holders of Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal
rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;
(e) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or
maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
(f) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance
with the limitations set forth in this Indenture on the date hereof; or
(g) to reflect the release of any Guarantor from its Subsidiary
Guarantee pursuant to Section 10.05 hereof or to add a Domestic Subsidiary as a
Guarantor pursuant to Section 4.18 hereof.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of
its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or
Supplemental Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents
described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company and
the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or Supplemental Indenture
authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further
appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the
Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or Supplemental
Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture
or otherwise.
SECTION 9.02. WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES.
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, this Indenture,
the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the
consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes
then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection
with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), and any
existing default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes
or the Subsidiary Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including, without
limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer
or exchange offer for, 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 7.02
hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such amended
or Supplemental Indenture unless such amended or Supplemental Indenture directly
affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or
otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be
obligated to, enter into such amended or Supplemental Indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of
Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed
amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the
substance thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section
9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected
thereby a notice briefly describing the
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amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice,
or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the
validity of any such amended or Supplemental Indenture or waiver. Subject to
Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive
compliance in a particular instance by the Company or the Guarantors with any
provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees. However,
without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this
Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting
Holder):
(a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must
consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any
Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes except
as provided with respect to Sections 4.10 and 4.14 hereof;
(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest
on any Note;
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of
principal of or premium, interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes
(except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and a waiver of the payment
default that resulted from such acceleration);
(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 premium, interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, on
the Notes;
(g) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other
than a payment required by Section 4.10 or 4.14 hereof);
(h) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its
Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of
this Indenture; or
(i) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver
provisions.
SECTION 9.03. COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes
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 Indebtedness 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 amendment, supplement
or waiver 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, upon receipt
of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment,
supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note
shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or
waiver.
SECTION 9.06. TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC.
The Trustee shall sign any amended or Supplemental Indenture
authorized pursuant to this Article 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 hereof)
shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required
by Section 11.04 hereof, an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel
stating that the execution of such amended or Supplemental Indenture is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture.
ARTICLE 10.
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
SECTION 10.01. GUARANTEE.
Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby,
jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors
and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture,
the Notes or the Obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (a)
the principal of and premium, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the
Notes, if lawful, and all other Obligations of the Company to the Holders or the
Trustee hereunder or thereunder shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all
in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any
extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other
Obligations, 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 any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the
Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately.
Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of
collection.
The Guarantors hereby agree that their Obligations hereunder
shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or
enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to
enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect
to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the
Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might
otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor.
Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing
of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company,
any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and
all demands whatsoever and covenant
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that this Subsidiary Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete
performance of the Obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.
If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or
otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee,
liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or
the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this
Subsidiary Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated
in full force and effect.
Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any
right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Obligations
guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Obligations guaranteed hereby.
Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand,
and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the
Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof
for the purposes of this Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay,
injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the
Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of
acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof for the
purposes of this Subsidiary Guarantee, such Obligations (whether or not due and
payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the
purpose of this Subsidiary Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to
seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such
right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Subsidiary Guarantee.
SECTION 10.02. LIMITATION ON GUARANTOR LIABILITY.
Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder,
hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Subsidiary
Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance
for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the
Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the
extent applicable to any Subsidiary Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing
intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree
that the Obligations of such Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee and this
Article 10 shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect
to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such
Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any
collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on
behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the Obligations of such other
Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the Obligations of such Guarantor
under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or
conveyance.
SECTION 10.03. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE.
To evidence its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section
10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Subsidiary
Guarantee substantially in the form included in Exhibit E shall be endorsed by
an Officer of such Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee and that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by
an Officer of such Guarantor.
Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee set
forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect
notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such
Subsidiary Guarantee.
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If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the
Subsidiary Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee
authenticates the Note on which a Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed, the
Subsidiary Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.
The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the
authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the
Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
In the event that the Company or any of its Guarantors
acquires or creates another Domestic Subsidiary subsequent to the date of this
Indenture or if any Subsidiary of the Company shall become a Domestic
Subsidiary, if required by Section 4.18 hereof, the Company shall cause such
newly acquired or created Subsidiary to execute a Supplemental Indenture to this
Indenture and a Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with Section 4.18 hereof and
this Article 10, to the extent applicable.
SECTION 10.04. GUARANTORS MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ON CERTAIN TERMS.
