INDENTURE Dated as ofJanuary 6, 2016 Among KRATON POLYMERS LLC, KRATONPOLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION, the Guarantors listed herein and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONALASSOCIATION, as Trustee 10.500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2023 CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

EX-4.1 2 d114175dex41.htm EX-4.1 EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

INDENTURE

Dated as of January 6, 2016

Among

KRATON POLYMERS LLC,

KRATON POLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION,

the Guarantors listed herein

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

10.500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2023


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

   Indenture Section

310(a)(1)

   7.10

(a)(2)

   7.10

(a)(3)

   N.A.

(a)(4)

   N.A.

(a)(5)

   7.10

(b)

   7.10

(c)

   N.A.

311(a)

   7.11

(b)

   7.11

(c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.05

(b)

   12.03

(c)

   12.03

313(a)

   7.06

(b)(1)

   N.A.

(b)(2)

   7.06; 7.07

(c)

   7.06; 12.02

(d)

   7.06

314(a)

   4.04

(b)

   N.A.

(c)(1)

   12.04

(c)(2)

   12.04

(c)(3)

   8.04

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   12.05

(f)

   N.A.

315(a)

   7.01

(b)

   7.05

(c)

   7.01

(d)

   7.07

(e)

   6.14

316(a)(last sentence)

   2.09

(a)(1)(A)

   6.05

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04

(a)(2)

   N.A.

(b)

   6.07

(c)

   1.05

317(a)(1)

   6.08

(a)(2)

   6.12

(b)

   N.A.

318(a)

   12.01

(b)

   N.A.

(c)

   12.01

 

N.A. means not applicable.

* This Cross-Reference Table is not part of this Indenture.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

          PAGE  
Section 1.01    Definitions      1   
Section 1.02    Other Definitions      40   
Section 1.03    Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      41   
Section 1.04    Rules of Construction      41   
Section 1.05    Acts of Holders      42   

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01    Form and Dating; Terms      43   
Section 2.02    Execution and Authentication      45   
Section 2.03    Registrar and Paying Agent      45   
Section 2.04    Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      46   
Section 2.05    Holder Lists      46   
Section 2.06    Transfer and Exchange      46   
Section 2.07    Replacement Notes      58   
Section 2.08    Outstanding Notes      58   
Section 2.09    Treasury Notes      59   
Section 2.10    Temporary Notes      59   
Section 2.11    Cancellation      60   
Section 2.12    Defaulted Interest      60   
Section 2.13    CUSIP/ISIN Numbers      60   

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

 

Section 3.01    Notices to Trustee      61   
Section 3.02    Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed      61   
Section 3.03    Notice of Redemption      61   
Section 3.04    Effect of Notice of Redemption      62   
Section 3.05    Deposit of Redemption Price      62   
Section 3.06    Notes Redeemed in Part      63   
Section 3.07    Optional Redemption      63   
Section 3.08    Mandatory Redemption      64   
Section 3.09    Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds      64   

 

i


ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01    Payment of Notes      66   
Section 4.02    Maintenance of Office or Agency      67   
Section 4.03    Reports and Other Information      67   
Section 4.04    Compliance Certificate      68   
Section 4.05    Taxes      69   
Section 4.06    Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      69   
Section 4.07    Limitation on Restricted Payments      69   
Section 4.08    Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries      76   
Section 4.09    Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock      78   
Section 4.10    Asset Sales      86   
Section 4.11    Transactions with Affiliates      90   
Section 4.12    Liens      92   
Section 4.13    Company Existence      93   
Section 4.14    Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control      93   
Section 4.15    Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries      95   
Section 4.16    Existence of Corporate Co-Issuer      95   

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01    Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets      96   
Section 5.02    Successor Person Substituted      99   

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01    Events of Default      99   
Section 6.02    Acceleration      102   
Section 6.03    Other Remedies      102   
Section 6.04    Waiver of Past Defaults      103   
Section 6.05    Control by Majority      103   
Section 6.06    Limitation on Suits      103   
Section 6.07    Rights of Holders to Receive Payment      104   
Section 6.08    Collection Suit by Trustee      104   
Section 6.09    Restoration of Rights and Remedies      104   
Section 6.10    Rights and Remedies Cumulative      104   
Section 6.11    Delay or Omission Not Waiver      104   
Section 6.12    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      105   
Section 6.13    Priorities      105   
Section 6.14    Undertaking for Costs      106   


ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01    Duties of Trustee      106   
Section 7.02    Rights of Trustee      107   
Section 7.03    Individual Rights of Trustee      109   
Section 7.04    Trustee’s Disclaimer      109   
Section 7.05    Notice of Defaults      109   
Section 7.06    Reports by Trustee to Holders      109   
Section 7.07    Compensation and Indemnity      110   
Section 7.08    Replacement of Trustee      111   
Section 7.09    Successor Trustee by Merger, etc      112   
Section 7.10    Eligibility; Disqualification      112   
Section 7.11    Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers      112   

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01    Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      112   
Section 8.02    Legal Defeasance and Discharge      112   
Section 8.03    Covenant Defeasance      113   
Section 8.04    Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      113   
Section 8.05    Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      115   
Section 8.06    Repayment to Issuers      116   
Section 8.07    Reinstatement      116   

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 9.01    Without Consent of Holders      116   
Section 9.02    With Consent of Holders      117   
Section 9.03    Compliance with Trust Indenture Act      119   
Section 9.04    Revocation and Effect of Consents      119   
Section 9.05    Notation on or Exchange of Notes      119   
Section 9.06    Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc      120   

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

 

Section 10.01    Guarantee      120   
Section 10.02    Limitation on Guarantor Liability      122   
Section 10.03    Execution and Delivery      122   
Section 10.04    Subrogation      123   
Section 10.05    Benefits Acknowledged      123   
Section 10.06    Release of Guarantees      123   

ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 11.01    Satisfaction and Discharge      124   
Section 11.02    Application of Trust Money      125   


ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01    Trust Indenture Act Controls      125   
Section 12.02    Notices      125   
Section 12.03    Communication by Holders with Other Holders      127   
Section 12.04    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      127   
Section 12.05    Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      127   
Section 12.06    Rules by Trustee and Agents      128   
Section 12.07    No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders      128   
Section 12.08    Governing Law      128   
Section 12.09    Waiver of Jury Trial      128   
Section 12.10    Force Majeure      128   
Section 12.11    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      128   
Section 12.12    Successors      128   
Section 12.13    Severability      128   
Section 12.14    Counterpart Originals      129   
Section 12.15    Table of Contents, Headings, etc      129   
Section 12.16    U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.      129   


INDENTURE, dated as of January 6, 2016, among Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, the Guarantors (as defined herein) listed on the signature pages hereto, including Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., the direct parent of the Issuers (the “Company”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association., a New York banking corporation, as Trustee.

