SIX FLAGS, INC.
$375,000,000
9 1/2% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2009
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INDENTURE
Dated as of February 2, 2001
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK
as Trustee
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Table of Contents
Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE...................1
Section 1.01. Definitions............................................1
Section 1.02. Other Definitions.....................................18
Section 1.03. One Class of Securities...............................18
Section 1.04. Trust Indenture Act...................................18
Section 1.05. Rules of Construction.................................19
ARTICLE II THE NOTES..................................................19
Section 2.01. Issuance of Additional Notes..........................19
Section 2.02. Payments by Company by Wire Transfer..................19
Section 2.03. Form and Dating.......................................20
Section 2.04. Execution and Authentication..........................20
Section 2.05. Registrar and Paying Agent............................21
Section 2.06. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust...................21
Section 2.07. Holder Lists..........................................21
Section 2.08. Transfer and Exchange.................................21
Section 2.09. Replacement Notes.....................................35
Section 2.10. Outstanding Notes.....................................35
Section 2.11. Treasury Notes........................................35
Section 2.12. Temporary Notes.......................................36
Section 2.13. Cancellation..........................................36
Section 2.14. Defaulted Interest....................................36
Section 2.15. Cusip Numbers.........................................36
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT.................................37
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee....................................37
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.....................37
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption..................................37
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption........................38
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price...........................38
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part................................38
Section 3.07. Optional Redemption...................................39
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption..................................39
Section 3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds...39
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS..................................................41
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes......................................41
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.......................41
Section 4.03. Reports...............................................42
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate................................42
Section 4.05. Taxes.................................................43
Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws........................43
Section 4.07. Restricted Payments...................................43
Section 4.08. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions
Affecting Subsidiaries .............................46
Section 4.09. Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Preferred Stock ....................................47
Section 4.10. Asset Sales...........................................49
Section 4.11. Transactions with Affiliates..........................51
Section 4.12. Liens.................................................51
Section 4.13. Line of Business......................................51
Section 4.14. Corporate Existence...................................52
Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control............52
Section 4.16. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.........53
Section 4.17. Payments for Consent..................................53
Section 4.18. Limitation on Leases..................................54
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS..................................................54
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets..............54
Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.....................54
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES......................................55
Section 6.01. Events of Default.....................................55
Section 6.02. Acceleration..........................................56
Section 6.03. Other Remedies........................................57
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.........58
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 VII TRUSTEE...................................................59
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee.....................................59
Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee.....................................60
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee..........................61
Section 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer..................................61
Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults....................................62
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes............62
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity............................62
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee................................63
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc......................64
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.........................64
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.....64
ARTICLE VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE.................64
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance .........................................64
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge........................64
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance...................................65
ii
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance............65
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be
Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.......66
Section 8.06. Repayment to Company..................................67
Section 8.07. Reinstatement.........................................67
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER...........................68
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes...................68
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes......................68
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act...................70
Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.....................70
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes......................70
Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.......................70
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS...............................................70
Section 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.........................70
Section 10.02. Notices..............................................70
Section 10.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other
Holders of Notes ...................................71
Section 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent...71
Section 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion........72
Section 10.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents..........................72
Section 10.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers,
Employees and Stockholders..........................72
Section 10.08. Governing Law........................................72
Section 10.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements........72
Section 10.10. Successors...........................................73
Section 10.11. Severability.........................................73
Section 10.12. Counterpart Originals................................73
Section 10.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.....................73
iii
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Trust Indenture
Act Section Indenture Section
- --------------- -----------------
310(a)(1)............................................ 7.10
(a)(2)............................................ 7.10
(a)(3)............................................ N.A.
(a)(4)............................................ N.A.
(a)(5)............................................ 7.10
(b)............................................... 7.10
(c)............................................... N.A.
311(a)............................................... 7.11
(b)............................................... 7.11
(c)............................................... N.A.
312(a)............................................... 2.05
(b)............................................... 10.03
(c)............................................... 10.03
313(a)............................................... 7.06
(b)(1)............................................ 10.03
(b)(2)............................................ 7.06, 7.07
(c)............................................... 7.06, 10.02
(d)............................................... 7.06
314(a)............................................... 4.03, 10.02
(b)............................................... N.A.
(c)(1)............................................ 10.04
(c)(2)............................................ 10.04
(c)(3)............................................ N.A.
(d)............................................... N.A.
(e)............................................... 10.05
(f)............................................... N.A.
315(a)............................................... 7.01
(b)............................................... 7.05, 10.02
(c)............................................... 7.01
(d)............................................... 7.01
(e)............................................... 6.11
316(a) (last sentence)............................... 2.11
(a)(1)(A)......................................... 6.05
(a)(1)(B)......................................... 6.04
(a)(2)............................................ N.A.
(b)............................................... 6.07
(c)............................................... 2.14
317(a)(1)............................................ 6.08
(a)(2)............................................ 6.09
(b)............................................... 2.06
318(a)............................................... 10.01
(b)............................................... N.A.
(c)............................................... 10.01
N.A. means not applicable
*This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture
iv
INDENTURE, dated as of February 2, 2001, between Six Flags, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The Bank of New York, a New York
banking corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee").
The Company and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each
other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 9 1/2% Senior
Notes due 2009 (the "Initial Notes") and the 9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009 if and
when issued in the Exchange Offer (the "New Notes" and, together with the
Initial Notes, the "Notes").
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01. Definitions.
"144A Global Note" means one or more global notes in the form of
Exhibit A 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 represent the aggregate principal amount of
the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
"Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any specified Person, (i)
Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is
merged with or into or becomes a Subsidiary of such specified Person, including,
without limitation, Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in
contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a
Subsidiary of such specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien
encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly
or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by"
and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that
beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person shall be
deemed to be control.
"Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or
exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and
procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such
transfer or exchange.
"Asset Sale" means (i) the sale, conveyance or other disposition of
any assets or rights (including, without limitation, by way of a sale and
leaseback) other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
provided that the sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a
whole will be governed by Section 4.15 and/or Section 5.01 hereof and not by
Section 4.10 hereof, and (ii) the issue or sale by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries of Equity Interests of any of the Company's Restricted
Subsidiaries, in the case of either clause (i)
or (ii), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (a)
that have a fair market value in excess of $10.0 million or (b) for net proceeds
in excess of $10.0 million. Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items
shall not be deemed to be Asset Sales: (i) a transfer of assets by the Company
to a Restricted Subsidiary or by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to
another Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) an issuance of Equity Interests by a
Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary, (iii)
the transfer of Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the
Subordinated Indemnity Agreement or the Partnership Parks Agreements, (iv) the
issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to any employee thereof
or as consideration for the acquisition of all or substantially all of the
assets of, or a majority of the Voting Stock of, any Person (or a business unit
or division of such Person), provided that the primary business of such Person
(or such unit or division) is a Permitted Business, (v) the substitution of
property in accordance with the terms of the Parcel Lease, dated November 7,
1997, between Marine World and Park Management Corp. as the same may be modified
or amended from time to time after the Issue Date, provided such modification or
amendment does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material
respect, and (vi) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07 hereof.
"Attributable Debt" in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction
means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate
of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP) of
the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term
of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any
period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the
lessor, be extended).
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or
state law for the relief of debtors.
"Beneficial Share Assignment Agreement" means the Beneficial Share
Assignment Agreement, dated as of April 1, 1998, between TW-SPV Co. and the
Company.
"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company, or
any authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
"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
thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease
that would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in
accordance with GAAP.
"Capital Stock" means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate
stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all
shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however
designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited
liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or
limited) and (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person
the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of
assets of, the issuing Person.
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"Cash Equivalents" means (i) United States dollars or foreign
currency, (ii) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by
the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided
that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support
thereof) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of
acquisition, (iii) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with
maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers'
acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank
deposits, in each case with any lender party to the Credit Facilities or with
any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a
Thompson Bank Watch Rating of "B" or better, (iv) repurchase obligations with a
term of not more than thirty days for underlying securities of the types
described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above entered into with any financial
institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iii) above, (v)
commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Corporation and in each case maturing within
one year after the date of acquisition, (vi) securities with maturities of six
months or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any
state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political
subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory,
the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision or
taxing authority (as the case may be) are rated at least "A" by Standard &
Poor's Corporation or "A" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and (vii) money
market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of
the kinds described in clauses (i) through (vi) of this definition.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by
way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole to any "person" (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the
Exchange Act), (ii) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company, (iii) the consummation of any transaction
(including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which
is that any "person" becomes the "beneficial owner" (as such terms are defined
in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
more than 35% of the Voting Stock of the Company, or (iv) the first day on which
a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not
Continuing Directors.
"Clearstream" means Clearstream Banking S.A.
"Company" means Six Flags, Inc., and any and all successors thereto.
"Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus (i)
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
included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (ii) Consolidated
Interest Expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period,
to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated
Net Income, plus (iii) depreciation, amortization (including any depreciation or
amortization arising out of purchases by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of Equity Interests in the partners of the Co-Venture Partnerships
and 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
3
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 (iv) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for
such period, in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance
with GAAP (other than accrual of income in the ordinary course of business in
respect of a future cash payment).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture to the
contrary, "Consolidated Cash Flow" of the Company for any period will be deemed
to include 100% of the cash distributions to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such period from the Co-Venture
Partnerships, directly or indirectly, out of the Consolidated Cash Flow of the
Co-Venture Partnerships in respect of such period.
"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 and Attributable Debt of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, plus (ii) the total amount of Indebtedness and Attributable Debt
of any other Person, to the extent that the same has been guaranteed by the
referent Person or one or more 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 such Person
and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued
(including, without limitation, amortization of original issue discount,
non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment
obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital
Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt,
commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter
of credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant
to Hedging Obligations) and (ii) the consolidated interest expense of such
Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period,
and (iii) any interest expense on Indebtedness or Attributable Debt of another
Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries
or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon). The term
"Consolidated Interest Expense" shall not include the consolidated interest
expense of any Person with respect to (i) Indebtedness of the Co-Venture
Partnerships (or the general partners thereof), except to the extent guaranteed
by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than such general partners),
or (ii) any obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under the
Partnership Parks Agreements, the Marine World Agreements or the Subordinated
Indemnity Agreement.
"Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and prior to any
deduction in respect of dividends on any series of preferred stock of such
Person, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that (i) 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
4
distributions paid in cash to the referent Person or a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary thereof, (ii) 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 (iii) 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 (i) was a member of such
Board of Directors on the date of this Indenture or (ii) was nominated for
election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority
of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such
nomination or election.
"Convertible Preferred Stock" means the 115,000 shares of the
Company's 7-1/4% Convertible Preferred Stock underlying the PIERS.
"Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" shall be at the address of
the Trustee specified in Section 10.02 hereof or such other address as to which
the Trustee may give notice to the Company.
"Co-Venture Partnerships" means (i) Six Flags Over Georgia II, L.P.,
a Delaware Limited Partnership and (ii) Texas Flags, Ltd., a Texas Limited
Partnership.
"Credit Facilities" means, with respect to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities (including, without
limitation, the Six Flags Credit Facility) or commercial paper facilities with
banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term
loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such
lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders
against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended,
restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in
part from time to time.
"Currency Agreement" means in respect of a Person any foreign
exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement as to
which such Person is a party or a beneficiary.
"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 financial
statements have been filed with the SEC, determined on a pro forma basis after
giving effect to all acquisitions or Asset Sales 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 calculating
the Debt to Cash Flow Ratio, (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
5
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 (ii) 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.
"Definitive Note" means a certificated Note registered in the name
of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.08 hereof, in the
form of Exhibit A 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 Depository Trust Company and any and all
successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such
pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or
by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is
exchangeable, at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any
event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund
obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in
whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on
which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital
Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders
thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock
upon the occurrence of a Change of Control or an Asset Sale shall not constitute
Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company
may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions
unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 hereof.
"Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or
other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but, without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or
exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
"Euroclear" means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
Brussels office, as operator of the Euroclear system.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Exchange Notes" means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer
pursuant to Section 2.08(f) hereof.
"Exchange Offer" means exchange and issuance by the Company of a
principal amount of New Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration
6
Statement) equal to the outstanding principal amount of Notes that are tendered
by such Holders in connection with such exchange and issuance.
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" means the Registration
Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
"Existing Indebtedness" means the aggregate principal amount of
Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under
the Six Flags Credit Facility and the Notes) in existence on the Issue Date,
until such amounts are repaid.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in
the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and
pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other
statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment
of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time.
"Global Note Legend" means the legend set forth in Section
2.08(g)(ii), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under
this Indenture.
"Global Notes" means, individually and collectively, each of the
Restricted Global Note and the Unrestricted Global Note, in the form of Exhibit
A hereto issued in accordance with Section 2.03 and 2.08 hereof.
"Government Securities" means (i) direct obligations of, or
obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which
guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States of
America is pledged and (ii) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of
which constitute Government Securities of the kinds described in clause (i) of
this definition.
"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.
"Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the
obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest
rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest rates.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness
of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or
evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of
credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker's acceptances
or representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of
the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an
accrued expense or trade payable, or representing any Hedging Obligations if and
to the extent any of the foregoing (other than letters of credit and Hedging
Obligations) would
7
appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance
with GAAP, as well as all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset
of such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person) and,
to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by such Person of any
indebtedness of any other Person. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as
of any date shall be (i) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any
Indebtedness issued with original issue discount, and (ii) the principal amount
thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due,
in the case of any other Indebtedness. The term "Indebtedness" shall not include
(i) any obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under the
Partnership Parks Agreements, the Marine World Agreements or the Subordinated
Indemnity Agreement or (ii) any Indebtedness of the Co-Venture Partnerships (or
the general partners thereof), except to the extent guaranteed by the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary (other than such general partners).
"Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from
time to time.
"Indirect Participant" means a Person who holds a beneficial
interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
"Initial Notes" is defined in the preamble hereto.
"Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all investments by
such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or
indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations),
advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees and any deposit or advance made pursuant to
any contract entered into 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 Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
(other than pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Parks Agreements or the
Subordinated Indemnity Agreement) such that, after giving effect to any such
sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of
any such sale or disposition equal to the fair market value of the Equity
Interests of such Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as
provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof.
"Issue Date" means the date the first Notes are issued.
"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.
"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
8
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).
"Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock" means the Company's 7 1/2%
Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock.
"Marine World" means the Marine World Joint Powers Authority or any
successor thereto.
"Marine World Agreements" means:
(1) the Parcel Lease, dated November 7, 1997, between Marine World
and Park Management Corp. ("PMC");
(2) the Reciprocal Easement Agreement, dated November 7, 1997,
between Marine World and PMC;
(3) the Revenue Sharing Agreement, dated November 7, 1997, among
Marine World, PMC and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of
Vallejo (the "Agency");
(4) the Purchase Option Agreement, dated as of August 29, 1997,
among Marine World, the Agency, the City of Vallejo and PMC;
and
(5) the 1997 Management Agreement, dated as of February 1, 1997,
between Marine World and PMC, as amended;
in each case, as the same may be modified or amended from time to time after the
Issue Date, provided such modification or amendment does not adversely affect
the interests of the Holders in any material respects.
"Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, the net income
(loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any
reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (i) any
gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or
loss, realized in connection with any Asset Sale (including, without limitation,
dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions) and (ii) 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 thereof, taxes paid or payable as a
result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or
deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to
the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were
the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the
sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.
9
"New Notes" is defined in the preamble hereto.
"Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness (i) as to which neither the
Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of
any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would
constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor
or otherwise), or (c) constitutes the lender; (ii) no default with respect to
which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take
enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon
notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other
Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to
its stated maturity; and (iii) as to which the lenders have been notified in
writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Notes" has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble hereto.
"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 10.05 hereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section
10.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or internal or other counsel to
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
"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 The Depository Trust Company,
shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).
"Partnership Parks Agreements" means:
(1) the Overall Agreement, dated as of February 15, 1997, among
Six Flags Fund, Ltd. (L.P.), Salkin Family Trust, SFG, Inc.,
SFG-I, LLC, SFG-II, LLC, Six Flags Over Georgia, Ltd., SFOG
II, Inc., SFOG II Employee, Inc., SFOG Acquisition A, Inc.,
SFOG Acquisition B, L.L.C., Six Flags Over Georgia, Inc., Six
Flags Services of Georgia, Inc., Six Flags Theme Parks Inc.
and Six Flags Entertainment Corporation and the Related
Agreements (as defined therein); and
10
(2) the Overall Agreement, dated as of November 24, 1997, among
Six Flags Over Texas Fund, Ltd., Flags' Directors, L.L.C.,
FD-II, L.L.C., Texas Flags, Ltd., SFOT Employee, Inc., SFOT
Acquisition I, Inc., SFOT Acquisition II, Inc., Six Flags Over
Texas, Inc., Six Flags Theme Parks Inc. and Six Flags
Entertainment Corporation and the Related Agreements (as
defined therein);
in each case, as the same may be modified or amended from time to time after the
Issue Date, provided such modification or amendment does not adversely affect
the interests of the Holders in any material respect.
"Permitted Business" means any business related, ancillary or
complementary to the businesses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
on the date of this Indenture.
"Permitted Investments" means an Investment by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary in (i) cash or Cash Equivalents, (ii) the Company, a
Restricted Subsidiary or a Person which will, upon the making of such
Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the primary
business of such Restricted Subsidiary is a Permitted Business; (iii) another
Person if as a result of such Investment such other Person is merged or
consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its
assets (or the assets of any business unit or division of such Person) to, the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Person's (or
such unit's or division's) primary business is a Permitted Business; (iv)
another Person if the aggregate amount of all Investments in all such other
Persons does not exceed $25.0 million at any one time outstanding (with each
Investment being valued as of the date made and without giving effect to
subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that such Person's primary
business is a Permitted Business; (v) promissory notes received as consideration
for an Asset Sale which are secured by a Lien on the asset subject to such Asset
Sale; provided that the aggregate amount of all such promissory notes at any one
time outstanding does not exceed $5.0 million; (vi) non-cash consideration from
an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10
hereof; (vii) assets acquired solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity
Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; (viii) receivables
owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, if created or acquired in the
ordinary course of business; (ix) payroll, travel and similar advances that are
made in the ordinary course of business; (x) loans or advances to employees made
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary; (xi) stock, obligations or securities received in
settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments; and (xii)
other Investments in any Person at any time outstanding (each such Investment
being measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving
effect to subsequent changes in value) not to exceed $150 million.
"Permitted Liens" means (a) Liens to secure Indebtedness of a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was permitted to be incurred under
this Indenture; (b) Liens existing on the Issue Date; (c) Liens on property or
shares of Capital Stock of another Person at the time such other Person becomes
a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person; provided, however, that such Liens are
not created, incurred or assumed in connection with, or in contemplation of,
such other Person becoming such a Restricted Subsidiary; provided further,
however, that such Lien may not extend to any other property owned by such
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (d) Liens on property at the time
such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
11
acquires the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or
consolidation with or into such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such
Person; provided, however, that such Liens are not created, incurred or assumed
in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided further,
however, that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by such
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (e) Liens securing Indebtedness or
other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person owing to such Person
or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person; (f) Liens securing Hedging
Obligations so long as the related Indebtedness is, and is permitted to be under
this Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same type of property securing such
Hedging Obligations; (g) Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
provided, however, that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the
same property that secured the original Indebtedness (plus improvements on such
property) and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not
increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal
amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness refinanced at the
time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien and (B) an amount necessary to
pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing,
refunding, extension, renewal or replacement; (h)(i) mortgages, liens, security
interests, restrictions or encumbrances that have been placed by any developer,
landlord or other third party on property over which the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company has easement rights or on any real property
leased by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and
subordination or similar agreements relating thereto and (ii) any condemnation
or eminent domain proceedings affecting any real property; (i) pledges or
deposits by such Person under workmen's compensation laws, unemployment
insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with
bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases
to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory
obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or United States government bonds
to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as
security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in
each case incurred in the ordinary course of business; (j) Liens imposed by law,
such as carriers', warehousemen's and mechanic's Liens, in each case for sums
not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other
Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to
which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings
for review; (k) Liens for property taxes not yet due or payable or subject to
penalties for non-payment or which are being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings; (l) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances,
easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way,
sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar
purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or
Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the
ownership of its properties which were not incurred in connection with
Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially impair the use of such
properties in the operation of the business of such Person; (m) Liens securing
Purchase Money Indebtedness; provided, however, that (i) the Indebtedness
secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under this
Indenture, (ii) the principal amount of any Indebtedness secured by any such
Lien does not exceed the cost of assets or property so acquired or constructed
and (iii) the amount of Indebtedness secured by any such Lien is not
subsequently increased; (n) Liens arising out of the transactions contemplated
by the Partnership Parks Agreements, the Marine World Agreements, the
Subordinated Indemnity Agreement or the Six Flags Agreement; and (o) 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 $20.0 million at any
one time outstanding.
