Exhibit 4.1
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BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
AND EACH OF THE GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN
SERIES A AND SERIES B
9 1/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2009
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INDENTURE
DATED AS OF APRIL 18, 2002
---------------------
AND
WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
AS TRUSTEE
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Trust Indenture Indenture Section
Act Section
310(a)(1).......................................... 7.10
(a)(2).......................................... 7.10
(a)(3).......................................... N.A.
(a)(4).......................................... N.A.
(a)(5).......................................... 7.10
(b)............................................. 7.10
(c)............................................. N.A.
311(a)............................................. 7.11
(b)............................................. 7.11
(c)............................................. N.A.
312(a)............................................. 2.05
(b)............................................. 13.03
(c)............................................. 13.03
313(a)............................................. 7.06
(b)(2).......................................... 7.06; 7.07
(c)............................................. 7.06; 13.02
(d)............................................. 7.06
314(a)............................................. 4.03; 13.02; 13.05
(c)(1).......................................... 13.04
(c)(2).......................................... 13.04
(c)(3).......................................... N.A.
(e)............................................. 13.05
(f)............................................. N.A.
315(a)............................................. 7.01
(b)............................................. 7.05, 13.02
(c)............................................. 7.01
(d)............................................. 7.01
(e)............................................. 6.11
316(a) (last sentence)............................. 2.09
(a)(1)(A)....................................... 6.05
(a)(1)(B)....................................... 6.04
(a)(2).......................................... N.A.
(b)............................................. 6.07
(c)............................................. 2.12
317(a)(1).......................................... 6.08
(a)(2).......................................... 6.09
(b)............................................. 2.04
318(a)............................................. 13.01
(b)............................................. N.A.
(c)............................................. 13.01
N.A. means not applicable.
* This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01 Definitions.....................................................1
Section 1.02 Other Definitions..............................................18
Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act..............19
Section 1.04 Rules of Construction..........................................19
ARTICLE 2.
THE NOTES
Section 2.01 Form and Dating................................................20
Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication...................................21
Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.....................................21
Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust............................22
Section 2.05 Holder Lists...................................................22
Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange..........................................22
Section 2.07 Replacement Notes..............................................33
Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes..............................................34
Section 2.09 Treasury Notes.................................................34
Section 2.10 Temporary Notes................................................34
Section 2.11 Cancellation...................................................34
Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.............................................35
ARTICLE 3.
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.............................................35
Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.................35
Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption...........................................36
Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.................................36
Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price........................36
Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part............................37
Section 3.07 Optional Redemption............................................37
Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption...........................................38
Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds............38
ARTICLE 4.
COVENANTS
Section 4.01 Payment of Notes...............................................39
Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency................................40
Section 4.03 Reports........................................................40
Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.........................................41
Section 4.05 Taxes..........................................................41
Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.................................41
Section 4.07 Restricted Payments............................................42
Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions
Affecting Subsidiaries.........................................44
Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Preferred Stock................................................45
Section 4.10 Asset Sales....................................................47
Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates...................................49
Section 4.12 Liens..........................................................50
Section 4.13 Business Activities............................................50
Section 4.14 Corporate Existence............................................50
Section 4.15 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.....................51
Section 4.16 No Senior Subordinated Debt....................................52
Section 4.17 Payments for Consent...........................................52
Section 4.18 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees...............................52
Section 4.19 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted
Subsidiaries...................................................53
ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.......................53
Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted..............................54
ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01 Events of Default..............................................54
Section 6.02 Acceleration...................................................55
Section 6.03 Other Remedies.................................................56
Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults........................................57
Section 6.05 Control by Majority............................................57
Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits............................................57
Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment..................57
Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.....................................58
Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim...............................58
Section 6.10 Priorities.....................................................58
Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs..........................................59
ARTICLE 7.
TRUSTEE
Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee..............................................59
Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee..............................................60
Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee...................................60
Section 7.04 Trustee's Disclaimer...........................................60
Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.............................................61
Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.....................61
Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.....................................61
Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.........................................62
Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc...............................63
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification..................................63
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company..............63
ARTICLE 8.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance.....................................................63
Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.................................63
Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance............................................64
Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.....................64
Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be
Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. ................65
Section 8.06 Repayment to Company...........................................66
Section 8.07 Reinstatement..................................................66
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ARTICLE 9.
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes............................66
Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes...............................67
Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act............................68
Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents..............................68
Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes...............................69
Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc................................69
ARTICLE 10.
SUBORDINATION
Section 10.01 Agreement to Subordinate.......................................69
Section 10.02 Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy...........................69
Section 10.03 Default on Designated Senior Debt..............................70
Section 10.04 Acceleration of Notes..........................................70
Section 10.05 When Distribution Must Be Paid Over............................70
Section 10.06 Notice by Company..............................................71
Section 10.07 Subrogation....................................................71
Section 10.08 Relative Rights................................................71
Section 10.09 Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company...................72
Section 10.10 Distribution or Notice to Representative.......................72
Section 10.11 Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent.............................72
Section 10.12 Authorization to Effect Subordination..........................72
Section 10.13 Amendments.....................................................72
Section 10.14 Reinstatement..................................................73
Section 10.15 No Waiver of Subordination Provisions..........................73
ARTICLE 11.
NOTE GUARANTEES
Section 11.01 Guarantee......................................................73
Section 11.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability..............................74
Section 11.03 Execution and Delivery of Subsidiary Guarantee.................74
Section 11.04 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.............75
Section 11.05 Releases Following Sale of Assets..............................75
Section 11.06 Subordination of Subsidiary Guarantee..........................76
Section 11.07 Release Following Designation as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary........................................76
ARTICLE 12.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 12.01 Satisfaction and Discharge.....................................76
Section 12.02 Application of Trust Money.....................................77
ARTICLE 13.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls...................................77
Section 13.02 Notices........................................................78
Section 13.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with
Other Holders of Notes.........................................79
Section 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.............79
Section 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion..................79
Section 13.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents....................................79
Section 13.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers,
Employees and Stockholders.....................................80
Section 13.08 Governing Law..................................................80
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Section 13.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements..................80
Section 13.10 Successors.....................................................80
Section 13.11 Severability...................................................80
Section 13.12 Counterpart Originals..........................................80
Section 13.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc...............................80
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A1 FORM OF NOTE
Exhibit A2 FORM OF REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE
Exhibit B FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Exhibit C FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Exhibit D FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Exhibit E FORM OF NOTE GUARANTEE
Exhibit F FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
iv
INDENTURE dated as of April 18, 2002 among Block Communications, Inc.,
an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), the Guarantors (as defined) and Wells Fargo
Bank Minnesota, National Association, as trustee (the "Trustee").
The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the
benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as
defined) of the 9 1/4% Series A Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Series
A Notes") and the 9 1/4% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (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 substantially in the form of
Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement
Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the
Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the
outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
"Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such
other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such
specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in
connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with
or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and
(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset
acquired by such specified Person.
"Additional Interest" means all Additional Interest then owing pursuant
to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Additional Notes" means Notes issued under this Indenture in
accordance with Sections 2.02 and 4.09 hereof, as part of the same series as the
Notes issued on the date of this Indenture.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control,"
as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or
policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the
Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control. For purposes of this
definition, the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under common control
with" have correlative meanings.
"Agent" means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional
paying agent.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or exchange
of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of
the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or
exchange.
"Asset Sale" means:
(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any
assets or rights; 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
shall be governed by Sections 4.15 and 5.01 and not by Section 4.10;
and
(2) the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company's
Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not
be deemed to be Asset Sales:
(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions
that involves assets having a fair market value of less than $1.0
million;
(2) a transfer of assets between or among the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries,
(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary
to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary;
(4) the sale or lease of equipment, inventory, accounts
receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of business;
(5) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;
(6) the sale and leaseback of any assets within 90 days of the
acquisition;
(7) foreclosures on assets;
(8) the disposition of equipment no longer used or useful in
the business of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(9) the licensing of intellectual property; and
(10) a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is
permitted by the covenant described in Section 4.07.
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or
state law for the relief of debtors.
"Beneficial Owner" has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3
and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial
ownership of any particular "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act), such "person" will be deemed to have beneficial ownership
of all securities that such "person" has the right to acquire by conversion or
exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is
exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms
"Beneficially Owns" and "Beneficially Owned" have a corresponding meaning.
"Board of Directors" means:
(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of
the corporation;
(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of
the general partner of the partnership; and
(3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee
of such Person serving a
2
similar function.
"Broker-Dealer" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
"Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination is to
be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at
that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with
GAAP.
"Capital Stock" means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and
all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents
(however designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company,
partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a
Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or
distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
"Cash Equivalents" means:
(1) United States dollars;
(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or
insured by the United States government or any agency or
instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full
faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those
securities) having maturities of not more than six months from the date
of acquisition;
(3) 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 domestic commercial bank having
capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million;
(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven
days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2)
and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the
qualifications specified in clause (3) above;
(5) commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Rating Services
and in each case maturing within six months after the date of
acquisition; and
(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which
constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1)
through (5) of this definition.
"Clearstream" means Clearstream Banking, S.A.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) the direct or indirect sale, 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
3
all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any "person" (as that term is used
in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than a Principal or a
Related Party of a Principal;
(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company;
(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without
limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that
any "person" (as defined above), other than the Principals and their
Related Parties, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly,
of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting
power rather than number of shares; or
(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Company" means the issuer, and any and all successors thereto.
"Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect to any specified Person
for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus:
(1) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net
loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in
connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted
in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(2) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent
that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus
(3) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and
whether or not capitalized (including, without limitation, amortization
of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest
payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations,
the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease
Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred
in respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and
net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging
Obligations), to the extent that any such expense was deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(4) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of
goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid
cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash
expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it
represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future
period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a
prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other
non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net
Income; minus
(5) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for
such period, other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course
of business; minus
(6) programming rights payments made during such period, in
each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with
GAAP.
Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on the
income or profits of, and the
4
depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses of, a Subsidiary of
the Company will be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated
Cash Flow of the Company only to the extent that a corresponding amount would be
permitted at the date of determination to be dividended or otherwise paid to the
Company by such Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not
been obtained), and 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 stockholders.
"Consolidated Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person as of any
date of determination, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the total amount of
Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus (ii) the total
amount of Indebtedness of any other Person, to the extent that such Indebtedness
has been Guaranteed by the referent Person or one or more of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or is secured by a Lien on assets of the referent Person or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus (iii) the aggregate liquidation value of all
Disqualified Stock of such Person and all preferred stock of Restricted
Subsidiaries of such Person, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person for
any period, the sum of (i) the consolidated interest expense of the referent
Person and its Restricted 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, 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 the referent Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period, and (iii) any interest
expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by the referent
Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of
the referent Person or one of its Restricted 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 Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividend payments on
Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of such Person (other than
Disqualified Stock) or to such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
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 the referent Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case, on a
consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any specified Person
for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in
accordance with GAAP; provided that:
(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a
Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of
accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of
dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;
(2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be
excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or
similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income
is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior
governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or
indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement,
instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental
regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its
stockholders;
(3) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of
interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such
acquisition shall be excluded; and
5
(4) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles
shall be excluded.
"Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any
member of the Board of Directors of the Company who:
(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of
this Indenture; or
(2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of
Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors
who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination or
election.
"Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" will be at the address of the
Trustee specified in Section 13.02 hereof or such other address as to which the
Trustee may give notice to the Company.
"Credit Agreement" means that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated
as of December 29, 1998, by and among the Company, the Lenders referred to
therein, Mellon Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and The Huntington National
Bank, as Documentation Agent, as amended, and that certain 364-Day Standby Term
Loan Agreement, dated as of December 29, 1998, by and among the Company, the
Lenders referred to therein, Mellon Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and The
Huntington National Bank, as Documentation Agent, as amended, including any
related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements
executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, amended and
restated, modified, supplemented, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from
time to time.
"Credit Facilities" means, one or more debt facilities (including,
without limitation, the Credit Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, in
each case with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving
credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of
receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from
such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as
amended, amended and restated, modified, supplemented, renewed, refunded,
replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.
"Custodian" means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes
in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
"Debt to Cash Flow Ratio" means, as of any date of determination, the
ratio of (a) the Consolidated Indebtedness of the Company as of such date to (b)
the Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company for the four most recent full fiscal
quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial
statements are available, determined on a pro forma basis after giving effect to
all acquisitions or dispositions of assets made by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries from the beginning of such four-quarter period through
and including such date of determination (including any related financing
transactions) as if such acquisitions and dispositions had occurred at the
beginning of such four-quarter 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 Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or
consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the
four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or
prior to the Calculation Date 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 (3) 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 excluded.
"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.
6
"Definitive Note" means a certificated Note registered in the name of
the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto except that such Note shall not
bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the "Schedule of Exchanges of
Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in
whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as
the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto
appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the
applicable provision of this Indenture.
"Designated Senior Debt" means:
(1) any Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement;
and
(2) after payment in full of all Obligations under the Credit
Agreement, any other Senior Debt permitted under this Indenture the
principal amount of which is $25.0 million or more and that has been
designated by the Company as "Designated Senior Debt."
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by
the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is
exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or
upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant
to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the
holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that
is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock
solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the
Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of
control or an asset sale 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. Capital Stock subject to
redemption by virtue of the Amendment to and Restatement of Stock Redemption
Agreement, dated as of December 12, 1991, as in effect on the date of this
Indenture (with such changes that from time to time do not materially adversely
affect the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole or increase
the amounts payable thereunder), shall not be "Disqualified Stock" solely by
virtue of such redemption.
"Domestic Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United
States or the District of Columbia or that guarantees or otherwise provides
direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company.
"Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or
other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
"Euroclear" means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the
Euroclear system.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Exchange Notes" means the 9 -1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009,
of the same series under this Indenture as the Notes, to be issued to Holders in
exchange for Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement.