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Issuers (as defined herein) has duly authorized the creation of an issue of $440,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 10.500% senior notes due 2023 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Issuers and each of the Guarantors has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture (as defined herein);

NOW, THEREFORE, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined herein).

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions.

144A Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person,

(a) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging or consolidating with or into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

(b) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

Acquisition” means the acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement as described in the Offering Circular under “The Transactions.”

Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, including all exhibits and schedules thereto, dated as of September 27, 2015, by and among AZC Holding Company LLC, Arizona Chemical Holdings Corporation and Kraton Polymers LLC, as amended up to and including the Issue Date.


Additional Notes” means any additional Notes issued under this Indenture (other than the Initial Notes) having the same terms in all respects as the Initial Notes except that interest may accrue on the Additional Notes from their date of issuance. Additional Notes and Initial Notes will be part of the same class for all purposes of this Indenture.

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

Agent” means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.

Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any Redemption Date, the greater of:

(a) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note, and

(b) the excess, if any, of (i) the present value at such Redemption Date of (A) the redemption price of such Notes at October 15, 2018 (such redemption price being set forth in the table set forth in Section 3.07(b) hereof), plus (B) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through October 15, 2018, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over (ii) the principal amount of such Note.

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

Asset Sale” means:

(a) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction), of property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); or

(b) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions; in each case, other than:

(i) any disposition of Cash Equivalents or obsolete or worn out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale or no longer used in the ordinary course of business;

 

2


(ii) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described under Section 5.01 hereof or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;

(iii) the making of any Restricted Payment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.07 hereof or the making of any Permitted Investment;

(iv) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than $15.0 million;

(v) any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary;

(vi) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

(vii) the lease, assignment, sub-lease, license or sub-license of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(viii) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(ix) foreclosures, condemnation, expropriation or any similar action with respect to assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;

(x) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets (other than royalties or other revenues (except accounts receivable)) or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility;

(xi) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including Sale and Lease-Back Transactions and asset securitizations permitted by this Indenture;

(xii) the sale or discount of inventory, accounts receivable or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable;

(xiii) the licensing or sub-licensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business, other than the licensing of intellectual property on a long-term basis;

(xiv) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract rights or other litigation claims in the ordinary course of business;

(xv) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

 

3


(xvi) sales, transfers and other dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

(xvii) the abandonment of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business, which in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company are not material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(xviii) the issuance by a Restricted Subsidiary of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock that is permitted by the covenant described under Section 4.09 hereof; and

(xix) the issuance of directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law.

Bank Products” means any facilities or services related to cash management, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, purchase card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Borrowing Base” means, as of the date of determination, an amount equal to:

(1) 85% of the face amount of all accounts receivable owed by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date; plus

(2) 65% of the book value of all inventory owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding such date,

based on the most recent internal month-end financial statements available to the Company, determined on a pro forma basis in a manner consistent with the pro forma basis contained in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Business Day” means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.

Capital Stock” means:

(a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

(b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

 

4


(d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, as applied to any Person, the amount of liability in respect of any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is, or is required to be, accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person; provided that any lease that would be characterized as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP on the Closing Date or for any lease incurred after the Closing Date, the date of incurrence thereof (whether or not such operating leases was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a capitalized lease) for purposes of this Agreement regardless of any subsequent change in GAAP that would otherwise require such lease to be re-characterized (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) as a capitalized lease.

Capitalized Software Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of licensed or purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Cash Equivalents” means:

(a) United States dollars;

(b) (i) Canadian dollars, pounds sterling, euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the EMU; or

(ii) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(c) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(d) certificates of deposit, time deposits and Eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500.0 million in the case of U.S. banks and $100.0 million (or the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;

(e) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (c), (d) and (h) entered into with any financial institution or recognized securities dealer meeting the qualifications specified in clause (d) above;

 

5


(f) commercial paper rated at least P-2 by Moody’s or at least A-2 by S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof and Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(g) marketable short-term money market and similar funds having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency);

(h) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(i) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moody’s or S&P (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(j) Investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency); and

(k) investment funds investing at least 90.0% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (j) above.

In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States of America, Cash Equivalents shall also include (i) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (a) through (h) and clauses (j) and (k) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (ii) other short-term investments utilized by Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments analogous to the foregoing investments in clauses (a) through (k) and in this paragraph.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (a) and (b) above; provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clauses (a) and (b) as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

 

6


Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following after the Issue Date:

(a) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than a Permitted Holder;

(b) the Company becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of 50.0% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies;

(c) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where (i) the Permitted Holders beneficially own 50.0% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or (ii) the Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitutes or is converted into or exchanged for a majority of the outstanding shares of the Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person (immediately after giving effect to such transaction); or

(4) the Issuer ceases to be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme and its successors.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA” means with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period:

(a) increased (without duplication) and to the extent deducted (and not added back) in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) the amount of depreciation and amortization, as determined in accordance with GAAP; plus

(ii) total interest expense and, to the extent not reflected in such total interest expense, the sum of (A) premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses incurred in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets plus (B) the portion of rent

 