12
"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: (i) the principal amount
(or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus
accrued interest on, the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of reasonable expenses,
including premiums, incurred in connection therewith); (ii) such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity
date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than
the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; (iii) if the Indebtedness
being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of,
and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes on terms at least as
favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation
governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
defeased or refunded; and (iv) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the
Company or by a Restricted Subsidiary.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or agency or political subdivision thereof (including any subdivision
or ongoing business of any such entity or substantially all of the assets of any
such entity, subdivision or business).
"PIERS" means the Company's 11,500,000 Preferred Income Equity
Redeemable Shares issued on January 23, 2001.
"Private Placement Legend" means the legend set forth in Section
2.08(g)(i) to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where
otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement at the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, 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.
"Public Equity Offering" means an underwritten primary public
offering of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
"Purchase Money Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (i) consisting of
the deferred purchase price of property, conditional sale obligations,
obligation under any title retention agreement and other purchase money
obligations, in each case where the maturity of such Indebtedness does not
exceed the anticipated useful life of the asset being financed, and (ii)
incurred to finance the acquisition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company of such asset, including additions and improvements; provided,
however, that any Lien arising in connection with any such Indebtedness shall be
limited to the specified asset being financed or, in the case of real property
or fixtures, including additions and improvements, the real property
13
on which such asset is attached; and provided further, that such Indebtedness is
Incurred within 180 days after such acquisition, addition or improvement by the
Company or Restricted Subsidiary of such asset.
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule
144A.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, Lehman Brothers,
Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, Salomon Smith Barney Inc., Allen & Company Incorporated, BNY
Capital Markets, Inc., Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc. and Scotia Capital
(USA) Inc.
"Registration Statement" means any registration statement of the
Company relating to (a) an offering of New Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer
or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed pursuant to
the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement and (ii) 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 Global Note in the form of
Exhibit A 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 Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.
"Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee, means
(a) any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including
any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant
treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily
performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time
shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is
referred because of such person's knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject and (b) who shall have direct responsibility for the
administration of this Indenture.
"Restricted Definitive Note" means a Definitive Note bearing the
Private Placement Legend.
"Restricted Global Note" means a Global Note bearing the Private
Placement Legend.
"Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.
"Restricted Period" means the 40-day period commencing on the date
as of which this Indenture is dated.
"Restricted Subsidiary" of a Person means any Subsidiary of the
referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
14
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 903" means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 904" means Rule 904 promulgated the Securities Act.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Senior Debt" means (i) all Indebtedness of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary outstanding under Credit Facilities and all Hedging
Obligations with respect thereto; (ii) any other Indebtedness of the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under the terms of the
Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred
expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; and
(iii) all Obligations with respect to the items in the preceding clauses (i) and
(ii). 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 Indebtedness of the Company to any of its
Subsidiaries or other Affiliates; (3) any trade payables; or (4) the portion of
any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the Indenture.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means the Shelf Registration
Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that would be a
"significant subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X,
promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on
the date of this Indenture.
"Six Flags Credit Facility" means the $1.2 billion Credit Agreement,
dated as of November 5, 1999, among Six Flags, Inc., Six Flags Operations Inc.,
Six Flags Theme Parks Inc., and the lenders party thereto, Lehman Commercial
Paper, Inc., as administrative agent, and the other agents named therein.
"Specified Amount" means, as of any date, the product of (a) the
Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company for the most recently ended four-quarter
period for which financial statements have been filed with the SEC determined on
a pro forma basis after giving effect to all acquisitions or Asset Sales 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, times (b) 0.75.
"Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any installment of interest
or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of
interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to
repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date
originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
15
"Strategic Equity Investment" means a cash contribution to the
common equity capital of the Company or a purchase from the Company of common
Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock), in either case by or from a
Strategic Equity Investor and for aggregate cash consideration of at least $25.0
million.
"Strategic Equity Investor" means, as of any date, any Person (other
than an Affiliate of the Company) engaged in a Permitted Business which, as of
the day immediately before such date, had a Total Equity Market Capitalization
of at least $1.0 billion.
"Subordinated Indemnity Agreement" means the Subordinated Indemnity
Agreement, dated as of April 1, 1998, among the Company, Six Flags Entertainment
Corporation and its subsidiaries, Time Warner Inc., Time Warner Entertainment
Company, L.P. and TW-SPV Co., as the same may be modified or amended from time
to time after April 1, 1998, provided such modification or amendment does not
adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material fashion.
"Subsidiary" means with respect to any Person (i) any corporation,
association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting
power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of
any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees
thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such
Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination
thereof); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, each of SFOG A Holdings,
SFOG B Holdings, SFOT I Holdings and SFOT II Holdings will be deemed to be a
Subsidiary of the Company for all purposes under the Indenture so long as the
Subordinated Indemnity Agreement and the Beneficial Share Assignment Agreement
will each be in full force and effect and no default or event of default will
have occurred thereunder, and (ii) any partnership or limited liability company
(a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner (or equivalent) of
which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person; or (b) the only general
partners of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or
any combination thereof).
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. ss.ss.
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified
under the TIA.
"Total Equity Market Capitalization" of any Person means, as of any
day of determination, the sum of (i) the product of (A) the aggregate number of
outstanding primary shares of (x) common stock of such Person on such day (which
shall not include any options or warrants on, or securities convertible or
exchangeable into, shares of common stock of such Person) and (y) preferred
stock of such Person on such day (to the extent listed on a national securities
exchange or the Nasdaq National Market System) multiplied by (B) the average
closing price of such common stock or such preferred stock, as the case may be
listed on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market System
over the 20 consecutive business days immediately preceding such day, plus (ii)
the liquidation value of any outstanding shares of preferred stock of such
Person on such day not listed on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq
National Market System.
"Trustee" means the party named as such in the preamble hereto until
a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this
Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
16
"Unrestricted Definitive Note" means one or more Definitive Notes
that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Global Note" means a permanent Global Note in the form
of Exhibit A 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 Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary (other than Six Flags
Operations Inc. or Six Flags Theme Parks Inc. or any successor to either of
them) that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary
pursuant to a Board Resolution; but only to the extent that such Subsidiary: (a)
has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; (b) is not party to any
agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement,
contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from
Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company; (c) is a Person with respect to
which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct
or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (y)
to maintain or preserve such Person's financial condition or to cause such
Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; (d) has not
guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (e) has
at least one director on its board of directors that is not a director or
executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and has
at least one executive officer that is not a director or executive officer of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. Any such designation by the
Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee
a certified copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and
an Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the
foregoing conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 hereof. If, at any time,
any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted
Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such
Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be
incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 hereof, the Company shall be in
default of such covenant). The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time
designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided
that such designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such
Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation shall only be permitted if (i) such
Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof, calculated on a pro forma
basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter
reference period, and (ii) 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(a) 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 by the holder thereof in the
election of the Board of Directors (or comparable body) of such Person.
17
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any
Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum
of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding principal
amount of such Indebtedness.
"Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary" of any Person means a
Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or
other ownership interests of which (other than directors' qualifying shares)
shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly
Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.
Section 1.02. Other Definitions.
Defined in
Term Section
"Additional Notes" 2.01
"Affiliate Transaction" 4.11
"Asset Sale Offer" 4.10
"Authentication Order" 2.04
"Basket Period" 4.07
"Change of Control Offer" 4.15
"Change of Control Payment" 4.15
"Change of Control Payment Date" 4.15
"Covenant Defeasance" 8.03
"DTC" 2.05
"Event of Default" 6.01
"Excess Proceeds" 4.10
"incur" 4.09
"Legal Defeasance" 8.02
"Offer Amount" 3.09
"Offer Period" 3.09
"Paying Agent" 2.05
"Permitted Debt" 4.09
"Purchase Date" 3.09
"Registrar" 2.05
"Restricted Payments" 4.07
Section 1.03. One Class of Securities. The Initial Notes and the New
Notes shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and none of
the Initial Notes or the New Notes shall have the right to vote or consent as a
separate class on any matter.
Section 1.04. 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.
18
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 means the Company and any successor obligor
upon the Notes.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA,
defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA
have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.05. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise
requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning
assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) "or" is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural
include the singular;
(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(6) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act
shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or
rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.
ARTICLE II
THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Issuance of Additional Notes. The Company may, subject
to Section 4.09 hereof, issue additional Notes ("Additional Notes") under this
Indenture which will have identical terms as the Notes issued on the Issue Date
other than with respect to the Issue Date, issue price and first payment of
interest. The Notes issued on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes
subsequently issued shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under
this Indenture.
Section 2.02. Payments by Company by Wire Transfer. The Company
shall make all interest, premium, if any, and principal payments by wire
transfer to any Holder who shall have given written directions to the Company to
make such payments by wire transfer pursuant to the wire transfer instructions
supplied to the Company by such Holder.
19
Section 2.03. Form and Dating. The terms and provisions contained in
the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this
Indenture and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of
this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound
thereby. 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. Notes shall be dated the date of their
authentication.
(a) Global Notes.
Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the
"Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto). Notes
issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the
"Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note" attached thereto). Each
Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified
therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal
amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from
time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and
redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any
increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes
represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the
direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder
thereof as required by Section 2.08 hereof.
(b) 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" and "Customer Handbook" of Clearstream shall be
applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Notes
that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.
Section 2.04. Execution and Authentication. An Officer shall sign
the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that
office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be
valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual
signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the
Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by an
Officer (an "Authentication Order"), authenticate Notes for original issue up to
the aggregate principal amount stated in paragraph 4 of the Notes. The aggregate
principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed such amount
except as provided in Section 2.09 hereof.
20
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 2.05. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain
an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or
for exchange ("Registrar") and an office or agency where Notes may be presented
for payment ("Paying Agent"). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes
and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more
co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term "Registrar"
includes any co-registrar and the term "Paying Agent" includes any additional
paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without
notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the
name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company
fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the
Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as
Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ("DTC")
to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar
and Paying Agent and to act as Note Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
Section 2.06. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.The Company shall
require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the
Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all
money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium or
Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the
Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such
default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held
by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay
all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the
Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further
liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it
shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders
all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization
proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for
the Notes.
