HERCULES OFFSHORE, INC. asIssuer, The GUARANTORS named herein and U.S. BANK NATIONALASSOCIATION as Trustee INDENTURE Dated as of October 1, 2013 7.50% SeniorNotes due 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION VERSION
HERCULES OFFSHORE, INC.
as Issuer,
The GUARANTORS named herein
and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of October 1, 2013
7.50% Senior Notes due 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE 1 | ||||||
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | ||||||
Section 1.01. | Definitions | 1 | ||||
Section 1.02. | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 31 | ||||
Section 1.03. | Rules of Construction | 31 | ||||
ARTICLE 2 | ||||||
THE NOTES | ||||||
Section 2.01. | Form and Dating | 32 | ||||
Section 2.02. | Execution and Authentication | 32 | ||||
Section 2.03. | Registrar and Paying Agent | 33 | ||||
Section 2.04. | Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust | 33 | ||||
Section 2.05. | Noteholder Lists | 34 | ||||
Section 2.06. | Transfer and Exchange | 34 | ||||
Section 2.07. | Replacement Notes | 35 | ||||
Section 2.08. | Outstanding Notes | 35 | ||||
Section 2.09. | Treasury Notes | 35 | ||||
Section 2.10. | Temporary Notes | 36 | ||||
Section 2.11. | Cancellation | 36 | ||||
Section 2.12. | Defaulted Interest | 36 | ||||
Section 2.13. | Deposit of Moneys | 37 | ||||
Section 2.14. | CUSIP Number | 37 | ||||
Section 2.15. | Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes | 37 | ||||
Section 2.16. | Registration of Transfers and Exchanges | 38 | ||||
Section 2.17. | Restrictive Legends | 42 | ||||
ARTICLE 3 | ||||||
REDEMPTION | ||||||
Section 3.01. | Notices to Trustee | 44 | ||||
Section 3.02. | Selection of Notes to be Redeemed | 44 | ||||
Section 3.03. | Notice of Redemption | 45 | ||||
Section 3.04. | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 46 | ||||
Section 3.05. | Deposit of Redemption Price | 46 | ||||
Section 3.06. | Notes Redeemed in Part | 46 | ||||
Section 3.07. | Tax Redemption | 46 |
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ARTICLE 4 | ||||||
COVENANTS | ||||||
Section 4.01. | Payment of Notes | 47 | ||||
Section 4.02. | Reports to Holders | 47 | ||||
Section 4.03. | Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws | 48 | ||||
Section 4.04. | Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default; Tax Information | 48 | ||||
Section 4.05. | Payment of Taxes and Other Claims | 49 | ||||
Section 4.06. | Corporate Existence | 49 | ||||
Section 4.07. | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 50 | ||||
Section 4.08. | Compliance with Laws | 50 | ||||
Section 4.09. | Maintenance of Properties and Insurance | 50 | ||||
Section 4.10. | Limitations on Additional Indebtedness | 51 | ||||
Section 4.11. | Limitations on Restricted Payments | 54 | ||||
Section 4.12. | Limitations on Asset Sales | 56 | ||||
Section 4.13. | Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates | 60 | ||||
Section 4.14. | Limitation on Liens | 62 | ||||
Section 4.15. | Change of Control | 62 | ||||
Section 4.16. | Limitations on Dividend and Other Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries | 64 | ||||
Section 4.17. | [Reserved] | 66 | ||||
Section 4.18. | Conduct of Business | 66 | ||||
Section 4.19. | Limitations on Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries | 66 | ||||
Section 4.20. | Additional Note Guarantees | 68 | ||||
Section 4.21. | Limitations on Layering Indebtedness | 68 | ||||
Section 4.22. | [Reserved] | 68 | ||||
Section 4.23. | Suspension of Covenants | 69 | ||||
Section 4.24. | Payment of Additional Amounts by a Foreign Successor Issuer | 69 | ||||
ARTICLE 5 | ||||||
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION | ||||||
Section 5.01. | Limitations on Mergers, Consolidations, Etc. | 72 | ||||
Section 5.02. | Successor Person Substituted | 73 | ||||
ARTICLE 6 | ||||||
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | ||||||
Section 6.01. | Events of Default | 74 | ||||
Section 6.02. | Acceleration | 76 | ||||
Section 6.03. | Other Remedies | 77 | ||||
Section 6.04. | Waiver of Past Defaults and Events of Default | 77 | ||||
Section 6.05. | Control by Majority | 77 | ||||
Section 6.06. | Limitation on Suits | 78 |
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Section 6.07. | Rights of Holders To Receive Payment | 78 | ||||
Section 6.08. | Collection Suit by Trustee | 78 | ||||
Section 6.09. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 79 | ||||
Section 6.10. | Priorities | 79 | ||||
Section 6.11. | Undertaking for Costs | 80 | ||||
ARTICLE 7 | ||||||
TRUSTEE | ||||||
Section 7.01. | Duties of Trustee | 80 | ||||
Section 7.02. | Rights of Trustee | 82 | ||||
Section 7.03. | Individual Rights of Trustee | 83 | ||||
Section 7.04. | Trustees Disclaimer | 83 | ||||
Section 7.05. | Notice of Defaults | 83 | ||||
Section 7.06. | Reports by Trustee to Holders | 84 | ||||
Section 7.07. | Compensation and Indemnity | 84 | ||||
Section 7.08. | Replacement of Trustee | 85 | ||||
Section 7.09. | Successor Trustee by Consolidation, Merger or Conversion | 86 | ||||
Section 7.10. | Eligibility; Disqualification | 86 | ||||
Section 7.11. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer | 86 | ||||
ARTICLE 8 | ||||||
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS | ||||||
Section 8.01. | Without Consent of Holders | 87 | ||||
Section 8.02. | With Consent of Holders | 87 | ||||
Section 8.03. | Compliance with TIA | 89 | ||||
Section 8.04. | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 89 | ||||
Section 8.05. | Notation on or Exchange of Notes | 89 | ||||
Section 8.06. | Trustee To Sign Amendments, etc. | 89 | ||||
ARTICLE 9 | ||||||
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE | ||||||
Section 9.01. | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 90 | ||||
Section 9.02. | Legal Defeasance | 91 | ||||
Section 9.03. | Covenant Defeasance | 91 | ||||
Section 9.04. | Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 92 | ||||
Section 9.05. | Application of Trust Money | 93 | ||||
Section 9.06. | Repayment to the Issuer | 94 | ||||
Section 9.07. | Reinstatement | 94 |
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ARTICLE 10 | ||||||
GUARANTEES | ||||||
Section 10.01. | Unconditional Guarantee | 94 | ||||
Section 10.02. | Severability | 95 | ||||
Section 10.03. | Limitation on Guarantors Liability | 95 | ||||
Section 10.04. | Successors and Assigns | 97 | ||||
Section 10.05. | No Waiver | 97 | ||||
Section 10.06. | Release of Guarantor | 97 | ||||
Section 10.07. | Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors | 98 | ||||
Section 10.08. | Notation of Note Guarantee | 98 | ||||
Section 10.09. | Subordination of Subrogation and Other Rights | 98 | ||||
ARTICLE 11 | ||||||
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||||
Section 11.01. | TIA Controls | 99 | ||||
Section 11.02. | Notices | 99 | ||||
Section 11.03. | Communications by Holders with Other Holders | 100 | ||||
Section 11.04. | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 100 | ||||
Section 11.05. | Statements Required in Certificate and Opinion | 100 | ||||
Section 11.06. | Rules by Trustee and Agents | 101 | ||||
Section 11.07. | Legal Holidays | 101 | ||||
Section 11.08. | Governing Law | 101 | ||||
Section 11.09. | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 101 | ||||
Section 11.10. | No Recourse Against Others | 101 | ||||
Section 11.11. | Successors | 101 | ||||
Section 11.12. | Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunities | 101 | ||||
Section 11.13. | Multiple Counterparts | 102 | ||||
Section 11.14. | Table of Contents, Headings, etc. | 102 | ||||
Section 11.15. | Separability | 102 | ||||
Section 11.16. | Waiver of Jury Trial | 102 | ||||
Signatures | S-1 | |||||
EXHIBITS | ||||||
Exhibit A | Form of Note | A-1 | ||||
Exhibit B | Form of Certificate to Be Delivered Upon Exchange or Registration of Transfer of Notes | B-1 | ||||
Exhibit C | Form of Transferee Letter of Representation | C-1 | ||||
Exhibit D | Form of Certificate to Be Delivered in Connection with Regulation S Transfers | D-1 | ||||
Exhibit E | Form of Supplemental Indenture | E-1 |
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INDENTURE, dated as of October 1, 2013, among Hercules Offshore, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Issuer), each of the GUARANTORS (as defined herein) and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the Trustee).
The Issuer has duly authorized the creation of an issue of 7.50% Senior Notes due 2021 (the Initial Notes) and, to provide therefor, the Issuer and each Guarantor have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture. All things necessary to make the Notes, when duly issued and executed by the Issuer, and authenticated and delivered hereunder, the valid obligations of the Issuer, and to make this Indenture a valid and binding agreement of the Issuer and the Guarantors, have been done.
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01. Definitions.
The terms defined in this Section 1.01 have the meanings indicated herein. Other capitalized terms used in this Indenture are defined elsewhere in this Indenture.
Acquired Indebtedness means (1) with respect to any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, Indebtedness of such Person and its Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of such Persons business to acquire assets used or useful in its business) existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary that was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (2) with respect to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, any Indebtedness of a Person (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of such Persons business to acquire assets used or useful in its business), other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, existing at the time such Person is merged with or into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, or Indebtedness expressly assumed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the acquisition of an asset or assets from another Person, which Indebtedness was not, in any case, incurred by such other Person in connection with, or in contemplation of, such merger or acquisition.
Additional Secured Notes means Secured Notes issued as Additional Notes under the indenture governing the Secured Notes and having identical terms and conditions to the Secured Notes issued by the Issuer on April 3, 2012, except for issue date, issue price and first interest payment.
Affiliate of any Person means any other Person which directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by, or is under direct or indirect common control with, the referent Person. For purposes of this definition, control of a Person shall mean the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Agent means any Registrar, Paying Agent, co-Registrar, Authenticating Agent or agent for services of notices and demands.
amend means to amend, supplement, restate, amend and restate or otherwise modify, including successively, and amendment shall have a correlative meaning.
Applicable Premium means, as to each Note on any applicable Redemption Date, an amount equal to the greater of
(1) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note; and
(2) the excess, if any, of:
(a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the Redemption Price of such Note at October 1, 2016 (such Redemption Price being set forth in the table appearing in paragraph 5 of such Note) plus (ii) all required interest payments (excluding accrued and unpaid interest to such Redemption Date) due on such Note through October 1, 2016, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over
(b) the principal amount of such Note.
asset means any asset or property.
Asset Acquisition means
(1) an Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in any other Person if, as a result of such Investment, such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary, or shall be merged with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, or
(2) the acquisition by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of all or substantially all of the assets of any other Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary) or any division or line of business of any such other Person (other than in the ordinary course of business).
Asset Sale means any sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease, assignment or other disposition by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Person other than the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (including by means of a sale and leaseback transaction or a merger or consolidation) (collectively, for purposes of this definition, a transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of any assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course of business. For purposes of this definition, the term Asset Sale shall not include:
(1) transfers of cash or Cash Equivalents;
(2) transfers of assets (including Equity Interests) that are governed by, and made in accordance with, Section 4.15 or Article 5;
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(3) (a) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 4.11, including the issuance or sale of Equity Interests or the sale, lease or other disposition of products, services, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets pursuant to any such Restricted Payment, and (b) the consummation of any Permitted Investment, including, without limitation, unwinding any Hedging Obligations, and including the issuance or sale of Equity Interests or the sale, lease or other disposition of products, services, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets pursuant to any such Permitted Investment;
(4) the creation of or realization on any Lien permitted under this Indenture and any disposition of assets resulting from the enforcement or foreclosure of any such Lien;
(5) the sale, lease (including any charter of a vessel, whether bareboat or otherwise) or other disposition of equipment, inventory, products, services, accounts receivable or other assets in the ordinary course of business, including in connection with any compromise, settlement or collection of accounts receivable, and transfers of damaged, worn-out or obsolete equipment or assets that, in the Issuers reasonable judgment, are no longer used or useful in the business of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(6) sales or grants of licenses or sublicenses to use the patents, trade secrets, know-how and other intellectual property, and licenses, leases or subleases of other assets, of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not materially interfering with the business of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
(7) the trade or exchange by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of any asset for any other asset or assets; provided that the Fair Market Value of the asset or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary in such trade or exchange (including any cash or Cash Equivalents) is at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or an executive officer of the Issuer or of such Restricted Subsidiary with responsibility for such transaction, which determination shall be conclusive evidence of compliance with this provision) of the asset or assets disposed of by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to such trade or exchange; and, provided, further, that if any cash or Cash Equivalents are used in such trade or exchange to achieve an exchange of equivalent value, that the amount of such cash and/or Cash Equivalents shall be deemed proceeds of an Asset Sale, subject to the following clause (12);
(8) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;
(9) sales or transfers of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
(10) transfers of property subject to casualty or condemnation proceedings;
(11) voluntary termination of Hedging Obligations; and
(12) any single transfer or series of related transfers that involve assets having a Fair Market Value of less than $5.0 million.
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Board of Directors means, with respect to any Person, (1) in the case of any corporation, the board of directors of such Person, (2) in the case of any partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of such Person and (3) in any other case, the functional equivalent of the foregoing or, in each case, other than for purposes of the definition of Change of Control, any duly authorized committee of such body.
Board Resolution means, with respect to any Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
Business Day means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York are authorized or required by law to close.
Capitalized Lease means a lease required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any lease that would have been classified as an operating lease pursuant to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the Issue Date shall be deemed not to be a Capitalized Lease.
Capitalized Lease Obligations of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a Capitalized Lease, and the amount of such obligation shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
Cash Equivalents means:
(1) marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof), maturing within 365 days of the date of acquisition thereof;
(2) demand and time deposits and certificates of deposit of any lender under any Credit Facility or any commercial bank having, or which is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia having, capital and surplus aggregating in excess of $300.0 million and a rating of BBB (or such other similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act) maturing within 365 days of the date of acquisition thereof;
(3) commercial paper issued by any Person incorporated in the United States rated at the time of acquisition thereof at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof by Moodys or having an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency if both S&P and Moodys cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally, and in each case maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition thereof;
(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (1) or (2) above or clause (5) below entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (2) above;
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(5) securities issued and fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, rated at the time of acquisition thereof at least A by Moodys or S&P and having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(6) investments in money market or other mutual funds substantially all of whose assets comprise securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (5) above;
(7) demand deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business; and
(8) in the case of any Subsidiary of the Issuer organized or having its principal place of business outside the United States of America, investments denominated in the currency of the jurisdiction in which such Subsidiary is organized or has its principal place of business that are similar to the items specified in clauses (1) through (7) above.
Certificated Notes means one or more certificated Notes in registered form.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act; provided that a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur by reason of a transaction with one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Issuer in a Permitted Jurisdiction);
(2) any person or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause that person or group shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that any such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of Voting Stock representing 50.0% or more of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of the Issuer;
(3) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors (together with any new directors whose election to such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the Issuer was recommended by a vote of a majority of the directors of the Issuer then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so recommended) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer; and
(4) the adoption by the stockholders of the Issuer of a Plan of Liquidation.
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For purposes of this definition, a Person shall not be deemed to have beneficial ownership of securities subject to a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement until the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such agreement.
Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, or if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the applicable duties now assigned to it, then the body or bodies performing such duties at such time.
Consolidated Amortization Expense for any period means the amortization expense of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Cash Flow for any period means, without duplication, the sum of the amounts for such period of
(1) Consolidated Net Income, plus
(2) in each case only to the extent (and in the same proportion) deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income and with respect to the portion of Consolidated Net Income attributable to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be distributed to the Issuer by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior approval (that has not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders:
(a) Consolidated Income Tax Expense,
(b) Consolidated Amortization Expense (but only to the extent not included in Consolidated Interest Expense),
(c) Consolidated Depreciation Expense, and
(d) Consolidated Interest Expense,
in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, minus
(3) the aggregate amount of all non-cash items, determined on a consolidated basis, to the extent such items increased Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding any non-cash items to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual of a reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated Cash Flow in any prior period), and excluding
(4) any gain (or loss), together with any related provisions for taxes on any such gain (or the tax effect of any such loss), realized during such period by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary upon (i) any Asset Sale by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (ii) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (or extraordinary or nonrecurring loss), together with any related provision for taxes on any such extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (or the tax effect of any such extraordinary or nonrecurring loss) recorded or realized by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period.
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For purposes of this definition of Consolidated Cash Flow, nonrecurring means any gain or loss as of any date that is not reasonably likely to recur within the two years following such date; provided that if there was a gain or loss similar to such gain or loss within the two years preceding such date, such gain or loss shall not be deemed nonrecurring.
Consolidated Depreciation Expense for any period means the depreciation expense of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Income Tax Expense for any period means the provision for taxes of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio means the ratio of Consolidated Cash Flow during the most recent four consecutive full fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available (the Four-Quarter Period) ending on or prior to the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (the Transaction Date) to Consolidated Interest Expense for the Four-Quarter Period. For purposes of this definition, Consolidated Cash Flow and Consolidated Interest Expense shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis (including the pro forma effect of (x) any expense or cost reductions that have occurred or, in the reasonable judgment of the Issuer, are reasonably expected to occur and (y) the expected income, based on current market rates, from any Vessel Acquisition (regardless of whether these operating improvements, cost savings or expected income could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the Commission related thereto)) for the period of such calculation to:
(1) the incurrence of any Indebtedness by or the issuance of any Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (and the application of the proceeds thereof) and any repayment, repurchase, retirement, extinguishment or redemption of other Indebtedness or other Preferred Stock (and the application of the proceeds therefrom) (other than the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes pursuant to any revolving credit arrangement) occurring during the Four-Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four-Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such incurrence, repayment, repurchase, issuance, retirement, extinguishment or redemption, as the case may be (and the application of the proceeds thereof), occurred on the first day of the Four-Quarter Period; and
(2) any Asset Sale, Vessel Acquisition or Asset Acquisition (including, without limitation, any Vessel Acquisition or Asset Acquisition giving rise to the need to make such calculation as a result of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (including any Person who becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Acquisition) incurring
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Acquired Indebtedness and also including any Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to such Vessel Acquisition or Asset Acquisition occurring during the Four-Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four-Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date), as if such Asset Sale, Vessel Acquisition or Asset Acquisition (including the incurrence of, or assumption or liability for, any such Acquired Indebtedness) occurred on the first day of the Four-Quarter Period (and without regard to clause (2) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income).
In calculating Consolidated Interest Expense for purposes of determining the denominator (but not the numerator) of this Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio:
(1) interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis as of the Transaction Date and which will continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have accrued during the Four-Quarter Period at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest on such Indebtedness in effect on the Transaction Date;
(2) if interest on any Indebtedness actually incurred on the Transaction 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 Transaction Date will be deemed to have been in effect during the Four-Quarter Period; and
(3) notwithstanding clause (1) or (2) above, interest on Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered by agreements relating to Hedging Obligations, shall be deemed to have accrued during the Four-Quarter Period at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to the operation of these agreements.