"Exchange Offer" means the registration by the Company and the
Guarantors under the Securities Act of the Exchange Notes pursuant to a
Registration Statement pursuant to which Block and the Guarantors offer the
Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to
exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities held by such
Holders for Exchange Notes
7
and Exchange Guarantees in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in such exchange
offer by such Holders.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" means the Registration
Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
"Existing Indebtedness" means the Indebtedness of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) in
existence on the date of this Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States 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 from time to time.
"Global Notes" means, individually and collectively, each of the
Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes, substantially in the
form of Exhibit A1 hereto issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(3),
2.06(b)(4), 2.06(d)(2) or 2.06(f) hereof.
"Global Note Legend" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(2),
which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
"Government Securities" means direct obligations of, or obligations
guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the
United States pledges its full faith and credit.
"Guarantee" means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or
indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of
assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness.
"Guarantors" means each of:
(1) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Company, other than WAND
(TV) Partnership; and
(2) any other Subsidiary that executes a Subsidiary Guarantee
in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture; and their
respective successors and assigns.
"Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any specified Person, the
obligations of such Person under:
(1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap
agreements and interest rate collar agreements; and
(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such
Person against fluctuations in interest rates.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
"IAI Global Note" means a Global Note substantially in the form of
Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement
Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and
8
registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a
denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold to
Institutional Accredited Investors.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any specified Person, any
indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:
(1) in respect of borrowed money;
(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar
instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in
respect thereof);
(3) in respect of banker's acceptances;
(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;
(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the
purchase price of any property, except any such balance that
constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or
(6) representing any Hedging Obligations,
if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit
and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the
specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term
"Indebtedness" includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any
asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by
the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee
by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.
The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be:
(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any
Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; and
(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with
any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in
the case of any other Indebtedness.
"Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time
to time.
"Indirect Participant" means a Person who holds a beneficial interest
in a Global Note through a Participant.
"Initial Purchasers" means Bank of America Securities LLC, Fleet
Securities, Inc., Comerica Securities, Inc., NatCity Investments, Inc. and BMO
Nesbitt Burns Corp.
"Institutional Accredited Investor" means an institution that is an
"accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the
Securities Act, who are not also QIBs.
"Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect
investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms
of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital
contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and
employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other
acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other
securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as
investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any
Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company such that,
after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no
9
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 Company's Investments in such Subsidiary that were not sold or
disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of
Section 4.07.
"Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by
law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a
Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the
next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on
such payment for the intervening period.
"Letter of Transmittal" means the letter of transmittal to be prepared
by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in
connection with the Exchange Offer.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset,
whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law,
including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in
the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under
the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.
"Net Income" means, with respect to any specified Person, the net
income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any
reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:
(1) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for
taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with: (a) any Asset
Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness
of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(2) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related
provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss.
"Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale
(including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other
disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of
the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation,
legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any
relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale, taxes paid or
payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account
any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements, and
amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness, other than
Senior Debt, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of
such Asset Sale.
"Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness:
(1) as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any
undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute
Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or
otherwise, or (c) constitutes the lender;
(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights
that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement
action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice,
lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on
such other Indebtedness or cause the
10
payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its
stated maturity; and
(3) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that
they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"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. For purposes of this Indenture, the term "Notes" shall include any
Additional Notes issued under the Indenture in accordance with Section 2.02 and
4.09 hereof, as part of the same series of Notes issued on the date of 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 13.05 hereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section
13.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.
"Participant" means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or
Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or
Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and
Clearstream).
"Permitted Business" means any business engaged in by the Company or
its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the date of this Indenture or any business
reasonably related, ancillary or complimentary thereto.
"Permitted Investments" means:
(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor;
(2) any Investment by the Company in WAND (TV) Partnership;
provided, however that:
(A) WAND (TV) Partnership is designated as a
Restricted Subsidiary on the date of such Investment;
(B) on the date of such Investment there does not
exist any consensual encumbrance or restriction (other than
those in or contemplated by the Partnership Agreement of WAND
(TV) Partnership as in effect on the date of this Indenture
with such changes that from time to time do not materially
adversely affect the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries
(other than WAND (TV) Partnership) or increase the scope or
substance of any such encumbrances or restrictions) on the
ability of WAND (TV) Partnership to (i) pay dividends or make
any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or
any other Restricted Subsidiary, or with respect to any other
interest or
11
participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any
indebtedness owed to the Company or any other Restricted
Subsidiary; (ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any
other Restricted Subsidiary; or (iii) transfer any of its
properties or assets to the Company or any other Restricted
Subsidiary; and
(C) senior management of the Company reasonably
believes that such Investment is prudent to operate WAND (TV)
Partnership's business in the ordinary course of its business;
(3) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;
(4) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:
(A) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company and a Guarantor; or
(B) such Person is merged, consolidated or
amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys
substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a
Guarantor;
(5) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash
consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in
compliance with Section 4.10 hereof;
(6) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange for the
issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the
Company;
(7) any Investments received in compromise of obligations of
trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course
of the Company's or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries' business,
including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement
upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer;
(8) Hedging Obligations; and
(9) 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 (9)
since the date of this Indenture not to exceed $5.0 million.
"Permitted Junior Securities" means:
(1) Equity Interests in the Company or any Guarantor; or
(2) debt securities that are subordinated to all Senior Debt
and any debt securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt to
substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the
Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees are subordinated to Senior Debt
under this Indenture.
"Permitted Liens" means:
(1) Liens securing Senior Debt that was permitted by the terms
of this Indenture to be incurred;
(2) Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;
12
(3) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such
Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were 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 or the Subsidiary;
(4) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of
the property by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, provided
that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such
acquisition;
(5) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations,
surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a
like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(6) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease
Obligations) permitted by Section 4.09(b)(4) hereof covering only the
assets acquired with such Indebtedness;
(7) Liens existing on the date of this Indenture;
(8) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or
claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently
concluded, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as
is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;
(9) Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
provided, however that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or
part of the same assets that secured the original Lien (plus
improvements on such property) and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such
Lien at such time is not increased (other than by an amount necessary
to pay fees and expenses, including premiums, related to the
refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement of such
Indebtedness);
(10) easements, rights-of-way, zoning and similar restrictions
and other similar encumbrances or title defects incurred or imposed, as
applicable, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
industry practices;
(11) any interest or title of a lessor under any Capital Lease
Obligation;
(12) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to
commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and other
property relating to letters of credit and products and proceeds
thereof;
(13) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations
arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty, including
rights of offset and set-off;
(14) Liens securing Hedging Obligations which Hedging
Obligations relate to Indebtedness that is otherwise permitted under
this Indenture;
(15) leases or subleases granted to others;
(16) Liens under licensing agreements;
(17) Liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code
financing statements regarding leases;
(18) judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default;
13
(19) Liens encumbering property of the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary consisting of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics,
materialmen, repairmen and landlords and other Liens arising by
operation of law and incurred in the ordinary course of business for
sums which are not overdue or which are being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings and (if so contested) for which appropriate
reserves with respect thereto have been established and maintained on
the books of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with
GAAP;
(20) Liens encumbering property of the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection
with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, or other forms of
governmental insurance or benefits, or to secure performance of bids,
tenders, statutory obligations, leases, and contracts (other than for
Indebtedness) entered into in the ordinary course of business of the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; and
(21) 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 Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net
proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or
refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
(other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:
(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of
such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal
amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued
interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and
premiums incurred in connection therewith);
(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final
maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted
Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average
Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced,
renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;
(3) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to
the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness 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
(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by
the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited
liability company or government or other entity.
"Principals" means the members of the Block family.
"Private Placement Legend" means the legend set forth in Section
2.06(g)(1) to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where
otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
14
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement,
as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other
amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material
incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.
"Qualified Equity Offerings" means, any issuance of Capital Stock
(other than Disqualified Stock) by the Company to any Person or Persons other
than an Affiliate of the Company in a single transaction resulting in gross
proceeds to the Company in excess of $50.0 million.
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2002, among the Company, the Guarantors and the
other parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time and, with respect to any,
one or more registration rights agreements among the Company, the Guarantors and
the other parties thereto, as such agreement(s) may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time relating to rights given by the Company to the
purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes.
"Registration Statement" means any registration statement of the
Company relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange
Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the
provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, in each case, including the
Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.
"Regulation S" means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Regulation S Global Note" means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note
or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as appropriate.
"Regulation S Permanent Global Note" means a permanent Global Note in
the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private
Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name
of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the
outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon
expiration of the Restricted Period.
"Regulation S Temporary Global Note" means a temporary Global Note in
the form of Exhibit A2 hereto deposited with or on behalf of and registered in
the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the
outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903
of Regulation S.
"Related Party" means:
(1) any controlling stockholder, 80% (or more) owned
Subsidiary, or immediate family member or legal guardian (in the case
of an individual) of any Principal; or
(2) any trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the
beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or Persons beneficially
holding an 80% or more controlling interest of which consist of any one
or more Principals and/or such other Persons referred to in the
immediately preceding clause (1); or
(3) the estate of any deceased or incompetent Principal.
"Representative" means the Indenture Trustee or other trustee, agent or
representative for any Senior Debt.
15
"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 Global Note" means a Global Note bearing the Private
Placement Legend.
"Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.
"Restricted Period" means the 40-day distribution compliance period as
defined in Regulation S.
"Restricted Subsidiary" of a Person means any Subsidiary of the
referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 903" means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 904" means Rule 904 promulgated the Securities Act.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Senior Debt" means:
(1) all Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor
outstanding under Credit Facilities and all Hedging Obligations with
respect thereto;
(2) any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor
permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the
instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides
that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the
notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee; and
(3) all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the
preceding clauses (1) and (2).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding, Senior Debt
will not include:
(1) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes
owed or owing by the Company;
(2) any intercompany Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its Affiliates;
(3) any trade payables; or
(4) the portion of any Indebtedness that is incurred in
violation of this Indenture.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means the Shelf Registration Statement
as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any installment of interest or
principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of
interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to
16
repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date
originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of
which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital
Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to
vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the
corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned
or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of
the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and
(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the
managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of
such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person
or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination
thereof).
"Subsidiary Guarantee" means, the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the
Company's payment obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, executed
pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified
under the TIA.
"Transfer Restricted Securities" means the Transfer Restricted
Securities as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Trustee" means the party named as such in the preamble to this
Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable
provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving
hereunder.
"Unrestricted Global Note" means a permanent global Note substantially
in the form of Exhibit A1 attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and
that has the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name
of the Depositary, representing a series of Notes that do not bear the Private
Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Definitive Note" means one or more Definitive Notes that
do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company that is
designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a
Board Resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:
(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;
(2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or
understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement
or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time
from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;
(3) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect
obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to
maintain or preserve such Person's financial condition or to cause such
Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results;
(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly
provided credit support for any
17
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(5) has at least one director on its Board of Directors that
is not a director or executive officer of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries and has at least one executive officer that is
not a director or executive officer of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.
Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a
certified copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an
Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the
preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07. If, at any time, any
Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted
Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such
Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be
incurred as of such date under Section 4.09, the Company shall be in default of
such covenant. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate
any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such
designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary and such designation shall only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness
is permitted under the covenant described under Section 4.09, calculated on a
pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the
four-quarter reference period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be
in existence following such designation.
"U.S. Person" means a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902(o) under the
Securities Act.
"Voting Stock" of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of
such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of
Directors of such Person.
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any
Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:
(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the
amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial
maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at
final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of
years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment; by
(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such
Indebtedness.
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"................................ 4.15
"Change of Control Payment".............................. 4.15
"Change of Control Payment Date"......................... 4.15
"Covenant Defeasance".................................... 8.03
"DTC".................................................... 2.03
"Event of Default"....................................... 6.01
"Excess Proceeds"........................................ 4.10
"incur".................................................. 4.09
18
Defined in
Term Section
---- -------
"Legal Defeasance"....................................... 8.02
"Offer Amount"........................................... 3.09
"Offer Period"........................................... 3.09
"Paying Agent"........................................... 2.03
"Permitted Debt"......................................... 4.09
"Purchase Date".......................................... 3.09
"Registrar".............................................. 2.03
"Restricted Payments".................................... 4.07
Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision
is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following
meanings:
"indenture securities" means the Notes;
"indenture security Holder" means a Holder of a Note;
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;
"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee; and
"obligor" on the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees means the Company
and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and
the Subsidiary Guarantees, respectively.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA,
defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule under
the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning
assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) "or" is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the
plural include the singular;
(5) "will" shall be interpreted to express a command;
(6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;
and
(7) references to sections of or rules under the Securities
Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor
sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time.
19
ARTICLE 2.
THE NOTES
Section 2.01 Form and Dating.
(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication
will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto. The Notes may have
notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or
usage. Each Note will be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall
be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and
are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the
Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture,
expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However,
to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of
this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be
controlling.
(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form will be substantially in
the form of Exhibits A1 or A2 attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend
thereon and the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A1 attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and
without the "Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached
thereto). Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will
be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and
that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may
from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges
and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any
increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes
represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the
direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder
thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.
(c) Temporary Global Notes. Notes offered and sold in reliance on
Regulation S will be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary
Global Note, which will be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes
represented thereby with the Trustee, at its New York office, as custodian for
the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of
the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of
Euroclear or Clearstream Bank, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by
the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Restricted Period will be terminated
upon the receipt by the Trustee of:
(1) a written certificate from the Depositary, together with
copies of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream Bank certifying
that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial
ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S
Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any beneficial owners
thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period
pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities
Act and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a
144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note bearing a Private Placement
Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(b) hereof); and
(2) an Officers' Certificate from the Company.
Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial
interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note will be exchanged for
beneficial interests in Regulation S Permanent Global Notes pursuant to the
Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication of Regulation S
Permanent Global Notes, the Trustee will cancel the Regulation S Temporary
Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global
Note and the Regulation S Permanent
20
Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made
on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may
be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.
(3) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The
provisions of the "Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System" and
"Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear" and the "General
Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking" and "Customer Handbook" of
Clearstream will be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in
the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent
Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or
Clearstream.
Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers must sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile
signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office
at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.
A Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of
the Trustee. The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been
authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee will, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed
by two Officers (an "Authentication Order"), authenticate Notes for original
issue up to the aggregate principal amount set forth in such Authentication
Order. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not
exceed the aggregate amount of Notes authenticated for original issue pursuant
to all Authentication Orders issued by the Company, 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 will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be
presented for registration of transfer or for exchange ("Registrar") and an
office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent"). The
Registrar will keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange.
The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional
paying agents. The term "Registrar" includes any co-registrar and the term
"Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any
Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company will notify
the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this
Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as
Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of
its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") to
act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and
Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
21
Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company will require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to
agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of
Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of
principal, premium or Additional Interest, if any, or interest on the Notes, and
will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such
payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying
Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may
require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment
over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a
Subsidiary) will have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a
Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it will segregate and hold in a separate trust
fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon
any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the
Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
Section 2.05 Holder Lists.
The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of
all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee
is not the Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee at least seven
Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the
Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the
Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of
Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).
Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be
transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary,
by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the
Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary
or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by
the Company for Definitive Notes if:
(1) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the
Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as
Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under
the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not
appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of such notice
from the Depositary; or
(2) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the
Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for
Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the
Trustee; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Temporary
Global Note be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes prior to
(x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the
Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule
903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act.
Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (1) or (2)
above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall
instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole
or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note
authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any
portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof,
shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global
Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided
in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be
transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.
22
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.
The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be
effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted
Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set
forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of
beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with
either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of
the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(1) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note.
Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred
to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the
transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend;
provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted
Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary
Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or
benefit of a U.S. Person (other than 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)(1).
(2) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests
in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of
beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(1) above,
the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the
Registrar either:
(A) both:
(i) a written order from a Participant or an
Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in
accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing
the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a
beneficial interest in another Global Note in an
amount equal to the beneficial interest to be
transferred or exchanged; and
(ii) instructions given in accordance with
the Applicable Procedures containing information
regarding the Participant account to be credited with
such increase; or
(B) both:
(i) a written order from a Participant or an
Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in
accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing
the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive
Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to
be transferred or exchanged; and
(ii) instructions given by the Depositary to
the Registrar containing information regarding the
Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be
registered to effect the transfer or exchange
referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event
shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or
exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S
Temporary Global Note prior to (A) the expiration of
the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the
Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to
Rule 903 under the Securities Act. Upon consummation
of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance
with Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this
Section 2.06(b)(2) shall be deemed to have been
satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the
instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal
delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests
in
23
the Restricted Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all
of the requirements for transfer or exchange of
beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in
this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable
under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust
the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s)
pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.
(3) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted
Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be
transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer
complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and the
Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form
of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the
transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form
of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global
Note or the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, then the
transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transferee will take delivery in the form
of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, then the
transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion
of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(4) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a
Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted
Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be
exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global
Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of
Section 2.06(b)(2) above and:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to
the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be
transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in
the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of
Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person
participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or
(iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of
the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration
Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(i) if the holder of such beneficial
interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial
interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a
certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C
hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a)
thereof; or
24
(ii) if the holder of such beneficial
interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who
shall take delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a
certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (4)
thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if
the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so
require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable
to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer
is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the
restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private
Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act.
If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D)
above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the
Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance
with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more
Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to
subparagraph (B) or (D) above.
Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged
for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
(1) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to
Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in
a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest
for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial
interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a
Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the
following documentation:
(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial
interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from
such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;
(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred
to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred
to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance
with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (2) thereof;
(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate
to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred
to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D)
above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion
of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable; or
25
(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,
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 Restricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a
beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section
2.06(c)(1) 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 Restricted
Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any
Restricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(1) shall bear the
Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer
contained therein.
(2) Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note
to Definitive Notes. Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(1)(A) and (C)
hereof, a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note
may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person
who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to
(A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the
Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule
903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act, except in the case of a
transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.
(3) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to
Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest
to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted
Definitive Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to
the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement and the holder of such beneficial interest, in the
case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a
transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal
that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person
participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or
(iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of
the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration
Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(i) if the holder of such beneficial
interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive
Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend,
a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit
C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b)
thereof; or
(ii) if the holder of such beneficial
interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who
shall take delivery thereof in the form of a
Definitive Note that does not bear the Private
26
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.
(4) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to
Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest
in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial
interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest
to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive
Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section
2.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal
amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant
to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee
will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the
instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any
Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant
to this Section 2.06(c)(4) will be registered in such name or names and
in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such
beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from
or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.
The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose
names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in
exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4)
will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.
(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note
proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes
to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the
Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note
proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the
form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item
(2)(b) thereof;
(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in
accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule
144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in
reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements
of the
27
Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B)
through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates
and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if
applicable;
(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or
(G) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note,
increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal
amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate
Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the
144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, the
Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, the IAI
Global Note.
(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global
Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to
the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the
transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the
applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a
Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution
of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration
Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(i) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes
proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial
interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a
certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C
hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c)
thereof; or
(ii) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes
proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall
take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a
certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (4)
thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if
the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so
require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable
to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer
is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the
restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the
28
Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the
subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(2), the Trustee will cancel the
Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate
principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note
may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for
such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable
Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the
aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a
beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2)(B),
(2)(D) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not
yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the
Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive
Notes so transferred.
(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.
Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder's compliance with
the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar will register the transfer
or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or
exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the
Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or
by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder
must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as
applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section
2.06(e).
(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive
Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and
registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form
of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the
following:
(A) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being
transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate
in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications
in item (1) thereof;
(B) if 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, then the transferor must
deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) 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;
(D) 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
(A) through (C) above, a
29
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of
Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable; or
(E) 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.
(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive
Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder
thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person
or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted
Definitive Note if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to
the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights
Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the
transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the
applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a
broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution
of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) any such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer
pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(i) if the Holder of such Restricted
Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for
an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from
such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof;
or
(ii) if the Holder of such Restricted
Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a
Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of
an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from
such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if
the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form
reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such
exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act
and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in
the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order
to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive
Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such
Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an
Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register
such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted
Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.
(f) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will issue and,
upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof,
the Trustee will authenticate:
30
(1) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial
interests in the Restricted Global Notes tendered into the Exchange
Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal
that (A) they are not Broker-Dealers, (B) they are not participating in
a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; and
(2) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes
accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer.
Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee will cause
the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be
reduced accordingly, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will
authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive
Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal
amount.
(g) Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all
Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless
specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
(1) Private Placement Legend.
(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below,
each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes
issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall
bear the legend in substantially the following form:
"THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION
EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE
"SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION
THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF
THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5
OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THIS
SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE
OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES
TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION
MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN
OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III)
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY
RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED
STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO,
NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS
REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE."
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or
Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4),
(c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(3) or (f) of this
Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or
substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement
Legend.
(2) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will bear a legend in
substantially the following form:
31
"THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE
GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL
OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED
IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS
GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE
FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR
ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS
CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST
COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) ("DTC"), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS
AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE
ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO
CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN."
(3) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend. The Regulation
S Temporary Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the
following form:
"THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE
CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS
SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE
BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON."
(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all
beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for
Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or
canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or
retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At
any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note
is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in
the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive
Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be
reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the
Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such
reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred
to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest
in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and
an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the
Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
32
(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the
Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and
Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance
with Section 2.02 or at the Registrar's request.
(2) No service charge will be made to a Holder of a Global
Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of
transfer or exchange, but the Holder will be required to pay of a sum
sufficient to pay all transfer tax or similar governmental charges
payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or
similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant
to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 hereof). The
Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange
any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(3) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any
registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive
Notes will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the
Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of
transfer or exchange.
(4) The Company will not be required:
(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to
exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for
redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close
of business on the day of selection;
(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any
Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or
(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note
between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment
date.
(5) 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.
(6) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive
Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.
(7) 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 will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an
Authentication Order, will 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
33
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
will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by
the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for
cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the
Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this
Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note
does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of
the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section
3.07(a) hereof.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be
outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section
4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money
sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such
Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue
interest.
Section 2.09 Treasury Notes.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of
Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the
Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with the Company, will be considered as
though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the
Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent,
only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned will be so disregarded.
Section 2.10 Temporary Notes.
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the
Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order,
will authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the
form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers
appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will prepare and the Trustee
will authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes will be entitled to all of the benefits of
this Indenture.
Section 2.11 Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for
cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any
Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The
Trustee and no one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of
transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will destroy
canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange
Act). Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes
34
will be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace
Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation.
Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it will
pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful,
interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a
subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes
and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of
the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date
of the proposed payment. The Company will fix or cause to be fixed each such
special record date and payment date, provided that no such special record date
may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted
interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon
the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense
of the Company) will mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states
the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such
interest to be paid.
ARTICLE 3.
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional
redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, at
least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers'
Certificate setting forth:
(1) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the
redemption shall occur;
(2) the redemption date;
(3) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and
(4) the redemption price.
Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an
offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption or
purchase as follows:
(1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities
exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national
securities exchange on which the Notes are listed; or
(2) if the Notes are not listed on any national securities
exchange, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee
shall deem fair and appropriate.
In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular
Notes to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided
herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or
purchase date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called
for redemption or purchase.
The Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes
selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for
partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or
purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $1,000 or
whole multiples of $1,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be
redeemed or purchased,
35
the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a
multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the
preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for
redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or
purchase.
Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but
not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will mail or cause
to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption
notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice
is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 12 of this Indenture.
The notice will identify the Notes to be redeemed and will state:
(1) the redemption date;
(2) the redemption price;
(3) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the
principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the
redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued upon
cancellation of the original Note;
(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to
the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such
redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to
accrue on and after the redemption date;
(7) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this
Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being
redeemed; and
(8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or
accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed
on the Notes.
At the Company's request, the Trustee will give the notice of
redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the
Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption
date, an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and
setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the
preceding paragraph.
Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03
hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the
redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be
conditional.
Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.
One Business Day prior to the redemption or purchase price date, the
Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient
to pay the redemption or purchase price of and
36
accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or
purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to
the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the
Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase
price of, and accrued interest and Additional Interest, if any, on, all Notes to
be redeemed or purchased.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph,
on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on
the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note
is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to
the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be
paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of
business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase is
not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of
the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on
the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal
is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid
principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01
hereof.
Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the
Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee
will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal
in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note
surrendered.
Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.
(a) At any time prior to April 15, 2005, the Company may on any one or
more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 109.25% of the principal
amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if
any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Qualified
Equity Offerings, provided that:
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
issued under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the
occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and
its Subsidiaries); and
(2) the redemption occurs within 45 days of the date of the
closing of such Qualified Equity Offering.
Except pursuant to this Section 3.07(a), the Notes may not be redeemed
at the option of the Company prior to April 15, 2006.
(b) After April 15, 2006, the Company may redeem all or a part of the
Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption
prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus
accrued and unpaid interest, and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes
redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month
period beginning on April 15 of the years indicated below:
Year Percentage
---- ----------
2006.................................................. 104.625%
2007.................................................. 102.313%
2008 and thereafter................................... 100.000%
37
(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 is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking
fund payments with respect to the Notes.
Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.
In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company is
required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an "Asset Sale
Offer"), it will follow the procedures specified below.
The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of
other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions
similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase
or redeem with the proceeds of sales and assets. The Asset Sale Offer will
remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement
and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is
required by applicable law (the "Offer Period"). No later than three Business
Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the "Purchase Date"), the
Company will apply all Excess Proceeds (the "Offer Amount") to the purchase of
Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if
applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and
other Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any
Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are
made.
If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or
before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest, and
Additional Interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is
registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional
interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale
Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company will send, by
first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy
to the Trustee. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary
to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The
notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state:
(1) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this
Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset
Sale Offer will remain open;
(2) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase
Date;
(3) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment will
continue to accrue interest;
(4) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment,
any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer will
cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;
(5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to
an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in integral
multiples of $1,000 only;
(6) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to
any Asset Sale Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the
form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of
the Note completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company,
a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the
address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase
Date;
38
(7) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election
if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be,
receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a
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;
(8) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other
pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer
Amount, the Company will select the Notes and other pari passu
Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal
amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered
(with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so
that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples
thereof, will be purchased); and
(9) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will
be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased
portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry
transfer).
On or before the Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful,
accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer
Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer,
or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and will
deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such Notes or
portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the
terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as
the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five days after
the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to
the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the
Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the
Trustee, upon written request from the Company will authenticate and mail or
deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any
unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be
promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company
will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.
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 and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes on the dates and
in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest
and Additional Interest, if any will be considered paid on the date due if the
Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of
10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in
immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all
principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. The Company shall pay all
Additional Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts
set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
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
39
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and
Additional Interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same
rate to the extent lawful.
Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New
York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate
of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for
registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or
upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The
Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any
change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company
fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the
Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and
demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or
all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided,
however, that no such designation or rescission will in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company 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
Commission, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company shall furnish to
the Holders of Notes, within the time periods specified in the Commission's
rules and regulations:
(1) all quarterly and annual financial information that would
be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms
10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such forms,
including a "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and, with respect to the annual
information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the
Company's certified independent accountants; and
(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed
with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file
such reports.