Section 2.07. Holder Lists.The Trustee shall preserve in as current
a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the
names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA ss.
312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at
such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and
as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses
of the Holders of Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA ss.
312(a).
Section 2.08. 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
21
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 (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee
notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as
Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the
Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary, (ii)
the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole
but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written
notice to such effect to the Trustee or (iii) there shall have occurred and be
continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes. Upon the
occurrence of any of the preceding events in (i), (ii) or (iii) 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 2.09 and 2.12 hereof. Every Note authenticated and
delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof,
pursuant to this Section 2.08 or Section 2.09 or 2.12 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 2.08(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be
transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.08(b), (c) or (f) hereof.
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global
Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes
shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of
this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the
Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable
to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act.
Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require
compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as
one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note.
Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to
Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in
the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer
restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however,
that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of
beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a
U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an
Initial Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note
may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or
instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect
the transfers described in this Section 2.08(b)(i).
(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in
Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial
interests that are not subject to Section 2.08(b)(i) above, the transferor
of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a
written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the
Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the
Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in
another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be
transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the
Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the
22
Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written
order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the
Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the
Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to
the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2)
instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing
information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall
be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above;
provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the
transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global
Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the
receipt by the Registrar of any certificates pursuant to Rule 903 under
the Securities Act. Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company
in accordance with Section 2.08(f) hereof, the requirements of this
Section 2.08(b)(ii) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by
the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal
delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted
Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or
exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this
Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act,
the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global
Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.08(h) hereof.
(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global
Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be
transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a
beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer
complies with the requirements of Section 2.08(b)(ii) above and the
Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a
beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the
transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(1) thereof; and
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a
beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note,
then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the
form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications
in item (2) thereof.
(iv) 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 2.08(b)(ii) above and:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration
Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial
interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange,
or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies
in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not
(1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the
distribution of the
23
Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as
defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a participating
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such
beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in
an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from
such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
including the certifications in item (1)(a)
thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such
beneficial interest to a Person who shall take
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a
certificate from such holder in the form of
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph
(D), 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 2.04 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.
24
(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes for
Definitive Notes.
(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted
Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted
Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who
takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then,
upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such
beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a
certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C
hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a)
thereof;
(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a
QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities
Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B
hereto, including the certifications in item (1)
thereof;
(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a
Non- U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in
accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the
Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(2) thereof;
(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred
pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with
Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to 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
(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred
pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications
in item (3)(c) thereof
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable
Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.08(h) hereof,
and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in
the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange
for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this
Section 2.08(c)(i) shall be registered in such name or names and in such
authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial
interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the
Depositary and the Participant or Indirect
25
Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the
Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note
issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note
pursuant to this Section 2.08(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement
Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained
therein.
(ii) Notwithstanding Sections 2.08(c)(i)(A) and (C) hereof, a
beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note may not be exchanged
for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (x) the expiration of
the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any
certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(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.
(iii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to
Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a
Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted
Definitive Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration
Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial
interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee,
in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable
Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a
broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who
is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a participating
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such
beneficial interest for a Definitive Note that
does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a
certificate from such holder in the form of
Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in
item (1)(b) thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such
beneficial interest to a Person who shall take
delivery thereof in the form of a
26
Definitive Note that does not bear the Private
Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder
in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph
(D), if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion
of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the
Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer
is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the
restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the
Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order
to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(iv) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to
Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in
an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest
for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person
who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.08(b)(ii) hereof,
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable
Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.08(h) hereof,
and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver to the person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in
the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange
for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.08(c)(iv) shall be
registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or
denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the
Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or
Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to
the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive
Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section
2.08(c)(iv) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial
Interests in Global Notes.
(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note
proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person
who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the
following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note
proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest
in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such
Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred
to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, a certificate
27
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 under the
Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item
(2) thereof;
(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred
pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with
Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred
to 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
(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred
pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications
in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause
to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause
(A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause
(B) above, the 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (C) above, the
Regulation S Global Note.
(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global
Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted
Global Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an
exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer,
certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that
it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person
participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes
or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule
144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement;
28
(C) such transfer is effected by a participating
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to
exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in
the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from
such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
including the certifications in item (1)(c)
thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to
transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take
delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial
interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a
certificate from such Holder in the form of
Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in
item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph
(D), if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion
of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the
Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer
is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the
restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the
Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order
to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in
this Section 2.08(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive Notes
and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of
the Unrestricted Global Note.
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in
Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may
exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global
Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global
Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or
transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive
Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount
of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a
beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or
(iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued,
the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in
accordance with Section 2.04 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more
Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.
(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.
Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder's compliance with
the provisions of this Section 2.08(e), the Registrar shall register the
transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to
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such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present
or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied
by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly
executed by such Holder or by such Holder's attorney, duly authorized in
writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional
certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to
the following provisions of this Section 2.08(e).
(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any
Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the
name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted
Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under
the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a
certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including
the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or
Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate
in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the
certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other
exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a
certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including
the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel
required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.
Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for
an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who
take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an
exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer,
certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that
it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person
participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes
or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule
144) of the Company;
(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) any such transfer is effected by a participating
Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement in accordance with the
Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
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(1) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes
proposes to exchange such Notes for an
Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from
such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
including the certifications in item (1)(d)
thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes
proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who
shall take delivery thereof in the form of an
Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from
such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto,
including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph
(D), an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable
to the Company to the effect that such exchange or
transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and
that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and
in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required
in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive
Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes
to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted
Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer,
the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to
the instructions from the Holder thereof.
(f) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and,
upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.04, the
Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial
interests in the Restricted Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that
certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (x) they are not
broker-dealers, (y) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange
Notes and (z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company,
and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer and (ii) Definitive Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted
Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with
the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal
amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive
Notes in the appropriate principal amount.
(g) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the face of all
Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless
specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
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(i) Private Placement Legend.
(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global
Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange
therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in
substantially the following form.
THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY
STATE OR OTHER SECURITIES LAWS, NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY
INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED,
TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE
ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT
FROM OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF
(1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ) OR (B) IT IS NOT A
U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN "OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION" PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S, (2) AGREES THAT
IT WILL NOT PRIOR TO (X) THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS (OR SUCH
SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144(K) UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THEREUNDER) AFTER THE
LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF ANY PREDECESSOR OF
THE SECURITY) AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY
APPLICABLE LAWS (THE "RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE"), OFFER,
SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO SIX FLAGS,
INC., (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN
DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE
SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A
PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER"
AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR
ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN
RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S.
PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER
AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO
WHICH THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE
EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED THAT SIX FLAGS, INC. AND THE TRUSTEE
SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (1)
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION
OF COUNSEL,
32
CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM
AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A
CERTIFICATION OR TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE
TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER
AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. AS USED HEREIN, THE
TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION," "UNITED STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE
THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or
Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(iv), (c)(ii),
(c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) of this
Section 2.08 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or
substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(ii) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear a legend in
substantially the following form:
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES
IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A
WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY ANY
SUCH NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR NOMINEE OF A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY, OR ANY NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. TRANSFERS OF THE GLOBAL
SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO
NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO., OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH
SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE, AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THE GLOBAL
SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO
THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR
PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF
CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO.
OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR
VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE
REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
33
(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.
At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note
have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been
redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global
Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance
with Section 2.13 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any
beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person
who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another
Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented
by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be
made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of
the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being
exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the
form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note
shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global
Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to
reflect such increase.
(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and
Definitive Notes upon the Company's order.
(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial
interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any
registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental
charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes
or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant
to Sections 2.12, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05).
(iii) The Registrar shall not be required 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.
(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any
registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes
shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt,
and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global
Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer
or exchange.
(v) The Registrar shall not be required (A) to issue, to register
the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for
redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business
on the day of selection or (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange
any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part.
(vi) 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,
34
and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by
notice to the contrary.
(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive
Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04 hereof.
(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel
required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.08 to
effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by
facsimile.
Section 2.09. Replacement Notes. If any mutilated Note is
surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to
its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company
shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall
authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee's requirements are met. If
required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by
the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to
protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from
any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may
charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company
and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
Section 2.10. 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 2.11 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company
or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the
Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for
purposes of Section 3.07(b) hereof.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.09 hereof, it ceases to
be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section
4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money
sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such
Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue
interest.
Section 2.11. Treasury Notes. In determining whether the Holders of
the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver
or consent, Notes owned by the Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the
Company, shall be considered as though not
35
outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only
Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned
shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.12. Temporary Notes. Until certificates representing Notes
are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of
an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes
shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations
that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company
shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange
for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits
of this Indenture.
Section 2.13. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver
Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall
forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of
transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all
Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement
or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Notes (subject to the record
retention requirement of the Exchange Act in its customary manner). 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 2.14. Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a
payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any
lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted
interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in
each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The
Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest
proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The
Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment
date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior
to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before
the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the
Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail
or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date,
the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.
Section 2.15. Cusip Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Notes may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then
generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices
of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may
state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers
either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and
that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on
the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or
omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any
change in the "CUSIP" numbers.
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ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem
Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it
shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 60 days before a redemption date, an
Officers' Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to
which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal
amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. If less than all of
the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time,
the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased among the Holders
of the Notes in compliance with the requirements of the principal national
securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are
not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in accordance with any other
method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate; provided that no Notes of
$1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. In the event of partial redemption by
lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise
provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption
date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for
redemption.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the
Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial
redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of
Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000;
except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire
outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of
$1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence,
provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also
apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption. Subject to the provisions of
Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a
redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class
mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at
its registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes (including CUSIP numbers) to be
redeemed and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the
principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date
upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to
the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancelation of the original Note;
(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
37
(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the
Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption
payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after
the redemption date;
(g) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture
pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy
of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 60 days prior to the
redemption date, an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such
notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided
in the preceding paragraph.
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of
redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for
redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the
redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. One Business Day prior to
the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the
Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and, if applicable,
accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the
Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the
Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to
pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding
paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on
the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed
on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest
payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person
in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record
date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for
redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding
paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption
date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not
paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes
and in Section 4.01 hereof.
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that
is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and, upon the Company's written
request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the
Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the
Note surrendered.