7


expense with respect to such period under capitalized leases that is treated as interest expense in accordance with GAAP plus (C) the implied interest component of synthetic leases with respect to such period plus (D) any losses on hedging obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk, net of interest income and gains on such hedging obligations or such derivative instruments plus (E) bank and letter of credit fees and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, plus (F) any commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges; plus

(iii) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, without limitation, federal, state, provincial, franchise, excise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including any future taxes or other levies which replace or are intended to be in lieu of such taxes and any penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations); plus

(iv) negative effects of purchase accounting; plus

(v) all extraordinary, nonrecurring or one-time charges; plus

(vi) the sum of: (A) the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and synergies related to any acquisition or similar transaction (including the Acquisition) projected by the Issuer in good faith to be realized as a result of actions (taken, committed to be taken or planned to be taken, in each case on or prior to the date that is 24 months after such acquisition or similar transaction (which cost savings shall be added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA until fully realized and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of the relevant period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable), (B) cost savings to be realized for actions already taken in connection with the Issuer’s cost reset initiative announced prior to the Closing Date (such strategic cost reset initiative as described under “Summary—Our Company—General” in the Offering Circular, the “Cost Reset Initiative”) and achieved prior to the date which is 12 months after the Closing Date, which shall not exceed $12,000,000 and (C) cost savings in connection with actions taken after the Closing Date (excluding any cost savings related to the Cost Reset Initiative regardless of when the actions giving rise to such cost savings are taken or when such cost savings are realized) projected by the Issuer in good faith to be realized on or prior to the date that is 12 months after such action is taken (which cost savings shall be added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA until fully realized and calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of the relevant period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions; provided that such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable) and provided, further, that such cost savings shall not exceed $15,000,000 for any period; and provided that the aggregate amount of such cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and synergies in clauses (A), (B) and (C) hereof shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, prior to giving effect to such additions; plus

 

8


(vii) all non-cash charges that did not increase Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in a prior period; provided that for any such non-cash charges resulting in a cash payment or cash outlay in a subsequent period, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA will be reduced by the amount of the cash payment or cash outlay in the period made; plus

(viii) any non-cash loss attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of hedging agreements pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815 — “Derivatives and Hedging”; plus

(ix)(A) the amount of any restructuring provisions, restructuring charges, restructuring accruals or restructuring reserves, (B) cost initiative charges embedded in cost of goods sold (cash and non-cash charges) and (C) cost initiative charges embedded in selling, general and administrative expenses (cash and non-cash charges); plus

(x) non-recurring operating location exit charges; provided no amounts pursuant to this clause (x) may be added if such amount was added in a prior period; plus

(xi) actual plant turnaround costs and expenses to the extent deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7,500,000 in such period; plus

(xii) losses on sales of assets, disposals or abandonments other than in the ordinary course of business (cash and non-cash); plus

(xiii) Transaction Costs and any fees, costs and expenses payable by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any offering of Equity Interests of Parent, Permitted Acquisitions, joint ventures or other Investments permitted hereunder (whether consummated or unsuccessful and other than Investments made in the ordinary course of business and other than Investments in Subsidiaries) expensed or amortized in such period; plus

(xiv) Pro Forma EBITDA; plus

(xv) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, the KFPC Percentage times the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the joint venture Kraton Formosa Polymers Corporation, a corporation formed under the laws of the Republic of China (“Kraton Formosa”), calculated in a manner consistent with the calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA otherwise applicable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and provided that prior to the commission of the production facility owned by Kraton Formosa, such amount shall be excluded if a negative number;

(b) decreased (without duplication) and to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following amounts for such period:

(i) gains on sales of assets other than in the ordinary course of business (cash and non-cash); minus

 

9


(ii) any non-cash gains attributable to the mark-to-market movement in the valuation of hedging agreements pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification 815 — “Derivatives and Hedging”;

(c) increased or decreased (without duplication) by, as applicable, any effects of Inventory Revaluation; and

(d) to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA currency translation gains and losses related to currency re-measurements of assets or liabilities (including the net loss or gain resulting from hedging agreements for currency exchange risk and revaluations of intercompany balances).

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the sum of:

(a) consolidated interest expense in respect of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income ((i) including (A) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (B) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (C) non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (D) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and (E) net payments, if any, made (less net payments, if any, received), pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and (ii) excluding (A) any expense resulting from the discounting of any Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition, (B) penalties and interest relating to taxes, (C) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and discounted liabilities, (D) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees or expenses in connection with the Refinancing, (E) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Securitization Facility and (F) any accretion of accrued interest on discounted liabilities); plus

(b) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; less

(c) interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that, without duplication,

 

10


(a) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period shall be excluded;

(b) any net after-tax effect of gains or losses attributable to asset dispositions or abandonments (including any disposal of abandoned or discontinued operations) or the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person other than in the ordinary course of business as determined in good faith by the Issuer shall be excluded;

(c) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary or Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in Cash Equivalents (or to the extent converted into Cash Equivalents) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

(d) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(1) hereof, the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein;

(e) effects of adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries) in the inventory, property and equipment, software, goodwill, other intangible assets, in-process research and development, deferred revenue, debt line items and other noncash charges in such Person’s consolidated financial statements pursuant to GAAP resulting from the application of recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, purchase accounting in relation to any consummated acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded;

(f) any net after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment or conversion of (i) Indebtedness, (ii) Hedging Obligations or (iii) other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

(g) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down, including impairment charges or asset write-offs or write-downs related to intangible assets, long-lived assets, investments in debt and equity securities or as a result of a change in law or regulation, in each case, pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded;

 

11


(h) any non-cash compensation charge or expense, including any such charge or expense arising from the grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights or equity incentive programs shall be excluded;

(i) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, Investment, Asset Sale, disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (including such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Notes and the Senior Credit Facilities), issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (including any amendment or other modification of the Notes and the Senior Credit Facilities) and including, in each case, any such transaction consummated prior to the Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed, and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction, in each case whether or not successful, shall be excluded;

