- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Musicland Group, Inc. and Musicland Stores Corporation -------------------------------------- $150,000,000 9_% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2008 -------------------------------------- ------------------- INDENTURE DATED AS OF APRIL 6, 1998 ------------------- BANK ONE, NA Trustee - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ---- ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE SECTION 1.01. DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 SECTION 1.02. OTHER DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 SECTION 1.03. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT . . . . . . . . 20 SECTION 1.04. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES SECTION 2.01. FORM AND DATING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 SECTION 2.02. EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 SECTION 2.03. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 SECTION 2.04. PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 SECTION 2.05. HOLDER LISTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 SECTION 2.06. TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 SECTION 2.07. REPLACEMENT NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 SECTION 2.08. OUTSTANDING NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 SECTION 2.09. TREASURY NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 SECTION 2.10. TEMPORARY NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 SECTION 2.11. CANCELLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 SECTION 2.12. DEFAULTED INTEREST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 SECTION 2.13. RECORD DATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 SECTION 2.14. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 SECTION 2.15. CUSIP NUMBER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT SECTION 3.01. NOTICES TO TRUSTEE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 SECTION 3.02. SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 SECTION 3.03. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 SECTION 3.04. EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 SECTION 3.05. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION OR PURCHASE PRICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 SECTION 3.06. NOTES REDEEMED IN PART. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 SECTION 3.07. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 SECTION 3.08. MANDATORY REDEMPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 SECTION 3.09. REPURCHASE OFFERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS i SECTION 4.01. PAYMENT OF NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 SECTION 4.02. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 SECTION 4.03. COMMISSION REPORTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 SECTION 4.04. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 SECTION 4.05. TAXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 SECTION 4.06. STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 SECTION 4.07. RESTRICTED PAYMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 SECTION 4.08. DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 SECTION 4.09. INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 SECTION 4.10. ASSET SALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 SECTION 4.11. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 SECTION 4.12. LIENS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 SECTION 4.13. SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 SECTION 4.14. OFFER TO PURCHASE UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL. . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 SECTION 4.15. CORPORATE EXISTENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 SECTION 4.16. LIMITATION ON ISSUANCES OF CAPITAL STOCK OF WHOLLY OWNED RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 SECTION 4.17. LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCES OF GUARANTEES OF INDEBTEDNESS. . . . . . 60 SECTION 4.18. BUSINESS ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 SECTION 4.19. PAYMENT FOR CONSENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 SECTION 4.20. ANTI-LAYERING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 SECTION 4.21. RESTRICTIVE COVENANT OF MSC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS SECTION 5.01. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF ASSETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 SECTION 5.02. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES SECTION 6.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 SECTION 6.02. ACCELERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 SECTION 6.03. OTHER REMEDIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 SECTION 6.04. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 SECTION 6.05. CONTROL BY MAJORITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 SECTION 6.06. LIMITATION ON SUITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 SECTION 6.07. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF NOTES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT . . . . . . . . . . 68 SECTION 6.08. COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 SECTION 6.09. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 ii SECTION 6.10. PRIORITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 SECTION 6.11. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE SECTION 7.01. DUTIES OF TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 SECTION 7.02. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 SECTION 7.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 SECTION 7.04. TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 SECTION 7.05. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 SECTION 7.06. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . 73 SECTION 7.07. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 SECTION 7.08. REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 SECTION 7.09. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 SECTION 7.10. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 SECTION 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY . . . . . . 76 ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE SECTION 8.01. OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE. . . . . 76 SECTION 8.02. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 SECTION 8.03. COVENANT DEFEASANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 SECTION 8.04. CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . 77 SECTION 8.05. DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 SECTION 8.06. REPAYMENT TO THE COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 SECTION 8.07. REINSTATEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER SECTION 9.01. WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF THE NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 SECTION 9.02. WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 SECTION 9.03. COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 SECTION 9.04. REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 SECTION 9.05. NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 SECTION 9.06. TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 ARTICLE 10 SUBORDINATION SECTION 10.01. AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 iii SECTION 10.02. LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 SECTION 10.03. DEFAULT ON DESIGNATED SENIOR DEBT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 SECTION 10.04. ACCELERATION OF NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 SECTION 10.05. WHEN DISTRIBUTION MUST BE PAID OVER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 SECTION 10.06. NOTICE BY THE COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 SECTION 10.07. SUBROGATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 SECTION 10.08. RELATIVE RIGHTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 SECTION 10.09. SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED BY THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . 88 SECTION 10.10. DISTRIBUTION OR NOTICE TO REPRESENTATIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 SECTION 10.11. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 SECTION 10.12. AUTHORIZATION TO EFFECT SUBORDINATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 SECTION 10.13. AMENDMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 ARTICLE 11 GUARANTEE OF NOTES SECTION 11.01. NOTE GUARANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 SECTION 11.02. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF NOTE GUARANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 SECTION 11.03. LIMITATION ON GUARANTOR LIABILITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 SECTION 11.04. "TRUSTEE" TO INCLUDE PAYING AGENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 ARTICLE 12 SUBORDINATION OF NOTE GUARANTEE SECTION 12.01. AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 SECTION 12.02. LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 SECTION 12.03. DEFAULT ON DESIGNATED GUARANTOR SENIOR DEBT. . . . . . . . . . . 94 SECTION 12.04. ACCELERATION OF NOTE GUARANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 SECTION 12.05. WHEN DISTRIBUTION MUST BE PAID OVER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 SECTION 12.06. NOTICE BY GUARANTOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 SECTION 12.07. SUBROGATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 SECTION 12.08. RELATIVE RIGHTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 SECTION 12.09. SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED BY GUARANTOR . . . . . . . . . 96 SECTION 12.10. DISTRIBUTION OR NOTICE TO REPRESENTATIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 SECTION 12.11. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 SECTION 12.12. AUTHORIZATION TO EFFECT SUBORDINATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 SECTION 12.13. AMENDMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 ARTICLE 13 MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 13.01. TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 SECTION 13.02. NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 SECTION 13.03. COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF NOTES WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 iv SECTION 13.04. CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT . . . . . . .101 SECTION 13.05. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION. . . . . . . . . .102 SECTION 13.06. RULES BY TRUSTEE AND AGENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 SECTION 13.07. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 SECTION 13.08. GOVERNING LAW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 SECTION 13.09. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS. . . . . . . . . .103 SECTION 13.10. SUCCESSORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 SECTION 13.11. SEVERABILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 SECTION 13.12. COUNTERPART ORIGINALS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 SECTION 13.13. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 v PAGE EXHIBITS Exhibit A FORM OF NOTE Exhibit B FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFEROR Exhibit C FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR Exhibit D FORM OF NOTE GUARANTEE vi Indenture, dated as of April 6, 1998 among The Musicland Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), Musicland Stores Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "GUARANTOR" or "MSC") and Bank One, NA, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). The Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Company's 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES") and the new 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "NEW SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES" and, together with the Senior Subordinated Notes, the "NOTES"): ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE SECTION 1.1. DEFINITIONS. "ACQUIRED DEBT" means, with respect to any specified Person, (i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, including, without limitation, Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person. "AFFILIATE" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "CONTROL" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "CONTROLLING," "CONTROLLED BY" and "UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH"), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; PROVIDED that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a Person shall be deemed to be control. "AGENT" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar. "APPLICABLE PROCEDURES" means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer and exchange. 1 "ASSET SALE" means (i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights (including, without limitation, by way of a sale and leaseback) other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices (PROVIDED that the sale, lease, 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 4.14 and/or Article 5 hereof and not by the provisions of 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 $2.0 million or (b) for net proceeds in excess of $2.0 million. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following will not be deemed to be Asset Sales: (i) a transfer of assets by the Company to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or by a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, and (iii) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by Section 4.07 hereof. "ATTRIBUTABLE DEBT" in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP) of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended). "BANKRUPTCY LAW" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors. "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means the board of directors of the Company or any authorized committee of such board of directors. "BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Legal Holiday. "CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATION" means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP. "CAPITAL STOCK" means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited) and (iv) any other interest or 2 participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person. "CASH EQUIVALENTS" means (i) United States dollars, (ii) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition, (iii) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers' acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500 million, (iv) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iii) above, (v) commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Ratings Group and in each case maturing within six months after the date of acquisition and (vi) any fund investing exclusively in investments of the types described in clauses (i) through (v) above. "CASH FLOW COVERAGE RATIO" means, for any given period and person, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Cash Flow divided by (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense (except dividends paid or payable in additional shares of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock)) in each case, without duplication; provided, however, that if an acquisition or sale of a person, business or asset or the issuance or repayment of Indebtedness occurred during the given period or subsequent to such period on or prior to the date of calculation, then such calculation for such period shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis. "CEDEL" means Cedel Bank, societe anonyme. "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 MSC taken as a whole to any "PERSON" (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Principals or their Related Parties (as defined below), (ii) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of MSC, (iii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any "PERSON" (as defined above), other than the Principals and their Related Parties, becomes the "BENEFICIAL OWNER" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have "BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP" of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of 3 the Voting Stock of MSC (measured by voting power rather than number of shares), (iv) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of MSC are not Continuing Directors or (v) MSC consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person or sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, MSC, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of MSC is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the Voting Stock of MSC outstanding immediately prior to such transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the surviving or transferee Person constituting a majority of the outstanding shares of such Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person (immediately after giving effect to such issuance). "COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission. "COMPANY" means The Musicland Group, Inc. "CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW" means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus (i) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized in connection with an Asset Sale (to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income), plus (ii) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (iii) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (iv) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its 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 (v) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period; provided, however, that if an acquisition or sale of a person, business or asset or the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness occurred during the given period or subsequent to such period and on or prior to the date of calculation, then such calculation shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for taxes on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash charges of, a Subsidiary of the referent Person shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow only to the extent that a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be 4 dividended to the Company by such Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders. "CONSOLIDATED INTEREST EXPENSE" means, for any given period and Person, the aggregate of (i) the interest expense in respect of all Indebtedness of such person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP (including, without duplication, amortization of original issue discount on any such Indebtedness, all non-cash interest payments, the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation, the interest component of Capital Lease Obligations, and amortization of deferred financing fees) and (ii) the product of (a) all cash dividend payments (and, in the case of a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary, dividends paid or payable in additional shares of Disqualified Stock) on any series of preferred stock of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries payable to a party other than the Company or a wholly owned Subsidiary, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that for the purpose of the Cash Flow Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis. "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, 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 distributions paid in cash to the referent Person or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary thereof, (ii) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders, (iii) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition shall be excluded, (iv) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded and (v) the Net Income of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be excluded, whether or not distributed to the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries for purposes of Section 4.09 hereof. 5 "CONTINUING DIRECTORS" means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of MSC who (i) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of the original issuance of the Senior Subordinated Notes, or (ii) was nominated for election to such Board of Directors with the approval of, or whose election to the Board of Directors of MSC was ratified by, at least a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election. "CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE OF THE TRUSTEE" shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 13.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company. "CREDIT AGENT" means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, in its capacity as Agent for the lenders party to the Credit Facility or any successor thereto or any person otherwise appointed. "CREDIT FACILITY" means (i) the Credit Agreement dated October 7, 1994 among the Company, MSC, the various lenders party thereto from time to time and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Agent, as amended by an Amendment No. 1 dated as of February 24, 1995, an Amendment No. 2 dated as of April 9, 1996, an Amendment No. 3 dated as of October 18, 1996, an Amendment No. 4 dated as of June 16, 1997 and an Amendment No. 5 effective as of the closing of the Offering, together with the related documents thereto (including any guarantee agreement and securing documents), and (ii) the Term Loan Agreement dated as of June 16, 1997 among the Company, MSC, various financial institutions and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as agent, together with the related documents thereto (including any guarantee agreement and securing documents), in each case, as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced (including with other lenders) from time to time and including any agreement extending the maturity of, refinancing, modifying, increasing, substituting for or otherwise restructuring (including, but not limited to, the inclusion of additional or different or substitute lenders or bank agents thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness, including changing the borrowing limits, under such agreement or any successor or replacement agreement, regardless of whether the Credit Facility or any portion thereof was outstanding or in effect at the time of such replacement, refinancing, increase, substitution, extension, restructuring, supplement or modification. "DEFAULT" means any event that is or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be an Event of Default. "DEFINITIVE NOTES" means Notes that are in the form of EXHIBIT A-1 attached hereto (but without including the text referred to in footnotes 1 and 3 thereto). 6 "DEPOSITARY" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to Section 2.06 of this Indenture, and, thereafter, "DEPOSITARY" shall mean or include such successor. "DESIGNATED GUARANTOR SENIOR DEBT" means (i) any Indebtedness of the Guarantor outstanding under the Credit Facility, including any Guarantee thereof, and (ii) any other Guarantor Senior Debt permitted under the Indenture the principal amount of which is $25.0 million or more and that has been designated by the Guarantor as "DESIGNATED GUARANTOR SENIOR DEBT". "DESIGNATED SENIOR DEBT" means (i) any Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facility and (ii) any other Senior Debt permitted under the Indenture the principal amount of which is $25.0 million or more and that has been designated by the Company as "DESIGNATED SENIOR DEBT". "DISQUALIFIED STOCK" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any Capital Stock that would not qualify as Disqualified Stock but for change of control provisions shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the provisions are not more favorable to the holders of such Capital Stock than the provisions described under Section 4.14 hereof. "DLJ" means Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation. "EQUITY INTERESTS" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock). "EUROCLEAR" means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the Brussels office, as operator of the Euroclear system. "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "EXCHANGE OFFER" means the offer by the Company to Holders to exchange Senior Subordinated Notes for New Senior Subordinated Notes. "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. 7 "EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS" means Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Facility) in existence on the date of the Indenture, until such amounts are repaid. "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or in such other statements by such other entity as may be in general use by significant segments of the accounting profession, which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided, all calculations made for purposes of determining compliance with the terms of the covenants set forth in Articles 4 and 5 and other provisions of the Indenture shall utilize GAAP in effect at the date of the Indenture. "GLOBAL NOTES" means the Rule 144A Global Notes, the Regulation S Temporary Global Notes and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes. "GOVERNMENT SECURITIES" means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged. "GUARANTEE" means 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, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness. "GUARANTOR SENIOR DEBT" means (i) all Indebtedness of the Guarantor outstanding under the Credit Facility, including any Guarantee thereof and all Hedging Obligations with respect thereto, (ii) any other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Guarantor under the terms of the Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the Note Guarantee, (iii) all Obligations with respect to the foregoing, and (iv) all interest with respect to the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) accruing during the pendency of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable thereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Guarantor Senior Debt will not include (w) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Guarantor, (x) any Indebtedness of the Guarantor to any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, (y) any trade payables or liability to trade creditors or obligations with respect to consigned inventory arising in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities) or (z) any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the Indenture. 8 "HEDGING OBLIGATIONS" means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates or currency 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 or representing any Hedging Obligations, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable or obligations with respect to consigned inventory, if and to the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, 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 that does not require current payments of interest, and (ii) the principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness. "INDENTURE" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time. "INDIRECT PARTICIPANT" means a Person who holds an interest through a Participant. "INITIAL PURCHASERS" means Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated and NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC. "INSOLVENCY OR LIQUIDATION PROCEEDING" means (i) any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding, relative to the Company or to the creditors of the Company, as such, or to the assets of the Company, or (ii) any liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary and involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (iii) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company. 