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Section 3.07. Optional Redemption. (a) Except as set forth in clause
(b) of this Section 3.07, the Company shall not have the option to redeem the
Notes pursuant to this Section 3.07 prior to February 1, 2005. On or after
February 1, 2005, the Company may redeem all or 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 thereon to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the
twelve-month period beginning on February 1 of the years indicated below:
Year Percentage
2005 104.750%
2006 103.167%
2007 101.583%
2008 and thereafter 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to February 1,
2004, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the
aggregate principal amount of Notes (which includes Additional Notes, if any)
originally issued under this Indenture at a redemption price of 109.5% of the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption
date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings and/or
the net cash proceeds of a Strategic Equity Investment; provided that at least
65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (which includes Additional Notes,
if any) originally issued remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence
of each such redemption (excluding the Notes held by the Company and its
Subsidiaries); and provided further, that any such redemption shall occur within
60 days of the date of the closing of each such Public Equity Offering and/or
Strategic Equity Investment.
(c) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made
pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
(d) If the optional redemption date is on or after an interest
record date and on or before the related interest payment date, the accrued and
unpaid interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name the Note is
registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional
interest will be payable to holders whose Notes will be subject to redemption by
the Company.
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption. Except as set forth in Sections
4.10 and 4.15, the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or
sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
Section 3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.
In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall be
required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an "Asset Sale
Offer"), it shall follow the procedures specified below.
The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business
Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a
longer period is required by applicable law (the "Offer Period"). No later than
five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the "Purchase
Date"), the Company shall purchase the principal amount of
39
Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (the "Offer
Amount") or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered
in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be
made in the same manner as interest payments are made.
If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on
or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest
shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of
business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to
Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall
send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with
a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials
necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale
Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which
shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:
(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section
3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer
shall remain open;
(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;
(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall
continue to accrue interest;
(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any
Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to
accrue interest after the Purchase Date;
(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an
Asset Sale Offer may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may
not elect to have only a portion of such Note purchased;
(f) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any
Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form
entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Note
completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a
Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a paying agent at the address
specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date;
(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the
Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives,
not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex,
facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the
principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a
statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note
purchased;
(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by
Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes to be
purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed
appropriate by the Company so that
40
only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples thereof,
shall be purchased); and
(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be
issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of
the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).
On or before the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent
lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the
Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale
Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered,
and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such
Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance
with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the paying
agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five
days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount
equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by
the Company for purchase, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and
the Trustee, upon written request from the Company shall authenticate and mail
or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any
unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be
promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company
shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase
Date.
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 IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes. The Company shall pay or cause to be
paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates
and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and
interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other
than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 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 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; if applicable, it shall pay interest (including post-petition
interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of
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
41
office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such
required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address
thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or
served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or
all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided,
however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt
written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any
change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section
2.05.
Section 4.03. Reports. (a) Whether or not required by the rules and
regulations of the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company shall
furnish to the Holders of Notes and the Trustee (i) all quarterly and annual
financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with
the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such forms,
including a "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" that describes the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (showing in
reasonable detail, either on the face of the financial statements or in the
footnotes thereto and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations, the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the
financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries
of the Company) and, with respect to the annual information only, a report
thereon by the Company's certified independent accountants and (ii) all current
reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the
Company were required to file such reports, in each case, within the time
periods specified in the SEC's rules and regulations. In addition, whether or
not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company shall file a
copy of all such information and reports with the SEC for public availability
within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and regulations (unless the
SEC will not accept such a filing) and make such information available to
securities analysts and prospective investors upon request. The Company shall at
all times comply with TIA ss. 314(a). Delivery of such reports, information and
documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee's
receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information
contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including
the Company's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the
Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate. (a) The Company shall deliver
to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers'
Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its
Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the
supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the
Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this
Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such
certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept,
observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant
42
contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or
observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or,
if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such
Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what
action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that
to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in
existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or
interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a
description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to
take with respect thereto.
(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial
statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03(a) 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 connection with the audit for
certification of such financial statements contained in such reports, nothing
has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has
failed to comply with any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof insofar as
the provisions relate to accounting matters or, if any such violation has
occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being
understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to
any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.
(c) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding,
deliver to the Trustee, forthwith and in any event within five days upon any
Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default or an event which,
with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an 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 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 hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of
any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law,
hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the
Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though
no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.07. Restricted Payments. The Company shall not, and shall
not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i)
declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account
of any Equity Interests of the Company (including, without limitation, any
payment in connection with any merger or
43
consolidation involving the Company) or to the direct or indirect holders of any
Equity Interests of the Company in their capacity as such (other than dividends
or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of
the Company); (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value
(including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation
involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or
indirect parent of the Company; (iii) 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, except a payment of interest or
principal at Stated Maturity; or (iv) make any Restricted Investment (all such
payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being
collectively referred to as "Restricted Payments"), unless, at the time of and
after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; and
(b) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and
after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been
made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted
to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Debt to Cash
Flow test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; and
(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of
all other Restricted Payments declared or made after the Issue Date (excluding
Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii) and (iii) of the next succeeding
paragraph) shall not exceed, at the date of determination, the sum, without
duplication, of (i) an amount equal to the Company's Consolidated Cash Flow for
the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the first
fiscal quarter commencing after June 30, 1999 to the end of the Company's most
recently ended full fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been
filed with the SEC (the "Basket Period") less the product of 1.4 times the
Company's Consolidated Interest Expense for the Basket Period, plus (ii) 100% of
the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company after June 30, 1999 as a
contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity
Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or
sale after June 30, 1999 of Disqualified Stock or debt securities of the Company
that have been converted into such Equity Interests (other than (x) Equity
Interests (or Disqualified Stock or convertible debt securities) sold to a
Subsidiary of the Company and (y) any sale of Equity Interests of the Company
the net cash proceeds of which are applied pursuant to clause (ii) of the
immediately succeeding paragraph), plus (iii) to the extent that any Restricted
Investment that was made after the Issue Date is sold for cash or otherwise
liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of (A) the cash return of capital with
respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and
(B) the initial amount of such Restricted Investment, plus (iv) to the extent
that any Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary
after the Issue Date, the fair market value of the Company's or its Restricted
Subsidiary's, as the case may be, Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date
of such redesignation.
The preceding provisions shall not prohibit: (i) the payment of any
dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at said date
of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this
Indenture; (ii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness or Equity Interests of the Company
in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent
sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, 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
44
from clause (c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph; (iii) the defeasance,
redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness with
the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
(iv) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing (or would result therefrom), the purchase, redemption, retirement or
other acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of
partnership interests held by the partners in the limited partners of the
Co-Venture Partnerships, the co-general partner of the Co-Venture Partnerships
or, in each case, their successors, in accordance with and in the manner
required or permitted by the terms of the Partnership Parks Agreements; (v) so
long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or
would result therefrom), any transactions pursuant to or contemplated by, and
payments made in connection with, and in accordance with the terms of, the
Partnership Parks Agreements and the Marine World Agreements; (vi) so long as no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would
result therefrom), any transactions pursuant to or contemplated by, and payments
made in connection with, and in accordance with the terms of, the Subordinated
Indemnity Agreement; (vii) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom), the payment of dividends
on the Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms
thereof as in effect on the date of this Indenture; (viii) in the event the
Company issues common stock in exchange for or upon conversion of Mandatorily
Convertible Preferred Stock or PIERS (or Convertible Preferred Stock underlying
the PIERS), cash payments made in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of
common stock, not to exceed $500,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year; (ix)
the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any
Equity Interests of the Company from employees, former employees, directors or
former directors of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or
permitted transferees of such employees, former employees, directors or former
directors); provided, however, that the aggregate amount of such repurchases
shall not exceed $5.0 million in any twelve-month period; and (x) so long as no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would
result therefrom), the payment of dividends on the PIERS (or the underlying
Convertible Preferred Stock) in accordance with the terms thereof as in effect
on the date of this Indenture.
The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be
an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such designation would not cause a Default;
provided that in no event shall the business currently operated by Six Flags
Operations Inc. or Six Flags Theme Parks Inc. be transferred to or held by any
Unrestricted Subsidiary. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid in cash) in the
Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments at the time of
such designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments
under the first paragraph of this covenant. All such outstanding Investments
will be valued at their fair market value at the time of such designation. That
designation will only be permitted if such Restricted Payment would be permitted
at such time and if such Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of
an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
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
45
valued by this Section 4.07 shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the
Company whose resolution with respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee.
The Board of Directors' determination shall be based upon an opinion or
appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of
national standing if such fair market value exceeds $10.0 million. Not later
than the date of making any Restricted Payment (other than any Restricted
Payment permitted pursuant to clause (i) through (x) of the second preceding
paragraph), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis
upon which the calculations required by this Section 4.07 were computed,
together with a copy of any fairness opinion or appraisal required by this
Indenture.
Section 4.08. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting
Subsidiaries. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to
exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Subsidiary to (i)(a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or
(2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its
profits, or (b) pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) transfer any of its properties or assets to
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. However, the preceding
restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by
reason of (a) Existing Indebtedness and Indebtedness under Credit Facilities and
any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements,
refundings, replacements or refinancings of Existing Indebtedness and
Indebtedness under Credit Facilities, provided that such amendments,
modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings,
replacements or refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with
respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in
the agreements governing the Existing Indebtedness and Indebtedness under Credit
Facilities on the date of this Indenture, (b) the Partnership Parks Agreements,
the Marine World Agreements or the Subordinated Indemnity Agreement, (c) the
terms of any Indebtedness permitted by this Indenture to be incurred by any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (d) this Indenture and the Notes, (e)
applicable law, (f) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a
Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in
effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness
was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which
encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or
assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the
Person, so acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such
Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred, (g)
customary non-assignment provisions in leases, licenses or other contracts
entered into in the ordinary course of business, (h) purchase money obligations
for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose
restrictions of the nature described in clause (iii) above on the property so
acquired, (i) any agreement for the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary that
restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale, (j)
obligations otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of
Section 4.12 that limit the right of the obligee to dispose of the assets
securing such obligations, (k) provisions with respect to the disposition or
distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements and other similar
agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and (l) restrictions
46
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. 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 and the Company's
Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or
issue shares of preferred 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 or such preferred stock, as the case may be, after giving pro forma effect
to such incurrence or issuance as of such date and to the use of the 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 financial
statements have been furnished or are required to be furnished to Holders of the
Notes in reports pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof, would have been no greater
than 6.0 to 1.