In addition, following the consummation of the Exchange Offer
contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, whether or not required by
the Commission, the Company will file a copy of all of the information and
reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the Commission for public
availability within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and
regulations (unless the Commission will not accept such a filing) and make such
information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon
request. The Company will at all times comply with TIA Section 314(a) to the
extent applicable.
If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by
the preceding paragraph shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either
on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and
results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.
40
(b) For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Company and the
Guarantors will furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and
prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be
delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.
(a) The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor
is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after
the end of each fiscal year, an Officers' Certificate stating that a review of
the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal
year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to
determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its
obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer
signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company
has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in
this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of
the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or
Event of Default has occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default
of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her
knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which
payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is
prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what
action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the 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) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company shall
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 will suffer and permit the
execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
41
Section 4.07 Restricted Payments.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or
distribution on account of the Company's or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries' Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any
payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or
indirect holders of the Company's or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries' Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than
dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the Company or to the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company);
(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value
(including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or
consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the
Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;
(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase,
redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any
Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes or the Subsidiary
Guarantees, except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated
Maturity thereof; or
(4) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and
other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being
collectively referred to as "Restricted Payments"),
unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such
Restricted Payment:
(1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment;
and
(2) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment
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
(other than Permitted Debt) pursuant to the Debt to Cash Flow Ratio
test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; and
(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate
amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries after the date of this Indenture (excluding
Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6),
(7) and (9) of Section 4.07(b) hereof) shall not exceed, at the date of
determination, the sum of:
(A) an amount equal to the Company's Consolidated
Cash Flow from the date of this Indenture to the end of the
Company's most recently ended full fiscal quarter for which
internal financial statements are available, taken as a single
accounting period, less the product of 1.4 times the Company's
Consolidated Interest Expense from the date of this Indenture
to the end of the Company's most recently ended full fiscal
quarter for which internal financial statements are available,
taken as a single accounting period, plus
(B) an amount equal to the net cash proceeds received
by the Company from the sale of Equity Interests after the
date of this Indenture (other than (i) sales of Disqualified
Stock and (ii) Equity Interests sold to any of the Company's
Restricted Subsidiaries) plus
(C) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that
was made after the date of this Indenture is sold for cash or
otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of (i)
42
the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted
Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (ii) the
initial amount of such Restricted Investment plus
(D) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary is
redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the date of this
Indenture, the fair market value of such Subsidiary as of the
date of such redesignation.
(b) So long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be
caused thereby, the provisions of Section 4.07(a) will not prohibit:
(1) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date
of declaration of the dividend, if at the date of declaration the
dividend payment would have complied with the provisions of this
Indenture;
(2) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or
other acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or
any Guarantor or of any Equity Interests of the Company in exchange
for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent
sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity
Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); provided that
the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such
redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition
shall be excluded from clause (3)(B) of the preceding paragraph;
(3) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other
acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any
Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness;
(4) the payment of any dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company to the holders of its common Equity Interests on a pro rata
basis;
(5) the payment of dividends by the Company to holders of its
common Equity Interests not to exceed $2.0 million in any twelve-month
period;
(6) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or
retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any member of the
Company's (or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries') management pursuant
to any management equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement
or similar agreement; provided that the aggregate price paid for all
such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may
not exceed $750,000 in any twelve-month period (with unused amounts in
any twelve month period being available to be so utilized in succeeding
twelve month periods);
(7) Restricted Payments made solely with the net cash proceeds
to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any "keyman" life
insurance proceeds (i) to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or
retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company held by any member of the Company's (or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries') management pursuant to any management
equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement or similar
agreement or (ii) to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire
for value any Equity Interests of the Company held by members of the
Block family pursuant to the Amendment to and Restatement of Stock
Redemption Agreement, dated as of December 12, 1991, as in effect on
the date of this Indenture, with such changes that from time to time do
not materially adversely affect the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or increase the amounts payable
thereunder;
(8) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or
retirement for value of any Equity
43
Interests of the Company held by members of the Block family pursuant
to the Amendment to and Restatement of Stock Redemption Agreement,
dated as of December 12, 1991, as in effect on the date of this
Indenture, with such changes that from time to time do not materially
adversely affect the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or increase the amounts payable thereunder, other than
repurchases, redemptions, acquisitions or retirements made for similar
purposes pursuant to clause (7) above; and
(9) other Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed $2.5
million in the aggregate.
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 assets 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. The Board of Directors'
determination must be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an
accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if the
fair market value exceeds $10.0 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.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become
effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Subsidiary to:
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its
Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or
with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by,
its profits, or pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries; or
(3) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
(b) The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) will not apply to encumbrances
or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
(1) agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and Credit
Facilities as in effect on the date of this Indenture and any
amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases,
supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those
agreements, provided that the amendments, modifications, restatements,
renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacement or
refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to
such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in
those agreements on the date of this Indenture;
(2) this Indenture, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees;
(3) applicable law;
(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of
a Person acquired by the
44
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time
of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital
Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such
acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any
Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the
Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided
that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by
the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;
(5) customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into
in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
(6) purchase money obligations (including Capital Lease
Obligations) for property acquired in the ordinary course of business
that impose restrictions on that property of the nature described in
clause (3) of Section 4.08(a);
(7) contracts for the sale of assets, including any agreement
for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that
restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale
or other disposition;
(8) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the
restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken as a whole,
than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being
refinanced;
(9) Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be
incurred under Section 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to
dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;
(10) provisions with respect to the disposition or
distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, assets
sale agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements
entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(11) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth
imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary
course of business.
Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly, or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume,
guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or
otherwise, with respect to (collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including
Acquired Debt), and the Company shall not issue any Disqualified Stock and shall
not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred
stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including
Acquired Debt) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock if the Company's Debt to
Cash Flow Ratio at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness or the issuance
of such Disqualified Stock, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or
issuance as of such date and to the use of proceeds therefrom as if the same had
occurred at the beginning of the most recently ended four full fiscal quarter
period of the Company for which internal financial statements are available,
would have been no greater than (a) 7.0 to 1, if such incurrence or issuance is
on or prior to April 15, 2005 and (b) 6.5 to 1, if such incurrence or issuance
is after April 15, 2005;
(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) will not prohibit the incurrence
of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, "Permitted Debt"):
(1) the incurrence by the Company and any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness and letters of credit under
Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one time
outstanding under this clause (1)(with letters of credit being deemed
to have a principal
45
amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed $200.0 million less
the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date of this
Indenture to repay any Indebtedness under a Credit Facility and effect
a corresponding commitment reduction thereunder pursuant to Section
4.10;
(2) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;
(3) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of
Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the related Subsidiary
Guarantees to be issued on the date of this Indenture and the Exchange
Notes and the related Subsidiary Guarantees to be issued pursuant to
the Registration Rights Agreement;
(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
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 Restricted
Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any
Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed $10.0
million at any time outstanding;
(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or
the net proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance or replace
Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted
by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a) hereof or
clauses (2), (3), (4), (5) or (10) of this Section 4.09(b);
(6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company
and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that:
(A) if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on
such Indebtedness and the obligee under such Indebtedness is
neither the Company nor a Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be
expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of
all Obligations with respect to the Notes, in the case of the
Company, or the Subsidiary Guarantee, in the case of a
Guarantor; and
(B) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of
Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being
held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer
of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; shall be
deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such
Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as
the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);
(7) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations that are incurred for the purpose
of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any floating
rate Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to
be outstanding;
(8) the guarantee by the Company or any of the Guarantors of
Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this
covenant;
46
(9) the accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of
original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in
the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the
payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional
shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to
be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock
for purposes of this Section 4.09;
(10) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to
letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including,
without limitation, letters of credit in respect of workers'
compensation claims or self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with
respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers'
compensation claims; provided, however, that upon the drawing of such
letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such
obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or
incurrence;
(11) Indebtedness consisting of customary indemnification,
adjustments of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case,
incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition of any business
or assets;
(12) Obligations in respect of performance and surety bonds
and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; and
(13) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal
amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding,
including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund,
refinance or replace any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause
(13), not to exceed $10.0 million.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the
event that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one
of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (13) above,
or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a), the Company will be
permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence,
or later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner
that complies with this Section 4.09. Accrual of interest, accretion or
amortization of original issue discount and the accretion of accreted value will
not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section
4.09. Indebtedness under Credit Facilities outstanding on the date on which the
Notes are first issued and authenticated under this Indenture will be deemed to
have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause
(1) of the definition of Permitted Debt.
Section 4.10 Asset Sales.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives
consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the fair
market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or
otherwise disposed of;
(2) the fair market value is determined by the Company's Board of Directors
and evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an
Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee; and
(3) at least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash
Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following
shall be deemed to be cash:
47
(A) any liabilities, as shown on the Company's most
recent consolidated balance sheet, of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and
liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes
or any Subsidiary Guarantee) that are assumed by the
transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation
agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary from further liability; and
(B) any securities, notes or other obligations
received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from
such transferee that are converted within 90 days by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash
Equivalents, to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents
received in that conversion.
The 75% limitation referred to in clause (3) above will not apply to
any Asset Sale in which the cash or Cash Equivalents portion of the
consideration received therefrom, determined in accordance with the preceding
provision, is equal to or greater than what the after-tax proceeds would have
been had such Asset Sale complied with the aforementioned 75% limitation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
will be permitted to consummate an Asset Sale without complying with the
foregoing if:
(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary receives
consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair
market value of the assets or other property sold, issued or otherwise
disposed of;
(2) the fair market value is determined by the Company's Board
of Directors and is evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors
set forth in an Officers' Certificate to the Trustee; and
(3) at least 75% (or 50% in the case of the sale of all of the
Capital Stock owned by the Company of WAND (TV) Partnership) of the
consideration for such Asset Sale constitutes a controlling interest in
a Permitted Business, assets used or useful in a Permitted Business
and/or cash;
provided that any cash (other than any amount deemed cash under this Section
4.10(3)(A)) received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection
with any Asset Sale permitted to be consummated under this paragraph shall
constitute Net Proceeds subject to the provisions of the next paragraph.
Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset
Sale, the Company may apply those Net Proceeds at its option:
(1) to repay Senior Debt and, if the Senior Debt repaid is
revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments
with respect thereto;
(2) to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or a
majority of the Voting Stock of, another Permitted Business;
(3) to make capital expenditures; or
(4) to acquire other non-current assets that are used or
useful in a Permitted Business.
Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company may
temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net
Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.
48
Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as
provided in the preceding paragraph will constitute "Excess Proceeds." When the
aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, within five days
thereof the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes and
all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing
provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers
to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets in accordance with
Section 3.09 hereof to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such
other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds.
The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of principal
amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the
date of purchase, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain
after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess
Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the
aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered
into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee
shall select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on
a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of the Notes and such other pari
passu Indebtedness tendered. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the
amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
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 those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each
repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the
provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of
Section 3.09 or 4.10 of this Indenture, the Company shall comply with the
applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have
breached its obligations under those provisions of this Indenture by virtue of
such conflict.
Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or
assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract,
agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit
of, any Affiliate (each, an "Affiliate Transaction"), unless:
(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less
favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than
those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and
(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:
(A) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or
series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate
consideration in excess of $5.0 million, a resolution of the
Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate
certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this
Section 4.11 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 $10.0 million, an opinion as to the
fairness to the Company of such Affiliate Transaction from a
financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or
investment banking firm of national standing.
(b) The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions
and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of Section 4.11(a):
(1) any compensation paid to employees, including pursuant to
any employment
49
agreement, entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) transactions between or among the Company and/or its
Restricted Subsidiaries;
(3) loans, advances, payment of reasonable fees,
indemnification of directors or similar arrangements to officers,
directors, employees and consultants who are not otherwise Affiliates
of the Company;
(4) sales of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock)
of the Company to Affiliates of the Company;
(5) Restricted Payments and Permitted Investments that are
permitted by Section 4.07; and
(6) transactions, including the repurchase, redemption or
other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of
the Company held by members of the Block family, pursuant to the
Amendment to and Restatement of Stock Redemption Agreement, dated as of
December 12, 1991, as in effect on the date of this Indenture, with
such changes that from time to time do not materially adversely affect
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole or
increase the amounts payable thereunder.
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 of any
kind securing Indebtedness or trade payables on any asset now owned or hereafter
acquired, except Permitted Liens, unless all payments due under this Indenture
and the Notes are secured on an equal and ratable basis with the obligations so
secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.
Section 4.13 Business Activities.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary
to, engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such
extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
taken as a whole.
Section 4.14 Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done
all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:
(1) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or
other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the
respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from
time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary; and
(2) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and
franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license
or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any
of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the
preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and
that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the
Holders of the Notes.
50
Section 4.15 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company will make
an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to each Holder to repurchase all or any
part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) of each Holder's Notes
at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus
accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes
repurchased to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 10
days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each
Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of
Control and stating:
(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to
this Section 4.15 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for
payment;
(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be
no 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 will 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 close of business on the third
Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;
(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election
if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on
the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a
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 will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the
Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the
repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change in Control. To the extent that
the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the
provisions of Sections 3.09 or 4.15 of this Indenture, the Company will comply
with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to
have breached its obligations under Section 3.09 or this Section 4.15 by virtue
of such conflict.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the
extent lawful:
(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly
tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
51
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the
Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes
properly tendered; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes
properly accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the
aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being
purchased by the Company.
The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes properly
tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will
promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to
each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of
the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Note will be in a
principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof.
Prior to complying with any of the provisions of this Section 4.15, but
in any event within 90 days following a Change of Control, the Company shall
either repay all outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents, if
any, under all agreements governing outstanding Senior Debt to permit the
repurchase of Notes required by this Section 4.15. The 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) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.15, the
Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of
Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the
times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this
Section 4.15 and Section 3.09 hereof and purchases all Notes validly tendered
and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer.