Consolidated Interest Expense for any period means the sum, without duplication, of the total interest expense of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and including, without duplication,
(1) imputed interest on Capitalized Lease Obligations,
(2) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit securing financial obligations, bankers acceptance financing and receivables financings,
(3) the net costs associated with Hedging Obligations related to interest rates,
(4) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligations,
(5) all other non-cash interest expense,
(6) capitalized interest,
(7) all dividend payments on any series of Disqualified Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary),
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(8) all interest payable with respect to discontinued operations, and
(9) all interest on any Indebtedness described in clause (7) or (8) of the definition of Indebtedness; provided that (a) amortization of debt issuance costs, debt discount or premium and other financing fees and expenses shall be excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense and (b) non-cash interest expense attributable to the equity component of convertible debt, including under ASC Topic 470, shall be excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any lease or other liability is reclassified as indebtedness or as a Capitalized Lease Obligation due to a change in accounting principles after the Issue Date, the interest component of all payments associated with such lease or other liability shall be excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense.
Consolidated Net Income for any period means the net income (or loss) of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from such net income (or loss) (to the extent otherwise included therein), without duplication:
(1) the net income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary) in which any Person other than the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that cash in an amount up to the Issuers share of any such income has actually been received from such Person by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period; provided, however, that there shall be included in Consolidated Net Income for such period any dividends or other distributions paid in cash to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries by such Person in such period with respect to any portion of the net income of such Person allocable to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries excluded from Consolidated Net Income in a previous fiscal period pursuant to the preceding provisions of this clause (1);
(2) except to the extent includible in the Consolidated Net Income (or loss) of the Issuer pursuant to the foregoing clause (1), the net income (or loss) of any Person that accrued prior to the date that (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) the assets of such Person are acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(3) the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor during such period to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Subsidiary during such period, except that the Issuers equity in a net loss of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period shall be included in determining Consolidated Net Income;
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(4) for the purposes of calculating the Restricted Payments Basket only, in the case of a successor to the Issuer by consolidation, merger or transfer of its assets, any income (or loss) of the successor prior to such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets;
(5) gains and losses due solely to fluctuations in currency values and the related tax effects according to GAAP;
(6) unrealized gains and losses with respect to Hedging Obligations;
(7) the cumulative effect of any change in accounting principles or policies since December 31, 2011;
(8) gains or losses attributable to discontinued operations;
(9) any gain (or loss), together with any related provisions for taxes on any such gain (or the tax effect of any such loss), realized during such period by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary upon (a) the acquisition of any securities, or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness, of the Issuer or any Subsidiary or (b) any Asset Sale by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(10) extraordinary gains and losses and the related tax effect;
(11) non-cash interest expense attributable to the equity component of convertible debt, including under ASC Topic 470; and
(12) all other non-cash items (other than Consolidated Amortization Expense, Consolidated Depreciation Expense or any non-cash charge that results in an accrual of a reserve for cash charges in any future period).
In addition, any return of capital with respect to an Investment that increased the Restricted Payments Basket pursuant to clause (3)(D) of clause (a) of Section 4.11 or decreased the amount of Investments outstanding pursuant to clause (19) of the definition of Permitted Investment shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income for purposes of calculating the Restricted Payments Basket.
Consolidated Tangible Assets means, with respect to any Person as of any date, the amount which, in accordance with GAAP, would be set forth under the caption Total Assets (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, less all goodwill, patents, tradenames, trademarks, copyrights, franchises, experimental expenses, organization expenses and any other amounts classified as intangible assets in accordance with GAAP.
Contingent Obligation shall mean, as to any Person, any obligation, agreement, understanding or arrangement of such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (primary obligations) of any other Person (the primary obligor) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor; (b) to advance or supply funds (i)
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for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation; (d) with respect to bankers acceptances and letters of credit, until a reimbursement obligation arises (which obligation shall constitute Indebtedness); or (e) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Contingent Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or any product warranties for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made (or, if less, the maximum amount of such primary obligation for which such Person may be liable, whether severally or jointly, pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing such Contingent Obligation) or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith.
Corporate Trust Office means the office of the Trustee in Houston, Texas at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Indenture is located at 5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 1150, Houston, TX 77056, Attention: Steven A. Finklea, Corporate Trust Services, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).
Coverage Ratio Exception has the meaning set forth in the proviso in clause (a) of Section 4.10.
Credit Agreement means the Credit Agreement dated April 3, 2012, as amended by Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2, by and among the Issuer, as Borrower, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as issuing bank, administrative agent and collateral agent and the other lenders and financial institutions named therein, including any notes, guarantees, collateral and security documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith (including Hedging Obligations related to the Indebtedness incurred thereunder), and in each case as amended or refinanced by one or more Credit Facilities that are secured by the collateral thereunder on the same priority basis as the Credit Agreement in effect prior to such refinancing from time to time.
Credit Facilities means one or more debt facilities of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (which may be outstanding at the same time and including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement) with banks or other institutional lenders or investors or indentures providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other long-term indebtedness, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as such agreements may be amended, refinanced or otherwise restructured, in whole or in part from time to time (including increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder or adding Subsidiaries of the Issuer as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder) with respect to all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements, any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or any indenture or successor or replacement indenture and whether by the same or any other agent, lender, group of lenders or investors.
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Default means (1) any Event of Default or (2) any event, act or condition that, after notice or the passage of time or both, would be an Event of Default.
Depositary means, with respect to the Notes issued in the form of one or more Global Notes, The Depository Trust Company or another Person designated as Depositary by the Issuer, which Person must be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act.
Designation has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.19(a).
Designation Amount has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.19(a)(2).
Discovery Offshore means Discovery Offshore S.A., a Luxembourg company, and its successors and assigns.
Disqualified Equity Interests of any Person means any class of Equity Interests of such Person that, by its terms, or by the terms of any related agreement or of any security into or for which it is convertible, puttable or exchangeable (in each case, at the option of the holder thereof), is, or upon the happening of any event or the passage of time would be, required to be redeemed by such Person, at the option of the holder thereof, or matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, in whole or in part, in any case on or prior to the date which is 91 days after the final maturity date of the Notes; provided, however, that any class of Equity Interests of such Person that, by its terms, authorizes such Person to satisfy in full its obligations with respect to the payment of dividends or upon maturity, redemption (pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise) or repurchase thereof or otherwise by the delivery of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests, and that is not convertible into or puttable or exchangeable for Disqualified Equity Interests or Indebtedness, will not be deemed to be Disqualified Equity Interests so long as such Person satisfies its obligations with respect thereto solely by the delivery of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests; provided, further, however, that any Equity Interests that would not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof (or the holders of any security into or for which such Equity Interests are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable) the right to require the Issuer to repurchase or redeem such Equity Interests upon the occurrence of a change in control or an asset sale occurring prior to the 91st day after the final maturity date of the Notes shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests if the change of control or asset sale provisions applicable to such Equity Interests are no more favorable to such holders than the provisions of Section 4.15 and Section 4.12, respectively, and such Equity Interests specifically provide that the Issuer will not repurchase or redeem any such Equity Interests pursuant to such provisions prior to the Issuers purchase of the Notes as required pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.15 and Section 4.12, respectively.
Domestic Restricted Subsidiary means (1) each Restricted Subsidiary organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and (2) any other Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement.
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Equity Interests of any Person means (1) any and all shares or other equity interests (including common stock, preferred stock, limited liability company interests and partnership interests) in such Person and (2) all rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) such shares or other interests in such Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Equity Interests, regardless of whether such debt securities include any right of participation with Equity Interests.
Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Excluded Contribution means net cash proceeds or property or assets received by the Issuer as capital contributions to equity (other than through the issuance of Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Issuer after April 3, 2012 from the issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer for the benefit of their employees to the extent funded by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interest) of the Issuer to the extent designated as an Excluded Contribution.
Fair Market Value means, with respect to any asset, the price (after taking into account any liabilities relating to such assets) that would be negotiated in an arms-length transaction for cash between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of which is under any compulsion to complete the transaction, as such price is determined in good faith by management of the Issuer.
fiscal year means the twelve-month period ending each December 31.
Foreign Restricted Subsidiary means any Restricted Subsidiary other than a Domestic Restricted Subsidiary.
Foreign Successor Issuer means: (i) any entity that is organized in a foreign jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (a Foreign Jurisdiction) and becomes a successor of the Issuer as a result of a merger or other transaction or (ii) the Issuer, if Hercules Offshore, Inc. changes its place of organization to a Foreign Jurisdiction, in each case, as permitted by the terms of this Indenture.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, as in effect from time to time. At any time after the Issue Date, if permitted by the Commission, the Issuer may elect to apply International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture); provided that calculation or determination in this Indenture that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to the Issuers election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP. The Issuer shall give notice of any such election made in accordance with this definition to the Trustee and the Holders.
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guarantee means a direct or indirect guarantee by any Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person and includes any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services (unless such purchase arrangements are on arms-length terms and are entered into in the ordinary course of business), to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or (2) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); guarantee, when used as a verb, and guaranteed have correlative meanings.
Guarantors means each Domestic Restricted Subsidiary on the Issue Date that is a party to this Indenture for purposes of providing a Note Guarantee and each other Person that is required to, or at the election of the Issuer does, become a Guarantor by the terms of this Indenture after the Issue Date, in each case, until such Person is released from its Note Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
Hedging Obligations of any Person means the obligations of such Person under swap, cap, collar, forward purchase or similar agreements or arrangements dealing with interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices, either generally or under specific contingencies.
Holder means any registered holder, from time to time, of the Notes.
incur means, with respect to any Indebtedness or Obligation, incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to such Indebtedness or Obligation; provided that (1) the Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to have been incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and (2) none of the accrual of interest, the accretion of original issue discount or the accretion or accumulation of dividends on any Equity Interests shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness.
Indebtedness of any Person at any date means, without duplication:
(1) all liabilities, contingent or otherwise, of such Person for borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof);
(2) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;
(3) all reimbursement obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, letters of guaranty, bankers acceptances and similar credit transactions;
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(4) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property or services, except deferred compensation, trade payables, advances on contracts and accrued expenses incurred by such Person in the ordinary course of business in connection with obtaining goods, materials or services;
(5) the maximum fixed redemption or repurchase price of all Disqualified Equity Interests of such Person;
(6) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;
(7) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person;
(8) all Indebtedness of others guaranteed by such Person to the extent of such guarantee; provided that Indebtedness of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries that is guaranteed by the Issuer or the Issuers Subsidiaries shall only be counted once in the calculation of the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;
(9) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, net Hedging Obligations of such Person;
(10) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to assets purchased by such Person; and
(11) all Contingent Obligations of such Person in respect of Indebtedness of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (1) through (10) above.
The amount of any Indebtedness which is incurred at a discount to the principal amount at maturity thereof as of any date shall be deemed to have been incurred at the accreted value thereof as of such date. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above, the maximum liability of such Person for any such Contingent Obligations at such date and, in the case of clause (7), the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of any asset subject to a Lien securing the Indebtedness of others on the date of determination and (b) the amount of the Indebtedness secured. For purposes of clause (5), the maximum fixed redemption or repurchase price of any Disqualified Equity Interests that do not have a fixed redemption or repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Equity Interests as if such Disqualified Equity Interests were redeemed or repurchased on the applicable date on which an amount of Indebtedness outstanding shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the reclassification of any lease or other liability as indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles after the Issue Date be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Indenture.
Indenture means this Indenture as amended, restated or supplemented from time to time.
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Independent Director means a director of the Issuer who
(1) is independent with respect to the transaction at issue;
(2) does not have any material financial interest in the Issuer or any of its Affiliates (other than as a result of holding securities of the Issuer); and
(3) has not and whose Affiliates or affiliated firm has not, at any time during the twelve months prior to the taking of any action hereunder, directly or indirectly, received, or entered into any understanding or agreement to receive, any compensation, payment or other benefit, of any type or form, from the Issuer or any of its Affiliates, other than customary directors fees for serving on the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any Affiliate and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses for attendance at the Issuers or Affiliates board and board committee meetings.
Initial Notes has the meaning provided in the preamble to this Indenture.
Institutional Accredited Investor means an institution that is an accredited investor as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) promulgated under the Securities Act.
Intellectual Property means all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights, technology, trade secrets, proprietary information, domain names, know-how and processes necessary for the conduct of the Issuers or any Restricted Subsidiarys business as currently conducted.
Interest Payment Date means the stated maturity of an installment of interest on the Notes.
Investments of any Person means:
(1) all direct or indirect investments by such Person in any other Person in the form of loans, advances or capital contributions or other credit extensions constituting Indebtedness of such other Person, and any guarantee of Indebtedness of any other Person;
(2) all purchases (or other acquisitions for consideration) by such Person of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities of any other Person (other than any such purchase that constitutes a Restricted Payment of the type described in clause (2) of the definition thereof);
(3) all other items that would be classified as investments on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP (including, if required by GAAP, purchases of assets outside the ordinary course of business); and
(4) the Designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
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Except as otherwise expressly specified in this definition, the amount of any Investment (other than an Investment made in cash) shall be the Fair Market Value thereof on the date such Investment is made. The amount of an Investment pursuant to clause (4) shall be the Designation Amount determined in accordance with Section 4.19. If the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, or any Restricted Subsidiary issues any Equity Interests, in either case, such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Subsidiary, the Issuer shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or other disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Equity Interests of and all other Investments in such Restricted Subsidiary retained. Notwithstanding the foregoing, purchases or redemptions of Equity Interests of the Issuer shall be deemed not to be Investments.
Issue Date means the date on which the Initial Notes are first issued under this Indenture.
Issuer means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.
Lien means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, deed of trust, lien (statutory or other), pledge, lease, easement, restriction, covenant, charge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind or nature 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; provided, however, that for the avoidance of doubt, the interest of a Person as owner or lessor under charters or leases of property shall not constitute Liens on or in respect of such property.
Maturity Date means October 1, 2021.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.
Net Available Proceeds means, with respect to any Asset Sale, the proceeds thereof in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from such Asset Sale, net of
(1) brokerage commissions and other fees and expenses (including fees, discounts and expenses of legal counsel, accountants and investment banks, consultants and placement agents) of such Asset Sale;
(2) provisions for taxes payable as a result of such Asset Sale (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements);
(3) amounts required to be paid to any Person (other than the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and other than under the Credit Agreement) owning a beneficial interest in the assets subject to the Asset Sale or having a Lien thereon;
(4) payments of unassumed liabilities (not constituting Indebtedness) relating to the assets sold at the time of, or within 30 days after the date of, such Asset Sale; and
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(5) appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, as a reserve required in accordance with GAAP or amounts placed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in escrow against any adjustment in the sale price of such asset or assets or liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, after such Asset Sale, including pensions and other post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental matters and liabilities under any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Sale; provided, however, that any amounts remaining after adjustments, revaluations or liquidations of such reserves or such amounts held in escrow shall constitute Net Available Proceeds.
Net Proceeds Offer has the meaning given to this term in Section 4.12(g)(1).
Non-Recourse Debt means Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture:
(1) as to which neither the Issuer nor any Restricted Subsidiary (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; and
(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness (other than the Note Documents and the Senior Debt Documents, as defined in the Secured Notes Indenture) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default on the other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity.
Note Documents means this Indenture and the Notes.
Note Guarantee means the guarantee by each Guarantor of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Notes.
Notes means the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes, treated as a single class of securities, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, that are issued pursuant to this Indenture.
Obligation means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnification, reimbursements, costs, expenses, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
Offer Payment Date means any date on which a Net Proceeds Offer is consummated.
Offering Memorandum means the Final Offering Memorandum dated September 17, 2013 relating to the offering of $300.0 million of Notes by the Issuer.
Officer means any of the following of the Issuer: the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by two Officers.
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Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion which is acceptable to the Trustee and complies with the requirements of this Indenture from legal counsel acceptable to the Trustee.
Pari Passu Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor that ranks pari passu in right of payment with the Notes or the Note Guarantees, as applicable.
Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such Indebtedness was Indebtedness of:
(1) a Subsidiary prior to the date on which such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary; or
(2) a Person that was merged or consolidated into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary,
provided that, in each case, such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such event and on the date such Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or the date such Person was merged and consolidated into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, after giving pro forma effect thereto:
(a) the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Coverage Ratio Exception, or
(b) the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio would be equal to or greater than the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such transaction.
Permitted Business means the businesses engaged in by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date as described in the Offering Memorandum and businesses that are reasonably related thereto or reasonable extensions thereof.
Permitted Investment means:
(1) Investments by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in (a) any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) any Person that will become immediately after such Investment a Restricted Subsidiary or that will merge or consolidate into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Investment held by any such Person at such time that was not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or transfer;
(2) Investments in the Issuer by any Restricted Subsidiary;
(3) loans and advances to, or reimbursements of, directors, employees and officers of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in the ordinary course of business (including payroll, travel and entertainment related advances and reimbursements) (other than any loans or advances to any director or executive officer (or equivalent thereof) that would be in violation of Section 402 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act) and (b) to purchase Equity Interests of the Issuer not in excess of $5.0 million at any one time outstanding;
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(4) Hedging Obligations entered into for bona fide hedging purposes of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary not for the purpose of speculation;
(5) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;
(6) receivables owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;
(7) Investments in securities of trade creditors or customers received pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of such trade creditors or customers or received in compromise or resolution of litigation, arbitration or other disputes;
(8) Investments made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of consideration received in connection with (a) an Asset Sale made in compliance with Section 4.12 or (b) a trade or exchange deemed not to be an Asset Sale pursuant to clause (7) of the definition of Asset Sale;
(9) lease, utility and other similar deposits in the ordinary course of business;
(10) Investments made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary for consideration consisting only of Qualified Equity Interests of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;
(11) stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments;
(12) Investments existing on the Issue Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Issue Date or Investments consisting of any extension, modification or renewal (without increasing the amount) of any Investment existing on the Issue Date;
(13) any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redemption, defeasement or other acquisition or retirement for value of (i) the Notes, (ii) the Senior Loan Obligations (as defined in the Secured Notes Indenture), (iii) any of the Issuers 10.50% Senior Notes due 2017 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of October 20, 2009, among the Issuer, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, (iv) any of the Issuers 3.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2038 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated June 3, 2008, between the Issuer and The Bank of New York Trust Company, as trustee, (v) any of the Secured Notes, (vi) any of the Issuers 10.25% Senior Notes due 2019 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated April 3, 2012, among the Issuer, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, (vii) any of the Issuers 8.750% Senior Notes due 2021 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of July 8, 2013, among the Issuer, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee or (viii) any other Indebtedness that is not Subordinated Indebtedness;
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(14) advances, deposits and prepayments for purchases of any assets, including any Equity Interests;
(15) endorsements for collection of deposits in the ordinary course of business;
(16) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.10;
(17) guarantees by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of operating leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into by any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
(18) Investments received as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured investment permitted under this Indenture that is in default; and
(19) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (19) since April 3, 2012 and then outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (a) $100.0 million or (b) 7.5% of the Issuers Consolidated Tangible Assets at the time such Investment is made (net of, with respect to the Investment in any particular Person made pursuant to this clause, the cash return thereon received after April 3, 2012 as a result of any sale for cash, repayment, redemption, liquidating distribution or other cash realization (not included in Consolidated Net Income) not to exceed the amount of such Investments in such Person made after April 3, 2012 in reliance on this clause).
In determining whether any Investment is a Permitted Investment, the Issuer may allocate or reallocate all or any portion of an Investment among the clauses of this definition and any of the provisions of Section 4.11.
For the purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on Investments denominated in a foreign currency, the U.S. dollar-equivalent amount of such Investment shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date that such Investment was made.