The Company shall not incur any Indebtedness that is contractually
subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company unless
such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the
Notes on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness
of the Company shall be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of
payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company solely by virtue of being
unsecured.
The provisions of the first paragraph of this Section 4.09 will not
apply to the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness
(collectively, "Permitted Debt"):
(i) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of
additional Indebtedness under Credit Facilities, in an amount up to $1.2
billion;
(ii) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
of additional revolving credit Indebtedness and letters of credit pursuant
to Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount (with letters of
credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum
potential liability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
thereunder) at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Specified Amount
as of such date of incurrence; provided that the aggregate principal
amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (ii) is
reduced to an outstanding balance of $1.0 million or less for at least 30
consecutive days in each fiscal year;
(iii) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
of the Existing Indebtedness;
(iv) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness represented by
the Notes (other than any Additional Notes);
47
(v) 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 not to exceed $50.0 million at any time outstanding;
(vi) 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 and Indebtedness
incurred pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above) that was permitted by
this Indenture to be incurred;
(vii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (a) if the
Company is the obligor on any such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is, if
any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Company occurs and is
continuing, expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of
all Obligations with respect to the Notes and (b)(1) any subsequent
issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such
Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary thereof and (2) any sale or other transfer of any such
Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary thereof shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an
incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause
(vii);
(viii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of (a) 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
incurred and (b) Currency Agreements that do not increase the Indebtedness
of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding at any time
other than as a result of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates
or interest rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation
payable thereunder;
(ix) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, letters of
credits, surety or appeal bonds, prior to any drawing thereunder, for or
in connection with pledges, deposits or payments made or given in the
ordinary course of business;
(x) the guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this
Section 4.09 (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company
of Existing Indebtedness);
(xi) the incurrence by the Company's Unrestricted Subsidiaries of
Non-Recourse Debt, provided, however, that if any such Indebtedness ceases
to be Non-Recourse Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event shall be
deemed to constitute an incurrence of
48
Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was not
permitted by this clause (xi); and
(xii) 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 (xii), not to
exceed $100.0 million.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in
the event that an item of Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) meets the
criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in
clauses (i) through (xii) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the
first paragraph of this Section 4.09, the Company shall, in its sole discretion,
classify (or later reclassify in whole or in part, in its sole discretion) such
item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Accrual
of interest, accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment
of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the
same terms, and the payment of dividends on preferred stock in the form of
additional shares of the same class of preferred stock will not be deemed to be
an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of preferred stock for purposes of
this Section 4.09; provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof is
included in Consolidated Indebtedness of the Company as accrued.
Section 4.10. Asset Sales. The Company shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to consummate an Asset Sale unless (i)
the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives
consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market
value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary, of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or
otherwise disposed of and (ii) at least 75% of the consideration therefor
received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or
Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this covenant each of the following shall be
deemed to be cash: (x) any liabilities (as shown on the Company's or such
Restricted Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet) of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that
are by their terms subordinate to the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee
of any such assets that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from
further liability or, in the case of the sale of Capital Stock, that are assumed
by the transferee by operation of law and (y) any securities, notes or other
obligations received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such
transferee that are promptly (subject to ordinary settlement periods) converted
by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the
cash received in that conversion).
Notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be permitted to consummate an Asset Sale
without complying with such paragraph if (1) the Company or the applicable
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of
that Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or other
property sold, issued or otherwise disposed of (as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary)
and (2) at least 75% of the consideration of that Asset Sale constitutes assets
or other property of a kind usable by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries
in the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted by
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of this
49
Indenture; provided that any consideration not constituting assets or property
of a kind usable by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the business
conducted by them on the date of this Indenture and received by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any Asset Sale permitted
to be consummated under this paragraph will constitute Net Proceeds subject to
the provisions of the two succeeding paragraphs.
Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset
Sale, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary may apply such Net
Proceeds (a) to repay Senior Debt and, if Senior Debt repaid is revolving credit
Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto, (b) to
acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or a majority of the Voting
Stock of, another Person (or business unit or division of such Person); provided
that the primary business of such Person (or unit or division) is a Permitted
Business, (c) to fund obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
under the Partnership Parks Agreements or the Subordinated Indemnity Agreement,
(d) to acquire Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by
Persons other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (e) to make a
capital expenditure, (f) to acquire other long-term assets that are used or
useful in a Permitted Business or (g) to commit to undertake any of the actions
specified in clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) above, provided that such action
is consummated within 90 days from the end of such 365-day period. Pending the
final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise
invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.
Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested
as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph will constitute "Excess
Proceeds." When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million,
the Company will be required to make an offer to all Holders of Notes and all
holders of other Indebtedness of the Company that is pari passu with the Notes
containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect
to offers to purchase or redemptions with the proceeds of sales of assets (an
"Asset Sale Offer") to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and such
other pari passu Indebtedness of the Company that may be purchased out of the
Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100%
of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if
any, to the date of repurchase and will be payable in cash. If any Excess
Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use
such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture.
If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and such other Indebtedness tendered
into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee
shall select the Notes and such other Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata
basis. Upon completion of such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds
shall be reset at zero.
The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under
the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the
repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer.
To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or
regulations conflict with provisions of this covenant, the Company will comply
with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to
have breached its obligations under this covenant by virtue thereof.
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Section 4.11. Transactions with Affiliates. 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 (i) such 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 (ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee
(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate
Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $2.5 million, a
resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate
certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above and
that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors and (b) with respect to any
Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving
aggregate consideration in excess of $10.0 million, an opinion as to the
fairness to the Holders of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of
view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national
standing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following items shall not be deemed
to be Affiliate Transactions: (i) any employment agreement entered into by the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business, or any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in
cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment or
indemnification arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved
by the Board of Directors, or the grant of stock options or similar rights to
employees and directors of the Company pursuant to plans approved by the Board
of Directors, (ii) transactions between or among the Company and/or its
Restricted Subsidiaries, (iii) payment of reasonable directors fees to Persons
who are not otherwise employees of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries,
(iv) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business, (v)
Restricted Payments that are permitted by Section 4.07 hereof, (vi) transactions
pursuant to or contemplated by, and in accordance with, the terms of the
Subordinated Indemnity Agreement, (vii) transactions pursuant to or contemplated
by and payments in connection with, and, in each case, in accordance with, the
terms of the Partnership Parks Agreements and (viii) transactions pursuant to or
contemplated by, and in accordance with, the Marine World Agreements.
Section 4.12. Liens. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly create, incur, assume
or suffer to exist any Lien securing trade payables, Attributable Debt or
Indebtedness on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted
Liens, unless (i) in the case of Liens securing Indebtedness that is expressly
subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes, the Notes are secured by
a Lien on that property or those assets or proceeds that is senior in priority
to those Liens, with the same relative priority as that subordinate or junior
Indebtedness will have with respect to the Notes and (ii) in all other cases,
the Notes are secured by such Lien on an equal and ratable basis.
Section 4.13. Line of Business. The Company shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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.
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Section 4.14. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article 5 hereof, the
Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep
in full force and effect (i) its corporate existence, and the corporate,
partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with
the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to
time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and
statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such
right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of
any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the
preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is
not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control. (a) Upon
the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make an offer (a
"Change of Control Offer") to each Holder of Notes to repurchase all or any part
(equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's Notes at an
offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the
"Change of Control Payment"). Within 30 days following any Change of Control,
the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder 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 later than 30 business days from the date such notice is
mailed (the "Change of Control Payment Date"); (3) that any Note not tendered
will continue to accrue interest; (4) that, unless the Company defaults in the
payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment
pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the
Change of Control Payment Date; (5) that Holders electing to have any Notes
purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender
the Notes, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the
reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in
the notice prior to the 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 such laws and regulations are
applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes as a result of a Change of
Control.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the
extent lawful, (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly
tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying
Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes
or portions thereof so tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the
aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the
Company.
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The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so tendered the
Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly
authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder
a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes
surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a principal
amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company will publicly
announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable
after the Change of Control Payment Date.
If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after an interest
record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and
unpaid interest 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 in the Change of Control Offer.
The Company shall fix the Change of Control Payment Date no earlier
than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the Change of Control Offer is
mailed as set forth above. Prior to complying with the provisions of the
preceding sentence, but in any event within 90 days following a Change of
Control, the Company shall either repay all of its and its Subsidiaries'
outstanding Indebtedness or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all
agreements governing all such outstanding Indebtedness to the extent necessary
to permit the repurchase of Notes required by this Section 4.15.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to
make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes
the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in
compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.15 applicable to a
Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly
tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or
regulations conflict with provisions of this covenant, the Company will comply
with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to
have breached its obligations under this Section 4.15.
Section 4.16. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided that the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may enter into a sale and leaseback
transaction if (i) the Company could have (a) incurred Indebtedness in an amount
equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such sale and leaseback transaction
pursuant to the Debt to Cash Flow Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of
Section 4.09 hereof or pursuant to clause (vi) of the third paragraph of Section
4.09 hereof and (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to
Section 4.12 hereof, (ii) the gross cash proceeds of such sale and leaseback
transaction are at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers' Certificate
delivered to the Trustee) of the property that is the subject of such sale and
leaseback transaction and (iii) the transfer of assets in such sale and
leaseback transaction is permitted by, and the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, Section
4.10 hereof.
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,
53
whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder of any Notes for or
as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or
provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered
to be paid or is paid to all Holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree
to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to
such consent, waiver or agreement.
Section 4.18. Limitation on Leases. The Company shall not, directly
or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of its assets to any Person.
ARTICLE V
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets. The Company
shall not consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the
surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose
of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related
transactions, to another corporation, Person or entity unless (i) either (a) the
Company is the surviving corporation or the entity 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 shall
have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the
United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) the entity or
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or the entity or Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations
of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to supplemental
indentures in forms reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, as well as under the
Registration Rights Agreement and the Exchange Notes; (iii) immediately after
such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists; and (iv) except in the
case of a merger of the Company with or into a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company, the Company or the entity or Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition
shall have been made will, immediately after such transaction and after giving
pro forma effect thereto as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of
the applicable four-quarter period, either (a) 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 hereof or (b) have a Debt to
Cash Flow Ratio that equals or exceeds the Debt to Cash Flow Ratio immediately
prior to such transaction.