9 "INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR" means an "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act. "INVESTMENTS" means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of direct or indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company 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 Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of the covenant described under Section 4.07 hereof. "LEGAL HOLIDAY" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York, the city in which the principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located 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 shall be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. "LIEN" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction). "LIQUIDATED DAMAGES" means all liquidated damages then owing pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement. "NET INCOME" means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (i) any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with (a) any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions) or (b) the disposition of 10 any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but not loss). "NET PROCEEDS" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP. "NEW SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES" means the Company's 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008, which will be issued in exchange for the Company's Senior Subordinated Notes. "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 (other than Holders of the Notes being offered hereby and lenders under the Credit Facility) 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. "NOTE CUSTODIAN" means the Trustee, when serving as custodian for the Depositary with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto. "NOTE GUARANTEE" means any guarantee of the Guarantor under Article 11 and any guarantee of the Guarantor endorsed on a Note authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture. 11 "OBLIGATIONS" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness. "OFFERING" means the offer and sale of the Senior Subordinated Notes as contemplated by the Offering Memorandum. "OFFERING MEMORANDUM" means the Offering Memorandum, dated April 1, 1998, relating to the Company's offering and placement of the Senior Subordinated Notes. "OFFICER" means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person. "OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof. "OPINION OF COUNSEL" means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee. "PARTICIPANT" means, with respect to DTC, Euroclear or Cedel, a Person who has an account with DTC, Euroclear or Cedel, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Cedel). "PAYMENT IN FULL" (together with any correlative phrases E.G. "PAID IN FULL" and "PAY IN FULL") means (i) with respect to any Senior Debt other than Senior Debt under or in respect of the Credit Facility, payment in full thereof or due provision for payment thereof (x) in accordance with the terms of the agreement or instrument pursuant to which such Senior Debt was issued or is governed or (y) otherwise to the reasonable satisfaction of the holders of such Senior Debt, which shall include, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, approval by such holders individually or as a class, of the provision for payment thereof, and (ii) with respect to Senior Debt under or in respect of the Credit Facility, payment in full thereof in cash or Cash Equivalents. "PERMITTED BUSINESS" means any of the businesses and any other businesses related to the businesses engaged in by the Company and its respective Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of the Indenture. 12 "PERMITTED INVESTMENTS" means (a) any Investment in the Company or in a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is engaged in a Permitted Business; (b) any Investment in Cash Equivalents; (c) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment (i) such Person becomes a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is engaged in a Permitted Business or (ii) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is engaged in a Permitted Business; (d) any Restricted Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 hereof; (e) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or MSC; (f) stock, obligations or securities received in satisfaction of judgement and (g) Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business and otherwise permitted under the Indenture. "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; 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 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 Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded or by the Company. "PERSON" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity. 13 "PRINCIPALS" means Messrs. Eugster, Benson, Wachsman and Ross. "PRIVATE PLACEMENT LEGEND" means the legend initially set forth on the Senior Subordinated Notes in the form set forth in Section 2.06(g) hereof. "PRO FORMA BASIS" means, for purposes of determining Consolidated Net Income in connection with the Cash Flow Coverage Ratio (including in connection with the covenants described under Section 4.07 and Article 5 and the incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to the first sentence of the covenant described under Section 4.09), giving pro forma effect to (x) any acquisition, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or sale of a person, business or asset, related incurrence, repayment or financing of Indebtedness or other related transactions, including any Restructuring Charges which would otherwise be accounted for as an adjustment permitted by Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or on a pro forma basis under GAAP, or (y) any incurrence, repayment or refinancing of any Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds therefrom; in each case, which occurred during the relevant period or subsequent to such period and on or prior to the date of calculation, as if such acquisition or sale and related transactions and any Restructuring Charges, incurrence, repayment or refinancing were realized on the first day of the relevant period permitted by Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or on a pro forma basis under GAAP. For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an acquisition of a person, business or asset, the amount of income or earnings relating thereto, and the amount of Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness issued in connection therewith, the pro forma calculations will be determined in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company as specified in an Officers' Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee. Furthermore, in calculating the Cash Flow Coverage Ratio, (1) interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis as of the determination date and which will continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest on such Indebtedness in effect on the determination date; (2) if interest on any Indebtedness actually incurred on the determination date may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rates, then the interest rate in effect on the determination date will be deemed to have been in effect during the relevant period; and (3) notwithstanding clause (1) above, interest on Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered by agreements relating to interest rate swaps or similar interest rate protection Hedging Obligations, shall be deemed to accrue at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the operation of such agreements. "PUBLIC EQUITY OFFERING" means a public offering of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of (i) the Company; or (ii) MSC to the extent the net proceeds thereof are contributed to the Company as a capital contribution, 14 that, in each case, results in the net proceeds to the Company of at least $25.0 million. "QIB" means a "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act. "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT" means the A/B Exchange Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Guarantor and the Initial Purchasers. "REGULATION S" means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. "REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTES" means the Regulation S Temporary Global Notes or the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes as applicable. "REGULATION S PERMANENT GLOBAL NOTES" means the permanent global notes that do not contain the paragraphs referred to in footnote 1 to the form of the Note attached hereto as Exhibit A-2, and that are deposited with and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, representing a series of Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S. "REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTES" means the temporary global notes that contain the paragraphs referred to in footnote 1 to the form of the Note attached hereto as Exhibit A-2, and that are deposited with and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, representing a series of Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S. "RELATED PARTY" with respect to any Principal means any spouse or immediate family member or any controlled Affiliate of any such Principal, any trusts for the benefit of any such Principal or such Principal's spouse or immediate family or, in the event of the incompetence or death of any such Principal, such Principal's estate, executor, administrator, committee or other personal representative, in each case who will beneficially own or have the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, Voting Stock of MSC. "REPRESENTATIVE" means the trustee, agent or representative for any Senior Debt. "RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to 15 whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "RESTRICTED BENEFICIAL INTEREST" means any beneficial interest of a Participant or Indirect Participant in the Rule 144A Global Note or the Regulation S Global Note. "RESTRICTED BROKER DEALER" has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. "RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES" means the Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes, all of which shall bear the Private Placement Legend. "RESTRICTED INVESTMENT" means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment. "RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. "RESTRUCTURING CHARGES" means any charges or expenses in respect of restructuring or consolidating any business, operations or facilities, any compensation or headcount reduction, or any other cost savings, of any persons or businesses either alone or together with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as permitted by GAAP or Regulation S-X under the Securities Act; provided that any cost savings of less than $10.0 million, shall be evidenced by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee and any cost savings of $10.0 million or more shall be evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee. "RULE 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act. "RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTES" means the permanent global notes that contain the paragraph referred to in footnote 1 and the additional schedule referred to in footnote 3 to the form of the Note attached hereto as Exhibit A-1, and that are deposited with and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, representing a series of Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A. "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. "SENIOR DEBT" means (i) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facility, including any Guarantee thereof and all Hedging Obligations with respect thereto, (ii) any other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Company under the terms of the Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, (iii) all Obligations with respect to 16 the foregoing, and (iv) all interest with respect to the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) accruing during the pendency of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable thereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior Debt will not include (w) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company, (x) any Indebtedness of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, (y) any trade payables or liability to trade creditors or obligations with respect to consigned inventory arising in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities) or (z) any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the Indenture. "SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES" means the Company's 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008. "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 hereof. "STATED MATURITY" means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof. "SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof). "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb), as amended, as in effect on the date hereof. "TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES" means Notes or beneficial interests therein that bear or are required to bear the Private Placement Legend. 17 "TRUSTEE" means Bank One, NA until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter means the successor. "UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES" means one or more Global Notes that do not and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend. "UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means any Subsidiary that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors; but only to the extent that such Subsidiary: (a) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; (b) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company; (c) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (y) to maintain or preserve such Person's financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; (d) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and (e) has at least one director on its board of directors that is not a director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and has at least one executive officer that is not a director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the 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 the 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, and (ii) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation. 18 "VOTING STOCK" of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person. "WEIGHTED AVERAGE LIFE TO MATURITY" means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness. "WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY" of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors' qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person and/or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person. "2003 INDENTURE" means the Indenture dated as of June 17, 1993, among the Company, MSC and Harris Trust Savings Bank, as Trustee, relating to the 2003 Notes, as amended from time to time. "2003 NOTES" means the 9 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2003 of the Company issued pursuant to the 2003 Indenture. SECTION 1.2. OTHER DEFINITIONS. TERM DEFINED IN SECTION Affiliate Transaction 4.11 Asset Sale Offer 4.10 Change of Control Offer 4.14 Change of Control Payment 4.14 Change of Control Payment Date 4.14 Covenant Defeasance 8.03 Custodian 6.01 DTC 2.03 Event of Default 6.01 Excess Proceeds 4.10 incur 4.09 Legal Defeasance 8.02 Offer Amount 3.09 Offer Period 3.09 19 Paying Agent 2.03 Payment Default 6.01 Permitted Indebtedness 4.09 Purchase Date 3.09 Registrar 2.03 Repurchase Offer 3.09 Restricted Payments 4.07 SECTION 1.3. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in, and made a part of, this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings: "INDENTURE SECURITIES" means the Notes; "INDENTURE SECURITY HOLDER" means a Holder of a Note; "INDENTURE TO BE QUALIFIED" means this Indenture; "INDENTURE TRUSTEE" or "INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE" means the Trustee; "OBLIGOR" on the Notes means the Company, the Guarantor 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 the Commission rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them therein. SECTION 1.4. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. Unless the context otherwise requires: (1) a term has the meaning assigned to it herein; (2) an accounting term not otherwise defined herein 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; 20 (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 or successor sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time. ARTICLE 2 The Notes SECTION 2.1. FORM AND DATING. The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 attached hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes initially shall be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. (a) GLOBAL NOTES. Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of Rule 144A Global Notes, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with a custodian of the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Rule 144A Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee as hereinafter provided. Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Cedel, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The "40-day restricted period" (as defined in Regulation S) shall be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of (i) a written certificate from the Depositary, together with copies of certificates from Euroclear 21 and Cedel certifying that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Notes (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a Rule 144A Global Note, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(a)(ii) hereof), and (ii) an Officers' Certificate from the Company certifying as to the same matters covered in clause (i) above. Following the termination of the 40-day restricted period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall be exchanged for beneficial interests in Regulation S Permanent Global Notes pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication of Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Notes. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Notes and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided. 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 amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges, redemptions and transfers of interests. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof. The provisions of the "OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE EUROCLEAR SYSTEM" and "TERMS AND CONDITIONS GOVERNING USE OF EUROCLEAR" and the "MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS" and "INSTRUCTIONS TO PARTICIPANTS" of Cedel shall be applicable to interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Notes and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Cedel. The Trustee shall have no obligation to notify Holders of any such procedures or to monitor or enforce compliance with the same. Except as set forth in Section 2.06 hereof, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or its nominee. (b) BOOK-ENTRY PROVISIONS. This Section 2.01(b) shall apply only to Rule 144A Global Notes and Regulation S Permanent Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary. 22 The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.01(b), authenticate and deliver the Global Notes that (i) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary's instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary. Participants shall have no rights either under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Note Custodian as custodian for the Depositary or under such Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Participants, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Note. (c) DEFINITIVE NOTES. Notes issued in certificated form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 attached hereto (but without including the text referred to in footnotes 1 and 3 thereto). SECTION 2.2. 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 form of Trustee's certificate of authentication to be borne by the Notes shall be substantially as set forth in Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto. The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by an Officer directing the Trustee to authenticate the Notes, authenticate Notes for original issue up to the aggregate principal amount stated in paragraph 4 of the Notes. The Trustee shall, upon written order of the Company signed by an Officer, authenticate New Senior Subordinated Notes for original issuance in exchange for a like principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes exchanged in the Exchange Offer or otherwise exchanged for New Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement. The aggregate 23 principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed such amount except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof. The Trustee may (at the Company's expense) appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company. SECTION 2.3. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT. The Company shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange ("REGISTRAR") and (ii) 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 additional paying agents. 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. The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent with respect to the Definitive Notes. SECTION 2.4. 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 shall 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 shall 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 24 Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon the occurrence of events specified in Section 6.01(vii) through (ix) hereof, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes. SECTION 2.5. HOLDER LISTS. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company and/or the Guarantor shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven (7) 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 and the Guarantor shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). SECTION 2.6. TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE. (a) TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF GLOBAL NOTES. The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture and the procedures of the Depositary therefor, which shall include restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the legend in subsection (g) of this Section 2.06. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes to Persons required to take delivery thereof in the form of an interest in another Global Note shall be permitted as follows: (i) RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE TO REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE. If, at any time, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note deposited with the Depositary (or the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary) wishes to transfer its beneficial interest in such Rule 144A Global Note to a Person who is required or permitted to take delivery thereof in the form of an interest in a Regulation S Global Note, such owner shall, subject to the Applicable Procedures, exchange or cause the exchange of such interest for an equivalent beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note as provided in this Section 2.06(a)(i). Upon receipt by the Trustee of (1) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures from a Participant directing the Trustee to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note to be exchanged, (2) a written order given in accordance with the 25 Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account of the Depositary and the Euroclear or Cedel account to be credited with such increase, and (3) a certificate in the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto given by the owner of such beneficial interest stating that the transfer of such interest has been made in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, then the Trustee, as Registrar, shall instruct the Depositary to reduce or cause to be reduced the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the applicable Rule 144A Global Note and to increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the applicable Regulation S Global Note by the principal amount at maturity of the beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note to be exchanged or transferred, to credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions, a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note equal to the reduction in the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Rule 144A Global Note, and to debit, or cause to be debited, from the account of the Person making such exchange or transfer the beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note that is being exchanged or transferred. (ii) REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE TO RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE. If, at any time, after the expiration of the 40-day restricted period, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary wishes to transfer its beneficial interest in such Regulation S Global Note to a Person who is required or permitted to take delivery thereof in the form of an interest in a Rule 144A Global Note, such owner shall, subject to the Applicable Procedures, exchange or cause the exchange of such interest for an equivalent beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note as provided in this Section 2.06(a)(ii). Upon receipt by the Trustee of (1) instructions from Euroclear or Cedel, if applicable, and the Depositary, directing the Trustee, as Registrar, to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note equal to the beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note to be exchanged, such instructions to contain information regarding the Participant account with the Depositary to be credited with such increase, (2) a written order given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depositary and (3) a certificate in the form of Exhibit B-2 attached hereto given by the owner of such beneficial interest stating (A) if the transfer is pursuant to Rule 144A, that the Person transferring such interest in a Regulation S Global Note reasonably believes that the Person acquiring such interest in a Rule 144A Global Note is a QIB and is obtaining such beneficial interest in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and any applicable 26 blue sky or securities laws of any state of the United States, (B) that the transfer complies with the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (C) if the transfer is to an Institutional Accredited Investor that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and a certificate in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto and, if such transfer is in respect of an aggregate principal amount of less than $100,000, an Opinion of Counsel acceptable to the Company that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act or (D) if the transfer is pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, that the transfer of such interest has been made in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the requirements of the exemption claimed, such statement to be supported by an Opinion of Counsel from the transferee or the transferor in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar and in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction, then the Trustee, as Registrar, shall instruct the Depositary to reduce or cause to be reduced the aggregate principal amount at maturity of such Regulation S Global Note and to increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the applicable Rule 144A Global Note by the principal amount at maturity of the beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note to be exchanged or transferred, and the Trustee, as Registrar, shall instruct the Depositary, concurrently with such reduction, to credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the applicable Rule 144A Global Note equal to the reduction in the aggregate principal amount at maturity of such Regulation S Global Note and to debit or cause to be debited from the account of the Person making such transfer the beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note that is being exchanged or transferred. (b) TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF DEFINITIVE NOTES. When Definitive Notes are presented by a Holder to the Registrar with a request to register the transfer of the Definitive Notes or to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested only if the Definitive Notes are presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, are endorsed and contain a signature guarantee or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by his attorney and contains a signature guarantee, duly authorized in writing and the Registrar received the following documentation (all of which may be submitted by facsimile): 27 (i) in the case of Definitive Notes that are Transfer Restricted Securities, such request shall be accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable: (A) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, or such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certification to that effect from such Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-3 hereto); or (B) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certification to that effect from such Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-3 hereto); or (C) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certification to that effect from such Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-3 hereto); (D) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) and (C) above, a certification to that effect from such Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-3 hereto), a certification substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, and, if such transfer is in respect of an aggregate principal amount of Notes of less than $100,000, an Opinion of Counsel acceptable to the Company that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; or (E) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred in reliance on any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, a certification to that effect from such Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-3 hereto) and an Opinion of Counsel from such Holder or the transferee reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. 