Permitted Jurisdiction means any State of the United States of America or the District of Columbia, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Ireland, or any other member country of the European Union.
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Permitted Liens means the following types of Liens:
(1) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies which (a) are not overdue or delinquent by more than 30 days or (b) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have set aside on their books such reserves as may be required pursuant to GAAP;
(2) Liens in respect of property of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary imposed by law or contract, which were not incurred or created to secure Indebtedness for borrowed money, such as carriers, warehousemens, materialmens, landlords, workmens, suppliers, repairmens, mechanics, maritime and salvage Liens and other Liens arising in the ordinary course of business, and which do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the property of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and do not materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(3) Liens (a) imposed by law or deposits made in connection therewith in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or similar legislation, (b) incurred in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations (other than excise taxes), surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, statutory bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, other contracts (other than agreements governing Indebtedness for borrowed money), performance and return of money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money) or (c) arising by virtue of deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability for premiums to insurance carriers;
(4) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;
(5) Liens arising out of judgments or awards not resulting in a Default or an Event of Default;
(6) easements, rights of way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), covenants, encroachments, protrusions and other similar charges or encumbrances, and minor title deficiencies on or with respect to any Real Property, in each case whether now or hereafter in existence, not (a) securing Indebtedness, (b) individually or in the aggregate materially impairing the value or marketability of such Real Property and (c) individually or in the aggregate materially interfering with the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such Real Property;
(7) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and other assets relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;
(8) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty requirements of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, including rights of offset and setoff;
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(9) bankers Liens, rights of setoff and other similar Liens existing solely with respect to cash and Cash Equivalents on deposit in one or more accounts maintained by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case granted in the ordinary course of business in favor of the bank or banks with which such accounts are maintained, securing amounts owing to such bank with respect to cash management and operating account arrangements, including those involving pooled accounts and netting arrangements; provided that, unless such Liens are nonconsensual and arise by operation of law, in no case shall any such Liens secure (either directly or indirectly) the repayment of any Indebtedness;
(10) leases with respect to the assets or properties of the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of the Issuers or such Restricted Subsidiarys business so long as such leases do not, individually or in the aggregate, (a) interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) materially impair the use (for its intended purposes) or the value of the property subject thereto;
(11) the filing of financing statements solely as a precautionary measure in connection with operating leases or consignment of goods;
(12) Liens securing all of the Secured Notes originally issued on April 3, 2012 and Liens securing any guarantee thereof and Liens securing Additional Secured Notes permitted to be incurred under the indenture for the Secured Notes and any guarantee thereof, provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Secured Notes (and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) plus the aggregate principal amount of any Indebtedness and commitments under Credit Facilities secured by Liens pursuant to clause (16) below does not at any time exceed the aggregate amount of Indebtedness permitted to be secured under such clause (16);
(13) Liens securing Hedging Obligations entered into for bona fide hedging purposes of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and not for the purpose of speculation;
(14) Liens existing on the Issue Date securing Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date (other than the Secured Notes or Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities); provided that (a) the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness, if any, secured by such Liens does not increase; and (b) such Liens do not encumber any property other than the property subject thereto on the Issue Date (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds, replacements or dividends or distributions in respect thereof);
(15) Liens in favor of the Issuer or a Guarantor;
(16) Liens securing Obligations under the Credit Facilities relating to Indebtedness incurred and then outstanding pursuant to subclause (1) of clause (b) of Section 4.10;
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(17) Liens arising pursuant to Purchase Money Indebtedness incurred and then outstanding pursuant to subclause (7) and (16) of clause (b) of Section 4.10; provided that (a) the Indebtedness secured by any such Lien (including refinancings thereof) does not exceed 100% of the cost of the property being acquired or leased at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness and (b) any such Liens attach only to the property being financed pursuant to such Purchase Money Indebtedness (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds, replacements or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) and do not encumber any other property of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(18) Liens securing Acquired Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided that the Liens do not extend to assets not subject to such Lien at the time of acquisition (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto, proceeds thereof, replacements, dividends or distributions in respect thereof) and are no more favorable to the lienholders than those securing such Acquired Indebtedness prior to the incurrence of such Acquired Indebtedness by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(19) Liens on property or Equity Interests of a Person existing at the time such Person is acquired or merged with or into or consolidated with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (and not created in anticipation or contemplation thereof); provided that such Liens do not extend to property not subject to such Liens at the time of acquisition (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto, proceeds thereof, replacements, dividends or distributions in respect thereof) and are no more favorable to the lienholders than the existing Lien;
(20) Liens to secure Refinancing Indebtedness of Indebtedness secured by Liens referred to in the foregoing clauses (12), (14), (17), (18) and (19); provided that in the case of Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness of Indebtedness secured by Liens referred to in the foregoing clauses (14), (17), (18) and (19), such Liens do not extend to any additional assets (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto, proceeds thereof, replacements, dividends or distributions in respect thereof);
(21) Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any joint venture owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or joint venture;
(22) licenses of Intellectual Property granted by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary;
(23) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the past practices of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary;
(24) Liens on assets of any Foreign Restricted Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness of such Foreign Restricted Subsidiary which Indebtedness is permitted by this Indenture;
(25) Liens of franchisors arising in the ordinary course of business not securing Indebtedness;
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(26) Liens in favor of the Trustee as provided for in this Indenture on money or property held or collected by the Trustee in its capacity as Trustee;
(27) options, put and call arrangements, rights of first refusal and similar rights (a) relating to Investments in Subsidiaries, joint ventures, partnerships and the like or (b) provided for in contracts or agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(28) Liens resulting from the deposit of funds or evidences of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, which defeasance is otherwise not prohibited by this Indenture; and
(29) other Liens with respect to obligations that do not in the aggregate exceed at any time outstanding $100.0 million.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity of any kind.
Plan of Liquidation with respect to any Person, means a plan that provides for, contemplates or the effectuation of which is preceded or accompanied by (whether or not substantially contemporaneously, in phases or otherwise): (1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Person otherwise than as an entirety or substantially as an entirety; and (2) the distribution of all or substantially all of the proceeds of such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the remaining assets of such Person to holders of Equity Interests of such Person.
Preferred Stock means, with respect to any Person, any and all preferred or preference stock or other preferred equity interests (however designated) of such Person whether now outstanding or issued after the Issue Date.
principal means, with respect to the Notes, the principal of, and the premium, if any, on the Notes.
Purchase Money Indebtedness means Indebtedness, including Capitalized Lease Obligations, of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or the cost of installation, construction or improvement thereof; provided, however, that (except in the case of Capitalized Lease Obligations) (1) the amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed such purchase price or cost and (2) such Indebtedness shall be incurred within 180 days after such acquisition of such asset by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or such installation, construction or improvement.
Qualified Equity Interests of any Person means Equity Interests of such Person other than Disqualified Equity Interests; provided that such Equity Interests shall not be deemed Qualified Equity Interests to the extent sold or owed to a Subsidiary of such Person or financed, directly or indirectly, using funds (1) borrowed from such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person
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until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid or (2) contributed, extended, guaranteed or advanced by such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person (including, without limitation, in respect of any employee stock ownership or benefit plan). Unless otherwise specified, Qualified Equity Interests refer to Qualified Equity Interests of the Issuer.
Qualified Equity Offering means (1) an offering for cash by the Issuer of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) or (2) a contribution of cash to the Issuer in exchange for its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests).
Qualified Institutional Buyer shall have the meaning specified in Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
Rating Agencies means Moodys and S&P.
Real Property means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned, leased or operated by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.
Record Date for interest payable on any Interest Payment Date (except a date for payment of default interest) means the March 15 and September 15 (whether or not a Business Day) as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Redemption Date when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed means the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to this Indenture.
Redemption Price when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed means the price fixed for such redemption pursuant to this Indenture.
Redesignation has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.19(d).
refinance means to refinance, repay, prepay, replace, renew or refund in whole or in part.
Refinancing Indebtedness means Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary incurred in exchange for, or the proceeds of which are used to redeem, refinance, replace, defease, discharge, refund or otherwise retire for value, in whole or in part, any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (the Refinanced Indebtedness); provided that:
(1) the principal amount (and accreted value, in the case of Indebtedness issued at a discount) of the Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (and accreted value, as the case may be) of the Refinanced Indebtedness plus the amount of accrued and unpaid interest on the Refinanced Indebtedness, any premium paid to the holders of the Refinanced Indebtedness and reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the incurrence of the Refinancing Indebtedness;
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(2) the obligor of the Refinancing Indebtedness does not include any Person (other than the Issuer or any Guarantor) that is not an obligor of the Refinanced Indebtedness;
(3) if the Refinanced Indebtedness was subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, as the case may be, then such Refinancing Indebtedness, by its terms, is subordinate in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as the Refinanced Indebtedness;
(4) the Refinancing Indebtedness has a final stated maturity either (a) no earlier than the Refinanced Indebtedness or (b) after the Maturity Date;
(5) the portion, if any, of the Refinancing Indebtedness that is scheduled to mature on or prior to the Maturity Date has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred that is equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the portion of the Refinanced Indebtedness being repaid that is scheduled to mature on or prior to the Maturity Date; and
(6) the proceeds of the Refinancing Indebtedness shall be used substantially concurrently with the incurrence thereof to redeem, refinance, replace, defease, discharge, refund or otherwise retire for value the Refinanced Indebtedness, unless the Refinanced Indebtedness is not then due and is not redeemable or prepayable at the option of the obligor thereof or is redeemable or prepayable only with notice, in which case such proceeds shall be held in a segregated account of the obligor of the Refinanced Indebtedness until the Refinanced Indebtedness becomes due or redeemable or prepayable or such notice period lapses and then shall be used to refinance the Refinanced Indebtedness; provided that in any event the Refinanced Indebtedness shall be redeemed, refinanced, replaced, defeased, discharged, refunded or otherwise retired for value within one year of the incurrence of the Refinancing Indebtedness.
Regulation S means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
Restricted Investment means any Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
Restricted Payment means any of the following:
(1) the declaration or payment of any dividend or any other distribution on Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or any payment made to the direct or indirect holders (in their capacities as such) of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Issuer but excluding (a) dividends or distributions payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests or through accretion or accumulation of such dividends on such Equity Interests and (b) in the case of Restricted Subsidiaries, dividends or distributions payable to the Issuer or to a Restricted Subsidiary and pro rata (or on a basis more favorable to the Issuer) dividends or distributions payable to minority stockholders of any Restricted Subsidiary;
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(2) the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Issuer (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Issuer) but excluding any such Equity Interests held by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(3) any Restricted Investment; or
(4) any principal payment on, purchase, redemption, defeasance, prepayment, decrease or other acquisition or retirement for value prior to any scheduled maturity or prior to any scheduled repayment of principal or sinking fund payment, as the case may be, in respect of Subordinated Indebtedness (other than any Subordinated Indebtedness owed to and held by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary).
Restricted Payments Basket has the meaning given to such term in clause (a) of Section 4.11.
Restricted Security means a security that is required to bear the Private Placement Legend; provided that the Trustee shall be entitled to request and conclusively rely upon an Opinion of Counsel with respect to whether any Note is a Restricted Security.
Restricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Issuer other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Rule 144A means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.
Secretarys Certificate means a certificate signed by the Secretary of the Issuer.
Secured Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by a Lien on assets of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, excluding Equity Interests or Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Secured Leverage Ratio means, for any Person on any Transaction Date, the ratio of (1) Secured Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such Transaction Date (assuming any revolving credit facilities are fully drawn) (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) to (2) Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for the then most recent four fiscal quarters ending prior to such Transaction Date for which financial statements are internally available. In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs or redeems any Secured Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Secured Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Secured Leverage Ratio is made, then the Secured Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four fiscal quarter period. The Secured Leverage Ratio shall be calculated in a manner consistent with the definition of Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, including any pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Cash Flow as set forth therein (including for acquisitions); provided that for purposes of any unsecured Indebtedness incurred under Section 4.10(b)(1) such unsecured Indebtedness will be deemed to be Secured Indebtedness for purposes of the calculation of Secured Leverage Ratio.
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Secured Notes mean any of the Issuers 7.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 issued pursuant to that certain indenture, dated as of April 3, 2012 (the Secured Notes Indenture), among the Issuer, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and collateral agent.
Securities Act means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Significant Subsidiary means (1) any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a significant subsidiary as defined in Regulation S-X promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act as such Regulation is in effect on the Issue Date and (2) any Restricted Subsidiary that, when aggregated with all other Restricted Subsidiaries that are not otherwise Significant Subsidiaries and as to which any event described in clause (g) of Section 6.01 has occurred and is continuing, or which are being released from their Note Guarantees (in the case of clause (9) of the provisions described in clause (a) of Section 8.02), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary under clause (1) of this definition.
Subordinated Indebtedness means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, respectively.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person:
(1) any corporation, limited liability company, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the Equity Interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person (or a combination thereof); and
(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).
Unless otherwise specified, Subsidiary refers to a Subsidiary of the Issuer.
Treasury Rate means, as of any redemption date, the weekly average yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source or similar market data)) equal to the period from the redemption date to October 1, 2016; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to October 1, 2016 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the
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weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities that have a constant maturity closest to and greater than the period from the redemption date to October 1, 2016 and the United States Treasury securities that have a constant maturity closest to and less than the period from the redemption date to October 1, 2016 for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to October 1, 2016 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.
Trust Indenture Act or TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. Individual sections of the Trust Indenture Act are sometimes referred to herein as TIA Section.
Trust Officer means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer of the Trustee within the Corporate Trust Services (or any successor unit, department or division of the Trustee) located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee who has direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and, for the purposes of Sections 7.01(c)(2) and 7.05, also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer, trust officer or person performing similar functions to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity of the particular subject.
Trustee means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means (1) any Subsidiary that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Issuer in accordance with Section 4.19 and (2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
U.S. Government Obligations means direct non-callable obligations of, or 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.
Vessel Acquisition means the acquisition by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of one or more lift boats, jackup rigs, submersible rigs, semi-submersible rigs, barge rigs, drill ships or other maritime drilling rigs (whether new construction or otherwise) from a Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary); provided that the aggregate consideration for such acquisition is $25.0 million or more.
Voting Stock with respect to any Person, means securities of any class of Equity Interests of such Person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock or other relevant equity interest has voting power by reason of any contingency) to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors of such Person.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, means the number of years obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment 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 (2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
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Section 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the portion of such provision required to be incorporated herein in order for this Indenture to be qualified under the TIA 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 securityholder means a Holder.
indenture to be qualified means this Indenture.
indenture trustee or institutional trustee means the Trustee.
obligor on the indenture securities means the Issuer, the Guarantors or any other obligor on the Notes.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined in the TIA by reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule have the meanings therein assigned to them.
Section 1.03. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it herein, whether defined expressly or by reference;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) or is not exclusive;
(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
(e) words used herein implying any gender shall apply to every gender; and
(f) $, U.S. Dollars and Dollars each refers to United States dollars, or such other money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
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ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Form and Dating.
The Notes and the Trustees certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law or Depositary rule or usage. The form of the Notes and any notation, legend or endorsement on them shall be satisfactory to both the Issuer and the Trustee. Each Note shall be dated the date of its issuance and shall show the date of its authentication.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes, annexed hereto as Exhibit A, shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Issuer and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.
The Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes (the Global Notes). Notes offered and sold (i) in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent Global Notes in registered form, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A (the Rule 144A Global Note) and (ii) in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in registered form, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A (the Regulation S Global Note), and in each case shall be deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. Notes transferred to Institutional Accredited Investors may be represented by a permanent Global Note in registered form, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A, and if so represented shall be deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of any Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, as hereinafter provided.
Section 2.02. Execution and Authentication.
The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Issuer by two Officers of the Issuer. Such signatures may be either manual or facsimile.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.
A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. Such signature shall be manual. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee or an authentication agent (the Authenticating Agent) shall authenticate (i) Initial Notes for original issue on the date of this Indenture in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $300,000,000 and (ii) additional Notes (Additional Notes) for original issue following the date of this Indenture (so long as permitted by the terms of this Indenture, including, without limitation, Section 4.10 hereof). The written order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated and shall further specify the amount of such Notes to be issued as a Global Note or Certificated Notes.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Notes may vote or consent) as one class and no series of Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.
The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent to authenticate Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. 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 Authenticating Agent. An Authenticating Agent has the same right as an Agent to deal with the Issuer and Affiliates of the Issuer.
The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Section 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (Registrar), where Notes may be presented for payment (Paying Agent) and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Registrar shall provide the Issuer a current copy of such register from time to time upon request of the Issuer. The Issuer may have one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents. Neither the Issuer nor any Affiliate of the Issuer may act as Paying Agent. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice to any Holder.
The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent.
The Issuer shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such Agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, or agent for service of notices and demands, or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such. The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent and agent for service of notices and demands in connection with the Notes.
Section 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust.
The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that each Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all assets held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on Notes (whether such assets have been distributed to it by the Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes), and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any Default in making any such payment. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to distribute all assets held by it to the Trustee and account for any assets
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disbursed and the Trustee may at any time during the continuance of any Default in any payment due on the Notes, upon written request to a Paying Agent, require such Paying Agent to forthwith distribute to the Trustee all assets so held in trust by such Paying Agent together with a complete accounting of such sums. Upon distribution to the Trustee of all assets that shall have been delivered by the Issuer to the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for such assets.
Section 2.05. Noteholder 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 Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish or cause the Registrar to furnish to the Trustee on or before each March 15 and September 15 in each year, 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 Holders which list may be conclusively relied on by the Trustee.
Section 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 2.15 and 2.16 hereof, when Notes are presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register the transfer of such Notes or to exchange such Notes for an equal principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations of the same series, the Registrar or co-Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Notes presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Registrar or co-Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing. To permit registrations of transfer and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrars or co-Registrars request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge in connection therewith payable by the transferor of such Notes (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges or transfers pursuant to Section 2.10, 3.06, 4.12, 4.15 or 8.05 hereof, in which event the Issuer shall be responsible for the payment of such taxes).
Without the prior consent of the Issuer, the Registrar or co-Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note (i) during a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed, (ii) selected for redemption in whole or in part pursuant to Article 3 hereof, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part, or (iii) between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
Any Holder of a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Notes may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by the Depositary, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.
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Section 2.07. Replacement Notes.
If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or if the Holder presents evidence to the satisfaction of the Issuer and the Trustee that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note. An indemnity or a security bond may be required by the Issuer or the Trustee that is sufficient in the judgment of the Issuer and the Trustee to protect the Issuer, the Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. In every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Issuer and to the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or the theft of such Note and the ownership thereof. Each of the Issuer and the Trustee may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note. In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof. The provisions of this Section 2.07 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer.
Section 2.08. Outstanding Notes.
Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding until the Issuer and the Trustee receive proof satisfactory to each of them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof.
If by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on a Redemption Date or the Maturity Date, the Paying Agent holds U.S. legal tender sufficient to pay all of the principal and interest due on the Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
Section 2.09. Treasury Notes.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver, consent or notice, Notes owned by the Issuer or any of its Affiliates shall be considered as though they are 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 which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so considered. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee, in writing, when it or any of its Affiliates repurchases or otherwise acquires Notes, of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes so repurchased or otherwise acquired.
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Section 2.10. Temporary Notes.
Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes upon receipt of a written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers Certificate. The Officers Certificate shall specify the amount of temporary Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the temporary Notes are to be authenticated. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate upon receipt of a written order of the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.02 definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Section 2.11. Cancellation.