(j) any expenses, charges or losses that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any investment, acquisition or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture, to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Issuer has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement and only to the extent that such amount is (i) not denied by the applicable carrier (without any right of appeal thereof) within 180 days and (ii) in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 365 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 365 days), shall be excluded,

(k) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Issuer has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 day period), expenses, charges or losses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be excluded;

(l) any net pension or other post-employment benefit costs representing amortization of unrecognized prior service costs, actuarial losses, including amortization of such amounts arising in prior periods and any other non-cash items of a similar nature, shall be excluded,

(m) the following items shall be excluded:

(i) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such from Hedging Obligations and the application of Accounting Standards Codification 815;

(ii) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation and transaction gains or losses including those related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk) and any other monetary assets and liabilities;

 

12


(iii) payments to third parties in respect of research and development, including amounts paid upon signing, success, completion and other milestones and other progress payments, to the extent expensed; and

(iv) effects of adjustments to accruals and reserves during a prior period relating to any change in the methodology of calculating reserves for returns, rebates and other chargebacks (including government program rebates).

In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds received from business interruption insurance and reimbursements of any expenses and charges that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Permitted Investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.07 hereof only (other than Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(4) hereof), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repurchases and redemptions of Restricted Investments from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayments of loans and advances which constitute Restricted Investments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any sale of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case only to the extent such amounts increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under such covenant pursuant to Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(4) hereof.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of indebtedness of the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consisting only of indebtedness for borrowed money, unreimbursed obligations under letters of credit, obligations in respect of capitalized leases and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar instruments; provided that the maximum amount of the guarantee of indebtedness of Kraton Formosa shall be included in calculating Consolidated Total Indebtedness, with such indebtedness calculated net of the KFPC Percentage times the unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of Kraton Formosa and its subsidiaries.

Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“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

 

13


(i) 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; or

(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 against loss in respect thereof.

Controlled Investment Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person and is organized by such Person (or any Person controlling such Person) primarily for making direct or indirect equity or debt investments in the Company and/or other companies.

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, 750 N. Saint Paul Place, Suite 1750, Dallas, Texas 75201, Attention: Corporate, Municipal and Escrow Services, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, 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 Company).

Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, including the Senior Credit Facilities, or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities or indentures) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other long-term indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes, each in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

14


Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as Depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by the principal financial officer of the Company, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale, redemption or repurchase of or collection or payment on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company thereof (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Company or the applicable parent company thereof, as the case may be, on the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C) hereof.

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided that any Capital Stock held by any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any other entity in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and is designated in good faith as an “affiliate” by the board of directors of the Company (or the compensation committee thereof), in each case pursuant to any stock subscription or shareholders’ agreement, management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or its Subsidiaries or in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

EMU” means economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.

Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock, but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock.

 

15


Equity Offering” means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies to the extent contributed to the Company (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than:

(a) public offerings with respect to the Company’s or any direct or indirect parent company’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

(b) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company; and

(c) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

euro” means the single currency of participating member states of the EMU.

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system, and its successors.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Company from

(a) contributions to its common equity capital (other than from the proceeds of Designated Preferred Stock); and

(b) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Company) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company;

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Company on the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be, which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C) hereof.

Excluded Subsidiary means (a) any Subsidiary whose provision of a guarantee would constitute an investment in “United States property” by a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of sections 956 and 957 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury regulations thereunder (or any similar law or regulation in any applicable jurisdiction) (a “CFC”) or otherwise result in a material adverse tax consequence to the Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries as reasonably determined by the Issuers, (b) any Subsidiary owned directly or indirectly by a CFC and (c) any Subsidiary that is a disregarded entity for United States federal income tax purposes and substantially all of whose assets consist (directly or indirectly through disregarded entities) of the capital stock or debt of CFCs (a “Disregarded Holdco”).

Existing Revolving Credit Agreement” means the loan, security and guaranty agreement with respect to the senior secured revolving credit facilities entered into as of March 27, 2013 by and among the Company, Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC, Kraton Polymers Nederland

 

16


B.V., the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Credit Suisse AG, as Administrative Agent, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures, guarantees, credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund, exchange or refinance any part of the loans, notes, guarantees, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof).

Existing Revolving Credit Facilities” means the senior secured revolving credit facilities governed by the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement.

fair market value” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Company in good faith.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, repays, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

 

17


For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions resulting from such Investment, acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation which is being given pro forma effect that have been or are expected to be realized). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period except as set forth in the first paragraph of this definition. Interest on Indebtedness that 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 rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of, without duplication:

(a) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;

(b) all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock (including any dividends paid to any direct or indirect parent company of such Person in order to permit the payment of dividends by such parent company on its Designated Preferred Stock) during such period; and

(c) all dividends or other distributions paid or accrued (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock during such period.

Foreign Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof and any Restricted Subsidiary of such Foreign Subsidiary.

Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets” means the total assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors, as determined in accordance with GAAP in good faith by the Company, without intercompany eliminations between such Foreign Subsidiaries and the Company and its other Subsidiaries.

 

18


GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America that are in effect on the Issue Date.

Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(ii) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b) or 2.06(d) hereof.

Government Securities” means securities that are:

(a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

(b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

Guarantee” means the guarantee by any Guarantor of the Issuers’ Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

Guarantor” means the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company, if any, that Guarantees the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no Excluded Subsidiary shall be required to become a Guarantor hereunder. On the Issue Date, each Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees any Indebtedness of the Issuer under the Senior Credit Facilities will be a Guarantor, other than any Excluded Subsidiary.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, commodity swap agreement, commodity cap agreement, commodity collar agreement, foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer or mitigation of interest rate, currency or commodity risks either generally or under specific contingencies.

 

19


Holder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

HSBC Asian Production Facility” means the production facility owned by Kraton Formosa, or any other Asian production facility the Issuer may choose to pursue.