28 (c) TRANSFER OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR REGULATION S PERMANENT GLOBAL NOTE FOR A DEFINITIVE NOTE. (i) Any Person having a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note may upon request, subject to the Applicable Procedures, exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note. Upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions or such other form of instructions as is customary for the Depositary (or Euroclear or Cedel, if applicable), from the Depositary or its nominee on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, and, in the case of a Transfer Restricted Security, the following additional information and documents (all of which may be submitted by facsimile): (A) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Person designated by the Depositary as being the beneficial owner, a certification to that effect from such Person (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-4 hereto); (B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certification to that effect from the transferor (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-4 hereto); (C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor, pursuant to a private placement exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and based on an opinion of counsel if the Company so requests), a certification to that effect from such Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-4 hereto) and a certificate from the applicable transferee (in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto); or (D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred in reliance on any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, a certification to that effect from the transferor (in substantially the form of Exhibit B-4 hereto) and an Opinion of Counsel from the transferee or the transferor reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, in which case the Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, shall, in accordance with the standing instructions and 29 procedures existing between the Depositary and the Note Custodian, cause the aggregate principal amount of Rule 144A Global Notes or Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, as applicable, to be reduced accordingly and, following such reduction, the Company shall execute and, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the transferee a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. (ii) Definitive Notes issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or Indirect Participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Following any such issuance of Definitive Notes, the Trustee, as Registrar, shall instruct the Depositary to reduce or cause to be reduced the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the applicable Global Note to reflect the transfer. (d) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF GLOBAL NOTES. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture (other than the provisions set forth in subsection (f) of this Section 2.06), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. (e) TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF A DEFINITIVE NOTE FOR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A GLOBAL NOTE. A definitive Note may not be transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note. (f) AUTHENTICATION OF DEFINITIVE NOTES IN ABSENCE OF DEPOSITARY. If at any time: (i) the Depositary for the Notes notifies the Company that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Notes and a successor Depositary for the Global Notes is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after delivery of such notice; or (ii) the Company, at its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes under this Indenture, then the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, authenticate and deliver, Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal 30 amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Notes in exchange for such Global Notes. (g) LEGENDS. (i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv), each Note certificate evidencing Global Notes and Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend (the "PRIVATE PLACEMENT LEGEND") in substantially the following form: "THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY, THAT (A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (1)(a) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A FOREIGN PERSON IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND, IN THE CASE OF CLAUSE (b), (c), OR (d), BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), (2) TO THE COMPANY OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND 31 EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE." (ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Global Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act: (A) in the case of any Transfer Restricted Security that is a Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a Definitive Note that does not bear the legend set forth in (i) above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security upon receipt of a certification from the transferring holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B-4 hereto; and (B) in the case of any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Global Note, such Transfer Restricted Security shall not be required to bear the legend set forth in (i) above, but shall continue to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.06(a) and (b) hereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with respect to any request for an exchange of a Transfer Restricted Security that is represented by a Global Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the legend set forth in (i) above, which request is made in reliance upon Rule 144, the Holder thereof shall certify in writing to the Registrar that such request is being made pursuant to Rule 144 (such certification to be substantially in the form of Exhibit B-4 hereto). (iii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Global Note) in reliance on any exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (other than exemptions pursuant to Rule 144A or Rule 144 under the Securities Act) in which the Holder or the transferee provides an Opinion of Counsel to the Company and the Registrar in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Registrar (which Opinion of Counsel shall also state that the transfer restrictions contained in the legend are no longer applicable): (A) in the case of any Transfer Restricted Security that is a Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a Definitive Note that does not bear the legend set forth in (i) above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security; and 32 (B) in the case of any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Global Note, such Transfer Restricted Security shall not be required to bear the legend set forth in (i) above, but shall continue to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.06(a) and (b) hereof. (iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Beneficial Interests tendered for acceptance by persons that are not (x) broker-dealers, (y) Persons participating in the distribution of the Notes or (z) Persons who are affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer and (ii) Definitive Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend 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. (h) CANCELLATION AND/OR ADJUSTMENT OF GLOBAL NOTES. At such time as all beneficial interests in Global Notes have been exchanged for Definitive Notes, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, all Global Notes shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, to reflect such reduction. (i) GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES. (1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes at the Registrar's request. 33 (2) No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp or transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such stamp or transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 4.10, 4.14 and 9.05 hereto). (3) 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. (4) The Registrar shall not be required:(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange Notes during a period beginning at the opening of fifteen (15) Business Days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part, or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date. (5) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and neither the Trustee, any Agent nor the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary. (6) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof. SECTION 2.7. REPLACEMENT NOTES. 34 If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon the written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee's requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge for their 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 2.8. OUTSTANDING NOTES. The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or the Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Company or the Guarantor holds the Note. If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser. If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue. If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, the Guarantor, 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 2.9. 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 the Guarantor, or by any Affiliate of the Company or the Guarantor shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes shown on the Trustee's register as being 35 so owned shall be so disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Notes that are to be acquired by the Company or the Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Company or the Guarantor pursuant to an exchange offer, tender offer or other agreement shall not be deemed to be owned by such entity until legal title to such Notes passes to such entity. SECTION 2.10. TEMPORARY NOTES. Until Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes upon a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer authenticate Definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture. SECTION 2.11. CANCELLATION. The Company at any time may deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and delivered hereunder or which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Notes so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. All Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation. Subject to Section 2.07 hereof, the Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has redeemed or paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. All cancelled Notes held by the Trustee shall be destroyed and certification of their destruction delivered to the Company, unless by a written order, signed by an Officer of the Company, the Company shall direct that cancelled Notes be returned to it. SECTION 2.12. DEFAULTED INTEREST. If the Company or the Guarantor 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, which date shall be at the earliest practicable date but in all events at least five (5) Business Days prior to the payment date, in 36 each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, and shall promptly thereafter, notify the Trustee of any such date. At least fifteen (15) days before the special record date, the Company (or the Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid. SECTION 2.13. RECORD DATE. The record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of the Notes entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted under this Indenture shall be determined as provided for in TIA Section 316(c). SECTION 2.14. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. SECTION 2.15. CUSIP NUMBER. The Company in issuing the Notes may use a "CUSIP" number, and if it does so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; PROVIDED that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number printed in the notice or on the Notes and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP number. ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT SECTION 3.1. NOTICES TO TRUSTEE. If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) an Officers' Certificate setting forth (i) the Section 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. 37 If the Company is required to make an offer to purchase Notes pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days before the scheduled purchase date, an Officers' Certificate setting forth (i) the section of this Indenture pursuant to which the offer to purchase shall occur, (ii) the terms of the offer, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be purchased, (iv) the purchase price, (v) the purchase date and (vi) and further setting forth a statement to the effect that (a) the Company or one its Subsidiaries has affected an Asset Sale and there are Excess Proceeds aggregating more than $5.0 million or (b) a Change of Control has occurred, as applicable. SECTION 3.2. SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, selection of Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee 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 or by lot; PROVIDED that no Notes of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. Notices of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. Notices of redemption may not be conditional. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of them called for redemption. SECTION 3.3. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. 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. The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state: (1) the redemption date; (2) the redemption price for the Notes and accrued interest, and Liquidated Damages, if any; (3) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal 38 amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon surrender of the original Note; (4) the name and address of the Paying Agent; (5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price; (6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on Notes called for redemption cease to accrue on and after the redemption date; (7) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and (8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes. At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company's name and at the Company's expense; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date (or such shorter period as shall be acceptable to the Trustee), an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in the notice as provided in the preceding paragraph. The notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note shall not affect the validity of the proceeding for the redemption of any other Note. SECTION 3.4. 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 plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to such date. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. SECTION 3.5. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION OR PURCHASE PRICE. 39 On or before 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each redemption date or the date on which Notes must be accepted for purchase pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company upon its written request any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of (including any applicable premium) and accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased. If Notes called for redemption or tendered in an Asset Sale Offer or Change of Control Offer are paid or if the Company has deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and unpaid and accrued interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased, on and after the redemption or purchase date interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or tendered and not withdrawn in an Asset Sale Offer or Change of Control Offer (regardless of whether certificates for such securities are actually surrendered). If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, 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 and Liquidated Damages, if any, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal and Liquidated Damages, if any, 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 3.6. NOTES REDEEMED IN PART. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and, upon the Company's written request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered. SECTION 3.7. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION. (a) Except as set forth in the next paragraph, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to March 15, 2003. Thereafter, the Notes will be subject to redemption at any time at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the 40 redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on March 15 of the years indicated below: YEAR PERCENTAGE 2003 104.938% 2004 103.292% 2005 101.646% 2006 and thereafter 100.000% (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to March 15, 2001, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes at a redemption price of 109.875% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of a Public Equity Offering; PROVIDED that at least 60% of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and PROVIDED, further, that such redemption shall occur within 45 days of the date of the closing of such Public Equity Offering. SECTION 3.8. MANDATORY REDEMPTION. Except as set forth under Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof, the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. SECTION 3.9. REPURCHASE OFFERS. In the event that the Company shall be required to commence an offer to all Holders to repurchase Notes (a "REPURCHASE OFFER") pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, an "ASSET SALE OFFER," or pursuant to Section 4.14 hereof, a "CHANGE OF CONTROL OFFER," the Company shall follow the procedures specified below. Within 30 days following any Change of Control or the date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5 million pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control or give rise to the Asset Sale Offer and offering to repurchase Notes as required by Section 4.10 hereof, in the case of an Asset Sale Offer, or by Section 4.14 hereof, in the case of a Change of Control Offer, on the date specified in such notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the "PURCHASE DATE"). A Repurchase Offer shall remain open for a period of twenty (20) Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the 41 extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the "OFFER PERIOD"). On the Purchase Date, the Company shall purchase the principal amount of Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, in the case of an Asset Sale Offer, or 4.14 hereof, in the case of a Change of Control Offer (the "OFFER AMOUNT") or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the Repurchase 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 and Liquidated Damages, if any, 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 or Liquidated Damages, if any, shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Repurchase Offer. Upon the commencement of a Repurchase Offer, the Company shall send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to such Repurchase Offer. The Repurchase Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Repurchase Offer, shall describe the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control or gave rise to the Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be and shall state: (a) that the Repurchase Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 or 4.14 hereof, as the case may be, and the length of time the Repurchase 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 Repurchase Offer shall cease to accrue interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, after the Purchase Date; (e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to a Repurchase Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Note, duly completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, the Depositary, or the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice not later than the close of business on the last day of the Offer Period; 42 (f) 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, 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; (g) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes to be purchased on a PRO RATA basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples thereof, shall be purchased); and (h) 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 the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, (i) accept for payment, on a PRO RATA basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Repurchase Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, (ii) deliver or cause the Paying Agent or depository, as the case may be, to deliver to the Trustee Notes so accepted and (iii) 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 two (2) Business 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, plus any accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note, to such Holder, equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of such Holder's Notes surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce in a newspaper of general circulation or in a press release provided to a nationally recognized financial wire service the results of the Repurchase 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, 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06 hereof. 43 ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS SECTION 4.1. 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. The Company shall pay all Liquidated Damages, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. Principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest, shall be considered paid for all purposes hereunder on the date the Paying Agent if other than the Company, the Guarantor or a Subsidiary thereof holds, as of 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all such principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest, then due. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful. SECTION 4.2. 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 or Registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company shall give 44 prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof. SECTION 4.3. COMMISSION REPORTS. Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company (or MSC, as the case may be) shall furnish to the Holders of Notes (i) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company (or MSC, as the case may be) were required to file such Forms, including a "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon from certified independent accountants and (ii) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company (or MSC, as the case may be) were required to file such reports. In addition, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, the Company (or MSC, as the case may be) shall file a copy of all such information and reports with the Commission for public availability (unless the Commission will not accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Company and MSC shall furnish to the Holders, and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. The Company shall at all times comply with TIA Section 314(a). The financial information to be distributed to Holders of Notes shall be filed with the Trustee and mailed to the Holders at their addresses appearing in the register of Notes maintained by the Registrar, within 15 days after the same would be required to be filed with the Commission if the Company were required to file the Forms containing such financial information. The Company shall provide the Trustee with a sufficient number of copies of all reports and other documents and information and, if requested by the Company, the Trustee will deliver such reports to the Holders under this Section 4.03. SECTION 4.4. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, no later than the date year-end financial statements are required to be filed with the Trustee and mailed to the Holders under Section 4.03 hereof, an Officers' Certificate stating that a review of 45 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 each has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture (including, with respect to any Restricted Payments made during such year, the basis upon which the calculations required by Section 4.07 hereof were computed, which calculations may be based on the Company's latest available financial statements), and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that, to the best of his or her knowledge, each entity has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that, to the best of his or her knowledge, no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest 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. So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, in connection with the year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof, the Company shall use its best efforts to deliver a written statement of the Company's independent public accountants (who shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated any provisions of Article Four or Section 5.01 hereof or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation. In the event that such written statement of the Company's independent public accountants cannot be obtained, the Company shall deliver an Officers' Certificate certifying that it has used its best efforts to obtain such statements and was unable to do so. The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers' Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. SECTION 4.5. TAXES. 