The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee, or at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent, and no one else, shall cancel and, at the written direction of the Issuer, dispose of and deliver evidence of such disposal of all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation in accordance with their then existing procedures therefor. Subject to Section 2.07 hereof, the Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. If the Issuer shall acquire any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to this Section 2.11. In no event shall the Trustee be required to destroy cancelled Notes.
Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest.
The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal (including post-petition interest in a proceeding under Bankruptcy Law) at the rate of interest then borne by the Notes. The Issuer shall, to the extent lawful, pay interest on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) at the rate of interest then borne by the Notes.
If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus (to the extent lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, which date shall be the fifteenth day next preceding the date fixed by the Issuer for the payment of defaulted interest or the next succeeding Business Day if such date is not a Business Day. At least 15 days before the subsequent special record date, the Issuer shall mail to each Holder, as of a recent date selected by the Issuer, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice that states the subsequent special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest, and interest payable on such defaulted interest, if any, to be paid.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest which is paid prior to the expiration of the 30-day period set forth in Section 6.01(a) hereof shall be paid to Holders as of the Record Date for the Interest Payment Date for which interest has not been paid.
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Section 2.13. Deposit of Moneys.
No later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date, Offer Payment Date and Maturity Date, the Issuer shall have deposited with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds U.S. legal tender sufficient to make payments, if any, due on such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date, Offer Payment Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be, in a timely manner which permits the Trustee to remit payment to the Holders on such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Change of Control Payment Date, Offer Payment Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be. The principal and interest on Global Notes shall be payable to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole Holder of the Global Notes represented thereby. The principal and interest on Notes in certificated form shall be payable in the manner indicated in paragraph 2 of the Notes.
Section 2.14. CUSIP Number.
The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP, ISIN or such other numbers, and if so, the Trustee shall use such CUSIP, ISIN or such other numbers 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, ISIN or such other numbers 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 Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN or such other number.
Section 2.15. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes.
(a) The Global Notes initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of such Depositary, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary and (iii) bear legends as set forth in Section 2.17 hereof.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (Agent Members) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or under the Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer 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 Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder.
(b) Subject to the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Certificated Notes shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in Global Notes only if (i) the Depositary (x) notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for any Global Note and the Issuer fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days of such notice or (y) has ceased to be a clearing company registered under the Exchange Act and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days after becoming aware of such cessation, (ii) the Issuer, at its option but subject to the procedures of the Depositary, notifies the Trustee in writing that the Issuer elects to cause the issuance of Certificated Notes or (iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Depositary notifies the Trustee of its desire to exchange Global Notes for Certificated Notes.
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(c) In connection with the transfer of Global Notes as an entirety to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b), the Global Notes shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an authentication order from the Issuer in the form of an Officers Certificate, authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in writing in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Notes, an equal aggregate principal amount of Certificated Notes of authorized denominations.
(d) Any Certificated Note constituting a Restricted Security delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.16 hereof, bear the Private Placement Legend.
(e) The Holder of any Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.
Section 2.16. Registration of Transfers and Exchanges.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Certificated Notes. When Certificated Notes are presented to the Registrar or co-Registrar with a request:
(i) to register the transfer of the Certificated Notes; or
(ii) to exchange such Certificated Notes for an equal principal amount of Certificated Notes of other authorized denominations,
the Registrar or co-Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if the requirements under this Indenture as set forth in this Section 2.16 for such transactions are met; provided, however, that the Certificated Notes presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange:
(I) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar or co-Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and
(II) in the case of Certificated Notes the offer and sale of which have not been registered under the Securities Act and are presented for transfer or exchange prior to (x) the date which is one year after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer was the owner of such Note, or any predecessor thereto and (y) such later date, if any, as may be required by any subsequent change in applicable law (the Resale Restriction Termination Date), such Certificated Notes shall be accompanied, in the sole discretion of the Issuer, by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:
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(A) if such Certificated Note is being delivered to the Registrar or co-Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto); or
(B) if such Certificated Note is being transferred to a Qualified Institutional Buyer in accordance with Rule 144A, a certification to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto); or
(C) if such Certificated Note is being transferred in reliance on Regulation S, delivery of a certification to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto) and a transferor certificate for Regulation S transfers substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto; or
(D) if such Certificated Note is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor, delivery of a certification to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto), a certificate of the transferee in substantially the form of Exhibit C and, at the option of the Issuer, an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; or
(E) if such Certificated Note is being transferred in reliance on Rule 144 under the Securities Act, delivery of a certification to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto) and, at the option of the Issuer, an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; or
(F) if such Certificated Note is being transferred in reliance on another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, a certification to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto) and, at the option of the Issuer, an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.
(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Certificated Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note. A Certificated Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Registrar or co-Registrar of a Certificated Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Registrar or co-Registrar, together with:
(A) in the case of Certificated Notes, the offer and sale of which have not been registered under the Securities Act and which are presented for transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, certification, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, that such Certificated Note is being transferred (I) to a Qualified Institutional Buyer or (II) in an offshore transaction in reliance on Regulation S (and, in the case of this clause II, the Issuer shall have received a transferor certificate for Regulation S transfers substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto; and
(B) written instructions from the Holder thereof directing the Registrar or co-Registrar to make, or to direct the Depositary to make, an endorsement on the applicable Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note,
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then the Registrar or co-Registrar shall cancel such Certificated Note and cause, or direct the Depositary to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Registrar or co-Registrar, the principal amount of Notes represented by the applicable Global Note to be increased accordingly. If no Global Note representing Notes held by Qualified Institutional Buyers or Persons acquiring Notes in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S, as the case may be, is then outstanding, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an authentication order of the Issuer executed by an Officer, authenticate such a Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.
(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary in accordance with this Indenture (including the restrictions on transfer set forth herein) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. Upon receipt by the Registrar or co-Registrar of written instructions, or such other instruction as is customary for the Depositary, from the Depositary or its nominee, respecting the transfer of an interest in one type of Global Note to another type of Global Note then the Registrar or co-Registrar will cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Registrar or co-Registrar, the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced or increased, as appropriate, by the amount of the interest to be transferred. If the applicable type of Global Note required to represent the interest to be transferred is not outstanding at the time of such request, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an authentication order from the Issuer executed by an Officer, authenticate a new Global Note of such type in principal amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be transferred.
(d) Transfer of a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note for a Certificated Note. (i) If Certificated Notes are to be issued in exchange for Global Notes pursuant to Section 2.15(b), then upon receipt by the Registrar or co-Registrar of written instructions, or such other form of instructions as is customary for the Depositary, from the Depositary or its nominee on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest in a Global Note and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written order or such other form of instructions as is customary for the Depositary or the Person designated by the Depositary as having such a beneficial interest containing registration instructions and, in the case of any such transfer or exchange of a beneficial interest in Notes the offer and sale of which have not been registered under the Securities Act and which Notes are presented for transfer or exchange prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the following additional information and documents:
(A) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Person designated by the Depositary as being the beneficial owner, a certification from such Person to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto); or
(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Qualified Institutional Buyer in accordance with Rule l44A, a certification to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto); or
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(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred in reliance on Regulation S, delivery of a certification to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto) and a transferor certificate for Regulation S transfers substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto; or
(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor, delivery of a certification to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto), a certificate of the transferee in substantially the form of Exhibit C and, at the option of the Issuer, an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; or
(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred in reliance on Rule 144 under the Securities Act, delivery of a certification to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto) and, at the option of the Issuer, an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; or
(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred in reliance on another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, a certification to that effect (substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto) and, at the option of the Issuer, an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act,
then the Registrar or co-Registrar will cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Registrar or co-Registrar, the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced and, following such reduction, the Issuer will execute and, upon receipt of an authentication order from the Issuer executed by an Officer, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the transferee a Certificated Note in the appropriate principal amount and series.
(ii) Certificated Notes issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.16(d) hereof 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 Registrar or co-Registrar in writing. The Registrar or co-Registrar shall deliver such Certificated Notes to the Persons in whose names such Certificated Notes are so registered.
(e) Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, 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.
(f) Private Placement Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes, the Registrar or co-Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear the Private Placement Legend unless, and the Trustee is hereby authorized to deliver Notes without the Private Placement Legend if, (i) the Resale Restriction Termination Date shall have occurred or (ii) there is delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.
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(g) General. By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Private Placement Legend, each Holder of such a Note acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend and agrees that it will transfer such Note only as provided in this Indenture.
None of the Issuer, the Trustee, any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee (including any Paying Agent or Registrar) will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Agent Members or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 2.15 hereof or this Section 2.16. The Issuer shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable written notice to the Registrar.
Section 2.17. Restrictive Legends.
Each Global Note and Certificated Note that constitutes a Restricted Security shall bear the following legend (the Private Placement Legend) on the face thereof until the Resale Restriction Termination Date, unless otherwise agreed to by the Issuer:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT) AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER:
(1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A QIB) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, IS NOT ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR THE ACCOUNT OR FOR THE BENEFIT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFF-SHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
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(2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT, WITHIN, THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO UNDER RULE 144(d)(1) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB OR AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB OR AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, RESPECTIVELY, IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE AND PROVIDED THAT PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, THE TRUSTEE IS FURNISHED WITH AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (E) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND
(3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (2)(D) OR (2)(E) ABOVE) A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE. AS USED HEREIN THE TERMS OFFSHORE TRANSACTION, UNITED STATES AND U.S. PERSON HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
Each Global Note shall also bear the following legend:
THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS
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NOTE 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) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (DTC), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 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 IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee.
If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Notes, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date or during such other period as the Trustee may agree to, the Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the Redemption Date, the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the Redemption Price, if then determinable, and deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that such redemption will comply with the conditions contained herein and in the Notes, as appropriate.
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to be Redeemed.
In the event that less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, selection of the Notes to be redeemed shall be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which such Notes are listed or, if such Notes are not then listed on a national security exchange, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate; provided, however, that no Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 in original principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part; provided, further, that if a partial redemption is made with the proceeds of any Qualified Equity Offering, selection of the Notes or portions thereof for redemption shall be made by the Trustee only on a pro rata basis or on as nearly a pro rata basis as is practicable (subject to the procedures of the Depositary), unless such method is otherwise prohibited. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon delivery of the original Note to the Paying Agent and cancellation of the original Note. On and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption as long as the Issuer has deposited with the Paying Agents funds in U.S. legal tender in satisfaction of the applicable Redemption Price and amount of accrued interest, if any, payable pursuant to this Indenture.
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Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail (or, with respect to Notes in global form, otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary) at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be given more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. 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.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including the CUSIP, ISIN or other number(s) thereof) and shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date;
(2) the Redemption Price (if then determinable and otherwise the method for its computation) and the amount of accrued interest, if any, to be paid;
(3) that, if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount (equal to $2,000 in principal amount or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Note to be redeemed and that, on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued;
(4) the name, address and telephone number of the Paying Agent;
(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent at the address specified to collect the Redemption Price plus accrued interest, if any;
(6) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making the redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date and the only remaining right of the Holders is to receive payment of the Redemption Price plus accrued interest to the Redemption Date upon surrender of the Notes to the Paying Agent;
(7) the subparagraph of the Notes pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(8) if fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the identification of the particular Notes (or portion thereof) to be redeemed, as well as the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be outstanding after such partial redemption.
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Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once the notice of redemption described in Section 3.03 hereof is given, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price, including any premium, plus accrued interest to the Redemption Date, if any. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the Redemption Price, including any premium, plus accrued interest to the Redemption Date, if any; provided that if the Redemption Date is after a Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date, the accrued interest shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed Notes registered on the relevant Record Date.
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.
(a) No later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each Redemption Date, the Issuer shall have deposited with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds U.S. legal tender sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date.
(b) On and after any Redemption Date, if U.S. legal tender sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of and accrued interest on Notes called for redemption shall have been made available in accordance with clause (a), the Notes called for redemption will cease to accrue interest and the only right of the Holders of such Notes will be to receive payment of the Redemption Price of and, subject to the first proviso in Section 3.04, accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to the Redemption Date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid, interest will continue to accrue and be paid, from the Redemption Date until such redemption payment is made, on the unpaid principal of the Note and any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case, at the rate and in the manner provided for in Section 2.12 hereof.
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for a Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
Section 3.07. Tax Redemption.
(a) If as a result of:
(i) any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder) of any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction which is announced and becomes effective after the Successor Date (or, where a jurisdiction in question does not become a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction until a later date, such later date); or
(ii) any amendment to, or change in, the official application or official interpretation of the laws, regulations or rulings of any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction which is announced and becomes effective after the Successor Date (or, where a jurisdiction in question does not become a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction until a later date, such later date),
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a Foreign Successor Issuer would be obligated to pay, on the next date for any payment and as a result of that amendment or change, Additional Amounts or indemnification payments pursuant to Section 4.24 hereof with respect to the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, which such Foreign Successor Issuer reasonably determines it cannot avoid by the use of reasonable measures available to it, then such Foreign Successor Issuer may redeem all, but not less than all, of the Notes, at any time thereafter, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice to the Trustee and to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed, at a redemption price of 100% of their principal amount (or, if such payments result from a permitted merger that constitutes a Change of Control, 101% of their principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.
Prior to the giving of any notice of redemption described in this paragraph, a Foreign Successor Issuer will deliver to the Trustee:
(i) an Officers Certificate of such Foreign Successor Issuer stating that the obligation to pay the Additional Amounts or indemnification payments cannot be avoided by such Foreign Successor Issuers taking reasonable measures available to it; and
(ii) a written opinion of independent legal counsel to such Foreign Successor Issuer of recognized standing to the effect that such Foreign Successor Issuer has or will become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts or indemnification payments as a result of a change, amendment, official interpretation or application described above.
(b) A Foreign Successor Issuer will publish a notice of any optional redemption of the Notes described above in accordance with Section 3.03, 3.04 and 3.05 hereof. No such notice of redemption may be given more than 60 days before the Foreign Successor Issuer first becomes liable to pay any Additional Amount or other payments under Section 4.24.
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes.
The Issuer shall pay the principal of and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and this Indenture. An installment of principal or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, the Trustee or Paying Agent holds, for the benefit of the Holders, on that date U.S. legal tender designated for and sufficient to pay such installment in full.
The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal and interest on overdue interest, to the extent lawful as provided for in Section 2.12 hereof.
Section 4.02. Reports to Holders.
Whether or not required by the Commission, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuer will furnish to the Holders of Notes, or file electronically with the Commission through the Commissions Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (or any successor system), within the time periods applicable to the Issuer under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act:
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(1) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Issuer were required to file these Forms, including a Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Issuers certified independent accountants; and
(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Issuer were required to file these reports.
In addition, whether or not required by the Commission, the Issuer will file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the Commission for public availability within the time periods specified in the Commissions rules and regulations (unless the Commission will not accept the filing) and make the information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request. For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Issuer will furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Section 4.03. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.
The Issuer covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead (as a defense or otherwise) or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law which would prohibit or forgive the Issuer from paying all or any portion of the principal of and/or interest on the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) the Issuer hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default; Tax Information.
(a) The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of its fiscal year, an Officers Certificate (one of the signers of which shall be the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Issuer) stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and the Guarantors during such fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Issuer and the Guarantors have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Issuer and the Guarantors have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default
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shall have occurred, describing all or such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action each is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes are prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Officers Certificate shall also notify the Trustee should the Issuer elect to change the manner in which it fixes its fiscal year end.
(b) (i) If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) if any Holder seeks to exercise any remedy hereunder with respect to a claimed default under this Indenture or the Notes, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, at its address set forth in Section 11.02 hereof, by registered or certified mail or facsimile transmission followed by hard copy by overnight courier, registered or certified mail an Officers Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default, notice or other action, the status thereof and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take within thirty days of their becoming aware of such occurrence.
Section 4.05. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.
The Issuer shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges (including withholding taxes and any penalties, interest and additions to taxes) levied or imposed upon it or any of its Subsidiaries or properties of it or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies that, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon the property of it or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings properly instituted and diligently conducted for which adequate reserves, to the extent required under GAAP, have been taken.
Section 4.06. Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or limited liability company or other existence of each Subsidiary, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of each Subsidiary and (ii) the material rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries except where the failure to preserve and keep in full force and effect any such rights, licenses and franchises shall not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business, operations or prospects of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
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Section 4.07. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer hereby initially designates as such agency the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of such office or agency.
The Issuer 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. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The Issuer hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office as one such additional office.
Section 4.08. Compliance with Laws.
The Issuer shall comply, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders and restrictions of the United States of America, all states and municipalities thereof, and of any governmental department, commission, board, regulatory authority, bureau, agency and instrumentality of the foregoing, in respect of the conduct of their respective businesses and the ownership of their respective properties, except for such noncompliances as would not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section 4.09. Maintenance of Properties and Insurance.
(a) The Issuer shall cause all material properties owned by or leased by it or any of its Subsidiaries used or useful to the conduct of the Issuers business or the business of any of its Subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in normal condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and shall cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in its judgment may be necessary, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 4.09(a) shall prevent the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries from discontinuing the use, operation or maintenance of any of such properties, or disposing of any of them, if such discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Issuer or of the Board of Directors of any Subsidiary of the Issuer concerned, or of an Officer (or other agent employed by the Issuer or of any of its Subsidiaries) of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries having managerial responsibility for any such property, desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer, and if such discontinuance or disposal is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
(b) The Issuer shall maintain, and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible carriers against such risks and in such amounts, and with such deductibles, retentions, self-insured amounts and co-insurance provisions, as are customarily carried by corporations operating assets of a similar nature in the same or similar localities, including property and casualty loss, workers compensation and interruption of business insurance.
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Section 4.10. Limitations on Additional Indebtedness.
(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness; provided that the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur additional Indebtedness if, after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis (including giving pro forma effect to the application of the proceeds therefrom), the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio would be at least 2.00 to 1.00 (the Coverage Ratio Exception).
(b) Notwithstanding the above, each of the following shall be permitted (the Permitted Indebtedness):
(1) Indebtedness of the Issuer and any Guarantor under Credit Facilities in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $300.0 million and (b) an amount of indebtedness at the time of Incurrence and after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds therefrom that does not cause the Secured Leverage Ratio of the Issuer to exceed 3.5 to 1.0;
(2) Indebtedness under (a) the Notes and the Note Guarantees initially issued on the Issue Date and (b) guarantees of the Additional Notes permitted to be issued under this Indenture;
(3) Indebtedness of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent outstanding on the Issue Date after giving effect in due course to the intended use of proceeds of the Notes (other than Indebtedness referred to in other clauses of this Section 4.10(b);
(4) Indebtedness under Hedging Obligations entered into for bona fide hedging purposes of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and not for the purpose of speculation; provided that in the case of Hedging Obligations relating to interest rates, (a) such Hedging Obligations relate to payment obligations on Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred by this Section 4.10, and (b) the notional principal amount of such Hedging Obligations at the time incurred does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness to which such Hedging Obligations relate;
(5) Indebtedness of the Issuer owed to a Restricted Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary owed to the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or such Indebtedness being owed to any Person other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, shall be deemed to have incurred Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (5);
(6) Indebtedness in respect of (a) self-insurance obligations or completion, customs, stay, bid, performance, appeal or surety bonds or other obligations of a like nature issued for the account of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees or obligations of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to letters of credit supporting such self-insurance, completion, customs, stay, bid, performance, appeal or surety bonds or other obligations (in each case other than for an obligation for money borrowed) or (b) obligations represented by letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit in order to provide security for workers compensation claims, for the account of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;
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(7) Purchase Money Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the greater of (a) $175.0 million and (b) 7.5% of the Issuers Consolidated Tangible Assets determined at the time of incurrence on a pro forma basis to give effect to the assets purchased;
(8) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of incurrence;
(9) Indebtedness arising in connection with endorsement of instruments for deposit in the ordinary course of business;
(10) Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Coverage Ratio Exception or clause (2) or (3) above, this clause (10) or clause (15) below;
(11) indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earn-out or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business or assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary or Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Equity Interests for the purpose of financing or in contemplation of any such acquisition; provided that, in the case of a disposition, the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such obligations outstanding under this clause (11) shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;
(12) Contingent Obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted under this Section 4.10;
(13) Indebtedness in respect of insurance premium financing for insurance being acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary under customary terms and conditions;
(14) Indebtedness of Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed 15.0% of the aggregate Consolidated Tangible Assets of all of the Foreign Restricted Subsidiaries, determined at the time of incurrence;
(15) Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness;
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(16) Purchase Money Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof the proceeds which are used to finance the acquisition by Discovery Offshore or any Restricted Subsidiary of one or more jackup rigs and related equipment and assets; and
(17) additional Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the greater of (a) $100.0 million and (b) 5.0% of the Issuers Consolidated Tangible Assets as determined at the time of incurrence.