No Guarantor may consolidate with or merge with or into
(whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another corporation,
Person or entity whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor unless:
(i) subject to Section 10.05 hereof, the Person formed by
or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such
Guarantor) assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a
Supplemental Indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Trustee, under the Notes, this Indenture and the Registration
Rights Agreement; and
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction,
no Default or Event of Default exists.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance
and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by Supplemental Indenture,
executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee,
of the Subsidiary Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual
performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be
performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named
herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed
any or all of the Subsidiary Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes
issuable 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.
Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and
notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture
or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor
with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or
conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an
entirety to the Company or another Guarantor.
SECTION 10.05. RELEASES FOLLOWING SALE OF ASSETS.
In the event of a sale or other disposition of all of the
assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale
or other disposition of all of the capital stock of any Guarantor,
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then such Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of such
a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such
Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event of a sale or
other disposition of all of the assets of such Guarantor) shall be released and
relieved of any Obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee; provided that the
Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with
the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation,
Section 4.10 hereof. Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other
disposition was made by the Company in accordance with the applicable provisions
of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof, the Trustee
shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release
of any Guarantor from its Obligations under its 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 10.
ARTICLE 11.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.01. TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or
conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA ss. 318(c), the imposed duties shall
control.
SECTION 11.02. NOTICES.
Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or
the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or
mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested),
telex, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to
the others' address
If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:
AAi.FosterGrant, Inc.
500 George Washington Hwy.
Smithfield, RI 02917
Telecopier No.: (401) 231-3212
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Hinckley, Allen & Snyder
1500 Fleet Center
Providence, RI
Telecopier No.: (401) 277-9600
Attention: Stephen J. Carlotti
If to the Trustee:
IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company
One State Street
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New York, NY 10004
Telecopier No.: (212) 858-2952
Attention: Corporate Finance Department
The Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the
others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to
Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand,
if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to
the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by
first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by
overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the
register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so
mailed to any Person described in TIA ss. 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 11.03. COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF NOTES WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF NOTES.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA ss. 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 ss. 312(c).
SECTION 11.04. 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 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all
conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture
relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such
conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
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SECTION 11.05. 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 ss. 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA
ss. 314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion
has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in
such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express
an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
satisfied; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 11.06. 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 11.07. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND
SHAREHOLDERS.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee,
incorporator or shareholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have
any liability for any Obligations of the Company or such Guarantor under the
Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees, this Indenture or for any claim based on, in
respect of, or by reason of, such Obligations or their creation. Each Holder by
accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.
The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
SECTION 11.08. 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
GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT
THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
SECTION 11.09. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other
indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any
other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to
interpret this Indenture.
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SECTION 11.10. 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 11.11. SEVERABILITY.
In case any provision in this Indenture, the Notes or the
Subsidiary Guarantees 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 11.12. 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 11.13. 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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SIGNATURES
Dated as of July 21, 1998
AAI.FOSTERGRANT, INC.
BY: /s/ Gerald F. Cerce
---------------------------------
Name: Gerald F. Cerce
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
GUARANTORS:
FOSTER GRANT HOLDINGS, INC.
BY: /s/ Gerald F. Cerce
---------------------------------
Name: Gerald F. Cerce
Title: President
THE BONNEAU COMPANY
BY: /s/ Gerald F. Cerce
---------------------------------
Name: Gerald F. Cerce
Title: President
OPTI-RAY, INC.
BY: /s/ Gerald F. Cerce
---------------------------------
Name: Gerald F. Cerce
Title: President
BONNEAU GENERAL, INC.
BY: /s/ Gerald F. Cerce
---------------------------------
Name: Gerald F. Cerce
Title: President
BONNEAU HOLDINGS, INC.
BY: /s/ Gerald F. Cerce
---------------------------------
Name: Gerald F. Cerce
Title: President
76
O-RAY HOLDINGS, INC.
BY: /s/ Gerald F. Cerce
---------------------------------
Name: Gerald F. Cerce
Title: President
F.G.G. INVESTMENTS, INC.
BY: /s/ Gerald F. Cerce
---------------------------------
Name: Gerald F. Cerce
Title: President
FOSTER GRANT GROUP, L.P.
BY: /s/ Gerald F. Cerce
---------------------------------
Name: Gerald F. Cerce
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
FANTASMA, LLC
BY: /s/ Gerald F. Cerce
---------------------------------
Name: Gerald F. Cerce
Title: Chairman
77
IBJ SCHRODER BANK & TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Terence Rawlins
--------------------------------
Name: TERENCE RAWLINS
Title: ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT
78
EXHIBIT A-1
(Face of Note)
================================================================================
CUSIP/CINS _________
10 3/4 % Series A Senior Notes due 2006
No. ___ $____________
AAI.FOSTERGRANT, INC.
promises to pay to _________________________________________________________
or registered assigns,
the principal sum of ________________________________________________________
on July 15, 2006.