46 Each of the Company and the Guarantor 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 and with respect to which appropriate reserves have been taken in accordance with GAAP. SECTION 4.6. STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS. Each of the Company and the Guarantor 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 each of the Company and the Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted. SECTION 4.7. RESTRICTED PAYMENTS. From and after the date hereof the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company's or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries' Equity Interests or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company's or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries' Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company); (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company; (iii) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is PARI PASSU with or subordinated to the Notes (other than the Notes and the 2003 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 47 incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Cash Flow Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof; and (c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Subsidiaries after the date of the Indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii) and (iii) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of (i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the first fiscal quarter commencing after the date of the Indenture to the end of the Company's most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit), plus (ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company from the issue or sale since the date of the Indenture of Equity Interests of the Company or MSC (other than Disqualified Stock) or of Disqualified Stock or debt securities of the Company or MSC that have been converted into such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or convertible debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company and other than Disqualified Stock or convertible debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock), plus (iii) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the date of the Indenture is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of (A) the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any) and (B) the initial amount of such Restricted Investment plus (iv) if any Unrestricted Subsidiary (A) is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary, the fair market value of such redesignated Subsidiary (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) as of the date of its redesignation or (B) pays any cash dividends or cash distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, 50% of any such cash dividends or cash distributions made after the date of the Indenture. The foregoing 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 the Indenture; (ii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any PARI PASSU or subordinated Indebtedness or Equity Interests of the Company or MSC in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale or issuance (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of, other Equity Interests of the Company or MSC (other than any Disqualified Stock); provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition shall be excluded from clause (c) (ii) of the preceding paragraph; (iii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of PARI PASSU or subordinated Indebtedness with the net cash proceeds from an 48 incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; (iv) the payment of any dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis; (v) any repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company or MSC from present and former employees and directors of the Company or its Subsidiaries or MSC in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5 million; (vi) Permitted Investments; or (vii) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5 million. The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such designation would not cause a Default. For purposes of making such determination, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid in cash) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments at the time of such designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of this covenant. All such outstanding Investments will be deemed to constitute Investments in an amount equal to the fair market value of such Investments at the time of such designation (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors). Such designation shall 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 non-cash Restricted Payment shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors whose resolution with respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee, such determination to be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if such fair market value exceeds $10.0 million. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by this covenant were computed, together with a copy of any fairness opinion or appraisal required by the Indenture. SECTION 4.8. DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING RESTRICTED 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 49 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, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (a) Existing Indebtedness as in effect on the date of the Indenture, (b) the Credit Facility as in effect as of the date of the Indenture, and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings thereof, provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacement or refinancings are no more restrictive in the aggregate (as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith) with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the Credit Facility as in effect on the date of the Indenture, (c) the Indenture and the Notes and the 2003 Indenture and the 2003 Notes, (d) any applicable law, rule, regulation or order, (e) 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 the Indenture to be incurred, (f) by reason of customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, (g) Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (iii) above on the property so acquired, (h) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the material restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, (i) contracts for the sale of assets, including without limitation customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary, and (j) any other agreement or instrument evidencing or relating to secured Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted to be issued pursuant to Section 4.09 and Section 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness. SECTION 4.9. INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK. 50 The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, "INCUR") any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock if the Cash Flow Coverage Ratio for the Company's most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock is issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1, determined on a Pro Forma Basis. The provisions of the first paragraph of this covenant will not apply to the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, "PERMITTED INDEBTEDNESS"): (i) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness under the Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $182.0 million outstanding at any time; (ii) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness; (iii) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness represented by the Notes; (iv) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings, purchase money obligations and Attributable Debt in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15 million in any one year; (v) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in connection with the acquisition of assets or a new Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Indebtedness was incurred by the prior owner of such assets or such Restricted Subsidiary prior to such acquisition by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; PROVIDED FURTHER that the principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of such Indebtedness, together with any other outstanding Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (v), does not exceed $5 million; 51 (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 that was permitted by the 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 Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (i) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes and (ii)(A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary and (B) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary 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; (viii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations that are incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency risk or interest rate risk with respect to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding; (ix) the guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this covenant and the guarantee by Subsidiaries of Senior Debt of the Company; (x) 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 Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; (xi) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation letters of credit in respect to workers' compensation claims or self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers' compensation claims; provided, however, that upon the drawing of such letters of credit 52 or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or incurrence; (xii) obligations in respect of performance and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; and (xiii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness, including Attributable Debt incurred after the date of the Indenture, 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 other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (xiii), not to exceed $5 million. For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (xiii) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this covenant and such item of Indebtedness will be treated as having been incurred pursuant to only one of such clauses or pursuant to the first paragraph hereof. The amount of Indebtedness issued at a price which is less than the principal amount thereof shall be equal to the amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP. Neither the accrual of interest nor the issuance of additional Indebtedness in the form of additional promissory notes or otherwise in lieu of the payment of interest nor the accretion of accreted value will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant. 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 (evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of and (ii) at least 80% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash; PROVIDED that the amount of (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 subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee thereof) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or 53 such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability and (y) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 90 days (to the extent of the cash received), shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision. Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company may apply such Net Proceeds, at its option, (a) to permanently repay Senior Debt (and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto in the case of revolving borrowings) or existing 2003 Notes, or (b) to the acquisition of a controlling interest in another business, the making of a capital expenditure or the acquisition of other long-term assets, in each case, in a Permitted Business. Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce the revolving Indebtedness under the Credit Facility 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 be deemed to constitute "EXCESS PROCEEDS." When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer to all Holders of Notes (an "ASSET SALE OFFER") to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.09 hereof. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased on a PRO RATA basis. Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. SECTION 4.11. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an "AFFILIATE TRANSACTION") unless (i) such Affiliate Transaction is entered into in good faith and 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 54 Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $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 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; PROVIDED that the following shall not be deemed Affiliate Transactions: (q) any employment agreement entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practice of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, (r) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries, (s) Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments that are permitted by the provisions of Section 4.07 hereof, (t) customary loans, advances, fees and compensation paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (u) consulting and other advisory fees paid to MSC not to exceed $250,000 in any one year, and (v) transactions pursuant to any contract or agreement in effect on the date hereof as the same may be amended, modified or replaced from time to time so long as any such amendment, modification or replacement is no less favorable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries than the contract or agreement as in effect on the date hereof or is approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company. SECTION 4.12. LIENS. The Company shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist any Lien that secures obligations under any PARI PASSU Indebtedness or subordinated Indebtedness on any asset or property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any income or profits therefrom or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, unless the Notes are equally and ratably secured with the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien; PROVIDED, that in any case involving a Lien securing subordinated Indebtedness, such Lien is subordinated to the Lien securing the Notes to the same extent that such subordinated Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes. SECTION 4.13. 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 55 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 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 applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, Section 4.10 hereof. SECTION 4.14. OFFER TO PURCHASE UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the "CHANGE OF CONTROL OFFER") at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the "CHANGE OF CONTROL PAYMENT"). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase Notes on the date specified in such notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the "CHANGE OF CONTROL PAYMENT DATE"), pursuant to the procedures required by Section 3.09 hereof and described in such notice. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent 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 56 amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. Prior to complying with the provisions of this Section 4.14, but in any event within 30 days following a Change of Control, the Company shall either repay all outstanding Indebtedness under the Credit Facility and terminate the commitments thereunder or obtain the requisite consents under the Credit Facility to permit the repurchase of Notes required by this Section 4.14. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date. The Change of Control provisions described above will be applicable whether or not any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable. Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, this Indenture does not contain provisions that permit the Holders of the Notes to require that the Company repurchase or redeem the Notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction. SECTION 4.15. CORPORATE EXISTENCE. Subject to Section 4.14 and Article 5 hereof, as the case may be, each of the Company and the Guarantor shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect 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 Guarantor, the Company or any such Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Guarantor, the Company and its Subsidiaries; PROVIDED that neither the Guarantor nor the Company shall be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of the Guarantor or any Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors of the Company or the Guarantor shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Guarantor, 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 4.16. LIMITATION ON ISSUANCES OF CAPITAL STOCK OF WHOLLY OWNED RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES. The Company (i) shall not, and shall not permit any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any Capital Stock of any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company to any Person (other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), unless (a) such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition is of all the Capital Stock of such Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary and (b) the cash Net Proceeds from such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition are applied in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof, and (ii) will not permit any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to 57 issue any of its Equity Interests (other than, if necessary, shares of its Capital Stock constituting directors' qualifying shares) to any Person other than to the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company except that a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may issue shares of common stock with no preferences or special rights or privileges and with no redemption or prepayment provisions provided the cash Net Proceeds from such issuance of such common stock are applied in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof. SECTION 4.17. LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCES OF GUARANTEES OF INDEBTEDNESS. The Company shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to Guarantee any Indebtedness of the Company which is PARI PASSU with or subordinate in right of payment to the Notes ("GUARANTEED INDEBTEDNESS"), unless (i) such Restricted Subsidiary simultaneously executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to the Indenture providing for a Guarantee (a "SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE") of payment of the Notes by such Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Subsidiary Guarantee; provided that this paragraph shall not be applicable to any Guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary. If the Guaranteed Indebtedness is (A) PARI PASSU with the Notes, then the Guarantee of such Guaranteed Indebtedness shall be PARI PASSU with, or subordinated to, the Subsidiary Guarantee or (B) subordinated to the Notes, then the Guarantee of such Guaranteed Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Subsidiary Guarantee at least to the extent that the Guaranteed Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such Subsidiary Guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary may provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon (i) any sale, exchange or transfer, to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company, of all of the Company's and each Restricted Subsidiary's Capital Stock in, or all or substantially all the assets of, such Restricted Subsidiary (which sale, exchange or transfer is not prohibited by the Indenture) or (ii) the release or discharge of the Guarantee which resulted in the creation of such Subsidiary Guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such Guarantee. SECTION 4.18. BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such extent as 58 would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole. SECTION 4.19. PAYMENT FOR CONSENTS. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder of any Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions hereof 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 4.20. ANTI-LAYERING. The Company shall not, and the Company will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is both (a) subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Debt and (b) senior in any respect in right of payment to the Notes; and the Guarantor shall not incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is both (a) subordinate or junior in right of payment to its Guarantor Senior Debt and (b) senior in right of payment to its Note Guarantee. SECTION 4.21. RESTRICTIVE COVENANT OF MSC. MSC shall not engage in any activities other than holding 100% of the Capital Stock of the Company and providing services to and management of the Company and it will not incur any liabilities other than any liabilities relating to the Guarantee of the Company's obligations pursuant to the Credit Facility, the Guarantee of the Notes, the Guarantee of the 2003 Notes, the Guarantee of any Indebtedness permitted by Section 4.09 and any other obligations or liabilities incidental to holding 100% of the Capital Stock of the Company. ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS SECTION 5.1. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF ASSETS. The Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or 59 more related transactions, to another corporation, Person or entity unless (i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the entity or Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; (iii) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists; (iv) except in the case of a merger of the Company with or into MSC or 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, at the time of such transaction and determined on a Pro Forma Basis, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Cash Flow Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 hereof. SECTION 5.2. 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 entity or Person 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, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the "COMPANY" shall refer instead to the successor entity or Person and not to the Company), and shall exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor entity or Person had been named as the Company herein; PROVIDED, that, (i) solely for the purposes of computing Consolidated Net Income for purposes of clause (c) of the first paragraph of Section 4.07 hereof, the Consolidated Net Income of any person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be included only for periods subsequent to the effective time of such merger, consolidation, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition; and (ii) in the case of any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of the predecessor Company, the predecessor Company shall not be released or discharged from the obligation to pay the principal of or interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes. 60 ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES SECTION 6.1. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. Each of the following constitutes an "EVENT OF DEFAULT": (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Liquidated Damages with respect to, the Notes (whether or not prohibited by the Subordination provisions of the Indenture); (ii) default in payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes (whether or not prohibited by the Subordination provisions of the Indenture); (iii) failure by the Company to comply with the provisions described under Sections 4.10 or 4.14 or Article 5 hereof; (iv) failure by the Company for 30 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with the provisions described under Section 4.07 or 4.09 hereof; (v) failure by the Company for 60 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with any of its other agreements in this Indenture or the Notes; (vi) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date hereof, which default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a "PAYMENT DEFAULT") or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $15.0 million or more; 61 (vii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $15.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (viii) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law: (A) commences a voluntary case, (B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or (E) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or (ix) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: (A) is for relief against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case; (B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days. 62 The term "CUSTODIAN" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law. SECTION 6.2. ACCELERATION. 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; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any Indebtedness or Obligation is outstanding pursuant to the Credit Facility, upon a declaration of acceleration by the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee, all principal and interest under this Indenture shall be due and payable upon the earlier of (x) the day which is five Business Days after the provision to the Company, the Credit Agent and the Trustee of such written notice of acceleration or (y) the date of acceleration of any Indebtedness under the Credit Facility; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that in the event of an acceleration based upon an Event of Default set forth in clause (vi) of Section 6.01 hereof, such declaration of acceleration shall be automatically annulled if the holders of Indebtedness which is the subject of such acceleration have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness or such Payment Default shall have been cured or waived within 30 days thereof and no other Event of Default has occurred during such 30-day period which has not been cured, paid or waived. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default as described in clause (viii) or (ix) of Section 6.01 hereof, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders of the Notes may not enforce this Indenture or the Notes except as provided in this Indenture. In the case of any Event of Default occurring 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 the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07(a) hereof, an equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the Notes. If an Event of Default occurs prior to March 15, 2003 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 March 15, 2003, then, to the extent permitted by law, the amount payable in respect of such Notes for purposes of this paragraph for each of the twelve-month periods beginning on March 15 of the years indicated below shall be set forth below, expressed as percentages of the principal amount that would otherwise be due but for the provisions of this sentence, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of payment: YEAR PERCENTAGE 63 1998 109.875% 1999 108.888% 2000 107.900% 2001 106.913% 2002 105.925% SECTION 6.3. 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, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture. The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law. 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. SECTION 6.4. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS. 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 this Indenture (including any acceleration (other than an automatic acceleration resulting from an Event of Default under clause (viii) or (ix) of Section 6.01 hereof) except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes (other than as a result of an acceleration), which shall require the consent of all of the Holders of the Notes then outstanding. SECTION 6.5. CONTROL BY MAJORITY. The 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 power conferred on it. However, (i) the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines may be unduly 64 prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability, and (ii) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction. In case an Event of Default shall occur (which shall not be cured), the Trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Indenture, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holder of Notes, unless such Holder shall offer to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. SECTION 6.6. LIMITATION ON SUITS. A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture, the Note Guarantee or the Notes only if: (a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default or the Trustee receives such notice from the Company; (b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy; (c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense; (d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and (e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request. A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note. SECTION 6.7. 