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 Indebtedness described in clauses (1) through (17) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the Coverage Ratio Exception, the Issuer shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of Indebtedness and may divide and classify such Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described, except that Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement on the Issue Date after giving effect to the application of the proceeds from the issuance of the Notes shall be deemed to have been incurred under clause (1) above, and may later reclassify any item of Indebtedness described in clauses (1) through (17) above (provided that at the time of reclassification it meets the criteria in such category or categories). In addition, for purposes of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness under this covenant, guarantees, Liens or letter of credit obligations supporting Indebtedness otherwise included in the determination of such particular amount shall not be included so long as incurred by a Person that could have incurred such Indebtedness.
For the purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the earlier of the date that such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term Indebtedness, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit Indebtedness; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.10, in no event shall the reclassification of any lease or other liability as indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles after the Issue Date be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness.
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Section 4.11. Limitations on Restricted Payments.
(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make any Restricted Payment if at the time of such Restricted Payment:
(1) a Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall occur as a consequence thereof;
(2) after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable Four-Quarter Period, the Issuer is not able to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to the Coverage Ratio Exception; or
(3) the amount of such Restricted Payment, when added to the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made after April 3, 2012 (other than Restricted Payments made pursuant to clauses (2) through (10) of clause (b) of this Section 4.11), exceeds the sum (the Restricted Payments Basket) of (without duplication):
(A) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as one accounting period) commencing on April 1, 2012 to and including the last day of the fiscal quarter ended immediately prior to the date of such calculation for which consolidated financial statements are available (or, if such Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus
(B) 100% of (A) (i) the aggregate net cash proceeds and (ii) the Fair Market Value of (x) marketable securities (other than marketable securities of the Issuer), (y) Equity Interests of a Person (other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer) engaged in a Permitted Business and (z) other assets used in any Permitted Business, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), received by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries since April 3, 2012 as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Qualified Equity Interests of the Issuer or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Equity Interests or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Issuer that have been converted into or exchanged for such Qualified Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests or debt securities sold to a Subsidiary of the Issuer and Excluded Contributions) and (B) the aggregate net cash proceeds, if any, received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon any conversion or exchange described in clause (A) above, plus
(C) 100% of (A) the aggregate amount by which Indebtedness (other than any Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary is reduced on the Issuers consolidated balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange after April 3, 2012 of any such Indebtedness into or for Qualified Equity Interests of the Issuer and (B) the aggregate net cash proceeds, if any, received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries upon any conversion or exchange described in clause (A) above, plus
(D) with respect to Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after April 3, 2012, an amount equal to the sum, without duplication, of (A) the net reduction in such Restricted Investments in any Person resulting from (i) repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of assets, in each case to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) other repurchases,
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repayments or redemptions of such Restricted Investments, (iii) the sale of any such Restricted Investment to a purchaser other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary or (iv) the release of any guarantee (except to the extent any amounts are paid under such guarantee) that constituted a Restricted Investment plus (B) with respect to any Unrestricted Subsidiary designated as such after April 3, 2012 and redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after April 3, 2012, the Fair Market Value of the Issuers Investment in such Subsidiary held by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time of such redesignation.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions set forth in clause (a) of this Section 4.11 will not prohibit:
(1) the payment of (a) any dividend or redemption payment or the making of any distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof if, on the date of declaration, the dividend, redemption or distribution payment, as the case may be, would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture or (b) any dividend or similar distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis or on a basis more favorable to the Issuer;
(2) the redemption or acquisition of any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance and sale of, Qualified Equity Interests;
(3) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (including the payment of any required premium and any fees and expenses incurred in connection with such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance, other acquisition or retirement for value) (a) in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance and sale of, Qualified Equity Interests, (b) in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent incurrence of, Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 4.10 and the other terms of this Indenture or (c) upon a Change of Control or in connection with an Asset Sale to the extent required by the agreement governing such Subordinated Indebtedness but only if the Issuer shall have complied with Section 4.12 and Section 4.15 and purchased all Notes validly tendered pursuant to the relevant offer prior to purchasing, repurchasing, redeeming, defeasing or acquiring or retiring for value such Subordinated Indebtedness;
(4) the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of the Issuer held by officers, directors or employees or former officers, directors or employees (or their transferees, estates or beneficiaries under their estates), either (x) upon any such individuals death, disability, retirement, severance or termination of employment or service or (y) pursuant to any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, stockholders agreement or similar agreement; provided, in any case, that the aggregate cash consideration paid for all such redemptions, repurchases or other acquisitions or retirements shall not exceed (A) $10.0 million during any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried forward to the next succeeding calendar year but not any subsequent years) plus (B) the amount of any net cash proceeds
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received by or contributed to the Issuer from the issuance and sale after the Issue Date of Qualified Equity Interests of the Issuer to its officers, directors or employees that have not been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (4), plus (C) the net cash proceeds of any key-man life insurance policies that have not been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (4);
(5) (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions or retirements for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options, warrants, rights to acquire Equity Interests or other convertible securities to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof and (b) any repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions or retirements for value of Equity Interests made in lieu of withholding taxes in connection with any exercise or exchange of stock options, warrants or other similar rights;
(6) dividends on Preferred Stock or Disqualified Equity Interests issued in compliance with Section 4.10 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of Consolidated Interest Expense;
(7) the payment of cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests;
(8) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law in connection with a merger, consolidation or transfer of assets that complies with the provisions of Article 5;
(9) Restricted Payments with Excluded Contributions; or
(10) payment of other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount since April 3, 2012 not to exceed $25.0 million;
provided that (a) in the case of any Restricted Payment pursuant to clauses (3), (4), (9) or (10) above, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or occur as a consequence thereof and (b) no issuance and sale of Qualified Equity Interests used to make a payment pursuant to clauses (2), (3) or (4)(B) above shall increase the Restricted Payments Basket.
For the purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on Restricted Payments denominated in a foreign currency, the U.S. dollar-equivalent amount of such Restricted Payment shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date that such Restricted Payment was made.
Section 4.12. Limitations on Asset Sales.
(a) The Issuer will not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset Sale unless:
(1) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration at least equal to the Fair Market Value (such Fair Market Value to be determined at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale or, in circumstances where the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary grants a third party the right to purchase an asset, the date of such grant) of the assets included in such Asset Sale; and
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(2) (a) at least 75% of the total consideration in such Asset Sale consists of cash or Cash Equivalents or (b) the Fair Market Value of all forms of consideration other than cash and Cash Equivalents received for all Asset Sales since the Issue Date does not exceed in the aggregate 10.0% of the Consolidated Tangible Assets of the Issuer at the time such determination is made.
For purposes of clause (2), the following shall be deemed to be cash:
(A) the amount (without duplication) of any Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Equity Interests, or Indebtedness owed to an Affiliate of the Issuer) of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary that is delivered to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiaries as consideration for such Asset Sale and promptly retired or extinguished without payment, or that is expressly assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to (i) a written novation agreement that releases the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability therefor or (ii) an assignment agreement that includes, in lieu of such a release, the agreement of the transferee or its parent company to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from and against any loss, liability or cost in respect of such assumed liability,
(B) the amount of any obligations received from such transferee that are within 180 days after such Asset Sale converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash actually so received), and
(C) the Fair Market Value of (i) any assets (other than securities) received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to be used by it in a Permitted Business, (ii) Equity Interests acquired from a Person other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary in a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary or in a Person engaged in a Permitted Business that shall become a Restricted Subsidiary immediately upon the acquisition of such Person by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii).
(b) If at any time any non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in connection with any Asset Sale is repaid or converted into or sold or otherwise disposed of for cash (other than interest received with respect to any such non-cash consideration), then the date of such repayment, conversion or disposition shall be deemed to constitute the date of an Asset Sale hereunder and the Net Available Proceeds thereof shall be applied in accordance with this Section 4.12.
(c) Any Asset Sale pursuant to a condemnation, appropriation or other similar taking, including by deed in lieu of condemnation, or pursuant to the foreclosure or other enforcement of a Permitted Lien or exercise by the related lienholder of rights with respect thereto, including by deed or assignment in lieu of foreclosure, shall not be required to satisfy the conditions set forth in subclauses (1) and (2) of clause (a) of this Section 4.12.
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(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 75% limitation referred to above shall be deemed satisfied with respect to any Asset Sale in which the cash or Cash Equivalents portion of the consideration received therefrom, determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.12(a) on an after-tax basis, is equal to or greater than what the after-tax proceeds would have been had such Asset Sale complied with the aforementioned 75% limitation.
(e) If the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary engages in an Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary shall, no later than 365 days following the consummation thereof, apply all or any of the Net Available Proceeds therefrom to:
(i) prepay, repay, redeem, defease or purchase secured Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Disqualified Equity Interests, Subordinated Indebtedness or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer);
(ii) satisfy all mandatory repayment obligations under Credit Facilities arising by reason of such Asset Sale;
(iii) repay any Indebtedness which was secured by the assets sold in such Asset Sale; and/or
(iv) (A) make any capital expenditure or otherwise invest all or any part of the Net Available Proceeds thereof in the purchase of assets (other than securities) to be used by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in the Permitted Business, (B) acquire Qualified Equity Interests from a Person other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary in a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary or in a Person engaged in a Permitted Business that shall become a Restricted Subsidiary immediately upon the consummation of such acquisition or (C) a combination of (A) and (B).
(f) The amount of Net Available Proceeds not applied or invested as provided in the preceding clause (e) shall constitute Excess Proceeds.
(g) When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds equals or exceeds $30.0 million, the Issuer shall be required to make an offer to purchase from all Holders and, if applicable, purchase or redeem (or make an offer to do so) any Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Issuer the provisions of which require the Issuer to purchase or redeem such Indebtedness with the proceeds from any Asset Sales (or offer to do so), in an aggregate principal amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness equal to the amount of such Excess Proceeds as follows:
(1) the Issuer will (a) make an offer to purchase (a Net Proceeds Offer) to all Holders in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture, and (b) purchase or redeem (or make an offer to do so), pro rata in proportion to the respective principal amounts of the Notes and such other Indebtedness required to be purchased or redeemed, the maximum principal amount of Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased or redeemed out of the amount (the Payment Amount) of such Excess Proceeds;
(2) the offer price for the Notes will be payable in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes tendered pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date such Net Proceeds Offer is consummated (the Offered Price), in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture, and the purchase or redemption price for such Pari Passu Indebtedness (the Pari Passu Indebtedness Price) shall be as set forth in the related documentation governing such Indebtedness;
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(3) if the aggregate Offered Price of Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by Holders thereof exceeds the pro rata portion of the Payment Amount allocable to the Notes, Notes to be purchased will be selected on a pro rata basis; and
(4) upon completion of such Net Proceeds Offer in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the amount of Excess Proceeds with respect to which such Net Proceeds Offer was made shall be deemed to be zero.
(h) To the extent that the sum of the aggregate Offered Price of Notes tendered pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer and the aggregate Pari Passu Indebtedness Price paid to the holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness is less than the Payment Amount relating thereto (such shortfall constituting a Net Proceeds Deficiency), the Issuer may use the Net Proceeds Deficiency, or a portion thereof, for any purposes not otherwise prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture.
(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will be governed by the provisions of Section 4.15 and/or the provisions of Article 5 and not by the provisions of this Section 4.12.
(j) Upon the commencement of a Net Proceeds Offer, the Issuer must send, by first-class mail, a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, which notice shall govern the terms of such Offer. Such notice shall state:
(1) that such Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.12;
(2) the Offered Price and the Offer Payment Date;
(3) that any Note not tendered shall continue to accrue interest;
(4) that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Offered Price, any Notes accepted for payment pursuant to such Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Offer Payment Date;
(5) that such Offer shall remain open for at least 20 Business Days or for such longer period as is required by law and that Holders accepting the offer to have their Notes purchased pursuant to such Offer shall be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled Option of the Holder to Elect Purchase on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Offer Payment Date;
(6) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their acceptance if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Offer Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Notes purchased;
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(7) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered;
(8) any other procedures that a Holder must follow to accept such Offer or effect withdrawal of such acceptance; and
(9) the name and address of the Paying Agent.
(k) The Issuer shall publicly announce the results of a Net Proceeds Offer as soon as practicable after the related Offer Payment Date.
(l) On the Offer Payment Date, the Issuer shall, to the extent lawful, (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer, or such lesser amount thereof as the Issuer is required to purchase pursuant to this Section 4.12, (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Offered Price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered and accepted for payment, and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Issuer.
(m) After the Issuers satisfaction of its obligations under the preceding clause (l), the Paying Agent shall as promptly as practicable mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Offered Price for such Notes, and the Trustee shall as promptly as practicable authenticate and mail to each Holder a new Note in principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided, however, that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The Issuer shall comply with applicable tender offer rules, including the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the purchase of Notes pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 4.12, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.12 by virtue of this compliance.
Section 4.13. Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates.
(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, in one transaction or a series of related transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $1.0 million, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets to, or purchase any assets from, or enter into any contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (an Affiliate Transaction), unless:
(1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could reasonably be expected to have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arms-length basis by the Issuer or that Restricted Subsidiary from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Issuer or that Restricted Subsidiary; and
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(2) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction involving aggregate value in excess of $20.0 million, an Officers Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) above and a Secretarys Certificate which sets forth and authenticates a resolution that has been adopted by the Independent Directors approving such Affiliate Transaction.
(b) The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:
(1) transactions exclusively between or among (a) the Issuer and one or more Restricted Subsidiaries or (b) Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) reasonable director, officer and employee compensation (including bonuses) and other benefits (including pursuant to any employment agreement or any retirement, health, stock option or other benefit plan) and indemnification and insurance arrangements, in each case, as determined in good faith by the Issuers Board of Directors or senior management;
(3) the entering into of a tax sharing agreement, or payments pursuant thereto, between the Issuer and/or one or more Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any other Person with which the Issuer or such Subsidiaries are required or permitted to file a consolidated tax return or with which the Issuer or such Subsidiaries are part of a consolidated group for tax purposes to be used by such Person to pay taxes, and which payments by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not in excess of the tax liabilities that would have been payable by them on a stand-alone basis;
(4) any Permitted Investments;
(5) any Restricted Payments which are made in accordance with Section 4.11;
(6) (x) any agreement in effect on the Issue Date, as in effect on the Issue Date or as thereafter amended or replaced in any manner that, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the Holders or the Issuer in any material respect than such agreement as it was in effect on the Issue Date or (y) any transaction pursuant to any agreement referred to in the immediately preceding clause (x);
(7) any transaction with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) which would constitute an Affiliate of the Issuer solely because the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary owns an equity interest in or otherwise controls such Person;
(8) (a) any transaction with an Affiliate where the only consideration paid by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary is Qualified Equity Interests of the Issuer or (b) the issuance or sale of any Qualified Equity Interests of the Issuer;
(9) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors of the Issuer or the senior management of the Issuer, such transactions are on terms not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could reasonably be expected to be obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arms-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Issuer;
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(10) pledges by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of lenders or other creditors of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
(11) any transaction entered into by a Person prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary (provided that such transaction is not entered into in contemplation of such event); and
(12) dividends and distributions to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary by any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Section 4.14. Limitation on Liens.
The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit or suffer to exist any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) of any nature whatsoever against any assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (including Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary), whether owned at the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, which Lien secures Indebtedness, unless the Notes are equally and ratably secured with (or prior to) such Indebtedness secured by such Lien.
Section 4.15. Change of Control.
(a) Upon the occurrence of any Change of Control, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes as described in paragraph 5 of the Notes, each Holder will have the right to require that the Issuer purchase all or any portion (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holders Notes for a cash price (the Change of Control Purchase Price) equal to 101.0% of the principal amount of the Notes to be purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of purchase (a Change of Control Offer) (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).
(b) Within 30 days following the date on which the Change of Control occurs, the Issuer must send by first-class mail a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, which notice shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer. Such notice shall state:
(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes tendered shall be accepted for payment;
(2) the description of the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control;
(3) the Change of Control Purchase Price and the purchase date (which shall be a Business Day no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the Change of Control Payment Date));
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(4) that any Note not tendered shall continue to accrue interest;
(5) that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Purchase Price, any Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;
(6) that such Change of Control Offer shall remain open for at least 20 Business Days or for such longer period as is required by law and that Holders accepting the offer to have their Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer shall be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled Option of the Holder to Elect Purchase on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;
(7) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their acceptance if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Notes purchased;
(8) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered;
(9) any other procedures that a Holder must follow to accept a Change of Control Offer or effect withdrawal of such acceptance; and
(10) the name and address of the Paying Agent.
(c) The Issuer shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
(d) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer shall, to the extent lawful, (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Purchase Price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered and accepted for payment, and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Issuer.
(e) The Paying Agent shall as promptly as practicable mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Purchase Price for such Notes, and the Trustee shall as promptly as practicable authenticate and mail to each Holder a new Note in principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided, however, that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
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(f) The Issuer shall comply with applicable tender offer rules, including the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other laws and regulations to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.15, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the provisions of this Section 4.15 by virtue thereof.
(g) The provisions of this Section 4.15 that require the Issuer to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control shall be applicable regardless of whether any other provisions of this Indenture are applicable to the transaction giving rise to the Change of Control.
(h) The Issuers obligation to make a Change of Control Offer shall be satisfied if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
(i) In the event that Holders of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes accept a Change of Control Offer and the Issuer, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuer as described above in clause (h), purchases all of the Notes held by such Holders, the Issuer will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all of the Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Purchase Price plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Purchase Price, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that remain outstanding, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).
(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.
Section 4.16. Limitations on Dividend and Other Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.