Interest Payment Dates: January 15, and July 15
Record Dates: January 1, and July 1
DATED: JULY 21, 1998
AAI.FOSTERGRANT, INC.
BY:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BY:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
(SEAL)
This is one of the Global Notes referred to in the Indenture:
IBJ SCHRODER BANK & TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By:
-------------------------------
================================================================================
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(Back of Note)
10 3/4 % Series A Senior Notes due 2006
THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR
IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF
THE SECURITIES ACT (SUBJECT TO THE DELIVERY OF SUCH EVIDENCE, IF REQUIRED UNDER
THE INDENTURE PURSUANT TO WHICH THIS NOTE IS ISSUED) AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED
THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5
OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER OR ANOTHER EXEMPTION
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (1) (a) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY
BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A
TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c)
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A FOREIGN PERSON IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE WITH
ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND
BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), SUBJECT TO THE
RECEIPT BY THE REGISTRAR OF A CERTIFICATION OF THE TRANSFEROR AND AN OPINION OF
COUNSEL TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES
ACT, (2) TO THE COMPANY OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY
STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE
OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER
WILL AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF
THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTION SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE.
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE
GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL
OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE,
(III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT
TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO
A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF AAI.FOSTERGRANT, INC.
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned
to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
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1. INTEREST. AAi.FosterGrant, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation
(the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note
at 10 3/4 % per annum from July 21, 1998 until maturity and shall pay the
Liquidated Damages payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights
Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Liquidated
Damages semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, or if any such day
is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an "Interest
Payment Date"). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to
which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of
issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of
interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on
the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall
accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that
the first Interest Payment Date shall be January 15, 1999. The Company shall pay
interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on
demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it
shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages
(without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at
the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes
(except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages to the Persons who are
registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the January 1st or July
1st next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled
after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as
provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest.
The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if
any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such
purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of
the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages may be made by check
mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders,
and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will
be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated
Damages on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have
provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such
payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at
the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
3. PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, IBJ Schroder Bank &
Trust Company, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and
Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice
to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such
capacity.
4. INDENTURE. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture
dated as of July 21, 1998 (the "Indenture") among the Company, the Guarantors
named therein 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 secs. 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes
are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and
such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note
conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the
indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are obligations of the
Company limited to $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount.
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5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5,
the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to July 15, 2002.
Thereafter, the Notes will be subject to redemption, in whole or in part, upon
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices
(expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable
redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on July
15th of the years indicated below:
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
2002.................................................. 105.375%
2003.................................................. 102.688%
2004 and thereafter................................... 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph 5, at any time on or before July 15, 2001, the Company may redeem up
to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the
Indenture at a redemption price of 110.750% of the principal amount thereof,
plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the
redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of a public sale of common stock of
the Company; provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of
Notes originally issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately
after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries) and that such redemption shall occur within 45 days of
the date of the closing of such public sale.
6. MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be
required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to
the Notes.
7. REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall
be required to make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all or
any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's
Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal
amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon,
if any, to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 10
days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each
Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as
required by the Indenture.
(b) If the Company or a Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sale,
within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds
exceeds $5.0 million, the Company shall commence an offer to all Holders of
Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes
containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect
to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (an "Asset
Sale Offer") pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture and such other pari passu
Indebtedness to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any
Additional Notes) and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased
out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100%
of the principal amount
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thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any,
thereon, to the date of purchase. To the extent that the aggregate amount of
Notes (including any Additional Notes) and such other pari passu Indebtedness
tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the
Company may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by
the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu
Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer surrendered by Holders thereof
exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and
such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders
of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale
Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have
such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect
Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes.
8. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed at
least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in
denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole
multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be
redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or
portions thereof called for redemption.
9. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as
provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents
and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law
or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company
need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days
before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record
date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
10. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be
treated as its owner for all purposes.
11. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain
exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees may be amended
or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any,
voting as a single class, and any existing default or compliance with any
provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees may be waived
with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class.