Immediate Family Members” means with respect to any individual, such individual’s child, stepchild, grandchild or more remote descendant, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, qualified domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law and daughter-in-law (including adoptive relationships) and any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor- advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

(a) any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(i) in respect of borrowed money;

(ii) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

(iii) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) due more than twelve months after such property is acquired, except (i) any such balance that constitutes an obligation in respect of a commercial letter of credit, a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and if not paid after becoming due and payable and (iii) any lease other than a capital lease; or

(iv) representing the net obligations under any Hedging Obligations;

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(b) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of a third Person (whether or not such items would appear upon the balance sheet of the such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business; and

 

20


(c) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (i) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or (ii) obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Facilities.

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in Similar Businesses of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

Initial Purchasers” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Nomura Securities International, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

Initial Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Interest Payment Date” means April 15 and October 15 of each year or, if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, in each case to stated maturity.

Inventory Revaluation” means an adjustment (positive or negative) to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA equal to the difference of (a) Consolidated EBITDA as determined in accordance with the “first-in-first-out” method of accounting minus (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as determined in accordance with the “replacement cost” method of accounting, computed by adjusting cost of sales to reflect the cost of raw material prices during the applicable period.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or if the applicable securities are not then rated by Moody’s or S&P, an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.

Investment Grade Securities” means:

(a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

(b) debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(c) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment or distribution; and

 

21


(d) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments.

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, advances to customers and distributors, commission, travel and similar advances to employees, directors, officers, managers, distributors and consultants in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.07 hereof:

(a) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to:

(i) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less

(ii) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s Equity Interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(b) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer.

The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.

Issue Date” means January 6, 2016.

Issuer” means Kraton Polymers LLC.

Issuers” means Kraton Polymers LLC and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation and their successors.

Issuers’ Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of each of the Issuers by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Accounting Officer of each such Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

22


KFPC Percentage” means, at any date of measurement, the percentage of indebtedness of Kraton Formosa directly or indirectly guaranteed by the Company.

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York or place of payment. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place of payment on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest, preference, priority or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Management Stockholders” means the members of management (and their Controlled Investment Affiliates and Immediate Family Members) of the Issuer (or its direct parent) who are holders of Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent companies of the Issuer on the Issue Date.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash or Cash Equivalents proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non- cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, payments made in order to obtain a necessary consent or required by applicable law, and brokerage and sales commissions, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, other fees and expenses, including title and recordation expenses, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets and required (other than required by Section 4.10(b)(i) hereof) to be paid as a result of such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

 

23


New ABL Credit Agreement” means the credit agreement governing the New ABL Credit Facility.

New ABL Credit Facility” means the asset-based revolving credit facility to be entered into as of the Issue Date by and among the Issuer, the Company, the other borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures, guarantees, credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund, exchange or refinance any part of the loans, notes, guarantees, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof).

New Term Loan Credit Agreement” means the credit agreement governing the New Term Loan Credit Facility.

New Term Loan Credit Facility” means the term loan credit facility to be entered into as of the Issue Date by and among the Issuer, the Company, the other borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Credit Suisse AG, as Administrative Agent, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures, guarantees, credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund, exchange or refinance any part of the loans, notes, guarantees, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof).

Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Obligations” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing on or subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or foreign law), premium, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and banker’s acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

24


Offering Circular” means the confidential offering circular, dated January 5, 2016, relating to the sale of the Initial Notes.

Officer” means the Chairman of the board of directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of a Person by an Officer of such Person, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of such Person, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture. Unless otherwise indicated, Officer’s Certificate shall refer to a certificate of an Officer of the Company.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition by the Company or any of its direct or indirect wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets of, all of the Equity Interests of, or a business line or unit or a division of, any Person; provided that

(a) at the time of the execution of the definitive documentation for such Permitted Acquisition, both immediately prior thereto and after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition (and any incurred or assumed Indebtedness and related transactions in connection therewith) on a Pro Forma Basis, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom; and

(b) any Person or assets or division as acquired in accordance herewith shall (A) become a Restricted Subsidiary (unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary) and (B) be in the same or a similar business or line of business as that in which Parent and any of its Subsidiaries are engaged as of the Closing Date or shall be engaged in businesses and activities that are similar, complementary, ancillary, reasonably related or incidental thereto.

Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

Permitted Asset Swap” means the substantially concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and Cash Equivalents between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10 hereof.

Permitted Holders” means each of the Management Stockholders and any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) of which any of the foregoing are members; provided that, in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, such Management Stockholders, collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50.0% of the

 

25


total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any of its direct or indirect parent companies. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments” means:

(a) any Investment in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(c) any Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Person (including, to the extent constituting an Investment, in assets of a Person that represent substantially all of its assets or a division, business unit or product line, including research and development and related assets in respect of any product) that is engaged directly or through entities that will be Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment:

(i) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or

(ii) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is amalgamated, merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets (or a division, business unit or product line, including any research and development and related assets in respect of any product), or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,

and, in each case, any Investment held by such Person; provided that such Investment was not acquired by such Person in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or transfer;

(d) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 4.10(a) hereof or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(e) any Investment existing on the Issue Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any such Investment or binding commitment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased in such extension, modification or renewal only (i) as required by the terms of such Investment or binding commitment as in existence on the Issue Date (including as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities) or (ii) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

 

26


(f) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries:

(i) consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business; or

(ii) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable (including any trade creditor or customer); or

(iii) in satisfaction of judgments against other Persons; or

(iv) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(g) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.09(b)(x) hereof;

(h) any Investment in a Similar Business taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (h) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (i) $75.0 million and (ii) 2.50% of Total Assets;

(i) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, or any of its direct or indirect parent companies; provided that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C) hereof;

(j) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b) hereof;

(k) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.11(b) hereof (except transactions described in Sections 4.11(b)(ii) and 4.11(b)(iv) hereof);

(l) Investments consisting of purchases or other acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(m) additional Investments, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (m) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or have not been subsequently sold or transferred for cash or marketable securities), not to exceed the greater of (i) $150.0 million and (ii) 5.00% of Total Assets;