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, interest, and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to 65 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 6.8. COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or (ii) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel. SECTION 6.9. 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 securities or property payable or deliverable upon the conversion or exchange of the Notes or 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. 66 If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order: FIRST: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection; SECOND: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, interest, and Liquidated Damages, if any, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, interest, and Liquidated Damages, if any, respectively; THIRD: without duplication, to the Holders for any other Obligations owing to the Holders under this Indenture and the Notes; and FOURTH: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct. The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10. SECTION 6.11. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE SECTION 7.1. DUTIES OF TRUSTEE. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of 67 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 or the TIA and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture or the TIA and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and (ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture. (c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01; (ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and (iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof. (d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01. (e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. 68 (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 7.2. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE. (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on the truth of the statements and correctness of the opinions contained in, and shall be protected from acting or refraining from acting upon, any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. (b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. Prior to taking, suffering or admitting any action, the Trustee may consult with counsel of the Trustee's own choosing and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon. (c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. (d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture. (e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company or the Guarantor shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable. (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 satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. SECTION 7.3. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE. 69 The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company, the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Company or the Guarantor with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue as Trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof. SECTION 7.4. TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Note Guarantee or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication. SECTION 7.5. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is 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 on any Note pursuant to Section 6.01(i) or (ii) hereof, 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 7.6. 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 Section 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA Section 313(c). A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the Commission and each stock exchange on which the Company has informed the Trustee in writing the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA Section 313(d). The Company shall promptly notify 70 the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof. SECTION 7.7. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY. The Company and the Guarantor shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. To the extent permitted by law, 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 and the Guarantor shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company and the Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Guarantor or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company and the Guarantor promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company and the Guarantor shall not relieve the Company and the Guarantor of its obligations hereunder. The Company and the Guarantor shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company and the Guarantor shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company and the Guarantor need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The obligations of the Company and the Guarantor under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. To secure the Company's and the Guarantor' payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(viii) or (ix) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and 71 counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law. The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable. SECTION 7.8. REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE. A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if: (a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof; (b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law; (c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or (d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting. If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee. If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who has been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. 72 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 the duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, PROVIDED that 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 7.9. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC. If the Trustee or any Agent 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 or any Agent, as applicable. 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. The Trustee and its direct parent shall at all times have a combined capital surplus of at least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent annual report of condition. This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 310(b). SECTION 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY. The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein. ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE 73 SECTION 8.1. OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE. The Company and the Guarantor may, at the option of their respective Boards 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 and Note Guarantee upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8. SECTION 8.2. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE. Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and the Guarantor shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their respective obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Note Guarantee on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "LEGAL DEFEASANCE"). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantee, 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 their respective other obligations under such Notes and Note Guarantee and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04(a); (b) the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 2.02, 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.10 and 4.02 hereof; (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee including without limitation thereunder Section 7.07, 8.05 and 8.07 hereof and the Company's obligations in connection therewith and (d) the provisions of this Article 8. Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof. SECTION 8.3. COVENANT DEFEASANCE. Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, each of the Company and the Guarantor 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 3.09, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19, 4.20, 4.21 and 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantee on 74 and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "COVENANT DEFEASANCE"), and the Notes and Note Guarantee shall thereafter be deemed not "outstanding" for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed "outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes and Note Guarantee shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantee, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Note Guarantee shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(iii) through 6.01(v) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default. SECTION 8.4. CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE. The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantee: In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance: (a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as shall be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the outstanding Notes on the stated maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date; (b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date hereof, 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 shall not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of 75 such Legal Defeasance and shall 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 shall not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and shall be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred; (d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) or insofar as Events of Default from bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit; (e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound; (f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that after the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds shall not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally; (g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and (h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with. SECTION 8.5. DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 76 Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the "TRUSTEE") pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes. Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the written request of the Company and be relieved of all liability with respect to 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 8.6. REPAYMENT TO THE COMPANY. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, on any Note and remaining unclaimed for one year after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, 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 an unsecured general 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 77 than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company. SECTION 8.7. 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 obligations of the Company and the Guarantor under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantee shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent. ARTICLE 9 Amendment, Supplement and Waiver SECTION 9.1. WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF THE NOTES. Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantee: (a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; (b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; (c) to provide for the assumption of the Company's or the Guarantor's obligations to the Holders of the Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation; (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 Notes; (e) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; or 78 (f) to allow any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Notes. Upon the written request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors of the Company authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantor in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. SECTION 9.2. WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES. Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, or as provided in Section 10.13 or Section 12.13, this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantee may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer, for Notes), and, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantee may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with or a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes). Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantor in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture. It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of each Note 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 79 way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.02, 6.04, 6.07, 10.13 and 12.13 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may amend or waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company or the Guarantor with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantee. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder): (a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; (b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (other than provisions relating to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof); (c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note; (d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, 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 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 Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof; (g) waive a redemption or repurchase payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Section 4.10 or 4.14 hereof); or (h) make any change in the amendment and waiver provisions of this Article 9. SECTION 9.3. COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture, the Note Guarantee or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect. SECTION 9.4. 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 and every 80 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 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. When an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms, it thereafter binds every Holder. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for determining which Holders of the Notes must consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver. If the Company fixes a record date, the record date shall be fixed at (i) the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders of Notes furnished for the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 2.05 hereof or (ii) such other date as the Company shall designate. SECTION 9.5. NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF NOTES. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver. Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver. SECTION 9.6. TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC. The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company and the Guarantor may not sign an amendment or supplemental indenture until their respective Boards of Directors approve it. In signing or refusing to sign 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 13.04 hereof, an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, that it is not inconsistent herewith, and that it will be valid and binding upon the Company and the Guarantor in accordance with its terms. ARTICLE 10 81 SUBORDINATION SECTION 10.1. AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE. The Company agrees, and each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note agrees, that the Indebtedness evidenced by the Note is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article, to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Debt (whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed), and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt. Except to the extent set forth under Section 4.10, the Notes shall be PARI PASSU in right of payment with the 2003 Notes. SECTION 10.2. LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding with respect to the Company, all amounts due or to become due under or with respect to all Senior Debt shall first be paid in full in cash before any payment is made on account of the Notes. Upon any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee would be entitled shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders of the Notes or by the Trustee if received by them, directly to the holders of Senior Debt (PRO RATA to such holders on the basis of the amounts of Senior Debt held by such holders) or their Representative or Representatives, as their interests may appear, for application to the payment of the Senior Debt remaining unpaid until all such Senior Debt has been paid in full in cash, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of Senior Debt. SECTION 10.3. DEFAULT ON DESIGNATED SENIOR DEBT. (a) In the event of and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal of, interest or premium, if any, on any Senior Debt, or any Obligation owing from time to time under or in respect of Senior Debt, or in the event that any event of default (other than a payment default) with respect to any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing and shall have resulted in such Senior Debt becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, or (b) if any event of default other than as described in clause (a) above with respect to any Designated Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting the holders of such Designated Senior Debt (or their Representative or Representatives) to declare 82 such Designated Senior Debt due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, then no payment shall be made by or on behalf of the Company on account of the Notes (x) in case of any payment or nonpayment default specified in (a), unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived in writing in accordance with the instruments governing such Senior Debt or such acceleration shall have been rescinded or annulled, or (y) in case of any nonpayment event of default specified in (b), during the period (a "PAYMENT BLOCKAGE PERIOD") commencing on the date the Company or the Trustee receives written notice (a "PAYMENT NOTICE") of such event of default (which notice shall be binding on the Trustee and the Holders of Notes as to the occurrence of such nonpayment event of default) from the Credit Agent (or other holders of Designated Senior Debt or their Representative or Representatives) and ending on the earliest of (A) 179 days after such date, (B) the date, if any, on which such Designated Senior Debt to which such default relates is paid in full in cash or such default is cured or waived in writing in accordance with the instruments governing such Designated Senior Debt by the holders of such Designated Senior Debt and (C) the date on which the Trustee receives written notice from the Credit Agent (or other holders of Designated Senior Debt or their Representative or Representatives), as the case may be, terminating the Payment Blockage Period. During any consecutive 360-day period, the aggregate of all Payment Blockage Periods shall not exceed 179 days and there shall be a period of at least 181 consecutive days in each consecutive 360-day period when no Payment Blockage Period is in effect. No event of default which existed or was continuing with respect to the Senior Debt for which notice commencing a Payment Blockage Period was given on the date such Payment Blockage Period commenced shall be or be made the basis for the commencement of any subsequent Payment Blockage Period unless such event of default is cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days. SECTION 10.4. ACCELERATION OF NOTES. If payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company shall promptly notify holders of Senior Debt of the acceleration. SECTION 10.5. WHEN DISTRIBUTION MUST BE PAID OVER. In the event that the Trustee or any Holder of a Note receives any payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes at a time when such payment is prohibited by Section 10.03 hereof, such payment shall be held by the Trustee or such Holder, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to, the holders of Senior Debt or their Representative under the indenture or other agreement (if any) pursuant to which Senior Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of all Obligations with respect to Senior Debt remain- 83 ing unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full in cash in accordance with their terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Debt. With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform only such obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically set forth in this Article 10, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt, and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders of the Notes or the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 10, except if such payment is made as a result of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Trustee. SECTION 10.6. NOTICE BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent of any facts known to the Company that would cause a payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes to violate this Article, which notice shall specifically refer to this Article 10, but failure to give such notice shall not affect the subordination of the Notes to the Senior Debt as provided in this Article. SECTION 10.7. SUBROGATION. After all Senior Debt is paid in full in cash and until the Notes are paid in full, Holders of the Notes shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all other PARI PASSU indebtedness) to the rights of holders of Senior Debt to receive distributions applicable to Senior Debt to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to the Holders of the Notes have been applied to the payment of Senior Debt. A distribution made under this Article to holders of Senior Debt that otherwise would have been made to Holders of the Notes is not, as between the Company and Holders of the Notes, a payment by the Company on the Senior Debt. SECTION 10.8. RELATIVE RIGHTS. This Article defines the relative rights of Holders of the Notes and holders of Senior Debt. Nothing in this Indenture shall: (1) impair, as between the Company and Holders of the Notes, the obligations of the Company, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and interest on the Notes in accordance with their terms; 84 (2) affect the relative rights of Holders of the Notes and creditors of the Company other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior Debt; or (3) prevent the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes from exercising its available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders and owners of Senior Debt to receive distributions and payments otherwise payable to Holders of the Notes. If the Company fails because of this Article to pay principal of or interest on a Note on the due date, the failure is still a Default or Event of Default. SECTION 10.9. SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED BY THE COMPANY. No right of any holder of Senior Debt to enforce the subordination of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Company or any Holder or by the failure of the Company or any Holder to comply with this Indenture. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Debt, or any of them, may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders of the Notes, without incurring any liabilities to any Holder of any Notes and without impairing or releasing the subordination and other benefits provided in this Indenture or the obligations of the Holders of the Notes to the holders of the Senior Debt, even if any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Holder of Notes is affected, impaired or extinguished thereby, do any one or more of the following: (1) change the manner, place or terms of payment or change or extend the time of payment of, or renew, exchange, amend, increase or alter, the terms of any Senior Debt, any security therefor or guaranty thereof or any liability of any obligor thereon (including any guarantor) to such holder, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or otherwise amend, renew, exchange, extend, modify, increase or supplement in any manner any Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing or guaranteeing or securing the same or any agreement under which Senior Debt is outstanding; (2) sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon, enforce or otherwise deal with in any manner and in any order any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise 85 securing Senior Debt or any liability of any obligor thereon, to such holder, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof; (3) settle or compromise any Senior Debt or any other liability of any obligor of the Senior Debt to such holder or any security therefor or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof and apply any sums by whomsoever paid and however realized to any liability (including, without limitation, Senior Debt) in any manner or order; and (4) fail to take or to record or to otherwise perfect, for any reason or for no reason, any lien or security interest securing Senior Debt by whomsoever granted, exercise or delay in or refrain from exercising any right or remedy against any obligor or any guarantor or any other person, elect any remedy and otherwise deal freely with any obligor and any security for the Senior Debt or any liability of any obligor to such holder or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof. SECTION 10.10. DISTRIBUTION OR NOTICE TO REPRESENTATIVE. Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior Debt, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article 10, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction or upon any certificate of such Representative or of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Notes for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other Indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 10. SECTION 10.11. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 10 or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment or distribution by the Trustee, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent may continue to make payments on 86 the Notes, unless the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office at least three Business Days prior to the date of such payment written notice of facts that would cause the payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes to violate this Article, which notice shall specifically refer to this Article 10. Only the Company or a Representative may give the notice. Nothing in this Article 10 shall impair the claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Debt with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. SECTION 10.12. AUTHORIZATION TO EFFECT SUBORDINATION. Each Holder of a Note by the Holder's acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on the Holder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article 10, and appoints the Trustee to act as the Holder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes, including without limitation the timely filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of the Notes held by such Holder in the form required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and causing such claim to be approved. If the Trustee does not file a proper proof of claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to in Section 6.09 hereof at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim, the Representatives of the Designated Senior Debt, including the Credit Agent, are hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders of the Notes. SECTION 10.13. AMENDMENTS. Any amendment to the provisions of this Article 10 shall require the consent of the Holders of at least 75% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding if such amendment would adversely affect the rights of the Holders of Notes. ARTICLE 11 Guarantee of Notes SECTION 11.1. NOTE GUARANTEE. Subject to Section 11.03 hereof, the Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and 87 enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes and the Obligations of the Company hereunder and thereunder, that: (a) the principal of, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal, premium, if any, (to the extent permitted by law) interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Notes, and all other payment Obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder, will be promptly paid in full and performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise. Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason the Guarantor will be obligated to pay the same immediately. An Event of Default under this Indenture or the Notes shall constitute an event of default under the Note Guarantee, and shall entitle the Holders to accelerate the Obligations of the Guarantor hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the Obligations of the Company. The Guarantor hereby agree that its Obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any acion to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that, subject to the provisions of Article 8 of the Indenture, this Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantor, or any Note Custodian, Trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantor, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. The Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to, and hereby waives, any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Obligations guaranteed hereby. The Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article 6 88 hereof, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. SECTION 11.2. EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF NOTE GUARANTEE. To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01, the Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in the form of Exhibit D shall be endorsed by an Officer of the Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of the Guarantor, by manual or facsimile signature, by an Officer of the Guarantor. The Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee. If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which a Note Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantor. SECTION 11.3. LIMITATION ON GUARANTOR LIABILITY. For purposes hereof, the Guarantor's liability shall be limited to the lesser of (i) the aggregate amount of the Obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture and (ii) the amount, if any, which would not have (A) rendered the Guarantor "INSOLVENT" (as such term is defined in the United States Bankruptcy Code and in the Debtor and Creditor Law of the State of New York) or (B) left the Guarantor with unreasonably small capital at the time its Note Guarantee of the Notes was entered into; PROVIDED that, it will be a presumption in any lawsuit or other proceeding in which the Guarantor is a party that the amount guaranteed pursuant to the Note Guarantee is the amount set forth in clause (i) above unless any creditor, or representative of creditors of the Guarantor, or debtor in possession or trustee in bankruptcy of the Guarantor, otherwise proves in such a lawsuit that the aggregate liability of the Guarantor is the amount set forth in clause (ii) above. In making any determination as to solvency or sufficiency of capital of the Guarantor in accordance with the previous sentence, the right of the Guarantor to contribution from another guarantor, and any other rights the Guarantor may have, contractual or otherwise, shall be taken into account. SECTION 11.4. "TRUSTEE" TO INCLUDE PAYING AGENT. 89 In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term "TRUSTEE" as used in this Article 11 shall in each case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully and for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article 11 in place of the Trustee. ARTICLE 12 Subordination of Note Guarantee SECTION 12.1. AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE. The Guarantor agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Note agrees, that all Obligations evidenced by the Note Guarantee shall be subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article 12, to the prior payment in full in cash of all Guarantor Senior Debt (whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed), and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt. The Note Guarantee shall be PARI PASSU in right of payment with the Guarantee of the 2003 Notes. SECTION 12.2. LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding with respect to the Guarantor, all amounts due or to become due under or with respect to all Guarantor Senior Debt shall first be paid in full in cash before any payment is made on account of the Note Guarantee. Upon any such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any payment or distribution of assets of the Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders or the Trustee would be entitled shall be paid by the Guarantor or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or by the Trustee if received by them, directly to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt (PRO RATA to such holders on the basis of the amounts of Guarantor Senior Debt held by such holders) or their Representative or Representatives, as their interests may appear, for application to the payment of the Guarantor Senior Debt remaining unpaid until all such Guarantor Senior Debt has been paid in full in cash, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt. SECTION 12.3. DEFAULT ON DESIGNATED GUARANTOR SENIOR DEBT. 90 (a) In the event of and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal of, interest or premium, if any, on any Guarantor Senior Debt, or any Obligation owing from time to time under or in respect of Guarantor Senior Debt, or in the event that any event of default (other than a payment default) with respect to any Guarantor Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing and shall have resulted in such Guarantor Senior Debt becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, or (b) if any event of default other than as described in clause (a) above with respect to any Designated Guarantor Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting the holders of such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt (or their Representative or Representatives) to declare such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, then no payment shall be made by or on behalf of the Guarantor on account of the Note Guarantee (x) in case of any payment or nonpayment default specified in (a), unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived in writing in accordance with the instruments governing such Guarantor Senior Debt or such acceleration shall have been rescinded or annulled, or (y) in case of any nonpayment event of default specified in (b), during the period (a "PAYMENT BLOCKAGE PERIOD") commencing on the date the Guarantor or the Trustee receives written notice (a "PAYMENT NOTICE") of such event of default (which notice shall be binding on the Trustee and the Holders as to the occurrence of such nonpayment event of default) from the Credit Agent (or other holders of Designated Guarantor Senior Debt or their Representative or Representatives) and ending on the earliest of (A) 179 days after such date, (B) the date, if any, on which such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt to which such default relates is paid in full in cash or such default is cured or waived in writing in accordance with the instruments governing such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt by the holders of such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt and (C) the date on which the Trustee receives written notice from the Credit Agent (or other holders of Designated Guarantor Senior Debt or their Representative or Representatives), as the case may be, terminating the Payment Blockage Period. During any consecutive 360-day period, the aggregate of all Payment Blockage Periods shall not exceed 179 days and there shall be a period of at least 181 consecutive days in each consecutive 360-day period when no Payment Blockage Period is in effect. No event of default which existed or was continuing with respect to the Guarantor Senior Debt for which notice commencing a Payment Blockage Period was given on the date such Payment Blockage Period commenced shall be or be made the basis for the commencement of any subsequent Payment Blockage Period unless such event of default is cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days. SECTION 12.4. ACCELERATION OF NOTE GUARANTEE. 91 If payment of the Note Guarantee is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Guarantor shall promptly notify holders of Guarantor Senior Debt of the acceleration. SECTION 12.5. WHEN DISTRIBUTION MUST BE PAID OVER. In the event that the Trustee or any Holder receives any payment of any Obligations with respect to the Note Guarantee at a time when such payment is prohibited by Section 12.03 hereof, such payment shall be held by the Trustee or such Holder, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to, the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt or their Representative under the indenture or other agreement (if any) pursuant to which Guarantor Senior Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of all Obligations with respect to Guarantor Senior Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full in cash in accordance with their terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt. With respect to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform only such obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically set forth in this Article 12, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt, and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders or the Guarantor or any other Person money or assets to which any holders of Guarantor Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 12, except if such payment is made as a result of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Trustee. SECTION 12.6. NOTICE BY GUARANTOR. The Guarantor shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent of any facts known to the Guarantor that would cause a payment of any Obligations with respect to the Note Guarantee to violate this Article, which notice shall specifically refer to this Article 12, but failure to give such notice shall not affect the subordination of the Note Guarantee to the Guarantor Senior Debt as provided in this Article. SECTION 12.7. SUBROGATION. After all Guarantor Senior Debt is paid in full in cash and until the Note Guarantee is paid in full, Holders shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all PARI PASSU indebtedness) to the rights of holders of Guarantor Senior Debt to receive distributions applicable to Guarantor Senior Debt to the extent that 92 distributions otherwise payable to the Holders have been applied to the payment of Guarantor Senior Debt. A distribution made under this Article to holders of Guarantor Senior Debt that otherwise would have been made to Holders is not, as between the Guarantor and Holders, a payment by the Guarantor on the Guarantor Senior Debt. SECTION 12.8. RELATIVE RIGHTS. This Article defines the relative rights of Holders and holders of Guarantor Senior Debt. Nothing in this Indenture shall: (1) impair, as between the Guarantor and Holders, the obligations of the Guarantor, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and interest on the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Note Guarantee; (2) affect the relative rights of Holders and creditors of the Guarantor other than their rights in relation to holders of Guarantor Senior Debt; or (3) prevent the Trustee or any Holder from exercising its available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders and owners of Guarantor Senior Debt to receive distributions and payments otherwise payable to Holders. If the Guarantor fails because of this Article to pay principal of or interest on a Note in accordance with the terms of the Note Guarantee, the failure is still a Default or Event of Default. SECTION 12.9. SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED BY GUARANTOR. No right of any holder of Guarantor Senior Debt to enforce the subordination of the Obligations evidenced by the Note Guarantee shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Guarantor or any Holder or by the failure of the Guarantor or any Holder to comply with this Indenture. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt, or any of them, may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders, without incurring any liabilities to any Holder and without impairing or releasing the subordination and other benefits provided in this Indenture or the obligations of the Holders to the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt, even if any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Holder is affected, impaired or extinguished thereby, do any one or more of the following: 93 (1) change the manner, place or terms of payment or change or extend the time of payment of, or renew, exchange, amend, increase or alter, the terms of any Guarantor Senior Debt, any security therefor or guaranty thereof or any liability of any obligor thereon (including any guarantor) to such holder, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or otherwise amend, renew, exchange, extend, modify, increase or supplement in any manner any Guarantor Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing or guaranteeing or securing the same or any agreement under which Guarantor Senior Debt is outstanding; (2) sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon, enforce or otherwise deal with in any manner and in any order any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Guarantor Senior Debt or any liability of any obligor thereon, to such holder, or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof; (3) settle or compromise any Guarantor Senior Debt or any other liability of any obligor of the Guarantor Senior Debt to such holder or any security therefor or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof and apply any sums by whomsoever paid and however realized to any liability (including, without limitation, Guarantor Senior Debt) in any manner or order; and (4) fail to take or to record or to otherwise perfect, for any reason or for no reason, any lien or security interest securing Guarantor Senior Debt by whomsoever granted, exercise or delay in or refrain from exercising any right or remedy against any obligor or any guarantor or any other person, elect any remedy and otherwise deal freely with any obligor and any security for the Guarantor Senior Debt or any liability of any obligor to such holder or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof. SECTION 12.10. DISTRIBUTION OR NOTICE TO REPRESENTATIVE. Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Guarantor Senior Debt, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative. 94 Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Guarantor referred to in this Article 12, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction or upon any certificate of such Representative or of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt and other Indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantor, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 12. SECTION 12.11. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 12 or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment or distribution by the Trustee, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent may continue to make payments on the Notes or the Note Guarantee, unless the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office at least three Business Days prior to the date of such payment written notice of facts that would cause the payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes or the Note Guarantee to violate this Article, which notice shall specifically refer to this Article 12. Only the Company, the Guarantor or a Representative may give the notice. Nothing in this Article 12 shall impair the claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Guarantor Senior Debt with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. SECTION 12.12. AUTHORIZATION TO EFFECT SUBORDINATION. Each Holder by the Holder's acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on the Holder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article 12, and appoints the Trustee to act as the Holder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes, including without limitation the timely filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of the Notes held by such Holder in the form required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and causing such claim to be approved. If the Trustee does not file a proper proof of claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to in Section 6.09 hereof at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim, the Representatives of the Designated Guarantor Senior Debt, including the Credit Agent, are hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders. SECTION 12.13. AMENDMENTS. 95 Any amendment to the provisions of this Article 12 shall require the consent of the Holders of at least 75% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding if such amendment would adversely affect the rights of the Holders. ARTICLE 13 Miscellaneous SECTION 13.1. TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA Section 318(c), the imposed duties shall control. SECTION 13.2. NOTICES. Any notice or communication by the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others' address: If to the Company or the Guarantor: The Musicland Group, Inc. 10400 Yellow Circle Drive Minnetonka, Minneapolis 55343 Telecopier No.: (612) 931-8047 Attention: General Counsel With a copy to: Faegre & Benson LLP 2200 Norwest Center 90 South Seventh Street Minneapolis, MN 55402 Telecopier No.: (612) 336-3026 Attention: Susan Jacobson and Moss & Barnett 4800 Norwest Center 90 South Seventh Street 96 Minneapolis, MN 55402 Telecopier No.: (612) 339-6686 Attention: Janna Severance If to the Trustee: Bank One, NA 100 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43271 Telecopier No.: (614) 248-5195 Attention: Corporate Trust Department The Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications. All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier promising next Business Day delivery. Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail or by overnight air courier promising next Business Day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA Section 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it. If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time. SECTION 13.3. COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF NOTES WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF NOTES. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c). 97 SECTION 13.4. CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. Upon any request or application by the Company or the Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture (other than the initial issuance of the Senior Subordinated Notes), the Company or Guarantor shall furnish to the Trustee upon request: (a) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and (b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied. SECTION 13.5. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall include: (a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (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 13.6. 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. 98 SECTION 13.7. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company (other than the Guarantor) or the Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantor under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. SECTION 13.8. GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEE. SECTION 13.9. NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS. This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture. SECTION 13.10. SUCCESSORS. All agreements of the Company and the Guarantor in this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantee shall bind their respective successors and assigns. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns. SECTION 13.11. 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 13.12. 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 13.13. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC. The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of 99 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] 100 SIGNATURES Dated as of April 6, 1998 THE MUSICLAND GROUP, INC. By: /s/ Jack W. Eugster ------------------------------------ Name: Jack W. Eugster Title: CEO and Chairman MUSICLAND STORES CORPORATION By: /s/ Jack W. Eugster ------------------------------------ Name: Jack W. Eugster Title: CEO and Chairman BANK ONE, NA, as Trustee By: /s/ Joseph C. Ludes ------------------------------ Name: Joseph C. Ludes Title: Vice President 101 EXHIBIT A-1 (Face of Senior Subordinated Note) 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 No. $ CUSIP NO. 627578AB3 --- --------------- THE MUSICLAND GROUP, INC. promises to pay to ________________ or registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________ Dollars on March 15, 2008. Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15 Record Dates: March 1 and September 1 THE MUSICLAND GROUP, INC. By: ------------------------------- Name: Title: This is one of the Senior Subordinated Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture: Dated: ------------------------ BANK ONE, NA, as Trustee By: ---------------------------------- 1 (Back of Senior Subordinated Note) 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 [Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Senior Subordinated Notes in definitive form, this Senior Subordinated Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York)("DTC"), to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or such other entity as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL in as much as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.](1) - - ------------------ (1) This paragraph should be included only if the Senior Subordinated Note is issued in global form. 2 [THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY, THAT (A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (1)(a) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A FOREIGN PERSON IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND, IN THE CASE OF CLAUSE (b), (c) or (d), BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), (2) TO THE COMPANY OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE.](2) Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated. 1. INTEREST. The Musicland Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or its successor (the "COMPANY"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Senior Subordinated Note at the rate of 9_% per annum and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, in United States dollars (except as otherwise provided herein) semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15, commencing on September 15, 1998, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an "INTEREST - - ------------------------- (2) This paragraph should be removed upon the exchange of Senior Subordinated Notes for New Senior Subordinated Notes in the Exchange Offer or upon the registration of the Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement. 3 PAYMENT DATE"). Interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes shall 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 or Event of Default in the payment of interest, and if this Senior Subordinated 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, except in the case of the original issuance of Senior Subordinated Notes, in which case interest shall accrue from the date of authentication. 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 Senior Subordinated Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest shall 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 Senior Subordinated Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the applicable Interest Payment Date to the Persons who are registered Holders of Senior Subordinated Notes at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Senior Subordinated Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Senior Subordinated Notes shall be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders; PROVIDED that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on, all Global Notes and all other Senior Subordinated Notes the Holders of which shall have provided written wire transfer instructions to the Company and the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. 3. PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, Bank One, NA, the Trustee under the Indenture, shall 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 Senior Subordinated Notes under an Indenture dated as of April 6, 1998 ("INDENTURE") among the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee. The terms of the Senior Subordinated Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made a part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) (the "TIA"). The Senior Subordinated Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. The Senior Subordinated Notes are general unsecured Obligations of the Company limited to $150,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, plus amounts, if any, sufficient to pay premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes as set forth in Paragraph 2 hereof. 4 5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION. Except as set forth in the next paragraph, the Senior Subordinated Notes shall not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to March 15, 2003. Thereafter, the Senior Subordinated Notes shall be subject to redemption at any time at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below together with accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on March 15 of the years indicated below: YEAR PERCENTAGE 2003 104.938% 2004 103.292% 2005 101.646% 2006 and thereafter 100.000% Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to March 15, 2001, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes at a redemption price of 109.875% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the redemption date, with the net proceeds of a Public Equity Offering; PROVIDED that at least 60% of the original aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that such redemption shall occur within 45 days of the date of the closing of such Public Equity Offering. 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 Senior Subordinated Notes. 7. REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER. (a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Senior Subordinated Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the "CHANGE OF CONTROL OFFER") at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon, to the date of purchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to purchase Senior Subordinated Notes on the date specified in such notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer required by the Indenture. (b) When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million, the Company shall offer to all Holders of Senior Subordinated Notes (an "ASSET SALE OFFER") to purchase the maximum principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash equal to 100% of principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated 5 Damages thereon, if any, to the date of purchase in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Senior Subordinated Notes tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any general corporate purposes. If the aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Senior Subordinated Notes to be purchased on a PRO RATA basis. Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. (c) Holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Senior Subordinated Notes purchased by completing the form titled "OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE" appearing below. 8. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption shall be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Senior Subordinated Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Senior Subordinated Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Senior Subordinated Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, ceases to accrue on the Senior Subordinated Notes or portions thereof called for redemption. 9. SUBORDINATION. The Senior Subordinated Notes are subordinated to Senior Debt, which is: (i) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facility, including any Guarantee thereof and all Hedging Obligations with respect thereto, (ii) any other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Company under the terms of the Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Subordinated Notes, (iii) all Obligations with respect to the foregoing, and (iv) all interest with respect to the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) accruing during the pendency of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable thereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior Debt will not include (w) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company, (x) any Indebtedness of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, (y) any trade payables or liability to trade creditors or obligations with respect to consigned inventory arising in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities) or (z) any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the Indenture. To the extent provided in the Indenture, Senior Debt must be paid before the Senior Subordinated Notes may be paid. The Company agrees and each Holder of Senior Subordinated Notes by accepting a Senior Subordinated Note consents and agrees to the subordination provided in the Indenture and authorizes the Trustee to give it effect. 10. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Senior Subordinated Notes are in registered form without coupons in initial denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of the Senior Subordinated Notes may be registered and the Senior Subordinated 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 6 Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Senior Subordinated Note or portion of a Senior Subordinated Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Senior Subordinated Note being redeemed in part. Also, it need not exchange or register the transfer of any Senior Subordinated Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Senior Subordinated Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date. 11. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Senior Subordinated Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes. 12. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to the following paragraph and certain other provisions set forth in the Indenture, the Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Note Guarantee may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or, tender offer or exchange offer for Senior Subordinated Notes), and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes or the Note Guarantee may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Senior Subordinated Notes). Without the consent of any Holder of Senior Subordinated Notes, the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Note Guarantee or the Senior Subordinated Notes to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Senior Subordinated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Senior Subordinated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company's or the Guarantor's obligations to Holders of Senior Subordinated Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Senior Subordinated Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or to allow any Subsidiary to guarantee the Senior Subordinated Notes. Any amendments with respect to subordination provisions of the Senior Subordinated Notes or the Note Guarantee would require the consent of the Holders of at least 75% in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes then outstanding if such amendment would adversely affect the rights of the Holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes. 13. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on or Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to the Senior Subordinated Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Senior Subordinated Notes; (iii) failure by the Company to comply with the provisions described in Section 4.10 or 4.14 or Article 5 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company for 30 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes then outstanding to comply with the provisions described in Section 4.07 or 4.09 of the Indenture; (v) failure by the Company for 60 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes then outstanding to comply with its other agreements in the Indenture or the Senior Subordinated Notes; (vi) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under 7 which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of the Indenture, which default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a "PAYMENT DEFAULT") or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $15.0 million or more; (vii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $15.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed within 60 days after their entry; and (viii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary. 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 Senior Subordinated Notes may declare all the Senior Subordinated Notes to be due and payable immediately; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any Indebtedness or Obligation is outstanding pursuant to the Credit Facility, upon a declaration of acceleration by the Holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes or the Trustee, all principal and interest under the Indenture shall be due and payable upon the earlier of (x) the day which is five Business Days after the provision to the Company, the Credit Agent and the Trustee of such written notice of acceleration or (y) the date of acceleration of any Indebtedness under the Credit Facility; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that in the event of an acceleration based upon an Event of Default set forth in clause (vi) above, such declaration of acceleration shall be automatically annulled if the holders of Indebtedness which is the subject of such acceleration have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness or such Payment Default shall have been cured or waived within 30 days thereof and no other Event of Default has occurred during such 30-day period which has not been cured, paid or waived. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, all outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Senior Subordinated Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Senior Subordinated 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. 14. TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company, the Guarantor or their respective Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company, the Guarantor or their respective Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee. 8 15. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or the Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantor under the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Indenture or the Note Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Senior Subordinated Notes by accepting a Senior Subordinated Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Senior Subordinated Notes and any Note Guarantee. 16. AUTHENTICATION. This Senior Subordinated Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. 17. ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act). 18. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Transferred Restricted Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) shall have all the rights set forth in the A/B Exchange Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Guarantor and the Initial Purchaser (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT"). 19. CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to the Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Senior Subordinated Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon. The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to: The Musicland Group, Inc. 10400 Yellow Circle Drive Minnetonka, MN 55343 Telecopy: (612) 931-8047 General Counsel 9 ASSIGNMENT FORM To assign this Senior Subordinated Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Senior Subordinated Note to - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.) - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code) and irrevocably appoint_________________________________________________________ to transfer this Senior Subordinated 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 Senior Subordinated Note) Signature Guarantee: 10 OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE If you want to elect to have this Senior Subordinated Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the box below: / / Section 4.10 Section 4.14 If you want to elect to have only part of the Senior Subordinated Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased: $___________ Date: Your Signature:____________________________________________ (Sign exactly as your name appears on the Senior Subordinated Note) Tax Identification No.:_________ Signature Guarantee: 11 SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES (3) THE FOLLOWING EXCHANGES OF A PART OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE FOR OTHER SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES HAVE BEEN MADE: Principal Amount Signature of Amount of decrease Amount of increase of this Global authorized officer in Principal Amount in Principal Note following of Trustee or Senior Date of Exchange of this Global Note Amount of this such decrease (or Subordinated Note Global Note increase) Custodian - - ------------------------- (3) This should be included only if the Senior Subordinated Note is issued in global form. 12 EXHIBIT A-2 (Face of Regulation S Temporary Global Note) 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 No. $ ----- --------------- CINS NO. U61809AA4 THE MUSICLAND GROUP, INC. promises to pay to ________________ or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________ Dollars on March 15, 2008. Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15 Record Dates: March 1 and September 1 THE MUSICLAND GROUP, INC. By: ------------------------------ Name: Title: This is one of the Senior Subordinated Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture: Dated: ------------------------- BANK ONE, NA, as Trustee By: ----------------------------- 1 (Back of Regulation S Temporary Global Note) 9_% Senior Subordinated Note due 2008 UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) ("DTC"), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. [THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY, THAT (A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (1)(a) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A FOREIGN PERSON IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (d) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND, IN THE CASE OF CLAUSES (b), (c) OR (d), BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), (2) TO THE COMPANY OR (3) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE. THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR 2 DEFINITIVE SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE FOR A REGULATION S PERMANENT GLOBAL NOTE AS CONTEMPLATED BY THE INDENTURE.] Until this Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchanged for Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Holder hereof shall not be entitled to receive payments of interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, hereon although interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, will continue to accrue; until so exchanged in full, this Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall in all other respects be entitled to the same benefits as other Senior Subordinated Notes under the Indenture. This Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchangeable in whole or in part for one or more Regulation S Permanent Global Notes or Rule 144A Global Notes only (i) on or after the termination of the 40-day restricted period (as defined in Regulation S) and (ii) upon presentation of certificates (accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel, if applicable) required by Article 2 of the Indenture. Upon exchange of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for one or more Regulation S Permanent Global Notes or Rule 144A Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel this Regulation S Temporary Global Note. This Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall not become valid or obligatory until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been duly manually signed by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture. This Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of the New York. All references to "$," "Dollars," "dollars" or "U.S. $" are to such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts therein. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated. 1. INTEREST. The Musicland Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or its successor (the "COMPANY"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Senior Subordinated Note at the rate of 9_% per annum and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, in United States dollars (except as otherwise provided herein) semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15, commencing on September 15, 1998, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an "INTEREST PAYMENT DATE"). Interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes shall 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 or Event of Default in the payment of interest, and if this Senior Subordinated 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, except in the case of the - - ------------------------------ 1 These paragraphs should be removed upon the exchange of Regulation S Temporary Global Notes for Regulation S Permanent Global Notes pursuant to the Indenture. 3 original issuance of Senior Subordinated Notes, in which case interest shall accrue from the date of authentication. 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 Senior Subordinated Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest shall 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 Senior Subordinated Notes (except defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the applicable Interest Payment Date to the Persons who are registered Holders of Senior Subordinated Notes at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Senior Subordinated Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Senior Subordinated Notes shall be payable as to principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders; PROVIDED that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on, all Global Notes and all other Senior Subordinated Notes the Holders of which shall have provided written wire transfer instructions to the Company and the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. 3. PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, Bank One, NA, the Trustee under the Indenture, shall 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 Senior Subordinated Notes under an Indenture dated as of April 6, 1998 ("INDENTURE") among the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee. The terms of the Senior Subordinated Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made a part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) (the "TIA"). The Senior Subordinated Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. The Senior Subordinated Notes are general unsecured Obligations of the Company limited to $150,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, plus amounts, if any, sufficient to pay premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes as set forth in Paragraph 2 hereof. 5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION. Except as set forth in the next paragraph, the Senior Subordinated Notes shall not be redeemable at the Company's option prior to March 15, 2003. Thereafter, the Senior Subordinated Notes shall be subject to redemption at any time at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor 4 more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below together with accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on March 15 of the years indicated below: YEAR PERCENTAGE 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104.938% 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103.292% 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101.646% 2006 and thereafter . . . . . . . . . . . 100.000% Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to March 15, 2001, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes at a redemption price of 109.875% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the redemption date, with the net proceeds of a Public Equity Offering; PROVIDED that at least 60% of the original aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that such redemption shall occur within 45 days of the date of the closing of such Public Equity Offering. 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 Senior Subordinated Notes. 7. REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER. (a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Senior Subordinated Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's Senior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the "CHANGE OF CONTROL OFFER") at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon, to the date of purchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to purchase Senior Subordinated Notes on the date specified in such notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer required by the Indenture. (b) When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5.0 million, the Company shall offer to all Holders of Senior Subordinated Notes (an "ASSET SALE OFFER") to purchase the maximum principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash equal to 100% of principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages thereon, if any, to the date of purchase in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Senior Subordinated Notes tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess 5 Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any general corporate purposes. If the aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Senior Subordinated Notes to be purchased on a PRO RATA basis. Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero. (c) Holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Senior Subordinated Notes purchased by completing the form titled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" appearing below. 8. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption shall be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Senior Subordinated Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Senior Subordinated Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Senior Subordinated Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, ceases to accrue on the Senior Subordinated Notes or portions thereof called for redemption. 9. SUBORDINATION. The Senior Subordinated Notes are subordinated to Senior Debt, which is: (i) all Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facility, including any Guarantee thereof and all Hedging Obligations with respect thereto, (ii) any other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Company under the terms of the Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Subordinated Notes, (iii) all Obligations with respect to the foregoing, and (iv) all interest with respect to the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) accruing during the pendency of an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable thereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior Debt will not include (w) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company, (x) any Indebtedness of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, (y) any trade payables or liability to trade creditors or obligations with respect to consigned inventory arising in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities) or (z) any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the Indenture. To the extent provided in the Indenture, Senior Debt must be paid before the Senior Subordinated Notes may be paid. The Company agrees and each Holder of Senior Subordinated Notes by accepting a Senior Subordinated Note consents and agrees to the subordination provided in the Indenture and authorizes the Trustee to give it effect. 10. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Senior Subordinated Notes are in registered form without coupons in initial denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of the Senior Subordinated Notes may be registered and the Senior Subordinated 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 Senior Subordinated Note or portion of a Senior Subordinated Note 6 selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Senior Subordinated Note being redeemed in part. Also, it need not exchange or register the transfer of any Senior Subordinated Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Senior Subordinated Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date. 11. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Senior Subordinated Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes. 12. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to the following paragraph and certain other provisions set forth in the Indenture, the Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Note Guarantee may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or, tender offer or exchange offer for Senior Subordinated Notes), and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes or the Note Guarantee may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Senior Subordinated Notes). Without the consent of any Holder of Senior Subordinated Notes, the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Note Guarantee or the Senior Subordinated Notes to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Senior Subordinated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Senior Subordinated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company's or the Guarantor's obligations to Holders of Senior Subordinated Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Senior Subordinated Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or to allow any Subsidiary to guarantee the Senior Subordinated Notes. Any amendments with respect to subordination provisions of the Senior Subordinated Notes or the Note Guarantee would require the consent of the Holders of at least 75% in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes then outstanding if such amendment would adversely affect the rights of the Holders of Senior Subordinated Notes. 13. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on or Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to the Senior Subordinated Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Senior Subordinated Notes; (iii) failure by the Company to comply with the provisions described in Section 4.10 or 4.14 or Article 5 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company for 30 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes to comply with the provisions described in Section 4.07 or 4.09 of the Indenture; (v) failure by the Company for 60 days after notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes then outstanding to comply with its other agreements in the Indenture or the Senior 7 Subordinated Notes; (vi) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of the Indenture, which default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a "PAYMENT DEFAULT") or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any such other Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $15.0 million or more; (vii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $15.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed within 60 days after their entry; and (viii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company, any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary. 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 Senior Subordinated Notes may declare all the Senior Subordinated Notes to be due and payable immediately; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any Indebtedness or Obligation is outstanding pursuant to the Credit Facility, upon a declaration of acceleration by the Holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes or the Trustee, all principal and interest under the Indenture shall be due and payable upon the earlier of (x) the day which is five Business Days after the provision to the Company, the Credit Agent and the Trustee of such written notice of acceleration or (y) the date of acceleration of any Indebtedness under the Credit Facility; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that in the event of an acceleration based upon an Event of Default set forth in clause (vi) above, such declaration of acceleration shall be automatically annulled if the holders of Indebtedness which is the subject of such acceleration have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness or such Payment Default shall have been cured or waived within 30 days thereof and no other Event of Default has occurred during such 30-day period which has not been cured, paid or waived. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, all outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Senior Subordinated Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Senior Subordinated 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. 14. TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company, the Guarantor or their respective Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with 8 the Company, the Guarantor or their respective Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee. 15. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or the Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantor under the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Indenture or the Note Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Senior Subordinated Notes by accepting a Senior Subordinated Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Senior Subordinated Notes and any Note Guarantee. 16. AUTHENTICATION. This Senior Subordinated Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. 17. ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act). 18. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Transferred Restricted Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) shall have all the rights set forth in the A/B Exchange Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, the Guarantor and the Initial Purchaser (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT"). 19. CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to the Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Senior Subordinated Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon. The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to: 9 The Musicland Group, Inc. 10400 Yellow Circle Drive Minnetonka, MN 55343 Telecopy: (612) 931-8047 General Counsel 10 ASSIGNMENT FORM To assign this Senior Subordinated Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Senior Subordinated Note to - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.) - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code) and irrevocably appoint ____________________________________________________ to transfer this Senior Subordinated 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 Senior Subordinated Note) Signature Guarantee: 11 OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE If you want to elect to have this Senior Subordinated Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the box below: / / Section 4.10 Section 4.14 If you want to elect to have only part of the Senior Subordinated Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased: $___________ Date: Your Signature: ---------------------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Senior Subordinated Note) Tax Identification No.: --------- Signature Guarantee: 12 SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES FOR GLOBAL NOTES The following exchanges of a part of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for other Global Notes have been made: Amount of decrease in Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Signature of Date of Exchange Principal Amount Principal Amount Global Note authorized officer of Trustee or - - ---------------- of this Global of this Global following such decrease Senior Subordinated Note Note Note (or increase) Custodian ---- ---- ------------- --------- 13 EXHIBIT B-1 FORM OF CERTIFICATE FOR EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER FROM RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE TO REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE (Pursuant to Section 2.06(a)(i) of the Indenture) Bank One, NA c/o Corporate Trust Office 235 West Shrock Road Westerville, OH 43081 Re: 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 The Musicland Group, Inc. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 6, 1998 (the "INDENTURE"), among The Musicland Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Musicland Stores Corporation, a Delaware corporation, ("MSC" or the "GUARANTOR") and Bank One, NA, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. This letter relates to $ _______________ principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes which are evidenced by one or more Rule 144A Global Notes and held with the Depositary in the name of ______________________ (the "TRANSFEROR"). The Transferor has requested a transfer of such beneficial interest in the Senior Subordinated Notes to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of an equal principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes evidenced by one or more Regulation S Global Notes, which amount, immediately after such transfer, is to be held with the Depositary through Euroclear or Cedel or both. In connection with such request and in respect of such Senior Subordinated Notes, the Transferor hereby certifies that such transfer has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that: (1) The offer of the Senior Subordinated Notes was not made to a person in the United States; (2) either: (a) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or the Transferor and any person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the transferee was outside the United States; or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither the Transferor 1 nor any person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States; (3) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 904(b) of Regulation S; (4) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration provisions of the Securities Act; and (5) upon completion of the transaction, the beneficial interest being transferred as described above is to be held with the Depositary through Euroclear or Cedel or both. Upon giving effect to this request to exchange a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note for a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note, the resulting beneficial interest shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer applicable to Regulation S Global Notes pursuant to the Indenture and the Securities Act and, if such transfer occurs prior to the end of the 40-day restricted period associated with the initial offering of Senior Subordinated Notes, the additional restrictions applicable to transfers of interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note. This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, the Guarantor and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated and NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC, the initial purchasers of such Senior Subordinated Notes being transferred. Terms used in this certificate and not otherwise defined in the Indenture have the meanings set forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act. [Insert Name of Transferor] By: ------------------------------------- Name: Title: Dated: cc: The Musicland Group, Inc. Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation BT Alex. Brown Incorporated NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC 2 EXHIBIT B-2 FORM OF CERTIFICATE FOR EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER FROM REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE TO RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE (Pursuant to Section 2.06(a)(ii) of the Indenture) Bank One, NA c/o Corporate Trust Office 235 West Shrock Road Westerville, OH 43081 Re: 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 The Musicland Group, Inc. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 6, 1998 (the "INDENTURE"), among The Musicland Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Musicland Stores Corporation, a Delaware corporation, ("MSC" or the "GUARANTOR") and Bank One, NA, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. This letter relates to $_________ principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes which are evidenced by one or more Regulation S Global Notes and held with the Depositary through Euroclear or Cedel in the name of ______________________ (the "TRANSFEROR"). The Transferor has requested a transfer of such beneficial interest in the Senior Subordinated Notes to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of an equal principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes evidenced by one or more Rule 144A Global Notes, to be held with the Depositary. In connection with such request and in respect of such Senior Subordinated Notes, the Transferor hereby certifies that: [CHECK ONE] / / such 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 Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the Senior Subordinated Notes 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; or / / such transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; 1 or / / such transfer is being effected pursuant to an exemption under the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904 and the Transferor further certifies that the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Global Notes and Definitive Senior Subordinated Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (x) if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes at the time of Transfer of $100,000 or more, a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit C to the Indenture, or (y) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes at the time of transfer of less than $100,000, (1) a certificate executed in the form of Exhibit C to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that (1) such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and (2) such Transfer complies with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States; or / / such transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or / / such transfer is being effected pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Rule 144, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that the Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and in accordance with the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by an Opinion of Counsel, provided by the transferor or the transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification) in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar, to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; and such Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon giving effect to this request to exchange a beneficial interest in Regulation S Global Notes for a beneficial interest in 144A Global Notes, the resulting beneficial interest shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer applicable to Rule 144A Global Notes pursuant to the Indenture and the Securities Act. This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, the Guarantor and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated and NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC, the initial purchasers of such Senior Subordinated Notes being transferred. Terms used in this certificate and not otherwise defined in the Indenture have the meanings set forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act. 2 [Insert Name of Transferor] By: ------------------------------------- Name: Title: Dated: cc: The Musicland Group, Inc. Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation BT Alex. Brown Incorporated NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC 3 EXHIBIT B-3 FORM OF CERTIFICATE FOR EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF DEFINITIVE SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES (Pursuant to Section 2.06(b) of the Indenture) Bank One, NA c/o Corporate Trust Office 235 West Shrock Road Westerville, OH 43081 Re: 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 of The Musicland Group, Inc. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 6, 1998 (the "INDENTURE"), among The Musicland Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Musicland Stores Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("MSC" or the "GUARANTOR") and Bank One, NA, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. This letter relates to $_______________ principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes which are evidenced by one or more Definitive Senior Subordinated Notes in the name of ________________ (the "TRANSFEROR"). The Transferor has requested an exchange or transfer of such Definitive Senior Subordinated Note(s) in the form of an equal principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes evidenced by one or more Definitive Senior Subordinated Notes, to be delivered to the Transferor or, in the case of a transfer of such Senior Subordinated Notes, to such Person as the Transferor instructs the Trustee. In connection with such request and in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes surrendered to the Trustee herewith for exchange (the "SURRENDERED SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES"), the Holder of such Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes hereby certifies that: [CHECK ONE] / / the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being acquired for the Transferor's own account, without transfer; or / / the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred to the Company; or / / the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred 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 Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes for its own account, or for one or more accounts with 1 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 each case in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A; or / / the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred in a transaction permitted by Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or / / the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred pursuant to an exemption under the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904 and the Transferor further certifies that the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Global Notes and Definitive Senior Subordinated Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (x) if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes at the time of Transfer of $100,000 or more, a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit C to the Indenture, or (y) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes at the time of transfer of less than $100,000, (1) a certificate executed in the form of Exhibit C to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that (1) such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and (2) such Transfer complies with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States; or / / the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or / / such transfer is being effected pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Rule 144, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that the Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and in accordance with the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by an Opinion of Counsel, provided by the transferor or the transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification) in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar, to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; and the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. 2 This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, the Guarantor and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated and NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC, the initial purchasers of such Senior Subordinated Notes being transferred. Terms used in this certificate and not otherwise defined in the Indenture have the meanings set forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act. [Insert Name of Transferor] By: ------------------------------------- Name: Title: Dated: ---------------------- cc: The Musicland Group, Inc. Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation BT Alex. Brown Incorporated NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC 3 EXHIBIT B-4 FORM OF CERTIFICATE FOR EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER FROM RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR REGULATION S PERMANENT GLOBAL NOTE TO DEFINITIVE SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE (Pursuant to Section 2.06(c) of the Indenture) Bank One, NA c/o Corporate Trust Office 235 West Shrock Road Westerville, OH 43081 Re: 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 of The Musicland Group, Inc. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 6, 1998 (the "INDENTURE"), among The Musicland Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Musicland Stores Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("MSC" or the "GUARANTOR"), and Bank One, NA, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. This letter relates to $__________ principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes which are evidenced by a beneficial interest in one or more Rule 144A Global Notes or Regulation S Permanent Global Notes in the name of ____________ ______ (the "TRANSFEROR"). The Transferor has requested an exchange or transfer of such beneficial interest in the form of an equal principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes evidenced by one or more Definitive Senior Subordinated Notes, to be delivered to the Transferor or, in the case of a transfer of such Senior Subordinated Notes, to such Person as the Transferor instructs the Trustee. In connection with such request and in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes surrendered to the Trustee herewith for exchange (the "SURRENDERED SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES"), the Holder of such Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes hereby certifies that: [CHECK ONE] / / the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred to the beneficial owner of such Senior Subordinated Notes; or / / the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred 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 Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes 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 1 a "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" within the meaning of Rule 144A, in each case in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A; or / / the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred in a transaction permitted by Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or / / the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or / / the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred pursuant to an exemption under the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904 and the Transferor further certifies that the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Global Notes and Definitive Senior Subordinated Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (x) if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes at the time of Transfer of $100,000 or more, a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit C to the Indenture, or (y) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes at the time of transfer of less than $100,000, (1) a certificate executed in the form of Exhibit C to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that (1) such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and (2) such Transfer complies with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States; or / / such transfer is being effected pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Rule 144, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that the Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and in accordance with the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by an Opinion of Counsel, provided by the transferor or the transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification) in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar, to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; and the Surrendered Senior Subordinated Notes are being transferred in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, the Guarantor and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities 2 Corporation, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated and NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC, the initial purchasers of such Senior Subordinated Notes being transferred. Terms used in this certificate and not otherwise defined in the Indenture have the meanings set forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act. [Insert Name of Transferor] By: ------------------------------------- Name: Title: Dated: ---------------------- cc: The Musicland Group, Inc. Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation BT Alex. Brown Incorporated NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC 3 EXHIBIT C FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR Bank One, NA c/o Corporate Trust Office 235 West Shrock Road Westerville, OH 43081 Re: 9_% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 of The Musicland Group, Inc. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 6, 1998 (the "INDENTURE"), among The Musicland Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Musicland Stores Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("MSC" or the "GUARANTOR"), and Bank One, NA, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. In connection with our proposed purchase of $__________ aggregate principal amount of: / / (a) Beneficial interests, or / / (b) Definitive Senior Subordinated Notes, we confirm that: 1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Senior Subordinated Notes of any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Senior Subordinated Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"). 2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Senior Subordinated Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Senior Subordinated Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Senior Subordinated Notes or any interest therein, (A) we will do so only (1)(a) to a person who the Seller reasonably believes is a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in a transaction meeting the requirements of 144A, (b) in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (c) outside the United States to a foreign person in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 904 of the Securities Act, or (d) in accordance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and based upon an opinion of counsel), (2) to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (3) pursuant to an effective registration statement and, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any State of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction and (B) 1 we will, and each subsequent holder will be required to, notify any purchaser from it of the security evidenced hereby of the resale restrictions set forth in (A) above." 3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Senior Subordinated Notes or beneficial interests, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Senior Subordinated Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect. 4. We are an institutional "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Senior Subordinated Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment. 5. We are acquiring the Senior Subordinated Notes or beneficial interests therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional "ACCREDITED INVESTOR") as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion. 6. We are not acquiring the Senior Subordinated Notes with a view to any distribution thereof that would violate the Securities Act or the securities laws of any State of the United States. 2 You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. ---------------------------------------- [Insert Name of Accredited Investor] By: ------------------------------------- Name: Title: Dated: , -------------- ---- 3 EXHIBIT D NOTE GUARANTEE Subject to Section 11.03 of the Indenture, the Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Senior Subordinated Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of the Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Obligations of the Company under the Senior Subordinated Notes or under the Indenture, that: (a) the principal of, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Senior Subordinated Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on overdue principal, premium, if any, (to the extent permitted by law) interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Senior Subordinated Notes and all other payment Obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee under the Indenture or under the Senior Subordinated Notes will be promptly paid in full and performed, all in accordance with the terms thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Senior Subordinated Notes or any of such other payment Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise. Failing payment when so due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantor will be obligated to pay the same immediately. The obligations of the Guarantor to the Holders and to the Trustee pursuant to this Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture, and reference is hereby made to such Indenture for the precise terms of this Note Guarantee. The terms of Article 11 of the Indenture are incorporated herein by reference. This is a continuing Guarantee and, subject to the provisions of Article 8 of the Indenture, shall remain in full force and effect and shall be binding upon the Guarantor and its respective successors and assigns to the extent set forth in the Indenture until full and final payment of all of the Company's Obligations under the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Indenture and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges herein conferred upon that party shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions hereof. This is a Note Guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection. This Note Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication on the Senior Subordinated Note upon which this Note Guarantee is noted shall have been executed by the Trustee under the Indenture by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers. 1 For purposes hereof, the Guarantor's liability shall be limited to the lesser of (i) the aggregate amount of the Obligations of the Company under the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Indenture and (ii) the amount, if any, which would not have (A) rendered such Guarantor "INSOLVENT" (as such term is defined in the United States Bankruptcy Code and in the Debtor and Creditor Law of the State of New York) or (B) left the Guarantor with unreasonably small capital at the time its Note Guarantee of the Senior Subordinated Notes was entered into; PROVIDED that, it will be a presumption in any lawsuit or other proceeding in which the Guarantor is a party that the amount guaranteed pursuant to the Note Guarantee is the amount set forth in clause (i) above unless any creditor, or representative of creditors of the Guarantor, or debtor in possession or trustee in bankruptcy of the Guarantor, otherwise proves in such a lawsuit that the aggregate liability of the Guarantor is limited to the amount set forth in clause (ii) above. The Indenture provides that, in making any determination as to the solvency or sufficiency of capital of the Guarantor in accordance with the previous sentence, the right of the Guarantor to contribution from another guarantor and any other rights such Guarantor may have, contractual or otherwise, shall be taken into account. The Indenture provides that all Obligations evidenced by this Note Guarantee shall be subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in Article 12 of the Indenture, to the prior payment in full in cash of all Guarantor Senior Debt (whether outstanding on the date of the Indenture or created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed thereafter), and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt. Capitalized terms used herein have the same meanings given in the Indenture unless otherwise indicated. Dated as of , 1998 MUSICLAND STORES CORPORATION ----------- By: ------------------------------------- Name: Title: 1 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) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.03; 7.10 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N.A. 311(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.11 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.11 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N.A. 312(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.05 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.03 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.03 313(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.06 (b)(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.06 (b)(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.06; 7.07 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.06;13.02 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.06 314(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.03;13.05 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N.A. (c)(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.04 (c)(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.04 (c)(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N.A. (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N.A. (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.05 (f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N.A. 315(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.01 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.05,13.02 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.01 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.01 (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.11 316(a)(last sentence). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.09 (a)(1)(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.05 (a)(1)(B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.04 (a)(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N.A. (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.07 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.13 317(a)(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.08 (a)(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.09 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.04 318(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.01 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N.A. (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.01 N.A. means not applicable. i *This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture. ii