Without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Company, the Guarantors (with
respect to a Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture to which it is a party) may
amend or supplement the Indenture, the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee to cure
any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in
addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of
the Company's or any Guarantor's obligations to Holders of the Notes in case of
a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company's
Assets, to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the
limitations set forth in the Indenture on the date thereof, to make any change
that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes
or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any
such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or
maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or to
reflect the release or addition of a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of
the Indenture.
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12. 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 (whether or not prohibited by the subordination
provisions of the Indenture); (ii) default in payment when due of the principal
of or premium, if any, on the Notes; (iii) failure by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to comply with Sections 4.07, 4.09, 4.10, 4.14 and 5.01 of the
Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for 60 days
after notice by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes to comply with any of its other agreements in the
Indenture or the Notes; (v) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument
under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced
any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created
after the date of the Indenture, which default (a) is caused by a failure to pay
principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the
expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such
default (a "Payment Default") or (b) results in the acceleration of such
Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal
amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other
such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity
of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $5.0 million or more; (vi) failure
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in
excess of $5.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a
period of 60 days; (vii) except as permitted by the Indenture, 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; and (viii) certain
events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or
the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of
bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries
that would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries
that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding
Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders of
the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the
Indenture. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes
then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of
the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences
under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the
payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required
to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the
Indenture, and the Company is required upon becoming aware of any Default or
Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default
or Event of Default.
13. TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual
or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform
services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the
Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
14. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or shareholder of the Company or any Guarantor as such, shall not
have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the
Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in
respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of
Notes 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.
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15. AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be valid until
authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
16. ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name
of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).
17. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND
RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of
Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted
Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement dated as of July 21, 1998, among 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:
AAi.FosterGrant, Inc.
500 George Washington Highway
Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
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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 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the box below:
[ ] Section 4.10 [ ] Section 4.14
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 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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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE(1)
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an
interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part
of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note,
have been made:
Principal Amount Signature of
Amount of decrease Amount of increase of this Global Note authorized officer
in Principal Amount in Principal Amount following such of Trustee or
Date of Exchange of this Global Note of this Global Note decrease (or increase) Note Custodian
- ---------------- ------------------- ------------------- --------------------- ------------------
- ----------
(1) This should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.
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EXHIBIT A-2
(Face of Regulation S Temporary Global Note)
================================================================================
CUSIP/CINS _________
10 3/4 % Series A Senior Notes due 2006
No. ____ $__________
AAi.FosterGrant, Inc.
promises to pay to _____________________________________________________________
or registered assigns,
the principal sum of ___________________________________________________________
on July 15, 2006.
Interest Payment Dates: January 15, and July 15
Record Dates: January 1, and July 1
Dated: July 21, 1998
AAi.FosterGrant, Inc.
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
(SEAL)
This is one of the Global Note referred to in the Indenture:
IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company,
as Trustee
By:
----------------------------------
================================================================================
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(Back of Regulation S Temporary Global Note)
10 3/4% Series A Senior Notes due 2006
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE
CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS
SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE
BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.
THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR
IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF
THE SECURITIES ACT (SUBJECT TO THE DELIVERY OF SUCH EVIDENCE, IF REQUIRED UNDER
THE INDENTURE PURSUANT TO WHICH THIS NOTE IS ISSUED) AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED
THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5
OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER OR ANOTHER EXEMPTION
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (1) (a) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY
BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A
TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c)
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A FOREIGN PERSON IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE WITH
ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND
BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), SUBJECT TO THE
RECEIPT BY THE REGISTRAR OF A CERTIFICATION OF THE TRANSFEROR AND AN OPINION OF
COUNSEL TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES
ACT, (2) TO THE COMPANY OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY
STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE
OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER
WILL AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF
THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTION SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE.
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE
GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL
OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE,
(III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO
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THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV)
THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR
WRITTEN CONSENT OF AAI.FOSTERGRANT, INC.
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them
in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. INTEREST. AAi.FosterGrant, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation
(the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note
at 10 3/4 % per annum from July 21, 1998 until maturity and shall pay the
Liquidated Damages payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights
Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Liquidated
Damages semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, or if any such day
is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an "Interest
Payment Date"). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to
which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of
issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of
interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on
the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall
accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that
the first Interest Payment Date shall be January 15, 1999. The Company shall pay
interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on
demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it
shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages
(without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at
the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Until this Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchanged for one or
more Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Holder hereof shall not be
entitled to receive payments of interest hereon; until so exchanged in full,
this Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall in all other respects be entitled
to the same benefits as other Notes under the Indenture.