The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:
(a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on or in respect of its Equity Interests to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(b) make loans or advances, or pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed, to the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that the subordination of loans and advances made to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness or obligations incurred by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances); or
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(c) transfer any of its assets to the Issuer or any other Restricted Subsidiary; except for:
(1) encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of applicable law, regulation or order;
(2) encumbrances or restrictions existing under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees;
(3) non-assignment provisions of any contract, license or any lease entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(4) encumbrances or restrictions existing under agreements existing on the date of this Indenture (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement and the Secured Notes Indenture) as in effect on that date;
(5) restrictions relating to any Lien permitted under this Indenture imposed by the holder of such Lien;
(6) restrictions imposed under any agreement to sell Equity Interests or assets, as permitted under this Indenture, to any Person pending the closing of such sale;
(7) any instrument governing Acquired Indebtedness or Equity Interests of a Person acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person or the properties or assets of the Person so acquired;
(8) any other agreement governing Indebtedness or other obligations entered into after the Issue Date that contains encumbrances and restrictions that in the good faith of the Issuer are not materially more restrictive with respect to any Restricted Subsidiary than those in effect on the Issue Date with respect to that Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to agreements in effect on the Issue Date;
(9) customary provisions in partnership agreements, limited liability company organizational governance documents, joint venture agreements, shareholder agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that restrict the transfer of ownership interests in or assets of such partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, corporation or similar Person;
(10) Purchase Money Indebtedness and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred in compliance with Section 4.10 that imposes restrictions of the nature described in clause (c) above on the assets acquired;
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(11) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, suppliers or landlords under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(12) any encumbrance or restriction applicable only to a Foreign Restricted Subsidiary in agreements entered into in connection with Indebtedness incurred by such Foreign Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with subclause (14) of Section 4.10(b);
(13) Indebtedness incurred or Equity Interests issued by any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements or instruments governing such Indebtedness or Equity Interests (a) either (i) apply only in the event of a payment default or a default with respect to a financial covenant in such agreement or instrument or (ii) will not materially affect the Issuers ability to pay all principal and interest on the Notes, as determined in good faith by the Chief Financial Officer of the Issuer, whose determination shall be conclusive and (b) are not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes than is customary in comparable financings (as determined by the Chief Financial Officer of the Issuer, whose determination shall be conclusive);
(14) any encumbrance or restriction existing under Hedging Obligations permitted under this Indenture; and
(15) any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, refinancings, modifications, renewals, restatements, increases, supplements or replacements of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (14) above; provided that such amendments, refinancings, modifications, renewals, restatements, increases, supplements or replacements are, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, no more materially restrictive with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those prior to such amendment or refinancing.
Section 4.17. [Reserved].
Section 4.18. Conduct of Business.
The Issuer shall engage, and shall cause its Restricted Subsidiaries to engage, only in businesses that, when considered together as a single enterprise, are primarily the Permitted Business.
Section 4.19. Limitations on Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
(a) The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary (including any newly formed or newly acquired Subsidiary) of the Issuer as an Unrestricted Subsidiary under this Indenture (a Designation) only if:
(1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or after giving effect to such Designation; and
(2) the Issuer would be permitted to make, at the time of such Designation, (a) a Permitted Investment or (b) an Investment pursuant to clause (a) of Section 4.11, in either case in an amount (the Designation Amount) equal to the Fair Market Value of the Issuers proportionate interest in such Subsidiary on such date.
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(b) No Subsidiary shall be Designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless:
(1) all of the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries shall, at the time of Designation, consist of Non-Recourse Debt, except any guarantee given solely to support the pledge by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Equity Interests of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, which guarantee is not recourse to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, and except for any Contingent Obligations of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary that is permitted as both an incurrence of Indebtedness and an Investment (in each case in an amount equal to the amount of such Indebtedness so guaranteed) permitted by Sections 4.10 and 4.11);
(2) on the date such Subsidiary is Designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding (other than Contingent Obligations permitted under clause (1) above) with the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary unless the terms of the agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiary than those that could reasonably be expected to have been obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Issuer, as determined in good faith by the Issuer;
(3) such subsidiary is a Person with respect to which neither the Issuer nor any Restricted Subsidiary has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests of such Person or (b) to maintain or preserve the Persons financial condition or to cause the Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results (in each case other than Contingent Obligations permitted under clause (1) above); and
(4) such subsidiary does not guarantee or otherwise directly or indirectly provide credit support for any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, except for any pledge of the Equity Interests of such Unrestricted Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary.
(c) If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary fails to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of the Subsidiary and any Liens on assets of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary at such time and, if the Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred under Section 4.10 or the Lien is not permitted under Section 4.14, the Issuer shall be in default of the applicable Section.
(d) The Issuer may redesignate an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (a Redesignation) only if:
(1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of and after giving effect to such Redesignation; and
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(2) all Liens, Indebtedness and Investments of such Unrestricted Subsidiary outstanding immediately following such Redesignation would, if incurred or made at such time, have been permitted to be incurred or made for all purposes of this Indenture.
(e) All Designations and Redesignations must be evidenced by resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee certifying compliance with the foregoing provisions.
Section 4.20. Additional Note Guarantees.
If, after the Issue Date, (a) the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary shall acquire or create another Domestic Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) any Unrestricted Subsidiary is Redesignated a Domestic Restricted Subsidiary, and (in each such case) such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary guarantees any Indebtedness under any Credit Facility, then the Issuer shall, within 15 Business Days, cause such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary to:
(1) execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form prescribed by this Indenture pursuant to which such Domestic Restricted Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers obligations under the Notes and this Indenture; and
(2) deliver to the Trustee the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 10.07 hereof.
Section 4.21. Limitations on Layering Indebtedness.
(a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness that is or purports to be by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or of such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is also by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) made expressly subordinate in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, to the same extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated to such other Indebtedness of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.
(b) For purposes of the foregoing, no Indebtedness will be deemed to be subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary solely by virtue of being unsecured or secured by a Permitted Lien or by virtue of the fact that the holders of such Indebtedness have entered into intercreditor agreements or other arrangements giving one or more of such holders priority over the other holders in the collateral held by them or other payments among them.
Section 4.22. [Reserved].
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Section 4.23. Suspension of Covenants.
(a) During any period of time that the Notes have a Moodys rating of Baa3 or higher and an S&P rating of BBB- or higher (each, an Investment Grade Rating) and no Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to the following covenants: Section 4.10, Section 4.11, Section 4.12, Section 4.13, Section 4.16, Section 4.18, Section 4.20, Section 4.21 and Section 5.01(a)(3) (collectively, the Suspended Covenants).
(b) In the event that the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period of time as a result of the preceding sentence and, subsequently, one or both of the Rating Agencies, as applicable, withdraws its ratings or downgrades the ratings assigned to the Notes such that the Notes do not have an Investment Grade Rating, then the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants, it being understood that no actions taken by (or omissions of) the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the suspension period shall constitute a Default or an Event of Default under the Suspended Covenants. Furthermore, after the time of reinstatement of the Suspended Covenants upon such withdrawal or downgrade, calculations with respect to Restricted Payments will be made in accordance with the terms of the covenant described above under Section 4.11 as though such covenant had been in effect during the entire period of time from the Issue Date.
Section 4.24. Payment of Additional Amounts by a Foreign Successor Issuer.
(a) All payments made under or with respect to the Notes or any Note Guarantee by any Foreign Successor Issuer or any Guarantor of a Foreign Successor Issuer (each such person, a Payor) will be made free and clear of any withholding or deduction for or on account of any tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other governmental charge of whatever nature (collectively, Tax) imposed or levied by or on behalf of any jurisdiction in which such Payor is organized, resident or doing business for tax purposes or from or through which such Payor (or any of its agents) makes any payment on the Notes or any Note Guarantee or any department or political subdivision of any of the foregoing (each, a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction), unless such Payor or other applicable withholding agent is required to withhold or deduct Taxes by law. For the avoidance of doubt, a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction shall not include the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia. If a Payor or other applicable withholding agent is required by law to withhold or deduct any amount for or on account of Taxes of a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction from any payment made under or with respect to the Notes or any Note Guarantee, the Payor, subject to the exceptions listed below, will pay additional amounts (Additional Amounts) as may be necessary to ensure that the net amount received by each Holder of the Notes after such withholding or deduction (including withholding or deduction attributable to Additional Amounts payable hereunder) will not be less than the amount the Holder would have received if such Taxes had not been withheld or deducted.
(b) A Payor will not, however, pay Additional Amounts to a Holder or beneficial owner of Notes:
(i) to the extent the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed but for the Holders or beneficial owners present or former connection with the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (other than any connection resulting from the acquisition, ownership, holding or disposition of Notes, the receipt of payments thereunder or under any Note Guarantee and/or the exercise or enforcement of rights under any Notes or any Note Guarantee);
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(ii) to the extent the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed but for the failure of the Holder or beneficial owner of Notes, following the Payors written request address to the Holder, to the extent such Holder or beneficial owner is legally eligible to do so, to comply with any certification, identification, information or other reporting requirements, whether required by statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of deduction or withholding of, Taxes imposed by the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (including, without limitation, a certification that the Holder or beneficial owner is not resident in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction);
(iii) with respect to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales or any similar Taxes;
(iv) if such Holder is a fiduciary or partnership or person other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment and the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed on such payment had the Holder been the beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner, as the case may be, of such Notes (but only if there is no material cost or expense associated with transferring such Notes to such beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner and no restriction on such transfer that is outside the control of such beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner);
(v) to the extent the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed but for the presentation by the Holder of any Notes, where presentation is required, for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date of which payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;
(vi) with respect to any withholding or deduction that is imposed pursuant to the European Council Directive on the taxation of savings income which was adopted by the ECOFIN Council on June 3, 2003 or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to such directive (the EU Savings Tax Directive) or is required to be made pursuant to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation dated October 26, 2004 providing for measures equivalent to those laid down in the EU Savings Tax Directive (the EU-Swiss Savings Tax Agreement) or any law or other governmental regulation implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such agreement;
(vii) with respect to any tax that is payable other than by deduction or withholding at source; or
(viii) any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii).
(c) A Payor will (i) make any such withholding or deduction required by applicable law and (ii) remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law. The Payor will make reasonable efforts to obtain certified copies of tax receipts evidencing the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld from each Relevant Taxing
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Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes. The Payor will provide to the Trustee, within a reasonable time after the date the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld are due pursuant to applicable law, either a certified copy or tax receipts evidencing such payment, or, if such tax receipts are not reasonably available to the Payor, such other documentation that provides reasonable evidence of such payment by the Payor.
(d) The Payor will deliver to the Trustee any Additional Amounts payable together with an Officers Certificate stating that such Additional Amounts will be payable prior to the date on which such payments will be made, and will include such other information necessary to enable the Trustee to pay such Additional Amounts to Holders on the payment date. Any such Officers Certificate will be delivered a reasonable time in advance of when the payments in question are required to be made. The Payor will promptly publish a notice in accordance with Section 11.02 hereof stating that such Additional Amounts will be payable and describing the obligation to pay such amounts.
(e) The Payors, jointly and severally, will reimburse the Holders of the Notes, upon written request of such Holder of the Notes and appropriate proof of payment for the amount of (i) any Taxes levied or imposed by a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction and payable by such Holder or the applicable beneficiary in connection with payments made under or with respect to the Notes held by such Holder or any Note Guarantee; and (ii) any Taxes levied or imposed with respect to any reimbursement under the foregoing clause (i) or this clause (ii), so that the net amount received by the beneficial owner after such reimbursement will not be less than the net amount such beneficial owner would have received if the Taxes giving rise to the reimbursement described in clauses (i) and/or (ii) had not been imposed, provided, however, that the indemnification obligation provided for in this Section 4.24(e) shall not extend to Taxes imposed for which the Holder or beneficial owner would not have been eligible to receive payment of Additional Amounts hereunder by virtue of clauses (i) through (viii) of Section 4.24(b) hereof, or to the extent such Holder or beneficial owner received Additional Amounts with respect to such payments.
(f) In addition, a Foreign Successor Issuer will pay any stamp, issue, registration, court, documentary, excise or other similar taxes, charges and duties (including interest, additions to tax and penalties with respect thereto) imposed by any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction at any time on or after the date on which the Foreign Successor Issuer becomes a Foreign Successor Issuer (the Successor Date) in respect of the execution, issuance, registration or delivery of the Notes, any Note Guarantee or any other document or instrument referred to thereunder and any such taxes, charges or duties imposed by any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction at any time on or after the Successor Date as a result of, or in connection with, (i) any payments made pursuant to the Notes, any Note Guarantee or any other such document or instrument referred to thereunder and/or (ii) the enforcement of the Notes any Note Guarantee or any other such document or instrument referred to thereunder.
(g) The obligations described under this Section 4.24 will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of this Indenture and will apply mutatis mutandis to any successor Person, to any Payor, and to any jurisdiction (other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia) in which such successor is organized, resident or doing business for Tax purposes or any jurisdiction from or through which payment is made by such successor or its agents.
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(h) Whenever this Indenture refers to, in any context, the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Note or under any Note Guarantee, such reference includes the payment of Additional Amounts or indemnification payments that would be payable pursuant to this Section 4.24, if applicable.
ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
Section 5.01. Limitations on Mergers, Consolidations, Etc.
(a) The Issuer shall not, directly or indirectly, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, consolidate or merge with or into another Person, or sell, lease, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of or assign all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) unless:
(1) either:
(a) the Issuer shall be the surviving or continuing Person; or
(b) the Person (if other than the Issuer) formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger or to which such sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition or assignment shall be made (collectively, the Successor) is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of any Permitted Jurisdiction; provided that, if the surviving Person is not organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, such Person will execute customary documentation relating to submission to jurisdiction, service of process and other related matters as set forth in this Indenture, and the Successor expressly assumes, by agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the assumption of the obligations as set forth in clause 5.01(a)(1)(b) above and the incurrence of any Indebtedness to be incurred in connection therewith, and the use of any net proceeds of such Indebtedness on a pro forma basis, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the assumption of the obligations as set forth in clause 5.01(a)(1)(b) above and the incurrence of any Indebtedness to be incurred in connection therewith, and the use of any net proceeds of such Indebtedness on a pro forma basis, either (x) the Issuer or the Successor, as the case may be, could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to the Coverage Ratio Exception or (y) the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio for the Issuer or the Successor, as the case may be, would be equal to or greater than such ratio for the Issuer immediately prior to such transaction.
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(b) For purposes of this Section 5.01, any Indebtedness of the Successor which was not Indebtedness of the Issuer immediately prior to the transaction shall be deemed to have been incurred in connection with such transaction to the extent such Indebtedness remains outstanding immediately after giving effect to such transaction.
(c) Except as provided in Section 10.06, no Guarantor may consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, unless:
(1) either:
(a) such Guarantor shall be the surviving or continuing Person; or
(b) the Person (if other than such Guarantor) formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger is another Guarantor or assumes, by agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the obligations of such Guarantor under the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor and this Indenture; and
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(d) For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, the Equity Interests of which constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer, will be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge with or into or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of its assets to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the Issuer or any Guarantor may consolidate with, merge with or into or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of its assets to the Issuer or another Guarantor or merge with a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Issuer or a Guarantor in a Permitted Jurisdiction.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 5.01(a)(3) will not prohibit the Issuer from entering into a transaction as a result of which the Issuer is reorganized in a Permitted Jurisdiction.
Section 5.02. Successor Person Substituted.
Upon any consolidation, combination or merger of the Issuer or a Guarantor, or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01, in which the Issuer or such Guarantor is not the continuing obligor under the Notes or its Note Guarantee, the surviving entity formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer or such Guarantor is merged or the Person to which the sale, conveyance, lease, transfer, disposition or
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assignment is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer or such Guarantor under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees with the same effect as if such surviving entity had been named therein as the Issuer or such Guarantor and, except in the case of a lease, the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes or in respect of its Note Guarantee, as the case may be, and all of the Issuers or such Guarantors other obligations and covenants under the Notes, this Indenture and its Note Guarantee, if applicable.
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01. Events of Default.
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
(a) the failure to pay interest on any of the Notes when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for 30 days;
(b) the failure to pay the principal of any of Notes, when such principal becomes due and payable, at the Maturity Date, upon redemption, upon purchase, upon acceleration or otherwise;
(c) failure by the Issuer to comply with Article 5 or in respect of its obligations to make a Change of Control Offer pursuant to Section 4.15;
(d) (a) except with respect to Section 4.02, failure by the Issuer to comply with any other agreement or covenant in this Indenture and continuance of this failure for 60 days after notice of the failure has been given to the Issuer by the Trustee or by the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, or (b) failure by the Issuer for 120 days after notice of the failure has been given to the Issuer by the Trustee or by the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with Section 4.02;
(e) default by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary under any mortgage, indenture or other instrument or agreement under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced Indebtedness for borrowed money by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness now exists or is incurred after the Issue Date, which default (A) is caused by a failure to pay at final maturity principal on such Indebtedness within the applicable express grace period and any extensions thereof (a payment default) or (B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express final maturity (which acceleration is not rescinded, annulled or otherwise cured within 30 days of receipt by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of notice of any such acceleration), and, in each case, the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other Indebtedness with respect to which an event described in clause (A) or (B) has occurred and is continuing, aggregates $25.0 million or more; provided that such Event of Default shall cease to be an Event of Default if (x) the Indebtedness that is the subject of such Event of Default has been repaid, or (y) the default relating to such Indebtedness is waived or cured and if such Indebtedness has been accelerated, then the holders thereof have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness;
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(f) one or more judgments (to the extent not covered by insurance) for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $25.0 million shall be rendered against the Issuer, any of the Guarantors or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed;
(g) the Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(A) commences a voluntary case,
(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors,
(E) generally is not able to pay its debts as they become due, or
(F) takes any corporate action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing;
(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(A) is for relief against the Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in an involuntary case,
(B) appoints a Custodian of the Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, or
(C) orders the liquidation of the Issuer, or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; or
(i) any Note Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Note Guarantee and this Indenture) or is declared null and void and unenforceable or found to be invalid or any Guarantor denies its liability under its Note Guarantee (other than by reason of release of a Guarantor from its Note Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Note Guarantee.
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The term Bankruptcy Law means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors. The term Custodian means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 6.02. Acceleration.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) with respect to the Issuer) shall have occurred and be continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee, by written notice to the Issuer, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may declare (an acceleration declaration) all amounts owing under the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such declaration of acceleration, the aggregate principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the outstanding Notes shall become due and payable upon the earlier of (x) the final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace period or extensions thereof) or an acceleration of any Indebtedness under any Credit Facility prior to the express final stated maturity thereof and (y) five Business Days after the collateral agent under each Credit Facility receives the acceleration declaration, but, only if such Event of Default is then continuing; provided, however, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such outstanding Notes may rescind and annul such acceleration if:
(1) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree;
(2) all Events of Default, other than nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration, have been cured or waived;
(3) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid;
(4) the Issuer has paid all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and its reasonable compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its expenses, disbursements and advances and those of its agents and counsel; and
(5) in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in Section 6.01(g) or (h) above, the Trustee shall have received an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel that such Event of Default has been cured or waived.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) occurs with respect to the Issuer and is continuing, then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
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Section 6.03. Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture and may take any necessary action requested of it as Trustee to settle, compromise, adjust or otherwise conclude any proceedings to which it is a party.
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 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. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults and Events of Default.
Subject to Sections 2.09, 6.02, 6.07 and 8.02 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding have the right to waive past Defaults under this Indenture except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note as specified in clauses (a) and (b) of Section 6.01 or in respect of a covenant or a provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of all Holders as provided for in Section 8.02. The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that the requisite percentage of Holders have consented to such waiver. In case of any such waiver, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder and under the Notes, respectively. This paragraph of this Section 6.04 shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the TIA and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture and the Notes, as permitted by the TIA.
Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.
Section 6.05. Control by Majority.