(n) Investments in or relating to a Securitization Subsidiary that, in the good faith determination of the Company are necessary or advisable to effect any Qualified Securitization Facility or any repurchase obligation in connection therewith;

(o) advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, employees not in excess of $15.0 million outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;

 

27


(p) loans and advances to employees, directors, officers, managers, distributors and consultants for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses or payroll advances, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company thereof;

(q) advances, loans or extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(r) any Investment in any Subsidiary or any joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business;

(s) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of assets or services in the ordinary course of business;

(t) Investments made in the ordinary course of business in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contacts and loans or advances made to distributors in the ordinary course of business;

(u) Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers compensation, performance and similar deposits entered into as a result of the operations of the business in the ordinary course of business;

(v) repurchases of Notes;

(w) any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any joint venture, provided that the aggregate amount of such Investment, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (w) that are at the time outstanding, does not exceed $150.0 million; provided that immediately after giving effect to such Investment on a pro forma basis, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test;

(x) investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection of deposit and Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(y) Investments in the HSBC Asian Production Facility in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25.0 million; and

(z) the payment of unlimited Restricted Investments to the extent the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the date of such Restricted Investment would not exceed 3.50:1.00.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(a) pledges, deposits or security by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, employers’ health tax, and other social security laws or similar legislation or other insurance related obligations (including, but not limited to, in respect of

 

28


deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto) or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(c) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or not yet payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(d) Liens in favor of issuers of performance, surety, bid, indemnity, warranty, release, appeal or similar bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit or bankers acceptances issued, and completion guarantees provided for, in each case, issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business or consistent with past practice prior to the Issue Date;

(e) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, ground leases, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, servitudes, sewers, electric lines, drains, telegraph, telephone and cable television lines and other similar purposes, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including minor defects and irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental, to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(f) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 4.09(b)(iv), 4.09(b)(xii)(B), 4.09(b)(xiii), 4.09(b)(xxiii) or 4.09(b)(xxiv) hereof; provided that (a) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(xiv) hereof relate only to Obligations relating to Refinancing Indebtedness that (x) is secured by Liens on the same assets as the assets securing the Refinancing Indebtedness or (y) extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued under Sections 4.09(b)(iv) or 4.09(b)(xii)(B) hereof, (b) Liens securing Obligations relating to Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(xxiii) hereof extend

 

29


only to the assets of Foreign Subsidiaries, (c) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(xxiv) extend only to acquired property or the assets of the acquired entity, and (d) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(iv) hereof extend only to the assets so purchased, leased or improved;

(g) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

(h) Liens on property or shares of stock or other assets of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided, further, that such Liens may not extend to any other property or other assets owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(i) Liens on property or other assets at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property or such other assets, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, amalgamation, merger or consolidation; provided, further, that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(j) Liens securing Obligations relating to any Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof;

(k) Liens securing Hedging Obligations; provided that, with respect to Hedging Obligations relating to Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is, and is permitted to be under this Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations;

(l) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s accounts payable or similar trade obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or trade letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(m) leases, sub-leases, licenses or sub-licenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness;

(n) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statute) financing statement filings regarding operating leases or consignments entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Liens in favor of the Company, or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(p) Liens on equipment of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business to the Company’s clients;

 

30


(q) Liens on accounts receivable, Securitization Assets and related assets incurred in connection with a Qualified Securitization Facility;

(r) Liens to secure any modification, refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (g), (h) and (i); provided that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (g), (h) and (i) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and accrued and unpaid interest, related to such modification, refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

(s) deposits made or other security provided in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

(t) other Liens securing obligations in an aggregate amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (i) $75.0 million and (ii) 2.50% of Total Assets determined as of the date of incurrence;

(u) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 6.01(e) hereof so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

(v) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

(w) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law or under general terms and conditions encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(x) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 4.09 hereof; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;

(y) Liens encumbering reasonable customary deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(z) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii)

 

31


relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(aa) Liens securing obligations owed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to any lender under the Senior Credit Facilities or any Affiliate of such a lender in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository and cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds;

(bb) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to capital stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

(cc) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(dd) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted;

(ee) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are located;

(ff) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

(gg) Liens on Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(hh) Liens on the assets of non-guarantor Subsidiaries (other than the Issuers) securing Indebtedness of such Subsidiaries that were permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred; and

(ii) Liens arising solely from precautionary UCC financing statements or similar filings.

For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest on such Indebtedness.

Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

 

32


Pro Forma Basis” means with respect to any determination of the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets (including, in each case, component definitions thereof), for any period during which one or more Subject Transactions occurs, such Subject Transaction (and all other Subject Transactions that have been consummated during the applicable period) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the most recent four Fiscal Quarter period of measurement and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person disposed of in a Subject Transaction shall be excluded and all income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person acquired in a Subject Transaction shall be included; provided that the foregoing pro forma adjustments may include anticipated cost savings, operating expense reductions, other operating improvements and synergies solely to the extent set forth in the definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.

Pro Forma EBITDA” means, with respect to any Specified Transaction for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such Specified Transaction.

Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(i) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture, except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

Qualified Proceeds” means the fair market value of assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.

Qualified Securitization Facility” means any Securitization Facility that meets the following conditions: (a) the board of directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Company and the applicable Securitization Subsidiary, (b) all sales and/or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets to the applicable Securitization Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company) and (c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Company).

Rating Agencies” means Moody’s and S&P or if Moody’s or S&P or both shall not make a rating on the applicable securities publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company which shall be substituted for Moody’s or S&P or both, as the case may be.

Record Date” for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means the April 1 and October 1 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

Refinancing” means the issue and sale of the Notes, the prepayment in full of the Company’s Existing Revolving Credit Facilities, the execution, delivery and performance of the New Term Loan Credit Agreement and the New ABL Credit Agreement, the tender offer for and prepayment of the Issuers’ existing 6.75% senior notes due 2019 and the redemption of any of the Issuers’ existing 6.75% senior notes due 2019 not tendered pursuant to such tender offer.