2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes
(except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages to the Persons who are
registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the January 1st or July
1st next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled
after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as
provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest.
The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if
any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such
purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of
the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages may be made by check
mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders,
and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will
be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Liquidated
Damages on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have
provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such
payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at
the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
3. PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, IBJ Schroder Bank &
Trust Company, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and
Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice
to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such
capacity.
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4. INDENTURE. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture
dated as of July 21, 1998 (the "Indenture") among the Company, the Guarantors
named therein 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 ss.ss. 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes
are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and
such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note
conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the
indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are obligations of the
Company limited to $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount.
5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5,
the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to July 15, 2002.
Thereafter, the Notes will be subject to redemption, in whole or in part, upon
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices
(expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable
redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on July
15th of the years indicated below:
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
2002.................................................. 105.375%
2003.................................................. 102.688%
2004 and thereafter................................... 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph 5, at any time on or before July 15, 2001, the Company may redeem up
to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the
Indenture at a redemption price of 110.750% of the principal amount thereof,
plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the
redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of a public sale of common stock of
the Company; provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of
Notes originally issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately
after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries) and that such redemption shall occur within 45 days of
the date of the closing of such public sale.
6. MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be
required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to
the Notes.
7. REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall
be required to make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all or
any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's
Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal
amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon,
if any, to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 10
days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each
Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as
required by the Indenture.
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(b) If the Company or a Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sale,
within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds
exceeds $5.0 million, the Company shall commence an offer to all Holders of
Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes
containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect
to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (an "Asset
Sale Offer") pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture and such other pari passu
Indebtedness to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any
Additional Notes) and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased
out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100%
of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated
Damages, if any, thereon, to the date of purchase. To the extent that the
aggregate amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) and such other pari
passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the
Excess Proceeds, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not
otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of
Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer
surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the
Trustee shall select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be
purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer
to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any
related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing
the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the
Notes.
8. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed at
least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in
denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole
multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be
redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or
portions thereof called for redemption.
9. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as
provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents
and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law
or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company
need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days
before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record
date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
This Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchangeable in whole or in
part for one or more Global Notes only (i) on or after the termination of the
40-day restricted period (as defined in Regulation S) and (ii) upon presentation
of certificates (accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel, if applicable) required
by Article 2 of the Indenture. Upon exchange of this Regulation S Temporary
Global Note for one or more Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel this
Regulation S Temporary Global Note.
10. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be
treated as its owner for all purposes.
11. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain
exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees may be amended
or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and Additional
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Notes, if any, voting as a single class, and any existing default or compliance
with any provision of the Indenture, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees may
be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single
class. Without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Company, the Guarantors
(with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture to which it is a party)
may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee to
cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes
in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption
of the Company's or any Guarantor's obligations to Holders of the Notes in case
of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the
Company's Assets, to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance
with the limitations set forth in the Indenture on the date thereof, to make any
change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of
the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture
of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to
effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act or to reflect the release or addition of a Guarantor in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture.
12. 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 (whether or not prohibited by the subordination
provisions of the Indenture); (ii) default in payment when due of the principal
of or premium, if any, on the Notes; (iii) failure by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to comply with Sections 4.07, 4.09, 4.10, 4.14 and 5.01 of the
Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for 60 days
after notice by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes to comply with any of its other agreements in the
Indenture or the Notes; (v) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument
under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced
any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created
after the date of the Indenture, which default (a) is caused by a failure to pay
principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the
expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such
default (a "Payment Default") or (b) results in the acceleration of such
Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal
amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other
such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity
of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $5.0 million or more; (vi) failure
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in
excess of $5.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a
period of 60 days; (vii) except as permitted by the Indenture, 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; and (viii) certain
events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or
the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of
bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries
that would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries
that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding
Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders of
the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the
Indenture. 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
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aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement
specifying such Default or Event of Default.
13. TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual
or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform
services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the
Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
14. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or shareholder of the Company or any Guarantor as such, shall not
have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the
Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in
respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of
Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and
release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.
15. AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be valid until
authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
16. ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name
of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).
17. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND
RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of
Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted
Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement dated as of July 21, 1998, among 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:
AAi.FosterGrant, Inc.