Section 4.16 No Senior Subordinated Debt.
The Company shall not incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or
otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in
right of payment to any Senior Debt of the Company and senior in any respect in
right of payment to the Notes. No Guarantor will incur, create, issue, assume,
guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinate or
junior in right of payment to the Senior Debt of such Guarantor and senior in
any respect in right of payment to such Guarantor's Subsidiary Guarantee. For
purposes of this covenant, the foregoing limitations shall not apply to
distinctions between categories of Senior Debt of the Company that exist by
reason of any Liens or Guarantees arising or created in respect of some but not
all such Senior Debt.
Section 4.17 Payments for Consent.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the
benefit of any Holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or
amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes
unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders of
the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in
the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
Section 4.18 Additional Subsidiary Guarantees.
If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or
creates another Domestic Subsidiary after the date of this Indenture, other than
a Subsidiary that has properly been designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in
accordance with this Indenture for so long as they continue to constitute
Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then that newly acquired or created Domestic
Subsidiary will become a Guarantor and execute a supplemental indenture and
deliver an Opinion of Counsel satisfactory to the Trustee within 10 Business
Days of the date on which it was acquired or created.
52
Section 4.19 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a
Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate
fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary properly designated will be deemed to
be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the
amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of Section
4.07 or under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as
applicable, as determined by the Company. That designation will only be
permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the
Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary. The Board of Directors may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary
to be a Restricted Subsidiary if the redesignation would not cause a Default.
ARTICLE 5.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.
The Company shall not, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge
with or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving
corporation); or (2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all
or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions,
to another Person; unless:
(1) either: (a) the Company is the surviving corporation; or
(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger
(if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a
corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States,
any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;
(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation
or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made
assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, this
Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to a
supplemental indenture or other agreements reasonably satisfactory to
the Trustee;
(3) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of
Default exists; and
(4) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such
sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been
made shall, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma
effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same
had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be
permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant
to the Debt to Cash Flow Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of
Section 4.09.
In addition, the Company shall 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 apply to a sale,
assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among
the Company and any of the Guarantors.
In the event of any transaction (other than a lease) described in and
complying with the conditions listed in the immediately preceding paragraph in
which the Company is not the surviving Person and the surviving Person is to
assume all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture
53
pursuant to a supplemental indenture, such surviving Person shall succeed to,
and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company,
and the Company would be discharged from its obligations under this Indenture
and the Notes; provided that solely for the purpose of calculating amounts
described in Section 4.07(b)(2) any such surviving Person shall only be deemed
to have succeeded to and be substituted for the Company with respect to the
period subsequent to the effective time of such transaction (and the Company
(before giving effect to such transaction) shall be deemed to be the "Company"
for such purposes for all prior periods).
Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the
provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such
consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall
succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such
consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the
provisions of this Indenture referring to the "Company" shall refer instead to
the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may exercise every right
and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such
successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that
the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the
principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of
the Company's assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with
the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE 6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01 Events of Default.
Each of the following is an "Event of Default":
(1) the Company defaults for 30 days in the payment when due
of interest on, or Additional Interest with respect to, the Notes
whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of this
Indenture;
(2) the Company defaults in payment when due of the principal
of, or premium, if any, on the Notes, whether or not prohibited by the
subordination provisions of this Indenture;
(3) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15;
(4) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries for 30 days after notice from the Trustee or Holders of at
least 25% in principal amount of the Notes to comply with the
provisions of 4.07, 4.09 or 4.10 hereof;
(5) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice from the Trustee or Holders of at
least 25% in principal amount of the Notes to comply with any of the
other agreements in this Indenture;
(6) 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
Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the
54
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such
Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of
this Indenture, if that default:
(A) is caused by a failure to pay principal of such
Indebtedness at the final stated maturity thereof (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;
(7) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $5.0
million not covered by insurance, which judgments are not paid,
discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;
(8) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant
to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:
(a) commences a voluntary case,
(b) consents to the entry of an order for relief
against it in an involuntary case,
(c) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it
or for all or substantially all of its property,
(d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors, or
(e) generally is not paying its debts as they become
due; or
(9) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or
decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(a) is for relief against the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in an involuntary case;
(b) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries or for all or substantially all of the
property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
or
(c) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60
consecutive days; or
(10) 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.
In the case of an Event of Default specified in clauses (8) or (9) of
Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Company, all outstanding Notes will
become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any
other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of
at
55
least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the
Notes to be due and payable immediately.
In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as a result of the acceleration
of any Indebtedness described in clause (6) of Section 6.01, the declaration of
acceleration of the notes shall be automatically annulled if the Holders of any
Indebtedness described in clause (6) of Section 6.01 have rescinded the
declaration of acceleration in respect of the Indebtedness within 30 days of the
date of the declaration and if:
(1) the annulment of the acceleration of notes would not
conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction; and
(2) all existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of
principal or interest on the Notes that became due solely because of
the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.
Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable
immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in
clauses (8) or (9) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, all outstanding Notes shall be due and
payable immediately without further action or notice. The Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to
the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders rescind an acceleration and its
consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree
and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest
or premium that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been
cured or waived.
If an Event of Default occurs on or after April 15, 2006 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 April 15, 2006
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, to the extent permitted by law, in an amount, for each of the years
beginning on April 15 of the years set forth below, as set forth below
(expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the Notes on the date of
payment that would otherwise be due but for the provisions of this sentence):
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
2002.................................................. 9.25000%
2003.................................................. 8.09375%
2004.................................................. 6.93750%
2005.................................................. 5.78125%
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 Additional
Interest, 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
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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 Additional Interest, 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. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the
Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default if it determines that
withholding notes is in their interest, except a Default or Event of Default
relating to the payment of principal or interest or Additional Interest.
Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.
A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture
or the Notes only if:
(1) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice
of a continuing Event of Default;
(2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue
the remedy;
(3) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if
requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee
against any loss, liability or expense;
(4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60
days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the
provision of indemnity; and
(5) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee
a direction inconsistent with the request.
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights
of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another
Holder of a Note.
Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any
Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium and Additional
Interest, if any, and interest on the Note, on or
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after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection
with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such
payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected
without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and
is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and
as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of
principal of, premium and Additional Interest, 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.
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 Additional Interest, 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 Additional Interest, if any and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent
jurisdiction shall direct.
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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 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of
a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE 7.
TRUSTEE
Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee
will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and
use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own
affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(1) the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the
express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only
those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no
others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this
Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or
opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of
this Indenture. However, the Trustee will 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:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b)
of this Section 7.01;
(2) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment
made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that
the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action
it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction
received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of
this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs
(a), (b), and (c) of this Section 7.01.
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(e) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend
or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee will be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the
request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security
and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received
by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in
trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it
to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The
Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an
Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be
liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on
such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with
counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be
full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance
thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not
be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.
(d) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to
take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any
demand, request, direction or notice from the Company will be sufficient if
signed by an Officer of the Company.
(f) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of
any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the
owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not
Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting
interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission
for permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with
like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11
hereof.
Section 7.04 Trustee's Disclaimer.
The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as
to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be
accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money
paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction under any provision of this
Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money
received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be
responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in
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the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or
pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.
Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is
known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the
Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case
of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium or
Additional Interest, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold
the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good
faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders
of the Notes.
Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.
(a) Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15
following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain
outstanding, the Trustee will mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report
dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA Section 313(a) (but if no
event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months
preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also
will comply with TIA Section 313(b)(2). The Trustee will also transmit by mail
all reports as required by TIA Section 313(c).
(b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of
Notes will be mailed by the Trustee to the Company and filed by the Trustee with
the Commission and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in
accordance with TIA Section 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee
when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.
(a) The Company will pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable
compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The
Trustee's compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee promptly
upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or
made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses will
include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's
agents and counsel.
(b) The Company and the Guarantor will indemnify the Trustee against
any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this
Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against
the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending
itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Guarantors or any
Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any
such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad
faith. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it
may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not
relieve the Company or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The
Company or such Guarantor will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate
in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay
the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Company nor any
Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent
will not be unreasonably withheld.
(c) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this
Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
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(d) To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section 7.07,
the Trustee will have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or
collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and
interest on particular Notes. Such Lien will survive the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture.
(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event
of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) hereof occurs, the expenses and
the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents
and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
Bankruptcy Law.
(f) The Trustee will comply with the provisions of TIA Section
313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.
Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.
(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee's
acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.
(b) The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged
from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the
Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may
remove the Trustee if:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an
order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any
Bankruptcy Law;
(3) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee
or its property; or
(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor
Trustee. Within one year after the successor 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.
(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after
the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company,
or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Trustee.
(e) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a
Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee
and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(f) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the
successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee
under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession
to Holders. The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it
as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the Trustee
hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07
hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section
7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 hereof will continue for the
benefit of the retiring Trustee.
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Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or
substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the
successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.
There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or
of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million
as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements
of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA Section
310(b).
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor
relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been
removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE 8.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a
resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time, elect to have
either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon
compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and each of the Guarantors will,
subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof,
be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all
outstanding Notes (including the Subsidiary Guarantees) on the date the
conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal Defeasance"). For
this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be
deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the
outstanding Notes (including the Subsidiary Guarantees), which will thereafter
be deemed to be "outstanding" only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and
the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below,
and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the
Subsidiary Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at
the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the
same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise
terminated or discharged hereunder:
(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments
in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium and Additional
Interest, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due from the trust
referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;
(2) the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under
Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof;
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(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the
Trustee hereunder and the Company's and the Guarantors' obligations in
connection therewith; and
(4) the provisions of this Article 8 relating to Legal
Defeasance.
Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its
option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option
under Section 8.03 hereof.
Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and the Guarantors will, subject to
the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released
from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07,
4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19 hereof and
clause (4) of the first paragraph of Section 5.01 hereof and the first sentence
of the second paragraph of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding
Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are
satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant Defeasance"), and the Notes will thereafter be
deemed not "outstanding" for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or
declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in
connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed "outstanding" for
all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be
deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant
Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Subsidiary
Guarantees, the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and will have
no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any
such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference
elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such
covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such
omission to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under
Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this
Indenture and such Notes and Subsidiary Guarantees will be unaffected thereby.
In addition, upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(3) through 6.01(5)
hereof will not constitute Events of Default.
Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under
either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust,
for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars,
non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such
amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium
and Additional Interest, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on
the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date,
as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are
being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;
(2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the
Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United
States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:
(A) the Company has received from, or there has been published
by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
(B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change
in the applicable federal income tax law,
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in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of
Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes
will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to
federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at
the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance
had not occurred;
(3) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the
Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United
States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of
the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and
at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance
had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of
Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such
deposit);
(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in
a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material
agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries is bound;
(6) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of
preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Company
with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other
creditors of the Company or others; and
(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel, which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to
customary assumptions and exclusions, each stating that all conditions
precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant
Defeasance have been complied with.
Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in
Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government
Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other
qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the
"Trustee") pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes
will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the
provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or
through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the
Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to
become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and Additional Interest, if
any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except
to the extent required by law.
The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or
other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government
Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and
interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other
charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee
will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the
Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided
in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof
delivered to the Trustee
65
(which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess
of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an
equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section 8.06 Repayment to Company.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by
the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium or Additional
Interest, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years
after such principal, premium or Additional Interest, if any, or interest has
become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then
held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such
Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment
thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to
such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will
thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent,
before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the
Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street
Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that,
after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the
date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money
then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
Section 8.07 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States
dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or
8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court
or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such
application, then the Company's and the Guarantor's obligations under this
Indenture and the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees will be revived and
reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03
hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all
such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be;
provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of,
premium or Additional Interest, if any, or interest on any Note following the
reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights
of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the
Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 9.
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company, the
Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the
Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a Note:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in
place of certificated Notes;
(3) to provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to
Holders of Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all
or substantially all of the Company's assets;
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(4) 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;
(5) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to
effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
(6) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in
accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of its
date; or
(7) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture
and/or a Subsidiary Guarantee with respect to the Notes.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board
of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section
7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the
execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by
the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and
stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be
obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its
own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes.
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee
may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section
3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof), the Subsidiary Guarantees and the Notes with the
consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes
(including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding
voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in
connection with a purchase of or a tender offer or exchange offer for the
Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or
compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with
the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including consents obtained in
connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the
Notes). Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be
"outstanding" for purposes of this Section 9.02.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board
of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the
Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by
the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will
join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture
unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case
the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such
amended or supplemental Indenture.
It is not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this
Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver,
but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes
effective, the Company will mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a
notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of
the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in
any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount
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of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a
particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the
Notes. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or
waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a
non-consenting Holder):
(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent
to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note
or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of
the Notes except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and
4.15 hereof;
(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest,
including default interest, on any Note;
(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal
of or premium or Additional Interest, if any, or interest on the Notes
(except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at
least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such
acceleration);
(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the
Notes;
(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to
waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive
payments of principal of, or interest or premium or Additional Interest,
if any, on the Notes;
(7) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note other than a
payment required by Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof; or
(8) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver
provisions;
In addition, any amendment to, or waiver of, the provisions of this
Indenture relating to (i) subordination that adversely affects the rights of the
Holders of the Notes or (ii) the release of any Guarantor from any of its
obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or this Indenture, except in
accordance with the terms of this Indenture, will require the consent of the
Holders of at least 75% in aggregate principal amount of notes then outstanding.
Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set
forth in a amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then
in effect.
Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to
it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and
every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same
debt as the consenting Holder's Note, even if notation of the consent is not
made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a
Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written
notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes
effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance
with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
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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 will not
affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
The Trustee will sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized
pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely
affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company
may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board of Directors
approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee
will be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully
protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section
13.04 hereof, an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that
the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture is authorized or
permitted by this Indenture.