Section 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any
consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in
accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such
consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall
succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such
consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the
provisions of this Indenture referring to the "Company" shall refer instead to
the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may exercise every right
and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such
successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that
the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to
54
pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of
all of the Company's assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01. Events of Default. An "Event of Default" occurs if:
(a) the Company defaults in the payment when due of interest on the
Notes and such default continues for a period of 30 days;
(b) the Company defaults in the payment when due of principal of or
premium, if any, on the Notes when the same becomes due and payable at maturity,
upon redemption (including in connection with an offer to purchase) or
otherwise;
(c) the Company fails to comply for (i) a period of 30 days with any
of the provisions of Section 4.10 or 4.15 hereof or (ii) 30 days after notice to
the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class, with other
provisions of Article 4 or Section 5.01 hereof;
(d) the Company fails to observe or perform any other covenant,
representation, warranty or other agreement in this Indenture or the Notes for
60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least
25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a
single class;
(e) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary fails to pay
Indebtedness within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the
acceleration of any Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default and
the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated at any time exceeds
$10.0 million;
(f) a final judgment or final judgments for the payment of money are
entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such judgment or judgments are not paid,
discharged or stayed for a period (during which execution shall not be
effectively stayed) of 60 days, provided that the aggregate of all such
undischarged judgments exceeds $10.0 million;
(g) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that constitutes a
Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a
whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the
meaning of Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an
involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or
substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
55
(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or
(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree
under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
that constitutes a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted
Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary in an involuntary case;
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary that constitutes a Significant Subsidiary or any group of
Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that constitutes a Significant
Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole,
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary that constitutes a Significant Subsidiary or any group of
Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60
consecutive days.
Section 6.02. Acceleration. If any Event of Default (other than an
Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 hereof with
respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary that constitutes a Significant
Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would
constitute a Significant Subsidiary) occurs and is continuing, either the
Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.
Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or
(h) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company, any Restricted
Subsidiary that constitutes a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted
Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary,
all outstanding Notes shall become due and payable without further action or
notice. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may 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 February 1, 2005 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
56
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
February 1, 2005 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, the premium equal to the premium specified for the twelve months
commencing on such date pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof shall also become and be
immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment
of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the
performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess
any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or
omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or
remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are
cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. Holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice
to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any
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, if any, or interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an
offer to purchase) (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an
acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that
resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease
to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have
been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend
to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.05. Control by Majority. Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the
Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee
may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture
that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other
Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits. A Holder of a Note may pursue a
remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:
(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if
requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against
any loss, liability or expense;
(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days
after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of
indemnity; and
57
(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction
inconsistent with the request.
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the
rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over
another Holder of a Note.
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder
of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the
Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in
connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of
any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or
affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default
specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee
is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express
trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium on, 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, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
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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, 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, if any, and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent
jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment
to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement
of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee
for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion
may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to
pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable
costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, against any party
litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the
claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a
suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07
hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a
prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his
own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the
express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only
those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no
others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this
Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness
of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished
to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture.
However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions which by
any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the
Trustee to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of
this Indenture but need not
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confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other
facts stated therein.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own
negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful
misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of
this Section;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made
in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it
takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction
received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of
this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs
(a), (b), and (c) of this Section.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to
expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under
no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at
the request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee
security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money
received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.
Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds
except to the extent required by law.
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 such document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require
an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not
be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on
such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with
counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of
Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall
not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney
appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits
to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
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(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any
demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if
signed by an Officer of the Company.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of
any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into
the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but
the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation
into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall
determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to
examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent
or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or
additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or
Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual
knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a
default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee,
and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.
(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits
given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be
indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each
of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person
employed to act hereunder.
(j) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers'
Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers
authorized at such time to take specific actions pursuant to this Indenture,
which Officers' Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an
Officers' Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any
such certificates.
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its
individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and
may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the
same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the
Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within
90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any
Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject
to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.
Section 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be
responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of
this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company's use
of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the
Company's direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be
responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent
other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or
recital herein or any statement in the
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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 actually known to a Responsible Officer of
the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default
or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a
Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium on, if any, or
interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a
committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding
the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes. Within 60
days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this
Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail
to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that
complies with TIA ss. 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA ss. 313(a) has
occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need
be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA ss. 313(b)(2). The
Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA ss. 313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of
Notes shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock
exchange on which the Notes are listed, if any, in accordance with TIA ss.
313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee if the Notes are listed on
any stock exchange or delisted therefrom.
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to
the Trustee from time to time such compensation as the Company and the Trustee
shall from time to time agree in writing for its acceptance of this Indenture
and services hereunder. The Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any
law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall
reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements,
advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for
its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation,
disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor
Trustee and their agents for, and hold them harmless against any and all losses,
liabilities, damages, claims or expenses including reasonable attorneys' fees
and expenses and taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined
by the income of the Trustee) incurred by it arising out of or in connection
with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture,
including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company
(including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether
asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in
connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense shall have
been caused by its own negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the
Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the
Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its
obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall
cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company
shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not
pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
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The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal
of the Trustee.
To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the
Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or
collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and
interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event
of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) hereof occurs, the expenses and
the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents
and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
Bankruptcy Law.
The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA ss. 313(b)(2) to
the extent applicable.
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee. A resignation or removal of
the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only
upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of appointment as provided in this
Section.
The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from
the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority
in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so
notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the
Trustee if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order
for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its
property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a
successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the
retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the expense of
the Company), 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.
If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who
has been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with
Section 7.10, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor
Trustee.
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A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the
successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee
under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its
succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer
all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums
owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided
for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant
to this Section 7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall
continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. If the Trustee
consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of
its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation
without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. There shall at all
times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject
to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a
combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most
recent published annual report of condition.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the
requirements of TIA ss. 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA
ss. 310(b).
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The
Trustee is subject to TIA ss. 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed
in TIA ss. 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject
to TIA ss. 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE VIII
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 Eight.
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company's
exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section
8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth
in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations
with respect to all outstanding Notes on the date the conditions set forth below
are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal
Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged
the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall
thereafter be deemed to be "outstanding" only for the purposes of Section 8.05
hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b)
below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this
Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the
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Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for
the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or
discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive
solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully
set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium on,
if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Company's
obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof,
(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder
and the Company's obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article
Eight. Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the Company may exercise
its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its
option under Section 8.03 hereof.
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company's exercise under
Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company
shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04
hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in
Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17 and 4.18
hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the
conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant
Defeasance"), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not "outstanding" for the
purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and
the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall
continue to be deemed "outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder (it being
understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting
purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the
outstanding Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no
liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such
covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere
herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant
to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to
comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01
hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such
Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company's exercise
under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof,
subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof,
Sections 6.01(d) through 6.01(f) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The
following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or
8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust,
for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable
Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants, to pay the principal of, premium on, 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;
(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United
States reasonably acceptable to the
65
Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been
published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of
this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax
law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of
Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not
recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of
such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United
States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the
outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default
resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) or insofar
as Sections 6.01(g) or 6.01(h) hereof is concerned, at any time in the period
ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;
(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in
a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement
or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries is bound;
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of
Counsel (which may be subject to customary exceptions) to the effect that on the
91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the
effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent
of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the
intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of
the Company; and
(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant
Defeasance have been complied with.
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held
in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all
money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof)
deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for
purposes of this Section 8.05, the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in
respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the
Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to
the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company
acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such
Notes of all sums due and to become due
66
thereon in respect of principal, premium on , if any, and interest, but such
money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by
law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee
or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable
Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal
and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other
charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the written
request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by
it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written
certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion
delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof
that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal
Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section 8.06. Repayment to Company. Any money deposited with the
Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the
payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on any Note and
remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or
interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its written
request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust;
and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as a secured creditor, look only
to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such
paying agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company
as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee
or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at
the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and
The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains
unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than
30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance
of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
Section 8.07. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or paying agent is
unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable Government Securities
in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of
any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining,
restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company's
obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated
as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until
such time as the Trustee or paying agent is permitted to apply all such money in
accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided,
however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium on, if
any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the
Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to
receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or paying agent.
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ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes. Notwithstanding
Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may amend or
supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a
Note:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place
of certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article 2 hereof (including
the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect
any Holder;
(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to
the Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Company pursuant to Article 5
hereof;
(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal
rights hereunder of any Holder of the Note;
(e) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or
maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its
Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section
7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any
amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this
Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that
may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into
such amended or supplemental Indenture that adversely affects its own rights,
duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes.
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the
Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including Sections 3.09, 4.10
and 4.15 hereof) and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent
of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection
with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and,
subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of
Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment
default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance
with any provision of this Indenture 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 2.10
hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be "outstanding" for
purposes of this Section 9.02.
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Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its
Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the
Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by
the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall
join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture
unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly adversely affects the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in
which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to,
enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes
under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment
or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance
thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes
effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a
notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of
the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in
any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a
single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with
any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of
each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not
(with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent
to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note
or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the
Notes except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15
hereof;
(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest,
including default interest, on any Note;
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal
of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of
acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment
default that resulted from such acceleration);
(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the
Notes;
(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to
waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments
of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;
(g) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than
a payment required by Sections 3.09, 4.10 or 4.15 hereof); or
69
(h) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in the
foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment
or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in a amended or
supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment,
supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is
a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a
Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting
Holder's Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However,
any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent
as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the
date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment,
supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and
thereafter binds every Holder.
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes. The Trustee may
place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any
Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue
and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new
Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall
not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. The Trustee shall
sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized pursuant to this Article
Nine if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights,
duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an
amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board of Directors approves it. In
executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled
to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in
relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 10.04 hereof, an
Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of
such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this
Indenture.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of
this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA ss.
318(c), the imposed duties shall control.
Section 10.02. Notices. Any notice or communication by the Company
or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person
or mailed by first class mail.
If to the Company:
Six Flags, Inc.
70
122 East 42nd Street
New York, New York 10168
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile number: (212) 949-6203
Telephone number: (212) 599-4690
With a copy to:
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153
Attention: David Lefkowitz, Esq.