500 George Washington Highway
Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
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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 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the box below:
[ ] Section 4.10 [ ] Section 4.14
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 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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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE1/
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an
interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part
of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note,
have been made:
Principal Amount Signature of
Amount of decrease Amount of increase of this Global Note authorized officer
in Principal Amount in Principal Amount following such of Trustee or
Date of Exchange of this Global Note of this Global Note decrease (or increase) Note Custodian
- ---------------- ------------------- ------------------- --------------------- ------------------
- ----------
(1) This should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.
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EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
AAi.FosterGrant, Inc.
500 George Washington Highway
Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917
IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company
Re: 10 3/4 % Series A Senior Notes
------------------------------
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of July 21, 1998
(the "INDENTURE"), among AAi.FosterGrant, Inc., as issuer (the "COMPANY"), the
Guarantors named therein and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as trustee.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to
them in the Indenture.
______________, (the "TRANSFEROR") owns and proposes to transfer the
Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the
principal amount of $___________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "TRANSFER"),
to __________ (the "TRANSFEREE"), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In
connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN
THE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is
being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), and,
accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial
interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor
reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or
Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to
which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each
such account is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule
144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is
in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the
United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note
will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private
Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and
in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2. [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN
THE TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR A
DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected
pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act
and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer
is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy
order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such
Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes
that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was
executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities
market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows
that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no
directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of
Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act , (iii) the
transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the
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registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed
transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the
transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a
U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed
transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred
beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on
Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S
Global Note, the Temporary Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note
and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
3. [ ] CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL
INTEREST IN THE IAI GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION
OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is
being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to
beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes
and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable
blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the
Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):
(a) [ ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in
accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
or
(b) [ ] such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a
subsidiary thereof;
or
(c) [ ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;
or
(d) [ ] such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional
Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904,
and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any
general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act
and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to
beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes
and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported
by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the
Indenture and (2) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes
at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel provided by
the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to
this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the
Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with
the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive
Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private
Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Definitive Notes and
in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
4. [ ] Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in
an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.
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(a) [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the
Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the
Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United
States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the
Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or
Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer
enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global
Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(b) [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule
904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions
contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any
state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in
the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed
Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred
beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the
restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on
the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the
Indenture.
(c) [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule
903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in
the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the
United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture
and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial
interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer
enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global
Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company.
----------------------------------
[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Dated: ___, _____
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ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:
[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
(a) [ ] a beneficial interest in the:
(i) 144A Global Note (CUSIP ), or
(ii) Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP ), or
(iii) IAI Global Note (CUSIP ); or
(b) [ ] a Restricted Definitive Note.
2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:
[CHECK ONE]
(a) [ ] a beneficial interest in the:
(i) 144A Global Note (CUSIP _________), or
(ii) Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP _________), or
(iii) IAI Global Note (CUSIP _________), or
(iv) Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP _________), or
(b) [ ] a Restricted Definitive Note; or
(c) [ ] an Unrestricted Definitive Note,
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
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EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
AAi.FosterGrant, Inc.
500 George Washington Highway
Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917
IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company
Re: 10 3/4 % Series A Senior Notes
------------------------------
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of July 21, 1998
(the "INDENTURE"), among AAi.FosterGrant, Inc., as issuer (the "COMPANY"), the
Guarantors named therein and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as trustee.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to
them in the Indenture.
____________, (the "OWNER") owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s]
or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of
$____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "EXCHANGE"). In connection with
the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE.
(a) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In
connection with the Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal
principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is
being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange
has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the
Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), (iii) the restrictions on
transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not
required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in
compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the
United States.
(b) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the
Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note
is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such
Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with
the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the
Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being
acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state
of the United States.
(c) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the
Owner's Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest
is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such
Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and
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pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on
transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not
required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the
beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky
securities laws of any state of the United States.
(d) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner's Exchange of a
Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby
certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner's
own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance
with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and
pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on
transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not
required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the
Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable
blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
2. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES
(a) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the
Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a
Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby
certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner's
own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note
issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in
the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in
the Indenture and the Securities Act.
(b) [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange
of the Owner's Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the
[CHECK ONE] 144A Global Note, Regulation S Global Note, IAI Global Note with an
equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest
is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer and (ii) such
Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with
the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities
laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed
Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest
issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private
Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the
Indenture and the Securities Act.
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This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company.
-----------------------------------
[Insert Name of Owner]
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Dated: ______________, ____
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EXHIBIT D
FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
AAi.FosterGrant, Inc.
500 George Washington Highway
Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917
IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company
Re: 10 3/4% Series A Senior Notes
------------------------------
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of July 21, 1998
(the "INDENTURE"), among AAi.FosterGrant, Inc., as issuer (the "COMPANY"), the
Guarantors named therein and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as trustee.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to
them in the Indenture.