ARTICLE 10.
SUBORDINATION
Section 10.01 Agreement to Subordinate.
The Company agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Note agrees, that the
Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is subordinated in right of payment, to the
extent and in the manner provided in this Article 10, to the prior payment in
full in cash or Cash Equivalents of all Senior Debt (whether outstanding on the
date hereof or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed), and that the
subordination is for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt.
Section 10.02 Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.
Upon any distribution to creditors of the Company in a liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property, in
an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshaling of the Company's
assets and liabilities:
(1) holders of Senior Debt will be entitled to receive payment in
full of all Obligations in cash or Cash Equivalents due in respect of such
Senior Debt (including interest after the commencement of any bankruptcy
proceeding at the rate specified in the applicable Senior Debt) before the
Holders of Notes will be entitled to receive any payment with respect to
the Notes (except that Holders of Notes may receive and retain Permitted
Junior Securities and payments made from any defeasance trust created
pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof); and
(2) until all Obligations with respect to Senior Debt (as provided
in clause (1) above) are paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents, any
distribution to which Holders would be entitled but for this Article 10
will be made to holders of Senior Debt (except that Holders of Notes may
receive and retain Permitted Junior Securities and payments made from any
defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof), as their
interests may appear.
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Section 10.03 Default on Designated Senior Debt.
(a) The Company may not make any payment or distribution to the Trustee or
any Holder in respect of Obligations with respect to the Notes and may not
acquire from the Trustee or any Holder any Notes for cash or property (other
than Permitted Junior Securities and payments made from any defeasance trust
created pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof) until all principal and other
Obligations with respect to the Senior Debt have been paid in full in cash or
Cash Equivalents if:
(1) payment default on Designated Senior Debt occurs and is
continuing beyond any applicable grace period in the agreement, indenture
or other document governing such Designated Senior Debt; or
(2) any other default occurs and is continuing on any series of
Designated Senior Debt that permits holders of that series of Designated
Senior Debt to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice
of such default (a "Payment Blockage Notice") from the holders of any
Designated Senior Debt or their representative. If the Trustee receives
any such Payment Blockage Notice, no subsequent Payment Blockage Notice
will be effective for purposes of this Section unless and until (A) at
least 360 days have elapsed since the delivery of the immediately prior
Payment Blockage Notice and (B) all scheduled payments of principal,
premium and Additional Interest, if any, and interest on the Notes that
have come due have been paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents.
No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of
delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee may be, or may be made,
the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage Notice.
(b) The Company may and will resume payments on and distributions in
respect of the Notes and may acquire them upon the earlier of:
(1) in the case of a payment default, upon the date upon which
such default is cured or waived, or
(2) in the case of a nonpayment default, upon the earlier of the
date on which such nonpayment default is cured or waived or 179 days after
the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received,
unless the maturity of any Designated Senior Debt has been accelerated,
if this Article 10 otherwise permits the payment, distribution or acquisition at
the time of such payment or acquisition.
Section 10.04 Acceleration of Notes.
If payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the
Company will promptly notify holders of Senior Debt of the acceleration.
Section 10.05 When Distribution Must Be Paid Over.
In the event that the Trustee or any Holder receives any payment of any
Obligations with respect to the Notes (other than Permitted Junior Securities
and payments made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.01
hereof) at a time when such payment is prohibited by Section 10.03 hereof, such
payment will be held by the Trustee or such Holder, in trust for the benefit of,
and will be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to, the
holders of Senior Debt as their interests may appear or their Representative
under the agreement, indenture or other document (if any) pursuant to which
Senior
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Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for
application to the payment of all Obligations with respect to Senior Debt
remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full in cash
or Cash Equivalents in accordance with their terms, after giving effect to any
concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Debt.
With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to
perform only those obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically
set forth in this Article 10, and no implied covenants or obligations with
respect to the holders of Senior Debt will be read into this Indenture against
the Trustee. The Trustee will not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the
holders of Senior Debt, and will not be liable to any such holders if the
Trustee pays over or distributes to or on behalf of Holders or the Company or
any other Person money or assets to which any holders of Senior Debt are then
entitled by virtue of this Article 10, except if such payment is made as a
result of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Trustee.
Section 10.06 Notice by Company.
The Company will promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent of any
facts known to the Company that would cause a payment of any Obligations with
respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10, but failure to give such notice
will not affect the subordination of the Notes to the Senior Debt as provided in
this Article 10.
Section 10.07 Subrogation.
After all Senior Debt is paid in full in cash or Cash Equivalents and
until the Notes are paid in full, Holders of Notes will be subrogated (equally
and ratably with all other Indebtedness pari passu with the Notes) to the rights
of holders of Senior Debt to receive distributions applicable to Senior Debt to
the extent that distributions otherwise payable to the Holders of Notes have
been applied to the payment of Senior Debt. A distribution made under this
Article 10 to holders of Senior Debt that otherwise would have been made to
Holders of Notes is not, as between the Company and Holders, a payment by the
Company on the Notes.
Section 10.08 Relative Rights.
This Article 10 defines the relative rights of Holders of Notes and
holders of Senior Debt. Nothing in this Indenture will:
(1) impair, as between the Company and Holders of Notes, the
obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay
principal of, premium and interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the
Notes in accordance with their terms;
(2) affect the relative rights of Holders of Notes and creditors of
the Company other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior Debt;
or
(3) prevent the Trustee or any Holder of Notes from exercising its
available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the
rights of holders and owners of Senior Debt to receive distributions and
payments otherwise payable to Holders of Notes;
provided, however, that all Senior Debt then due and payable or thereafter
declared to be due and payable shall first be paid in full, in cash or Cash
Equivalents, before the Holders or the Trustee are entitled to receive any
direct or indirect payment from the Company of Obligations with respect to the
Notes.
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If the Company fails because of this Article 10 to pay principal of,
premium or interest or Additional Interest, if any, on a Note on the due date,
the failure is still a Default or Event of Default.
Section 10.09 Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company.
No right of any holder of Senior Debt to enforce the subordination of the
Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes may be impaired by any act or failure to act
by the Company or any Holder or by the failure of the Company or any Holder to
comply with this Indenture.
Section 10.10 Distribution or Notice to Representative.
Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to or by holders
of Senior Debt, the distribution may be made and the notice given to or by their
Representative.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in
this Article 10, the Trustee and the Holders of Notes will be entitled to rely
upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction or upon any
certificate of such Representative or of the liquidating trustee or agent or
other Person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders of Notes
for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such
distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other Indebtedness of the
Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or
distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 10.
Section 10.11 Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 10 or any other provision
of this Indenture, the Trustee will not be charged with knowledge of the
existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment or
distribution by the Trustee, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent may continue
to make payments on the Notes, unless the Trustee has received at its Corporate
Trust Office at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment
written notice of facts that would cause the payment of any Obligations with
respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10. Only the Company or a
Representative may give the notice. Nothing in this Article 10 will impair the
claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Debt
with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent may
do the same with like rights.
Section 10.12 Authorization to Effect Subordination.
Each Holder of Notes, by the Holder's acceptance thereof, authorizes and
directs the Trustee on such Holder's behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this
Article 10, and appoints the Trustee to act as such Holder's attorney-in-fact
for any and all such purposes. If the Trustee does not file a proper proof of
claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to in
Section 6.09 hereof at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file
such claim, the Representatives are hereby authorized to file an appropriate
claim for and on behalf of the Holders of the Notes.
Section 10.13 Amendments.
The provisions of this Article 10 may not be amended or modified without
the written consent of such holders of Senior Debt as are required under the
agreement, indenture or other document (if any) governing such Senior Debt. In
addition, any amendment to, or waiver of, the provisions of this Article 10 that
adversely affects the rights of the Holders of the Notes will require the
consent of the Holders of at least 75% in aggregate principal amount of Notes
then outstanding.
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Section 10.14 Reinstatement.
To the extent any payment of Senior Debt (whether by or on behalf of the
Company, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of setoff or
otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required
to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or
other similar Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent
conveyance or similar law, then if such payment is recovered by, or paid over
to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee or other similar
Person, the Senior Debt or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied
shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not
occurred. To the extent the obligation to repay any Senior Debt is declared to
be fraudulent, invalid, or otherwise set aside under any bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then the obligation so
declared fraudulent, invalid or otherwise set aside (and all other amounts that
would come due with respect thereto had such obligation not been so affected)
shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as Senior Debt for all purposes
hereof as if such declaration, invalidity or setting aside had not occurred.
Section 10.15 No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.
Without in any way limiting the generality of Section 10.09, such holders
of Senior Debt as are required or permitted under the agreement, indenture or
other document (if any) governing such Senior Debt, may, at any time and from
time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders,
without incurring responsibility to the Holders and without impairing or
releasing the subordination provided in this Article 10 or the obligations
hereunder of the Holders to the holders of Senior Debt, do any one or more of
the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the
time of payment, or renew or alter, Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing the
same or any agreement under which Senior Debt is outstanding or secured; (b)
sell, exchange or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or
otherwise securing Senior Debt; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for
the collection of Senior Debt and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any
rights against the Company and any other Person.
ARTICLE 11.
NOTE GUARANTEES
Section 11.01 Guarantee.
(a) Subject to this Article 11, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and
severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns,
irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or
the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:
(1) the principal of, premium and Additional Interest, if any, and
interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at
maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the
overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all
other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder
or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in
accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and
(2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any
Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in
full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension
or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.
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Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so
guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally
obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a
guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
(b) The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder are
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the
Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any
waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions
hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action
to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby
waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court
in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever
and covenant that this Subsidiary Guarantee will not be discharged except by
complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this
Indenture.
(c) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to
return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or
other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the
Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this
Subsidiary Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated
in full force and effect.
(d) Each Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of
subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed
hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each
Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and
the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the
obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof
for the purposes of this Subsidiary Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay,
injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the
obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any declaration of
acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such
obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and
payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Subsidiary Guarantee. The
Guarantors will have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying
Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of
the Holders under the Subsidiary Guarantee.
Section 11.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability.
Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby
confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Subsidiary
Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance
for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the
Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the
extent applicable to any Subsidiary Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing
intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree
that the obligations of such Guarantor will, after giving effect to such maximum
amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are
relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from,
rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any
other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this
Article 11, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Subsidiary
Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
Section 11.03 Execution and Delivery of Subsidiary Guarantee.
To evidence its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01, each
Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee
substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E hereto will be endorsed by an
Officer of such Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee and that this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by
one of its Officers.
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Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in
Section 11.01 will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure
to endorse on each Note a notation of such Subsidiary Guarantee.
If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Subsidiary
Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the
Note on which a Subsidiary Guarantee is endorsed, the Subsidiary Guarantee will
be valid nevertheless.
The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof
hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Subsidiary Guarantee set forth in
this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
In the event that the Company creates or acquires any Domestic Subsidiary
after the date of this Indenture, if required by Section 4.18 hereof, the
Company will cause such Domestic Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of
Section 4.18 hereof and this Article 11, to the extent applicable.
Section 11.04 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05, no Guarantor may sell or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate
with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving
Person) another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor, unless:
(1) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
Default or Event of Default exists; and
(2) if the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or
disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or
merger is a Restricted Subsidiary immediately following such transaction,
such Person assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor under this
Indenture, its Subsidiary Guarantee and the Registration Rights Agreement
pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the
assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and
delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the
Subsidiary Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual
performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be
performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person will succeed to and be
substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named
herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed
any or all of the Subsidiary Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes
issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company
and delivered to the Trustee. All the Subsidiary Guarantees so issued will in
all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the
Subsidiary Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the
terms of this Indenture as though all of such Subsidiary Guarantees had been
issued at the date of the execution hereof.
Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding
clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the
Notes will prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the
Company or another Guarantor, or will prevent any sale or conveyance of the
property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the
Company or another Guarantor.
Section 11.05 Releases Following Sale of Assets.
In the event of any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or
a sale or other disposition of all to the Capital Stock of any Guarantor, in
each case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such
transactions) a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor (in
the event of a sale or
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other disposition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the
capital stock of such Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in
the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any obligations under
its Subsidiary Guarantee; provided that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other
disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of 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, merger or consolidation was
made by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture,
including without limitation Section 4.10 hereof, the Trustee will execute any
documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor
from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee.
Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Subsidiary
Guarantee will remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on
the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as
provided in this Article 11.
Section 11.06 Subordination of Subsidiary Guarantee.
The Obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee
pursuant to this Article 11 will be junior and subordinated to the Senior Debt
of such Guarantor on the same basis as the Notes are junior and subordinated to
Senior Debt of the Company. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the
Trustee and the Holders will have the right to receive and/or retain payments by
any of the Guarantors only at such times as they may receive and/or retain
payments in respect of the Notes pursuant to this Indenture, including Article
10 hereof.
Section 11.07 Release Following Designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
In the event the Company designates any Guarantor as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.19, the Obligations of such Guarantor
under its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to this Article 11 shall be released.
ARTICLE 12.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 12.01 Satisfaction and Discharge.
This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect
as to all Notes issued hereunder, when:
(1) either:
(a) all Notes that have been authenticated (except lost,
stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for
whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter
repaid to the Company) have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation; or
(b) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a
notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within
one year and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or
caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for
the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government
Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be
sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay
and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not previously
delivered to the Trustee for
76
cancellation for principal, premium and Additional Interest, if any, and
accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;
(2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on
the date of such deposit or will occur as a result of such deposit and
such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor
is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;
(3) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid
all other sums payable by it under this Indenture; and
(4) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the
Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the
payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may
be.