 

33


Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

Regulation S Global Note” means a Global Note in the form of Exhibit A bearing the Global Note Legend, the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the of the Notes sold in reliance of Rule 903 of Regulation S.

Related Business Assets” means assets (other than Cash Equivalents) used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that any assets received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for assets transferred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed to be Related Business Assets if they consist of securities of a Person, unless upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person would become a Restricted Subsidiary.

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Subsidiary” means, at any time, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company (including any Foreign Subsidiary and the Issuers) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary.”

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

 

34


Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by a Lien.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Securitization Assets” means the accounts receivable, royalty or other revenue and other rights to payment and any other assets related thereto subject to a Qualified Securitization Facility and the proceeds thereof.

Securitization Facility” means any of one or more receivables securitization financing facilities as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, the Obligations of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells or grants a security interest in its accounts receivable or assets related thereto to either (a) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Securitization Subsidiary that in turn sells its accounts receivable to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

Securitization Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with, any Qualified Securitization Facility.

Securitization Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary formed for the purpose of, and that solely engages only in one or more Qualified Securitization Facilities and other activities reasonably related thereto.

Senior Credit Facilities” means, collectively, the New Term Loan Credit Facility and the New ABL Credit Facility.

Senior Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any related Guarantee.

Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness for borrowed money other than Indebtedness owed to an Issuer or any Guarantor that is secured by a lien (x) minus the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents not listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date (y) minus, without duplication, the aggregate amount of

 

35


cash and cash equivalents restricted in favor of the Term Loan Facility (which may also secure other indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior lien on the term collateral along with the New Term Loan Credit Facility to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available.

In the event that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, repays, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio is made (the “Secured Net Leverage Ratio Calculation Date”), then the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, repayment, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred immediately prior to the end of such most recent fiscal quarter end.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Secured Net Leverage Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (and the change in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or discontinued operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger or consolidation, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt, cost savings, synergies and operating expense reductions resulting from such Investment, acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation which is being given pro forma effect that have been or are expected to be realized).

Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.

Similar Business” means (a) any business engaged in by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date, and (b) any business or other activities that are

 

36


reasonably similar, ancillary, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the Issue Date.

Specified Disposition” means any disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any division, business unit, product line or line of business of such Restricted Subsidiary or the Company.

Specified Transaction” means (a) any Specified Disposition, (b) any Permitted Acquisition and (c) the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness.

Subject Transaction” means, with respect to any four fiscal quarter period, any of the following that shall have occurred during such period: (a) the Transactions, (b) any Permitted Acquisition or the making of other acquisitions and Investments not prohibited by this Indenture (including any Investment in a Subsidiary which serves to increase the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s respective equity ownership in such Subsidiary or any acquisition or Investment in any joint venture for the purpose of purchasing any or all of the interests of any joint venture partner), (c) any disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or stock of a Subsidiary (or any business unit, line of business or division of the Company or a Subsidiary) not prohibited by this Indenture or (d) any other event that by the terms of this Indenture requires pro forma compliance with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Notes,

(a) any Indebtedness of the Issuers which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, and

(b) any Indebtedness of any Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such entity of the Notes.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

(a) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50.0% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof or is consolidated under GAAP with such Person at such time; and

(b) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which

(i) more than 50.0% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and

 

37


(ii) such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Guarantor other than the Company.

Total Assets” means the total assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company or such other Person as may be expressly stated.

Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness minus the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents not listed as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date minus the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents restricted in favor of the New Term Loan Facility (which may also secure other indebtedness secured by a pari passu or junior lien on the term collateral along with the New Term Loan Credit Facility) to (ii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.

Transactions” means the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement and as described in the Offering Circular under “The Transactions,” including borrowings under the New Term Loan Credit Facility, the issuance of the Notes, the Refinancing and the payment of related fees and expenses.

Transaction Costs” means the fees, costs and expenses payable by the Company, any Affiliate of the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions.

Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that 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 of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to October 15, 2018; provided that if the period from the Redemption Date to such date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used. The Company will (1) calculate the Treasury Rate on the 2nd Business Day preceding the applicable Redemption Date and (2) prior to such redemption date file with the Trustee an officer’s certificate setting forth the Applicable Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.

Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-777bbbb).

Trustee” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

 

38


Unrestricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Global Note” means a Global Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

(a) any Subsidiary of the Company which at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Company, as provided below); and

(b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that

(i) any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which the Equity Interests entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or Persons performing a similar function are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company;

(ii) such designation complies with Sections 4.07 and 4.16 hereof; and

(iii) each of (A) the Subsidiary to be so designated and (B) its Subsidiaries has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.

The Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either:

(a) the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test; or

(b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company would be equal to or greater than such ratio for the Company immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

Any such designation by the Company shall be notified by the Company to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the board of directors of the Company or any committee thereof giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

 

39


U.S. Person” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(k) promulgated under the Securities Act.

Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing:

(a) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment; by

(b) the sum of all such payments.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100.0% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals as required by applicable law) shall at the time be owned by such Person and/or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in Section

“Acceptable Commitment”

   4.10

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.11

“Applicable Premium Deficit”

   8.04

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.10

“Authentication Order”

   2.02

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.14

“Change of Control Payment”

   4.14

“Change of Control Payment Date”

   4.14

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.03

“DTC”

   2.03

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.10

“Fixed Charge Coverage Test”

   4.07

“incur”

   4.09

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.02

“Offer Amount”

   3.09

“Offer Period”

   3.09

“Pari Passu Indebtedness”

   4.10

“Paying Agent”

   2.03

“Purchase Date”

   3.09

“Redemption Date”

   3.07

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

   4.09

 

40


“Refunding Capital Stock”

   4.07

“Registrar”

   2.03

“Restricted Payments”

   4.07

“Second Commitment”

   4.10

“Note Register”

   2.03

“Successor Company”

   5.01

“Successor Guarantee”

   5.01

“Successor Issuer”

   5.01

“Treasury Capital Stock”

   4.07

Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“indenture securities” means the Notes and the Guarantees;

“indenture security Holder” means a Holder of a Note;

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

“obligor” on the Notes and the Guarantees means the Issuers and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Guarantees, respectively.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the Trust Indenture Act have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) “including”, “includes” and similar words means including without limitation;

(e) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

(f) “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;

(g) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

41


(h) references to sections of, or rules under, the Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time;

(i) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article,” “Section” or “clause” refers to an Article, Section or clause, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

(j) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not any particular Article, Section, clause or other subdivision;

(k) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Issuers dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP; and

(l) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory purchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater.