Subject to Section 2.09 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee by this Indenture. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another Holder not taking part in such direction, and the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Trust Officer, determine that the proceedings so directed may involve it in personal liability; provided that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction. In the event the Trustee takes any action or
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follows any direction pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss or expense caused by taking such action or following such direction. This Section 6.05 shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(A) of the TIA, and such Section 316(a)(1)(A) of the TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture and the Notes, as permitted by the TIA.
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.
(a) Subject to Section 6.07 below, no Holder shall have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to this Indenture or any remedy thereunder unless:
(1) such Holder has given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;
(2) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes have made a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs, liability or expense;
(4) the Trustee fails to institute such proceeding within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity; and
(5) the Trustee has not received directions inconsistent with such written request during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes.
(b) However, such limitations do not apply to the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of the principal of, or interest on, such Note or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment, on or after the due date expressed in the Notes, which right will not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders To Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of or accrued interest on any Note held by such Holder on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, is absolute and unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer (or any other obligor on the Notes) for the whole amount of unpaid principal and accrued interest remaining unpaid, together with, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue principal and interest on overdue installments of interest, in each case at the rate set forth in Section 4.01 hereof, and such further amounts 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.
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Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee may 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 allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor on the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same after deduction of its charges and expenses to the extent that any such charges and expenses are not paid out of the estate in any such proceedings 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.
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 or reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceedings.
Section 6.10. Priorities.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article and any other money or property distributable in respect of the Issuers obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default shall be applied in the following order:
FIRST: to the Trustee (including any predecessor Trustee) for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;
SECOND: if the Holders are forced to proceed against the Issuer or any Guarantor directly without the Trustee, to Holders for their collection costs;
THIRD: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal and interest as to each, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes; and
FOURTH: to the Issuer or, to the extent the Trustee collects any amounts from any Guarantor, to such Guarantor.
The Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Issuer, may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10.
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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 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 pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.
ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise thereof as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such persons own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(1) The Trustee need perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no covenants or obligations shall be implied in this Indenture against the Trustee.
(2) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates (including Officers Certificates) or opinions (including Opinions of Counsel) furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions which are specifically required to be delivered to the Trustee by any provision of this Indenture to determine in good faith whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraphs (b) or (d) of this Section 7.01.
(2) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
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(3) 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) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(e) Whether or not herein expressly provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 7.01.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money or assets received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer. Assets held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other assets except to the extent required by law.
(g) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction, order or notice from the Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer.
(h) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee makes such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuer and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee in this Indenture, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified and any limitations on its duties and liabilities under this Indenture, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder (including its capacity as Registrar, Paying Agent and agent for services of notices and demands), and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(j) The permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any actions enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty.
(k) The Trustee has no duty to determine whether the Issuer and the Guarantors are in compliance with the terms of the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Facility.
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Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee.
Subject to Section 7.01 hereof:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document reasonably 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 with respect to any matters contemplated by this Indenture or the Notes it may consult with counsel and may require an Officers Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, or both, which shall conform to the provisions of Section 11.05 hereof. The Trustee shall be protected and shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such certificate or opinion. The Trustee may also consult with counsel on any matter relating to this Indenture or the Notes, and the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the advice of counsel.
(c) The Trustee may act through attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any attorney or agent (other than an agent who is an employee of the Trustee) so long as the appointment of such agent was made with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it reasonably believes to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(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 pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g) The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver an Officers Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(h) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action.
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(i) Anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Issuer has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may make loans to, accept deposits from, perform services for or otherwise deal with the Issuer, or any Affiliates thereof, with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee, however, shall be subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.
Section 7.04. Trustees Disclaimer.
The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to (i) the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes or (ii) whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will occur upon the execution and delivery of the Indenture or upon the issuance of the Notes. Trustee shall not be accountable for the Issuers use of the proceeds from the sale of Notes or any money paid to the Issuer pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer in this Indenture or the Notes other than the Trustees certificate of authentication.
Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.
The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has received written notice of such Default or Event of Default at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to Holders of Notes, as their names and addresses appear in the records of the Registrar, a notice of the Default or Event of Default known to the Trustee, unless such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived. Except in the case of an Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Note, including an accelerated payment and the failure to make payment on the Change of Control Payment Date pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or on the Offer Payment Date pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its Board of Directors, the executive committee of its Board of Directors or a committee of its directors and/or Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Holders. This Section 7.05 shall be in lieu of the proviso to Section 315(b) of the TIA, and such proviso of Section 315(b) of the TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture and the Notes, as permitted by the TIA.
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Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders.
If required by TIA Section 313(a), within 60 days after May 15 of any year, commencing the first May 15 following the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with TIA Section 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b), (c) and (d).
Reports pursuant to this Section 7.06 shall be transmitted by mail:
(a) to all registered Holders, as the names and addresses of such Holders appear on the Registrars books; and
(b) to such Holders as have, within the two years preceding such transmission, filed their names and addresses with the Trustee for that purpose.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the Commission and each stock exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange or of any delisting thereof.
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.
The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Issuer and the Trustee for the Trustees services. The Trustees compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable fees and expenses, including out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it in connection with the performance of its duties under this Indenture or in connection with the collection of any funds. Such expenses shall include the reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustees agents and counsel.
The Issuer shall indemnify each of the Trustee and its agents, employees, stockholders and directors and officers for, and hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred by them (including attorneys fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with the administration of this trust, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their rights, powers or duties hereunder, except for such actions to the extent caused by any gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on their part as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final order. The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly, in writing, of any claim asserted against the Trustee for which it may seek indemnity. At the Trustees sole discretion, the Issuer shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate and may participate in the defense; provided that any settlement of a claim shall be approved in writing by the Trustee. The Issuer need not pay for any settlement made without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability to the extent incurred by the Trustee through its gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final order.
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To secure the Issuers payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all assets or money held or collected by the Trustee, in its capacity as Trustee, except assets or money held in trust to pay principal of or interest on particular Notes.
In addition and without prejudice to the rights provided to the Trustee under any provision of this Indenture, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) hereof occurs, such expenses and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
The obligation of the Issuer under this Section 7.07 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
Trustee for purposes of this Section shall include any predecessor Trustee and the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and to each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder; provided, however, that the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.
The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer in writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer in writing and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Issuer may remove the Trustee at its election if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent;
(c) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(d) the Trustee otherwise 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 Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuer 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 Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer, after payment of all sums then owing to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof, all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided in Section 7.07 hereof, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each Holder.
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If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Issuer or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may petition, at the expense of the Issuer, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of securities for any period of time specified under TIA Section 310(b), fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuers obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Consolidation, Merger or Conversion.
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, subject to this Article 7, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Sections 310(a)(1), 310(a)(2) and 310(a)(5). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest within the meaning of TIA Section 310(b), the Trustee and the Issuer shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuer are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(1) are met. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.10, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinbefore specified in this Article 7.
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer.
The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein. The provisions of TIA Section 311 shall apply to the Issuer and the Guarantors as obligors upon the Notes.
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ARTICLE 8
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 8.01. Without Consent of Holders.
(a) The Issuer and the Guarantors, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees without notice to or consent of any Holder:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect, omission, mistake or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;
(3) to provide for the assumption of the Issuers or a Guarantors obligations to the Holders in the case of a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Issuers or such Guarantors assets in accordance with Article 5;
(4) to add any Note Guarantee or to effect the release of any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture (to the extent permitted by this Indenture);
(5) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Holder;
(6) to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(7) to secure the Notes or any Note Guarantees or any other obligation under this Indenture;
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee;
(9) to conform the text of this Indenture or the Notes to any provision of the Description of the Notes section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in the Description of the Notes was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes; or
(10) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with this Indenture;
Section 8.02. With Consent of Holders.
(a) Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, the Issuer and the Guarantors, when each is authorized by a Board Resolution of their respective Boards of Directors, and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees with the consent (which may
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include consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes) of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may waive any existing Defaults under, or compliance by the Issuer or any Guarantor with any provision of, this Indenture, the Notes, or the Note Guarantees. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver, including a waiver pursuant to Section 6.04 hereof, may not:
(1) reduce, or change the maturity of, the principal of any Note;
(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note;
(3) reduce any premium payable upon redemption of the Notes, change the date on which any Notes are subject to redemption or waive any payment with respect to the redemption of the Notes; provided, however, that solely for the avoidance of doubt, and without any other implication, any purchase or repurchase of Notes (including pursuant to Section 4.12 and Section 4.15) shall not be deemed a redemption of the Notes;
(4) make any Note payable in money or currency other than that stated in the Notes;
(5) modify or change any provision of this Indenture or the related definitions to affect the ranking of the Notes or any Note Guarantee in a manner that adversely affects the Holders;
(6) reduce the percentage of Holders necessary to consent to an amendment or waiver to this Indenture or the Notes;
(7) waive a default in the payment of principal of or interest on any Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders thereof as provided in this Indenture and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(8) impair the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or interest on the Notes on or after the due date therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the Notes;
(9) release any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture, except as permitted by this Indenture; or
(10) make any change in these amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.
The consent of the Holders of the Notes is not necessary under this Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment, supplement or waiver.
After an amendment or supplement under this Section 8.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to Holders of the Notes a notice briefly describing such amendment or supplement. However, the failure to give such notice to all Holders of the Notes, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment or supplement.
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Section 8.03. Compliance with TIA.
Every amendment to or supplement of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 8.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment, waiver or supplement becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holders Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. Subject to the following paragraph, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to such Holders Note or portion of such Note by notice to the Trustee or the Issuer received before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers Certificate certifying that the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented (and not theretofore revoked such consent) to the amendment, supplement or waiver.
The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through (10) of Section 8.02 hereof, in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holders Note.
Section 8.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.
If an amendment, supplement, or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may request the Holder to deliver it to the Trustee. In such case, the Trustee shall place an appropriate notation on the Note about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determines, in exchange for the Note the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. 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 8.06. Trustee To Sign Amendments, etc.
The Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 8 is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment,
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supplement or waiver constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and any Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to customary exceptions). The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, execute any such amendment, supplement or waiver which affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
ARTICLE 9
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE
Section 9.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
(a) This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except those obligations referred to in Section 9.01(c)) as to all outstanding Notes and the Trustee, on written demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when:
(1) Either (A) all the Notes that have been authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from this trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or
(B) all Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation otherwise (i) have become due and payable, (ii) will become due and payable, or may be called for redemption, within one year or (iii) have been called for redemption pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Notes and, in any case, the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds, in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, U.S. legal tender, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient (without consideration of any reinvestment of interest) to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness (including all principal and accrued interest) on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(2) the Issuer has paid all other sums payable by it under this Indenture; and
(3) the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or on the date of redemption, as the case may be.
(b) In addition, the Issuer must deliver an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been complied with.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 9.01(a), the Issuers obligations in Article 2 and Sections 4.07, 7.07, 9.06 and 9.07 hereof shall survive until the Notes are no longer outstanding pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 2.08 hereof. After the Notes are no longer outstanding, the Issuers obligations in Sections 7.07, 9.06 and 9.07 hereof shall survive.
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(d) After such delivery or irrevocable deposit, the Trustee upon request shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Issuers and each Guarantors obligations under the Notes, the Note Guarantees and this Indenture except for those surviving obligations specified above.
(e) The Issuer shall provide notice of discharge or defeasance pursuant to this Article 9 within ten (10) days after deposit of funds or U.S. Government Obligations. If payment at stated maturity of less than all of the Notes of any series is to be provided for in the manner and with the effect provided in this Section 9.01, the Trustee shall select such Notes, or portions or principal amount thereof, in the manner specified by Section 3.02 for selection for redemption of less than all the Notes of a series.
Section 9.02. Legal Defeasance.
(a) The Issuer may, at its option at any time, elect to have this Section be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 9.04.
(b) Upon the Issuers exercise under paragraph (a) hereof of the option applicable to this paragraph (b), the Issuer and each Guarantor shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their respective obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and the Note Guarantees on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, Legal Defeasance). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer and each Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire obligations represented by the Notes and the Note Guarantees, and this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding Notes and the Note Guarantees, except as to: (i) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 9.05 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and interest on such Notes when such payments are due from such trust fund, (ii) the Issuers obligations with respect to the Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.07 hereof, (iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Issuers obligations in connection therewith and (iv) this Article 9. Subject to compliance with this Article 9, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 9.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 9.03 below with respect to the Notes.
Section 9.03. Covenant Defeasance.
(a) The Issuer may, at its option at any time, elect to have this Section be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 9.04.
(b) Upon the Issuers exercise under paragraph (a) hereof of the option applicable to this paragraph (b), the Issuer and each Guarantor shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04 hereof, be released from their respective obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.02, 4.05 and 4.08 through 4.21 hereof, inclusive, and subclause (3) of Section 5.01(a) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes and the Note Guarantees on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, Covenant Defeasance); provided, however, that Covenant Defeasance will not be effective until such time as Events of Default contained in Section 6.01(g) and (h) no longer apply, and the Notes and the
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Note Guarantees shall thereafter be deemed not outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed outstanding for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and the Note Guarantees, the Issuer and each 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 or Default under Section 6.01(d) hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture, and such Notes and the Note Guarantees shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers exercise under paragraph (a) hereof of the option applicable to this paragraph (b), subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 9.04 hereof, the Events of Default described under clauses (c) through (f), (i) and (j) of Section 6.01 and the Events of Default described under clauses (g) and (h) of Section 6.01 (but only with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Issuer), in each case, will no longer constitute an Event of Default.
Section 9.04. Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 9.02 or 9.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes and the Note Guarantees:
(1) the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee), as trust funds, in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, U.S. legal tender or U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient (without consideration of any reinvestment of interest), in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firms of independent public accountants selected by the Issuer, to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(2) in the case of an election under Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of an election under Section 9.03 hereof, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;
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(4) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any Lien securing such borrowing);
(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of or constitute a default under this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is bound (other than any such Default or default resulting solely from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any Lien to secure such borrowings);
(6) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Issuer or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Issuer or others; and
(7) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the conditions precedent provided for in, in the case of the Officers Certificate, clauses (1) through (6) and, in the case of the Opinion of Counsel, clauses (2) and/or (3) and (5) of this Section 9.04 have been complied with.
If the funds deposited with the Trustee to effect Covenant Defeasance are insufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes when due, then the Issuers obligations and the obligations of Guarantors under this Indenture will be revived and no such defeasance will be deemed to have occurred.
Section 9.05. Application of Trust Money.
All money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 9.01 or 9.04 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 as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and accrued interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Issuer and the Guarantors shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 9.01 or 9.04 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.
Anything in this Article 9 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon a written request of the Issuer in the form of an Officers Certificate any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 9.01 or 9.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally-recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be.
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Section 9.06. Repayment to the Issuer.
Subject to Section 9.05 hereof, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuer upon request any excess U.S. legal tender or U.S. Government Obligations held by them at any time and thereupon shall be relieved from all liability with respect to such money. Subject to applicable abandoned property laws, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Issuer upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years; provided that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any payment, may at the expense of the Issuer cause to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or mail to each Holder entitled to such money notice that such money remains unclaimed, and that after a date specified therein which shall be at least 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer. After payment to the Issuer, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors unless an applicable law designates another Person.
Section 9.07. Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 9.01, 9.02 or 9.03 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuers and each Guarantors obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 9 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such U.S. legal tender or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 9.01 hereof; provided, however, that if the Issuer or the Guarantors have made any payment of principal of or accrued interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of their obligations, the Issuer and each such Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 10
GUARANTEES
Section 10.01. Unconditional Guarantee.
Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally, jointly and severally, guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns that the principal of and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at the Maturity Date, by acceleration or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal and interest on any overdue interest on the Notes, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuer to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or under the Notes will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; subject, however, to the limitations set forth in Section 10.03 hereof. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture,
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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 Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that the 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 Issuer, any Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Issuer or any Guarantor, any amount paid by the Issuer or any Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, each Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Guarantor further agrees that, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, as between a 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 hereof for the purpose of each 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 acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall become due and payable by each Guarantor for the purpose of each Note Guarantee.
Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Article 10.
Section 10.02. Severability.
In case any provision of this Article 10 shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.03. Limitation on Guarantors Liability.
(a) To the extent applicable, a Guarantors liability in respect of its Note Guarantee shall be limited to the extent set forth below:
(1) Limitations Applicable to U.S. Guarantors. Each Guarantor that is incorporated, organized or formed, as the case may be, under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia (a U.S. Guarantor), and by its acceptance hereof, each Holder and the Trustee, hereby confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of a U.S. Guarantor does not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar U.S. Federal or state or other applicable law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, each Holder, by its acceptance of a Note, and each U.S. Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of a U.S. Guarantor under its Note Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of
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such U.S. Guarantor (including, without limitation, any guarantees under any Credit Facility) and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Note Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such U.S. Guarantor not constituting such a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
(2) Limitations Applicable to Other Guarantors. Each Guarantor that is incorporated, organized or formed, as the case may be, under the laws of any jurisdiction other than one set forth in clause (1) above (an Other Guarantor), and by its acceptance hereof, each Holder and the Trustee, hereby confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of an Other Guarantor does not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of applicable law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, each Holder, by its acceptance of a Note, and each Other Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of an Other Guarantor under its Note Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Other Guarantor (including, without limitation, any guarantees under any Credit Facility) and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Note Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Other Guarantor not constituting such a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
(b) If following the date of this Indenture and notwithstanding anything in Section 8.02 to the contrary:
(1) (i) there shall be any change in the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia or (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary incorporated, organized or formed, as the case may be, under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia (a Future Guarantor) shall be required to guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 4.20 hereof and the Issuer shall reasonably determine that clause (2) with respect to Other Guarantors shall not adequately address the limitations on the Note Guarantee of such Future Guarantor imposed by applicable law of the jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation, as the case may be, of any such Future Guarantor; or
(2) the Issuer shall reasonably determine that it shall be necessary or advisable to amend the terms of subsection (a) of this Section 10.03 or to add additional provisions related to the limitations imposed on the Note Guarantee of a Future Guarantor,
then upon the delivery of an Officers Certificate and Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the Issuer shall be entitled to amend such clauses or add such additional provisions (including any related modifications to the form of Note Guarantee attached hereto in Exhibit A), as the case may be, in order for the Note Guarantee of a Guarantor not to so violate applicable law.
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(c) Each Guarantor that makes a payment for distribution under its Note Guarantee shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Guarantor in a pro rata amount based on adjusted net assets of each Guarantor.
Section 10.04. Successors and Assigns.
This Article 10 shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall ensure 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 conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Notes shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.
Section 10.05. No Waiver.
Each of the Guarantors agrees that to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, (a) neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article 10 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege and (b) the rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 10 at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.
Section 10.06. Release of Guarantor.
A Guarantor shall be released from all of its obligations under its Note Guarantee and its obligations under this Indenture:
(1) in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or a sale or other disposition of all of the Equity Interests of such Guarantor then held by the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) if such Guarantor is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or otherwise ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, upon effectiveness of such designation or when it first ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary;
(3) if such Guarantor is released from or otherwise ceases to guarantee any Credit Facility of the Issuer or any other Guarantor;
(4) in the event of the defeasance or discharge of this Indenture as described under Sections 9.01, 9.02 and 9.03; or
(5) dissolution of such Guarantor, provided no Default or Event of Default has occurred that is continuing.
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Upon delivery by the Issuer to the Trustee of an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that one of the foregoing requirements has been satisfied and the conditions to the release of a Guarantor from its Note Guarantee under this Section 10.06 have been met, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.