In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary
assumptions and exclusions, to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent
to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money
has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of
this Section, the provisions of Section 12.02 and Section 8.06 will survive. In
addition, nothing in this Section 12.01 will be deemed to discharge those
provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
Section 12.02 Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, all money deposited with the
Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in
accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment,
either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its
own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto,
of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money
has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government
Securities in accordance with Section 12.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or
by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority
enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company's
and any Guarantor's obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be
revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section
12.01; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its
obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of
such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held
by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 13.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by TIA Section 318(c), the imposed duties will control.
77
Section 13.02 Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee
to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by
first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex,
telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the
others' address:
If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:
Block Communications, Inc.
541 N. Superior Street
Toledo, Ohio 43660
Telecopier No.: (419) 241-4215
Attention: Gary Blair
With a copy to:
Fritz Byers, Esquire
824 Spritzer Building
Toledo, OH [43660]
Telecopier No.: (419) 241-4215
and
Reed Smith LLP
435 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
Telecopier No.: (412) 288-3063
Attention: Nelson Winter, Esquire
If to the Trustee:
Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota,
National Association
213 Court St., Suite 902
Middletown, Connecticut 06457
Telecopier No.: (860) 704-6219
Attention: Frank McDonald
The Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others may
designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or
communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be
deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally
delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage
prepaid, if mailed; when 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 will be mailed by first class
mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept
by the Registrar. Any notice or communication will also be so mailed
78
to any Person described in TIA Section 313(c), to the extent required by the
TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it
will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within
the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it will mail a
copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 13.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders
with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the
Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section
312(c).
Section 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any
action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(1) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth
in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all
conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture
relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and
(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth
in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all
such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
Section 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided
pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) must comply with the provisions of TIA
Section 314(e) and must include:
(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion
has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or
her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or
condition has been satisfied; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person,
such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
Section 13.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of
Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set
reasonable requirements for its functions.
79
Section 13.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders.
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company
or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the
Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Subsidiary
Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such
obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives
and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to
waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Section 13.08 Governing Law.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO
CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE 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 13.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or
debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any
such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this
Indenture.
Section 13.10 Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes will bind
its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its
successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its
successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05.
Section 13.11 Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes is invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 13.12 Counterpart Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed
copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
Section 13.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles
and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference
only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way
modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[Signatures on following page]
80
SIGNATURES
Dated as of April 18, 2002
BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
ACCESS TOLEDO, LTD.
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BUCKEYE CABLEVISION, INC.
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BUCKEYE TELESYSTEM, INC.
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CARS HOLDING, INC.
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION SERVICES, INC.
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CORPORATE PROTECTION SERVICES, INC.
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
ERIE COUNTY CABLEVISION, INC.
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
IDAHO INDEPENDENT TELEVISION, INC.
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
INDEPENDENCE TELEVISION COMPANY
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
LIMA COMMUNICATION CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
METRO FIBER & CABLE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
MONROE CABLEVISION, INC.
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
PG PUBLISHING COMPANY
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
TOLEDO AREA TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES,INC.
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
WLFI-TV-INC.
--------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF GUARANTORS
The following schedule lists each Guarantor under this Indenture as of the
date of this Indenture:
Access Toledo, Ltd., an Ohio limited liability corporation
Buckeye Cablevision, Inc., an Ohio corporation
Buckeye TeleSystem, Inc., an Ohio corporation
CARS Holding, Inc., an Ohio corporation
Community Communication Services, Inc., an Ohio corporation
Corporate Protection Services, Inc., an Ohio corporation
Erie County Cablevision, Inc., an Ohio corporation
Idaho Independent Television, Inc., an Idaho corporation
Independence Television Company, a Pennsylvania corporation
Lima Communications Corporation, an Ohio corporation
Metro Fiber & Cable Construction Company, an Ohio corporation
Monroe Cablevision, Inc., a Michigan corporation
PG Publishing Company, a Pennsylvania corporation
Toledo Area Telecommunications Services, Inc., an Ohio corporation
WLFI-TV, Inc., an Indiana corporation
EXHIBIT A1
[Face of Note]
CUSIP/CINS ____________
_____% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
No. ___ $____________
BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
promises to pay to CEDE & CO.
or registered assigns,
the principal sum of ___________________________________________________________
Dollars on _____________, 20___.
Interest Payment Dates: ____________ and ____________
Record Dates: ____________ and ____________
Dated: _______________, 2002
BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:
WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By: ______________________________________
Authorized Signatory
A1-1
[Back of Note]
___% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of
the Indenture]
[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the
provisions of the Indenture]
Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
(1) INTEREST. Block Communications, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the
"Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note
at ___% per annum from April _____, 2002 until maturity and shall pay the
Additional Interest, if any, payable pursuant to Section 5 of the
Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay
interest and Additional Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on
_____ and _____ 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 _____,
2002. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium,
if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in
excess of the rate then in effect; it will pay interest (including
post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on
overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest, if any, (without
regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the
same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of
a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
(2) METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes
(except defaulted interest) and Additional Interest, if any, to the
Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on
the ______ or ______ 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 Additional Interest, if any, and interest at the
office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within the
City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of
interest and Additional Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to
the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders;
provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will
be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and
Additional Interest, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the
Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the
Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment will be in such coin or currency
of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender
for payment of public and private debts.
(3) PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank
Minnesota, National Association, 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 April ___, 2002 (the "Indenture") among the Company, the Guarantors
and the Trustee. The terms of the
A1-2
Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the
Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15
U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such
terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a
statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note
conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of
the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
(5) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) At any time prior to ____, 2005, the Company may on any one or
more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of % of the principal
amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest
to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more
Qualified Equity Offerings, provided that:
(i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the
occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company
and its Subsidiaries); and
(ii) the redemption occurs within 45 days of the date of the
closing of such Qualified Equity Offering.
Except pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Notes may not be
redeemed at the option of the Company prior to ______,2006.
(b) After _______,2006, the Company may redeem all or a part of the
Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the
redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth
below plus accrued and unpaid interest, and Additional Interest, if any,
thereon, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the
twelve-month period beginning on to _______ of the years indicated below:
Year Percentage
---- ----------
2006.................................................... %
2007.................................................... %
2008 and thereafter..................................... 100.000%
(c) Any redemption pursuant to Section 3.07 of the Indenture shall
be made in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of
the Indenture.
(6) MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund
payments with respect to the Notes.
(7) REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER.
(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be
required to make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all
or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each
Holder's Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate
principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional
Interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control
Payment"). Within 10 days following any Change of Control, the Company
will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing
the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.
A1-3
(b) If the Company or a Subsidiary consummates any Asset
Sales, within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of
Excess Proceeds exceeds $10 million, the Company will commence an offer to
all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari
passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in
the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the
proceeds of sales of assets (an "Asset Sale Offer") pursuant to Section
3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes
(including Additional Notes) and other pari passu Indebtedness that may be
purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an
amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon, if any, to the date fixed
for the closing of such offer in accordance with the procedures set forth
in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes
(including Additional Notes, if any) and other pari passu Indebtedness
tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds,
the Company may use such deficiency for any purpose not otherwise
prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes
and other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders thereof exceeds
the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and
other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders
of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an
Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and
may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled
"Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes.
(8) NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed at
least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in
denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole
multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be
redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on
Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
(9) DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged
as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a
Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and
transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes
and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need
not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note
selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note
being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register
the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of
Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the
corresponding Interest Payment Date.
(10) PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may
be treated as its owner for all purposes.
(11) AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain
exceptions, the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes may be
amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including
Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class, and any existing
default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Subsidiary
Guarantees or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including
Additional Notes, if any), voting as a single class. Without the consent
of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the
Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or
inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in
place of certificated Notes, 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 make any change that would provide any
A1-4
additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not
adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder,
to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or
maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act
to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the
limitations set forth in the Indenture, or to allow any Guarantor to
execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or a Subsidiary
Guarantee with respect to the Notes.
(12) DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default include: (i) default
for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Additional Interest
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, whether or not prohibited
by the subordination provisions of the Indenture; (iii) failure by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the
provisions of Section 4.15; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries for 30 days after notice from the Trustee or
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes to comply with
the provisions of 4.07, 4.09 or 4.10 hereof; (v) failure by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice from the
Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes to
comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture; (vi) 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 Restricted Subsidiaries (or
the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is
created after the date of this Indenture, if that default (A) is caused by
a failure to pay principal of such Indebtedness at the final stated
maturity thereof or (B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness
prior to its express maturity; (vii) failure by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of
$5.0 million not covered by insurance, which judgments are not paid,
discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (viii) 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 (ix) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency
described in the Indenture with respect to the Company or any of its
Restricted 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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising
from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the
Company, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further
action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes
except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations,
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee
may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or
Event of Default if it determines that withholding notice is in their
interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the
Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default
and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or
Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the
Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a
statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is
required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to
deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of
Default.
(13) SUBORDINATION. Payment of principal, interest and premium and
Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes is subordinated to the prior
payment of Senior Debt on the terms provided in the Indenture.
A1-5
(14) TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual
or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and
perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal
with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
(15) NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as
such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or
such Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture
or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such
obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and
releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the issuance of the Notes.
(16) AUTHENTICATION. This Note will not be valid until
authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an
authenticating agent.
(17) ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name
of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN
ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of
survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and
U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
(18) ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND
RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders
of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and
Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the A/B
Exchange Registration Rights Agreement dated as of April ___, 2002, among
the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature
pages thereof, or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted
Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have the rights set
forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the
Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights
given by the Company and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any
Additional Notes (collectively, the "Registration Rights Agreement").
(19) CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has
caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use
CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No
representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as
printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and
reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed
thereon.
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:
Block Communications, Inc.
541 N. Superior Street
Toledo, Ohio 43660
Attention: Trustee
A1-6
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:
-------------------------------
(Insert assignee's legal name)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint
------------------------------------------------------
to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute
another to act for him.
Date:
------------------
Your Signature:
-----------------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the face of this Note)
Signature Guarantee*:
----------------------------------
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A1-1
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant
to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
--Section 4.10 --Section 4.15
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the
amount you elect to have purchased:
$---------------
Date:
--------------------
Your Signature:
------------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the face of this Note)
Tax Identification No.:
---------------------
Signature Guarantee*:
---------------------------------
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A1-1
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in
another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another
Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been
made:
Amount of Amount of Principal
decrease in increase in Amount Signature of
Principal Principal of this Global authorized
Amount Amount Note following officer of
of this Global of this Global such decrease Trustee or
Date of Exchange Note Note (or increase) Custodian
* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.
A1-1
EXHIBIT A2
[Face of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]
CUSIP/CINS __________
_____% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
No. ___ $__________
BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
promises to pay to CEDE & CO.
or registered assigns,
the principal sum of ___________________________________________________________
Dollars on _______________, 20___.
Interest Payment Dates: ____________ and ____________
Record Dates: ____________ and ____________
Dated: _______________, 2002
BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By: ________________________________________
Name:
Title:
By: ________________________________________
Name:
Title:
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:
WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By: _______________________________
Authorized Signatory
A2-1
[Back of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]
____% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE
CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS
SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE
BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE
GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL
OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED
IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS
GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS,
INC.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE
FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR
ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS
CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST
COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) ("DTC"), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS
AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE
ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO
CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT
FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE
"SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION
THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF
THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5
OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THIS
SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE
OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES
TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION
MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN
OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III)
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY
RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN
A2-2
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I)
THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF
THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS
REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE
RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.
Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in
the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
(1) INTEREST. Block Communications, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the
"Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note
at % per annum from April , 2002 until maturity and shall pay the
Additional Interest, if any, payable pursuant to Section 5 of the
Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay
interest and Additional Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on
______ and ______ 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 ______,
2002. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium,
if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in
excess of the rate then in effect; it will pay interest (including
post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on
overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest, if any, (without
regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the
same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of
a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Until this Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchanged for one or more
Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Holder hereof shall not be
entitled to receive payments of interest hereon; until so exchanged in
full, this Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall in all other respects
be entitled to the same benefits as other Notes under the Indenture.
(2) METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes
(except defaulted interest) and Additional Interest, if any, to the
Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on
______ or ______ next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such
Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest
Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with
respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal,
premium, interest and Additional Interest, if any, at the office or agency
of the Company maintained for such purpose within the City and State of
New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and
Additional Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at
their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that
payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required
with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Additional
Interest, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of
which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the
Paying Agent. Such payment will be in such coin or currency of the United
States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public and private debts.
(3) PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, Wells Fargo Bank
Minnesota, National Association, 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.
A2-3
(4) INDENTURE. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated
as of April , 2002 (the "Indenture") among the Company, the Guarantors and
the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture
and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb). The
Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the
Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any
provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the
Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be
controlling.
(5) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) At any time prior to ______, 2005, the Company may on any one or
more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of ______% of the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional
Interest to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more
Qualified Equity Offerings, provided that:
(i) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the
occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company
and its Subsidiaries); and
(ii) the redemption occurs within 45 days of the date of the
closing of such Qualified Equity Offering.
Except pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Notes may not be
redeemed at the option of the Company prior to ______, 2006.
(b) After ______, 2006, the Company may redeem all or a part of the
Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the
redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth
below plus accrued and unpaid interest, and Additional Interest, if any,
thereon, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the
twelve-month period beginning on ______ of the years indicated below:
Year Percentage
____ __________
2006.................................................... %
2007.................................................... %
2008 and thereafter..................................... 100.000%
(c) Any redemption pursuant to Section 3.07 of the Indenture shall
be made in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of
the Indenture.
(6) MANDATORY REDEMPTION.
The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund
payments with respect to the Notes.
(7) REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER..