In connection with our proposed purchase of $____________
aggregate principal amount of:
(a) a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or
(b) a Definitive Note,
we confirm that:
1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the
Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions
set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to
resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in
compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT").
2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes
have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any
interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following
sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we
are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any
interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary
thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a
"qualified institutional buyer" (as defined therein), (c) to an institutional
"accredited investor" (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes
(or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the
Company a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and, if such
transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes, at the time of transfer
of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to
the Company to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the
Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of
Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any
person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial
D-1
106
interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of
clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that
resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.
3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the
Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and
the Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and
the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies
with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased
by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect. We further understand that any
subsequent transfer by us of the Notes or beneficial interest therein acquired
by us must be effected through one of the Initial Purchasers.
4. We are an institutional "accredited investor" (as
defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities
Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as
to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes,
and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the
economic risk of our or its investment.
5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest
therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of
which is an institutional "accredited investor") as to each of which we exercise
sole investment discretion.
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and
are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any
interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry
with respect to the matters covered hereby.
-----------------------------------
[Insert Name of Owner]
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Dated: ______________, ____
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EXHIBIT E
FORM OF NOTATION OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE
For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor
Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally
guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the
provisions in the Indenture dated as of July 21, 1998 (the "Indenture") among
AAi.FosterGrant, Inc., the Guarantors listed on Schedule I thereto and IBJ
Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as trustee (the "Trustee"), (a) the due and
punctual payment of the principal of and premium, interest and Liquidated
Damages, if any, on the Notes (as defined in the Indenture), whether at
maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment
of interest on overdue principal and premium, and, to the extent permitted by
law, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, and the due and punctual
performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the
Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any
extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other
obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed
in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to the
Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to this Subsidiary Guarantee and
the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and
reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the
Subsidiary Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees
to and shall be bound by such provisions and (b) appoints the Trustee
attorney-in-fact of such Holder for such purpose; provided, however, that the
Indebtedness evidenced by this Subsidiary Guarantee shall cease to be subject in
right of payment upon any defeasance of this Note in accordance with the
provisions of the Indenture.
[Name of Guarantor(s)]
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT F
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "Supplemental Indenture"), dated as of
________________, among __________________ (the "Guaranteeing Subsidiary"), a
subsidiary of (or its permitted successor) AAi.FosterGrant, Inc., a Rhode Island
corporation (the "Company"), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in
the Indenture referred to herein) and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as
trustee under the indenture referred to below (the "Trustee").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the
Trustee an indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of July 21, 1998 providing for
the issuance of an aggregate principal amount of up to $150.0 million of 10 3/4
% Senior Notes due 2006 (the "Notes");
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a Supplemental
Indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally
guarantee all of the Company's Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on
the terms and conditions set forth herein (the "Subsidiary Guarantee"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is
authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the
equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:
1. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without
definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
2. AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby
agrees to be bound by the terms of the Indenture as a Guarantor and agrees to be
subject to the provisions of the Indenture applicable to Guarantors as though
originally a signatory and party to the Indenture.
3 EXECUTION AND DELIVERY. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees
that the Subsidiary Guarantees shall remain in full force and effect
notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such
Subsidiary Guarantee.
4. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No past, present or future
director, officer, employee, incorporator, or shareholder of the Guaranteeing
Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company
or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Subsidiary Guarantees, the
Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect
of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the
Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and
release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may
not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it
is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
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5. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE BUT
WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT
THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED
THEREBY.
6. COUNTERPARTS The parties may sign any number of copies of this
Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them
together represent the same agreement.
7. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
8. THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any
manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this
Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein,
all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the
Company.
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110
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above
written.
Dated: _______________, ____
[Guaranteeing Subsidiary]
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
AAi.FosterGrant, Inc.
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[EXISTING GUARANTORS]
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
IBJ SCHRODER BANK & TRUST COMPANY
as Trustee
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
111
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF GUARANTORS
The following schedule lists each Guarantor under the Indenture as of
the Closing Date:
1. Foster Grant Holdings, Inc.
2. The Bonneau Company
3. Opti-Ray, Inc.
4. Bonneau General, Inc.
5. Bonneau Holdings, Inc.
6. O-Ray Holdings, Inc.
7. F.G.G. Investments, Inc.
8. Foster Grant Group, L.P.
9. Fantasma, LLC
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