Section 10.07. Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors.
Each Subsidiary which is required to become a Guarantor shall, and the Issuer shall cause each such Subsidiary to, promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor under this Article 10 and shall guarantee the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary and that, subject to the application of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, each of such supplemental indenture and the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms.
Section 10.08. Notation of Note Guarantee.
To evidence the Note Guarantee set forth in this Article 10, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee shall be placed on each Note authenticated and made available for delivery by the Trustee and that this Note Guarantee shall be executed on behalf of each Guarantor by the manual or facsimile signature of an Officer of each Guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that the Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee. If an Officer of a Guarantor whose signature is on the Note Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which the 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 each Guarantor.
Section 10.09. Subordination of Subrogation and Other Rights.
Each Guarantor hereby agrees that any claim against the Issuer that arises from the payment, performance or enforcement of such Guarantors obligations under the Note Guarantee or this Indenture, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, shall be subject and subordinate to, and no payment with respect to any such claim of such Guarantor shall be made before, the payment in full in cash of all outstanding Notes in accordance with the provisions provided therefor in this Indenture.
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ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01. TIA Controls.
To the extent the TIA is applicable, if any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in an indenture qualified under the TIA, the required provision shall control.
Section 11.02. Notices.
Any notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing in the English language, and shall be sufficiently given if made by hand delivery, by telecopier or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If to the Issuer or any Guarantor:
Hercules Offshore, Inc.
9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2200
Houston, Texas 77046
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: (713)  ###-###-####
If to the Trustee:
U.S. Bank National Association
U.S. Bank Corporation
5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 1150
Houston, TX 77056
Attn: Mauri J. Cowen
Tel: (713)  ###-###-####
Fax: (713)  ###-###-####
The Issuer, any Guarantor or the Trustee by written notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications. Any notice or communication to the Issuer, any Guarantors or the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given or made as of the date so delivered if personally delivered; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and five (5) calendar days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (except that a notice of change of address shall not be deemed to have been given until actually received by the addressee). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have been given notice until such notice is actually received.
Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed to it by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar.
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 to a Holder is mailed in the manner provided above, it shall be deemed duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
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In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service, or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impossible to mail any notice as required by this Indenture, then such method of notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient mailing of such notice.
Section 11.03. Communications by Holders with Other Holders.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).
Section 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Issuer or any Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:
(1) an Officers Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 below) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(2) an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 below) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with.
Section 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate and Opinion.
Each certificate and opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, it or he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such person to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such covenant or condition has been complied with.
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Section 11.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at meetings of Holders. The Registrar and Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.
Section 11.07. Legal Holidays.
A Legal Holiday is a Saturday, a Sunday, a federally-recognized holiday or a day on which banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
Section 11.08. Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section 11.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan, security or debt agreement of the Issuer or any Subsidiary thereof. No such indenture, loan, security or debt agreement may be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 11.10. No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer or any Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Notes or this Indenture or of any Guarantor under its Note Guarantee or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes and the Note Guarantees.
Section 11.11. Successors.
All agreements of each of the Issuer and each Guarantor in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee, any successor trustee and any Paying Agents in this Indenture shall bind their respective successors.
Section 11.12. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunities.
The Issuer and the Guarantors irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the competent courts of the State of New York and the courts of the United States of America located in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York over any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Issuer and the Guarantors waive any objection that they may have to the venue of any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby in the competent courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States of America, in each case, located in the Borough of
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Manhattan, City and State of New York, or that such suit, action or proceeding brought in the competent courts of the State of New York or the United States of America, in each case, located in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same.
Section 11.13. Multiple Counterparts.
The parties may sign multiple counterparts of this Indenture. Each signed counterpart shall be deemed an original, but all of them together represent one and the same agreement.
Section 11.14. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 11.15. Separability.
Each provision of this Indenture shall be considered separable and if for any reason any provision which is not essential to the effectuation of the basic purpose of this Indenture or 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 11.16. Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE OR THE NOTES.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the date and year first written above.
HERCULES OFFSHORE, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Stephen M. Butz | |
Name: Stephen M. Butz | ||
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
CLIFFS DRILLING COMPANY | ||
CLIFFS DRILLING TRINIDAD L.L.C. | ||
FDT LLC | ||
FDT HOLDINGS LLC | ||
HERCULES DRILLING COMPANY, LLC | ||
HERCULES OFFSHORE LIFTBOAT COMPANY LLC | ||
HERO HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
SD DRILLING LLC | ||
THE OFFSHORE DRILLING COMPANY | ||
THE ONSHORE DRILLING COMPANY | ||
TODCO AMERICAS INC. | ||
TODCO INTERNATIONAL INC. | ||
HERCULES LIFTBOAT COMPANY, LLC | ||
HERCULES OFFSHORE SERVICES LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Stephen M. Butz | |
Name: Stephen M. Butz | ||
Title: Vice President |
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U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
as Trustee | ||
By: | /s/ Mauri J. Cowen | |
Name: Mauri J. Cowen | ||
Title: Vice President |
S-2
EXHIBIT A
CUSIP No.: [ ]
HERCULES OFFSHORE, INC.
7.50% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2021
No. | $ |
HERCULES OFFSHORE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Issuer, which term includes any successor entity), for value received promises to pay to [ ] or registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] DOLLARS [(or such greater or lesser amount as is set forth on the attached Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Note)] on October 1, 2021.
Interest Payment Dates: April 1 and October 1, commencing April 1, 2014.
Record Dates: March 15 and September 15.
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein and the Indenture (as defined), which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
A-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized Officers.
HERCULES OFFSHORE, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
A-2
Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the 7.50% Senior Notes due 2021 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
as Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Authorized Signatory |
Dated: |
A-3
(REVERSE OF SECURITY)
7.50% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2021
1. Interest. Hercules Offshore, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Issuer), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date on which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from October 1, 2013. The Issuer will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, commencing April 1, 2014. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal and on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) to the extent lawful from time to time on demand at the rate then borne by the Notes.
2. Method of Payment. The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are the registered Holders at the close of business on the March 15 or September 15 immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date (whether or not such day is a Business Day) even if the Notes are cancelled on registration of transfer or registration of exchange after such Record Date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect payments of principal. Payments of principal and interest will be made in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. If a Holder of Notes in certificated form has given wire transfer instructions to the Issuer at least ten Business Days prior to the applicable payment date, the Issuer will make all payments on such Holders Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified in those instructions. Otherwise, payments on the Notes will be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent unless the Issuer elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association (the Trustee), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice to the Holders. Neither the Issuer nor any of its Affiliates may act as Paying Agent but may act as Registrar or co-Registrar. The Issuer has designated the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as its office where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes may be served.
4. Indenture. The Issuer issued this Note under an Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2013 (the Indenture), by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Initial Notes of the Issuer designated as its 7.50% Senior Notes due 2021 (the Notes). The Notes include the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes, if any, issued pursuant to the Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) (the TIA), as in effect on the date of the Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of them. The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Issuer.
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5. Redemption.
(a) Optional Redemption. The Notes will be redeemable, at the Issuers option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on and after October 1, 2016 at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount thereof) if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on October 1 of the applicable year set forth below, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date):
Year | Percentage | |||
2016 | 105.625 | % | ||
2017 | 103.750 | % | ||
2018 | 101.875 | % | ||
2019 and thereafter | 100.000 | % |
(b) Redemption at Applicable Premium. In addition, prior to October 1, 2016, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to the applicable Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).
(c) Redemption upon Consummation of Certain Qualified Equity Offerings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time, or from time to time, prior to October 1, 2016, the Issuer may on any one or more occasions, at its option, use all or any portion of the net cash proceeds of one or more Qualified Equity Offerings to redeem Notes at a Redemption Price equal to 107.50% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date); provided that at least 65.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued on the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after giving effect to any such redemption. In order to effect the foregoing redemption with the proceeds of any Qualified Equity Offering, the Issuer shall consummate such redemption not more than 180 days after the consummation of any such Qualified Equity Offering.
6. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption under paragraph 5 of this Note will be mailed (or with respect to Global Notes, otherwise given in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary) at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder to be redeemed at such Holders registered address, except that redemption notices may be given more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture.
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Except as set forth in the Indenture, if money for the redemption of the Notes called for redemption shall have been deposited with the Paying Agent for redemption on such redemption date, then, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of such Redemption Price plus accrued interest, if any, the Notes called for redemption will cease to bear interest from and after such Redemption Date and the only right of the Holders of such Notes will be to receive payment of the Redemption Price plus accrued interest, if any.
7. Offers to Purchase. The Indenture provides that, in certain circumstances following an Asset Sale (as defined in the Indenture) and upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture), and subject to further limitations contained therein, the Issuer will make an offer to purchase certain amounts of the Notes in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.
8. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange. The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder shall register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange of any Notes or portions thereof selected for redemption.
9. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered holder of a Note shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
10. Unclaimed Money. If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will pay the money back to the Issuer. After that, Holders entitled to money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors unless an abandoned property law designates another Person.
11. Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. If the Issuer at any time deposits with the Trustee U.S. legal tender or U.S. Government Obligations sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes to redemption or the scheduled due dates and complies with the other provisions of the Indenture relating to Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer will be discharged from certain provisions of the Indenture and the Notes (including certain covenants, but excluding its obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes). The Notes are also subject to Legal Defeasance as provided in Article 9 of the Indenture.
12. Amendments, Supplements, and Waivers. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and any existing Default or Event of Default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect, omission, mistake or inconsistency, provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or make any other change that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights of any Holder.
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13. Restrictive Covenants. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of each of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional Indebtedness, make payments in respect of its Equity Interests, enter into transactions with Affiliates, create dividend or other payment restrictions affecting Restricted Subsidiaries, sell assets, create Liens, make certain Investments, merge or consolidate with any other Person, or sell, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets. Such limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions. The Issuer must annually report to the Trustee on compliance with such limitations.
14. Successor Entity. When a successor entity assumes, in accordance with the Indenture, all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture, and immediately before and thereafter no Default or Event of Default exists and certain other conditions are satisfied, the predecessor entity will be released from those obligations.
15. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default are set forth in the Indenture. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h)) shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee, by written notice to the Issuer, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may declare (an acceleration declaration) all amounts owing under the Notes to be due and payable upon the earlier of (x) the final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace period or extensions thereof) or an acceleration of any Indebtedness under any Credit Facility prior to the express final stated maturity thereof and (y) five Business Days after the collateral agent under each Credit Facility receives the acceleration declaration, but, only if such Event of Default is then continuing. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) occurs with respect to the Issuer and is continuing, then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
16. Trustee Dealings with the Issuer. The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Issuer, and may otherwise deal with the Issuer, its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.
17. No Recourse Against Others. As more fully described in the Indenture, no director, officer, employee, stockholder or incorporator of the Issuer shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Notes or this Indenture, or of any Guarantor under its Note Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.
18. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee or Authenticating Agent manually signs the certificate of authentication on this Note.
19. Governing Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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20. Abbreviations and Defined Terms. 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).
21. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes as a convenience to the Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
22. Indenture. Each Holder, by accepting a Note, agrees to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Indenture, as the same may be amended from time to time.
The Issuer will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to: Hercules Offshore, Inc., Attention: General Counsel, 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2200, Houston, Texas 77046, Fax: (713)  ###-###-####.
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FORM OF NOTE GUARANTEE NOTATION
For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in, and subject to the provisions of, the Indenture dated as of October 1, 2013 (the Indenture) among Hercules Offshore, Inc. (the Company), the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the Trustee), that the principal of and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at the Maturity Date, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee under the Indenture or under the Notes, will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms thereof. The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture (including the Note Guarantee) are set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture, and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee and the conditions to the release thereof. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
[NAME OF EACH GUARANTOR] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
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ASSIGNMENT FORM
If you the Holder want to assign this Note, fill in the form below and have your signature guaranteed:
I or we assign and transfer this Note to:
(Print or type name, address and zip code and
social security or tax ID number of assignee)
and irrevocably appoint,
agent to transfer this Note on the books of Hercules Offshore, Inc. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date: |
| Signed: |
| |||||
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note) |
Medallion Guarantee:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP) or such other signature guarantee program as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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[OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE]
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by Hercules Offshore, Inc. pursuant to Section 4.12 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box:
Section 4.12 ¨
Section 4.15 ¨
If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by Hercules Offshore, Inc. pursuant to Section 4.12 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:
$
Date: |
|
| ||||
NOTICE: The signature on this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the within Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever and be guaranteed by the endorsers bank or broker. |
Medallion Guarantee:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP) or such other signature guarantee program as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTE]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE
The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:
Date | Amount of decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note | Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note | Principal Amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase | Signature of authorized officer of Trustee/ Custodian |
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EXHIBIT B
CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE
OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF NOTES
Re: | Hercules Offshore, Inc. (Hercules Offshore, Inc.) |
7.50% Senior Notes due 2021 (the Notes)
This Certificate relates to $ principal amount of Notes held in the form of* a beneficial interest in a Global Note or* Certificated Notes by (the Transferor).
The Transferor:
¨ has requested by written order that the Registrar deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Note held by the Depositary a Certificated Note or Certificated Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above); or
¨ has requested by written order that the Registrar exchange or register the transfer of a Certificated Note or Certificated Notes.
In connection with such request and in respect of each such Note, the Transferor does hereby certify that the Transferor is familiar with the Indenture relating to the above captioned Notes and the restrictions on transfers thereof as provided in Section 2.16 of such Indenture, and that the transfer of the Notes does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), because*:
¨ Such Note is being acquired for the Transferors own account, without transfer (in satisfaction of Section 2.16 of the Indenture).
¨ Such Note is being transferred to a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), in reliance on Rule 144A.
¨ Such Note is being transferred to an institutional accredited investor (within the meaning of subparagraph (a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act) which delivers a certificate to the Trustee in the form of Exhibit C to the Indenture. [An Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such transfer does not require registration under the Securities Act accompanies this certification.]
¨ Such Note is being transferred in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act and a transfer certificate for Regulation S transfers in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture accompanies this certification. [An Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such transfer does not require registration under the Securities Act accompanies this certification.]
¨ Such Note is being transferred in reliance on Rule 144 under the Securities Act. [An Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such transfer does not require registration under the Securities Act accompanies this certification.]
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¨ Such Note is being transferred in reliance on and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Regulation S, Rule 144A or Rule 144 under the Securities Act to a Person other than an institutional accredited investor.
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[An Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such transfer does not require registration under the Securities Act accompanies this certification.]
| ||
[INSERT NAME OF TRANSFEROR] | ||
By: |
| |
[Authorized Signatory] |
Date: |
* | Check applicable box. |
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EXHIBIT C
Form of Transferee Letter of Representation
U.S. Bank National Association
[ ] Division
[ ]; [ ]
[ ]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This certificate is delivered with respect to a transfer of $ principal amount of the 7.50% Senior Notes due 2021 of Hercules Offshore, Inc. (Hercules Offshore, Inc.) and any guarantee thereof (the Notes), or a beneficial interest therein, to the undersigned transferee.
The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:
1. We are an institutional accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act)) purchasing Notes for our own account or for the account of such an institutional accredited investor and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risk of our investment in the Notes and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.
2. We acknowledge that we have had access to such financial and other information, and have been afforded the opportunity to ask such questions of representatives of Hercules Offshore, Inc. and receive answers thereto, as we deem necessary.
3. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes that we will not prior to the date (the Resale Restriction Termination Date) that is (a) one year after the later of the original issuance of the Notes and the last date on which Hercules Offshore, Inc. or any affiliate of Hercules Offshore, Inc. was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) or (b) such later date, if any, as may be required by any subsequent change in applicable law, offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes except (a) to Hercules Offshore, Inc. or any subsidiary of Hercules Offshore, Inc., (b) inside the United States to a qualified institutional buyer in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, (c) inside the United States to an institutional accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to the Trustee a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter, (d) outside the United States in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act, (e) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (f) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. We acknowledge that Hercules Offshore, Inc. and the Trustee reserve the right prior to any offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the applicable Notes pursuant to clause (c), (e) or (f) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel satisfactory to Hercules Offshore, Inc. and the Trustee.
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4. We understand that the Trustee will not be required to accept for registration of transfer any Notes acquired by us, except upon presentation of evidence satisfactory to Hercules Offshore, Inc. and the Trustee that the foregoing restrictions on transfer have been complied with. We further understand that any Notes purchased by us in the form of definitive physical certificates will bear a legend reflecting the substance of paragraph 3 of this letter. We further agree to provide to any Person acquiring any of the Notes from us a notice advising such Person that transfers of such Notes are restricted as stated herein and that certificates representing such Notes will bear a legend to that effect.
5. We understand that Hercules Offshore, Inc. and the Trustee and others are entitled to rely upon the truth and accuracy of our acknowledgments, representations and agreements set forth herein, and we agree to notify you promptly in writing if any of our acknowledgments, representations or agreements herein ceases to be accurate and complete. You are also irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
6. We represent to you that we have full power to make the foregoing acknowledgments, representations and agreements on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are acting as fiduciary agent.
As used herein, the terms offshore transaction, United States and U.S. person have the respective meanings given to them in Regulation S under the Securities Act.
THIS LETTER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Dated: | TRANSFEREE: | |||||
[NAME] | ||||||
By: |
Address: | ||
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EXHIBIT D
Form of Certificate to Be
Delivered in Connection
with Regulation S Transfers
,
U.S. Bank National Association
[ ] Division
[ ]; [ ]
[ ]
Attn: [ ]
Re: | Hercules Offshore, Inc. 7.50% Senior Notes due 2021 (the Notes) |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale of $[ ] aggregate principal amount of the Notes or a beneficial interest therein, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and, accordingly, we represent that:
(1) the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;
(2) either (a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated off-shore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States;
(3) no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(a) or Rule 904(a) of Regulation S, as applicable;
(4) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and
(5) we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes.
You and Hercules Offshore, Inc. 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. Defined terms used herein without definition have the respective meanings provided in Regulation S.
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Very truly yours, | ||
[Name of Transferor] | ||
By: |
|
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EXHIBIT E
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture), dated as of [ ], 20[ ] among [ ] (the New Guarantor), a subsidiary of Hercules Offshore, Inc. (or its successor), a Delaware corporation (the Issuer), the Guarantors (the Existing Guarantors) under the Indenture referred to below, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the Trustee).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS the Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture (as such may be amended from time to time, the Indenture), dated as of October 1, 2013 providing for the issuance of its 7.50% Senior Notes due 2021 (the Notes);
WHEREAS under certain circumstances the Issuer is required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers obligations under the Notes pursuant to a Note Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS pursuant to Section 8.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuer and the Existing Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Issuer, the Existing Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:
1. Definitions.
(a) Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
(b) For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise herein expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires: (i) the terms and expressions used herein shall have the same meanings as corresponding terms and expressions used in the Indenture; and (ii) the words herein, hereof and hereby and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
2. Agreement to Guarantee. The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all other Guarantors, to guarantee the Issuers obligations under the Notes on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture. From and after the date hereof, the New Guarantor shall be a Guarantor for all purposes under the Indenture and the Notes.
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3. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
4. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
5. Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which are made solely by the Issuer.
6. Multiple Counterparts. The parties may sign multiple counterparts of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed counterpart shall be deemed an original, but all of them together represent one and the same agreement.
7. Headings. The headings of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date and year first above written.
[NEW GUARANTOR] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
HERCULES OFFSHORE, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[EXISTING GUARANTORS]: | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
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