Facsimile number: (212) 310-8007
If to the Trustee:
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street, Floor 21W
New York, New York 10286
Facsimile number: (212) 815-5915
Attention: Corporate Trust Trustee Administration
The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders)
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when received.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first
class mail to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any
notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA
ss. 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or
communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency
with respect to other Holders.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall
mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 10.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders
of Notes. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA ss. 312(b) with other Holders
with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the
Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA ss.
312(c).
Section 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action
under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 10.05 hereof) stating that, in the
71
opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided
for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 10.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such
conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
Section 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate
provided pursuant to TIA ss. 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA
ss. 314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion
has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express
an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
satisfied; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person,
such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
Section 10.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make
reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or
Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its
functions.
Section 10.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers,
Employees and Stockholders. No past, present or future director, officer,
employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company, as such, shall have any
liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or this Indenture
or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or
their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of
the Notes.
Section 10.08. Governing Law. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES 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 10.09. 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.
72
Section 10.10. Successors. All agreements of the Company in this
Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee
in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
Section 10.11. Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture
or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.12. Counterpart Originals. The parties may sign any
number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but
all of them together represent the same agreement.
Section 10.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc. The Table of
Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of
this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to
be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict
any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[Signatures on following page]
73
SIGNATURES
Dated as of February 2, 2001
SIX FLAGS, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
74
EXHIBIT A
CUSIP
[Face of Note]
9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009
No. 001 Principal Amount $
SIX FLAGS, INC.
promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of
_____________________ DOLLARS ($____________________) on February 1, 2009.
Interest Payment Dates: February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2001
Record Dates: January 15 and July 15
Dated: February 2, 2001
SIX FLAGS, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: James F. Dannhauser
Title: Chief Financial Officer
This is one of the Global Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee
By: ______________________________
Authorized Signatory
[Back of Note]
9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN
DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE
DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY ANY SUCH NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR NOMINEE OF A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY, OR ANY
NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT
NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO., OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH
SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE, AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE
LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE
INDENTURE.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS
AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE
ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE
TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT), OR ANY STATE OR OTHER SECURITIES
LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE
REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE
DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE TRANSACTION IS
EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES
ACT. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A)
IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN
AN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S, (2) AGREES THAT
IT WILL NOT PRIOR TO (X) THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF
TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144(K) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR
PROVISION THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF
ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS SECURITY) AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE
REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAWS (THE "RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE"), OFFER,
SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO SIX FLAGS, INC., (B)
PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS
2
THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT
REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT
OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS
BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO
NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE
EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3)
AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A
NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED THAT SIX FLAGS, INC.
AND THE TRUSTEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER
(I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF
COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND
(II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATION OR TRANSFER
IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND
DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE
REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. AS USED
HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION", "UNITED STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE
THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
3
9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to
them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Interest. Six Flags, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 9
1/2% per annum from February 2, 2001 until maturity. The Company will pay
interest semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each such 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 August 1, 2001. The Company shall pay
interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on
demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it
shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (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
comprised of twelve 30-day months.
2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes
(except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes
at the close of business on the January 15 or July 15 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 2.14
of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable
as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the
Company maintained for such purpose within or without The City and State of New
York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check
mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders,
and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will
be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium on, the Global
Note and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer
instructions to the Company or the paying agent on or prior to the applicable
record date. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States
of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, The Bank of New York, the
Trustee under the Indenture, will act as paying agent and registrar. The Company
may change any paying agent or registrar without notice to any Holder. The
Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.
4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated
as of February 2, 2001 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and the Trustee.
The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part
of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15
U.S. Code ss.ss. 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and
Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement
1
of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the
express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall
govern and be controlling. The Notes are obligations of the Company initially in
the aggregate principal amount of $375.0 million. Subject to compliance with
Section 2.01 of the Indenture, the Company is permitted to issue Additional
Notes under the Indenture in an unlimited principal amount. Any such Additional
Notes that are actually issued will be treated as issued and outstanding Notes
(and as the same class as the initial Notes) for all purposes of the Indenture,
unless the context clearly indicated otherwise.
5. Optional Redemption. (a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b)
of this Paragraph 5, the Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes
prior to February 1, 2005. On or after February 1, 2005, the Company shall have
the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor
more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of
principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to
the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period
beginning on February 1 of the years indicated below:
Year Percentage
2005 104.750%
2006 103.167%
2007 101.583%
2008 and thereafter 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph 5, at any time prior to February 1, 2004, the Company may on any one
or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
(which includes Additional Notes, if any) originally issued under the Indenture
at a redemption price of 109.5% of the principal amount thereof on the
redemption date with the net cash proceeds of one or more Public Equity
Offerings and/or the net cash proceeds of a Strategic Equity Investment;
provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes (which
includes Additional Notes, if any) originally issued remains outstanding
immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (excluding Notes held
by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and provided further, that any such
redemption shall occur within 60 days of the date of the closing of each such
Public Equity Offering and/or Strategic Equity Investment.
6. Mandatory Redemption. Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below,
the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund
payments with respect to the Notes.
7. Repurchase at Option of Holder. (a) If there is a Change of
Control, the Company shall be required to make an offer (a "Change of Control
Offer") to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple
thereof) of each Holder's Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the
aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if
any, to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 30 days
following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder
setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required
by the Indenture.
2
(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset
Sales, when the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million, the
Company shall commence an offer to all Holders of Notes (as "Asset Sale Offer")
pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal
amount of Notes and such other Indebtedness of the Company that is pari passu
with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture
with respect to offers to purchase or redemptions with the proceeds of sales of
assets, 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 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 and other indebtedness tendered
pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company
(or such Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for any purpose not otherwise
prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate amount of Notes and other
indebtedness surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess
Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata
basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will
receive an 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 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 voting as a single class, and any existing default or compliance with any
provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the
3
Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity,
defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or
in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company's
obligations to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation 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 SEC in order to effect or
maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
12. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (i) default
for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes; (ii) default in
payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when the same
becomes due and payable, upon redemption (including in connection with an offer
to purchase) or otherwise, (iii) failure by the Company to comply for (A) a
period of 30 days with any of the provisions of Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the
Indenture or (B) 30 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding voting as a single class with any other provisions of Article 4 or
Section 5.01 of the Indenture (in each case, other than a failure to purchase
Notes); (iv) failure by the Company for 60 days after notice to the Company by
the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding voting as a single class to comply with certain other agreements in
the Indenture or the Notes; (v) failure to pay Indebtedness within any
applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of such
Indebtedness because of a default where the total amount of such Indebtedness
unpaid or accelerated at any time exceed $10.0 million; (vi) certain final
judgments for the payment of money that remain undischarged for a period of 60
days provided that the aggregate of all such undischarged judgments exceeds
$10.0 million and (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency 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 immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an
Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all
outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice.
Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the
Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of
any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of
any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default
relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that
withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on
behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of
Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or
Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes.
The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding
compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required upon becoming aware
of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement
specifying such Default or Event of Default.
13. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or
any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform
services for the Company or its
4
Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it
were not the Trustee.
14. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or
for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or
their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance
of the Notes.
15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated
by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name
of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN NET (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).
17. 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. Requests may be made to:
Six Flags, Inc.
122 East 42nd Street
49th Floor
New York, New York 10168
Attention: General Counsel
5
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer
this Note to
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Insert assignee's soc. 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)
6
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:
[_] Section 4.10 [_] Section 4.15
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the
Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the
amount you elect to have purchased:
$___________
Date: ________________
Your Signature: _________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of
this Note)
Signature Guarantee.
(Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guarantee Medallion Program)
7
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE(1)
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an
interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part
of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note,
have been made:
Principal
Amount of Amount of Amount
decrease in increase of this Global Signature of
Principal in Principal Note authorized
Amount Amount following such officer
of this Global of this Global decrease (or of Trustee or
Date of Exchange Note Note increase) Note Custodian
- ---------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- --------------
- ---------------------------------------------
(1) Insert this table only in a Global Note.
8
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Six Flags, Inc.
122 East 42nd Street
49th Floor
New York, New York 10168
[Registrar address block]
Re: 9 1/2% Senior Notes Due 2009
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of February 2,
2001 (the "Indenture"), between Six Flags, Inc., as issuer (the "Company"), and
The Bank of New York, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
______________, (the "Transferor") owns and proposes to transfer the
Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the
principal amount of $___________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Transfer"),
to __________ (the "Transferee"), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In
connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
1. [_] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE
144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is
being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and
accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial
interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor
reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or
Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to
which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each
such account is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule
144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is
in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the
United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note
will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private
Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and
in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2. [_] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE
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
B-1
that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no
directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of
Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act (iii) the
transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being
made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being
made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than
an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or
Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in
the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note, the
Temporary Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the
Indenture and the Securities Act.
3. [_] Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.
(a) [_] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer
is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the
Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the
Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United
States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the
Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with
the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or
Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer
enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global
Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(b) [_] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule
904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions
contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any
state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in
the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to
maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed
Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred
beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the
restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on
the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the
Indenture.
(c) [_] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule
903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in
the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the
United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture
and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial
interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer
enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global
Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
B-2
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for
your benefit and the benefit of the Company.
--------------------------------------
[Insert Name of Transferor]
By: _________________________________
Name:
Title:
Dated: _________, ____
B-3
ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
4. 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
(b) [_] a Restricted Definitive Note.
5. 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) [_] Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP ________); or
(b) [_] a Restricted Definitive Note; or
(c) [_] an Unrestricted Definitive Note,
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
B-4
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Six Flags, Inc.
122 East 42nd Street
49th Floor
New York, New York 10168
[Registrar address block]*
Re: 9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009
(CUSIP______________)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of February 2,
2001 (the "Indenture"), between Six Flags, Inc., as issuer (the "Company"), and
The Bank of New York, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
____________, (the "Owner") owns and proposes to exchange the
Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of
$____________ in such Note[s] or interests (the "Exchange"). In connection with
the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE
(d) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A
RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In
connection with the Exchange of the Owner's beneficial interest in a Restricted
Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal
principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is
being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange
has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the
Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), (iii) the restrictions on
transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not
required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the
beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in
compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the
United States.
(e) [_] 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
D-1
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.
(f) [_] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO
BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the
Owner's Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an
Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest
is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such
Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions
applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with
the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the
Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain
compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being
acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state
of the United States.
(g) [_] 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
(h) [_] 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.
(i) [_] 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, 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
D-2
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: _________, ____
D-3