(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company will be
required to make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all
or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each
Holder's Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate
principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional
Interest, if any, thereon, if any, to the date of purchase ( the "Change
of Control Payment"). Within 10 days following any Change of Control, the
Company will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures
governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.
A2-4
(b) If the Company or a Subsidiary consummates any Asset
Sales, within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of
Excess Proceeds exceeds $10 million, the Company will commence an offer to
all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari
passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in
the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the
proceeds of sales of assets (an "Asset Sale Offer") pursuant to Section
3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes
(including Additional Notes) and other pari passu Indebtedness that may be
purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an
amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon, if any, to the date fixed
for the closing of such offer in accordance with the procedures set forth
in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes
(including Additional Notes, if any) and other pari passu Indebtedness
tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds,
the Company may use such deficiency for any purpose not otherwise
prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes
and other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders thereof exceeds
the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and
other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders
of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an
Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and
may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled
"Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes.
(8) NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed at
least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in
denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole
multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be
redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on
Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
(9) DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged
as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a
Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and
transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes
and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need
not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note
selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note
being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register
the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of
Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the
corresponding Interest Payment Date.
This Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchangeable in whole or in
part for one or more Global Notes only (i) on or after the termination of
the 40-day restricted period (as defined in Regulation S) and (ii) upon
presentation of certificates (accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel, if
applicable) required by Article 2 of the Indenture. Upon exchange of this
Regulation S Temporary Global Note for one or more Global Notes, the
Trustee shall cancel this Regulation S Temporary Global Note.
(10) PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may
be treated as its owner for all purposes.
(11) AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain
exceptions, the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes may be
amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including
Additional Notes, if any) voting as a single class, and any existing
default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Subsidiary
Guarantees or the Notes may be
A2-5
waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the then outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any), voting
as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the
Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or
supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide
for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes,
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 make any
change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders
of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the
Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the
Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the
Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act to provide for the issuance of
Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the
Indenture, or to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture
to the Indenture and/or a Subsidiary Guarantee with respect to the Notes.
(12) DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default include: (i) default
for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Additional Interest
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, whether or not prohibited
by the subordination provisions of the Indenture; (iii) failure by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the
provisions of Section 4.15; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries for 30 days after notice from the Trustee or
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes to comply with
the provisions of 4.07, 4.09 or 4.10 hereof; (v) failure by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice from the
Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes to
comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture; (vi) 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 Restricted Subsidiaries (or
the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is
created after the date of the Indenture, if that default (A) is caused by
a failure to pay principal of such Indebtedness at the final stated
maturity thereof or (B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness
prior to its express maturity; (vii) failure by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of
$5.0 million not covered by insurance, which judgments are not paid,
discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (viii) 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 (ix) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency
described in the Indenture with respect to the Company or any of its
Restricted 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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising
from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the
Company, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further
action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes
except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations,
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee
may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or
Event of Default if it determines that withholding notice is in their
interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the
Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default
and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or
Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the
Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a
statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the
A2-6
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) SUBORDINATION. Payment of principal, interest and premium and
Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes is subordinated to the prior
payment of Senior Debt on the terms provided in the Indenture.
(14) TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual
or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and
perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal
with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
(15) NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as
such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or
such Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantees or the Indenture
or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such
obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and
releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the issuance of the Notes.
(16) AUTHENTICATION. This Note will not be valid until
authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an
authenticating agent.
(17) ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name
of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN
ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of
survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and
U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
(18) ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND
RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders
of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and
Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the A/B
Exchange Registration Rights Agreement dated as of April , 2002, among
the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature
pages thereof, or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted
Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have the rights set
forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the
Company, the Guarantors and the other parties thereto, relating to rights
given by the Company and the Guarantors to the purchasers of any
Additional Notes (collectively, the "Registration Rights Agreement").
(19) CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has
caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use
CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No
representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as
printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and
reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed
thereon.
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:
Block Communications, Inc.
541 N. Superior Street
Toledo, Ohio 43660
Attention: Treasurer
A2-7
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: __________________________________
(Insert assignee's legal name)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint ________________________________________________________
to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute
another to act for him.
Date: _______________
Your Signature:_____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the face of this Note)
Signature Guarantee*: _________________________
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant
to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
--Section 4.10 --Section 4.15
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the
amount you elect to have purchased:
$---------------
Date:
---------------
Your Signature:
-------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on
the face of this Note)
Tax Identification No.:
-----------------
Signature Guarantee*:
------------------------------
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE
The following exchanges of a part of this Regulation S Temporary Global
Note for an interest in another Global Note, or of other Restricted Global Notes
for an interest in this Regulation S Temporary Global Note, have been made:
Amount of Amount of Principal
decrease in increase in Amount Signature of
Principal Principal of this Global authorized
Amount Amount Note following officer of
of this Global of this Global such decrease Trustee or
Date of Exchange Note Note (or increase) Custodian
- ---------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -----------
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Block Communications, Inc.
541 N. Superior Street
Toledo, Ohio 43660
[Registrar address block]
Re: ____% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April , 2002 (the
"Indenture"), among Block Communications, Inc., as issuer (the "Company"), the
Guarantors named on the signature pages thereto and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota,
National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
___________________, (the "Transferor") owns and proposes to transfer the
Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the
principal amount of $___________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Transfer"),
to ___________________________ (the "Transferee"), as further specified in Annex
A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. / / CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN
THE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is
being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and, accordingly, the Transferor
hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is
being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and
believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own
account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises
sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a
"qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction
meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with
any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon
consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be
subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement
Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the
Indenture and the Securities Act.
2. / / CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN
THE TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR A
DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected
pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act
and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer
is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy
order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such
Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes
that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was
executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities
market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows
that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no
directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of
Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the
transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being
made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being
made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than
an Initial Purchasers). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred
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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) 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.
(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.
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(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.
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Block Communications, Inc.
541 N. Superior Street
Toledo, Ohio 43660
[Registrar address block]
Re: ____% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
(CUSIP _______________)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April , 2002 (the
"Indenture"), among Block Communications, Inc., as issuer (the "Company"), the
Guarantors named on the signature pages thereto and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota,
National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
__________________________, (the "Owner") owns and proposes to exchange
the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal
amount of $____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Exchange"). In
connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL
INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE
(a) / / CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED
GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection
with the Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note
for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal
amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired
for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been
effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global
Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in
the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in
an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable
blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(b) / / CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED
GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of
the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted
Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being
acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has
been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the
Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities
Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the
Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance
with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(c) / / CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL
INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner's Exchange
of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being
acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has
been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to
Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the
Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture
and the
C-1
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.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your
benefit and the benefit of the Company.
------------------------------------------
[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Dated:
--------------------------
C-2
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Block Communications, Inc.
541 N. Superior Street
Toledo, Ohio 43660
[Registrar address block]
Re: ____% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April __, 2002 (the
"Indenture"), among Block Communications, Inc., as issuer (the "Company"), the
guarantors named on the signature pages thereto and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota,
National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
In connection with our proposed purchase of $____________ aggregate
principal amount of:
(a) / / a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or
(b) / / a Definitive Note,
we confirm that:
1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest
therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the
Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge
or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance
with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act").
2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been
registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein
may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We
agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting
as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein,
we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in
accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a "qualified institutional
buyer" (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional "accredited investor" (as
defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its
behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Company a signed letter
substantially in the form of this letter and an Opinion of Counsel in form
reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer is in
compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance
with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the
provisions of Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree
to provide to any Person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest
in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses
(A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales
thereof are restricted as stated herein.
C-1
EXHIBIT C
3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial
interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such
certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may
reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing
restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a
legend to the foregoing effect.
4. We are an institutional "accredited investor" (as defined in Rule
501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have
such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable
of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and
any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of
our or its investment.
5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by
us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an
institutional "accredited investor") as to each of which we exercise sole
investment discretion.
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are
irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested
party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with
respect to the matters covered hereby.
------------------------------------------
[Insert Name of Accredited Investor]
By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Dated:
----------------------
C-1
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor
Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally
guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the
provisions in the Indenture dated as of April , 2002 (the "Indenture") among
Block Communications, Inc., (the "Company"), the Guarantors listed on Schedule I
thereto and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as trustee (the
"Trustee"), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium and
Additional Interest, if any, and interest on the Notes (as defined in the
Indenture), whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the
due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal of and interest on the
Notes, if any, if lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other
obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with
the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment
or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be
promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the
extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.
The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee
pursuant to the Subsidiary Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth
in Article 11 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for
the precise terms of the Subsidiary Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by
accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b)
authorizes and directs the Trustee, on behalf of such Holder, to take such
action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as
provided in the Indenture and (c) appoints the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such
Holder for such purpose; provided, however, that the Indebtedness evidenced by
this Subsidiary Guarantee shall cease to be so subordinated and subject in right
of payment upon any defeasance of this Note in accordance with the provisions of
the Indenture.
[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
________________, 200__, among __________________ (the "Guaranteeing
Subsidiary"), a subsidiary of Block Communications, Inc. (or its permitted
successor), an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), the Company, the other
Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and Wells Fargo Bank
Minnesota, National Association, 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 April __, 2002 providing for the
issuance of an aggregate principal amount of up to $__________ of __% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Notes");
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental
indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally
guarantee all of the Company's Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on
the terms and conditions set forth herein (the "Subsidiary Guarantee"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is
authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the
equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:
1. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without
definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
2. AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby
agrees as follows:
(a) Along with all Guarantors named in the Indenture, to
jointly and severally Guarantee to each Holder of a Note
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and
its successors and assigns, the Notes or the obligations of the
Company hereunder or thereunder, that:
(i) the principal of, and premium and Additional Interest, if
any, and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when
due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise,
and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes,
if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the
Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid
in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and
thereof; and
(ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of
any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be
promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the
terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated 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.
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(b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional,
irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the
Notes or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the
same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect
to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment
against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other
circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge or defense of a Guarantor.
(c) The following is hereby waived: diligence, presentment,
demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of
insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all
demands whatsoever.
(d) This Subsidiary Guarantee shall not be discharged except
by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes
and the Indenture, and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary accepts all
obligations of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
(e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or
otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors, or any
custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in
relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by
either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Subsidiary Guarantee, to
the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force
and effect.
(f) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to any
right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any
obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all
obligations guaranteed hereby.
(g) As between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the
Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the
obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in
Article 6 of the Indenture for the purposes of this Subsidiary
Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition
preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations
guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of
acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 of the
Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall
forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose
of this Subsidiary Guarantee.
(h) The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution
from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right
does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Subsidiary
Guarantee.
(i) Pursuant to Section 11.02 of the Indenture, after giving
effect to any maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed
liabilities that are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or
fraudulent conveyance laws, and after giving effect to any
collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments
made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the
obligations of such other Guarantor under Article 11 of the
Indenture, this new Subsidiary Guarantee shall be limited to the
maximum amount permissible such that the obligations of such
Guarantor under this Subsidiary Guarantee will not constitute a
fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
3. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that
the Subsidiary Guarantees shall remain in full force and effect
notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such
Subsidiary Guarantee.
4. GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC. ON CERTAIN TERMS.
F-2
(a) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not sell or otherwise
dispose of all substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate
with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the
surviving Person) another Person, other than the Company or another
Guarantor unless:
(i) immediately after giving effect to such transaction,
no Default or Event of Default exists; and
(ii) if the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or
disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger is a Restricted Subsidiary immediately
following such transaction, such Person assumes all the obligations
of that Guaranteeing Subsidiary under this Supplemental Indenture,
its Subsidiary Guarantee and the Registration Rights Agreement
pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or
conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by
supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and
satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Subsidiary Guarantee
endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all
of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be performed by
the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been
named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may
cause to be signed any or all of the Subsidiary Guarantees to be
endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable under the Indenture which
theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered
to the Trustee. All the Subsidiary Guarantees so issued shall in all
respects have the same legal rank and benefit under the Indenture as
the Subsidiary Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture as though all of such
Subsidiary Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution
hereof.
(c) Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 of the Indenture,
and notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, nothing contained in
the Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation
or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another
Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property
of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the
Company or another Guarantor.
5. RELEASES.
(a) In the event of any sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor, by way of merger,
consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of
the capital stock of any Guarantor, in each case to a Person that is
not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, then such Guarantor (in the
event of a sale or other disposition, by way of merger,
consolidation or otherwise, of all of the capital stock of such
Guarantor) or the corporation acquiring the property (in the event
of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of such Guarantor) will be released and relieved of any
obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee; provided that the Net
Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance
with the applicable provisions of the Indenture, including without
limitation Section 4.10 of the Indenture. Upon delivery by the
Company to the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made
by the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture,
including without limitation Section 4.10 of the
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Indenture, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably
required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its
obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee.
(b) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its
Subsidiary Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of
principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations
of any Guarantor under the Indenture as provided in Article 11 of
the Indenture.
6. SUBORDINATION. The Obligations of each Guaranteeing Subsidiary under
its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture will be junior
and subordinated to the Senior Debt of such Guaranteeing Subsidiary on the same
basis as the Notes are junior and subordinated to Senior Debt of the Company.
For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee and the Holders will
have the right to receive and/or retain payments by any of the Guaranteeing
Subsidiaries only at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in
respect of the Notes pursuant to the Indenture, including Article 10 thereof.
7. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No director, officer, employee,
incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such,
shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guaranteeing
Subsidiary under the Notes, any Subsidiary Guarantees, the Indenture or this
Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason
of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a
Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of
the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to
waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the
Commission that such a waiver is against public policy.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
11. THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner
whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this
Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein,
all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the
Company.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above
written.
Dated: _______________, 20___
[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
[EXISTING GUARANTORS]
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title:
WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By: _______________________________
Authorized Signatory
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