Section 1.05 Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments is delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuers. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuers, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute proof of the authority of the Person executing the same. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.

(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee or the Issuers in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.

 

42


(e) The Issuers may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other act, or to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Issuers prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 10 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

(g) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including DTC, that is a Holder of a Global Note, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and any Person, that is a Holder of a Global Note, including DTC, may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Note through such depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.

(h) The Issuers may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by DTC entitled under the procedures of such depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating; Terms.

(a) General. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issued initially in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

 

43


(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

(c) Terms. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

The Notes shall be subject to repurchase by the Issuers pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer as provided in Section 4.10 hereof or a Change of Control Offer as provided in Section 4.14 hereof. The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article 3 hereof.

Additional Notes ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes may be created and issued from time to time by the Issuers without notice to or consent of the Holders and shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Initial Notes; provided that the Issuers’ ability to issue Additional Notes shall be subject to the Issuers’ compliance with Section 4.09 hereof. Any Additional Notes may be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture.

(d) Euroclear and Clearstream Applicable Procedures. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

44


Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication. At least one Officer of the Issuers shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Issuers by manual, facsimile or electronic (including “.pdf”) signature.

If an Officer of such Issuer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual, facsimile or electronic (including “.pdf”) signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuers’ Order (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes in the aggregate principal amount or amounts specified in such Authentication Order. In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes for an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes issued or increased hereunder.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuers to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Issuers. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Issuers pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent. The Issuers shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes (“Note Register”) and of their transfer and exchange. The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of the Note for all purposes. The Issuers may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agents. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuers fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall, to the extent that it is capable, act as such. The Issuer or any of its domestic Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

The Issuers initially appoint The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee to act as the Registrar and the Paying Agent for the Notes and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

 

45


Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Issuer or a domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Issuers, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.05 Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee at least two Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders and the Issuers shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.06, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor thereto or a nominee of such successor thereto. All beneficial interests in Global Notes will be exchanged for Definitive Notes if (i) the Depositary (x) notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuers within 120 days, (ii) the Issuers, at their option, notify the Trustee in writing that they elect to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes, or (iii) upon the request of a Holder if there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures). Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the preceding events in (i), (ii) or (iii) above and pursuant to Section 2.06(c) hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided, however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or 2.06(c) hereof.

 

46


(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) hereof, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A)(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B)(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; or

 

47


(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

(B) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this subclause (iv), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to this Section 2.06(b)(iv) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to this Section 2.06(b)(iv).

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.

(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

48


(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Issuers or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

(ii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

 

49


(B) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this Section 2.06(c)(ii), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iii) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iii) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iii) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

  (d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.

(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

 

50


(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Issuers or any of their Subsidiaries, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the applicable Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the applicable 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (C) above, the applicable Regulation S Global Note.

(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

(B) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this Section 2.06(d)(ii), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably

 

51


acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of this Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e):

(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; or

 

52


(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

(B) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this Section 2.06(e)(ii), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(f) [Reserved].

(g) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture:

(i) Private Placement Legend.

(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE

 

53


OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

 

  (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT, AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING, (A) IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, AND

 

  (2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUERS THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH), EXCEPT:

 

  (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, OR

 

  (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

  (C) TO A PERSON REASONABLY BELIEVED TO BE A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

  (D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; OR

 

  (E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE WILL BE THE DATE (1) THAT IS AT LEAST ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND (2) ON WHICH THE ISSUERS INSTRUCT THE TRUSTEE THAT THIS LEGEND SHALL BE DEEMED REMOVED FROM THIS SECURITY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE RELATED TO THIS SECURITY.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2(B) ABOVE, THE ISSUERS AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN

 

54


COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.”

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraph (b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(ii) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (with appropriate changes in the last sentence if DTC is not the Depositary):

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(h) OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUERS. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or cancelled in whole and not in part, each such

 

55


Global Note shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.07, 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.14, and 9.05 hereof).

(iii) The Issuers shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection or (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date with respect to such Note and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date with respect to such Note.

(iv) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(v) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuers, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuers may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuers shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

56


(vii) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuers designated pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

(viii) At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

(ix) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

(x) Neither the Trustee nor any agent of the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary. The Trustee may treat and consider the person in whose name each Note is registered in the registration books as the holder and absolute owner of such Note for all purposes whatsoever (or may list out various purposes: the purpose of payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to such Note, for the purpose of giving notices of redemption or tender and other matters with respect to such Note, for the purpose of registering transfers with respect to such Note, and for all purposes whatsoever).

(xi) 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 beneficial owners of interests in any Global Notes) 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 of this Indenture.

 

57


Section 2.07 Replacement Notes. If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar or the Issuers and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note.

Every replacement Note is a contractual obligation of the Issuers and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes. The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuers or a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser (as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code).

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuers or a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor) holds, on a Redemption Date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes (or portions thereof) payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.

 

58


Section 2.09 Treasury Notes. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer or by any Affiliate of the Issuer, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Issuers or a Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Issuers or a Guarantor.

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes. Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuers considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

Holders and beneficial holders, as the case may be, of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits accorded to Holders, or beneficial holders, respectively, of Notes under this Indenture.

 

59


Section 2.11 Cancellation. The Issuers at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such cancelled Notes in its customary manner (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the disposal of all cancelled Notes shall be delivered to the Issuers upon its request therefor. The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest. If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, they shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuers may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12. The Issuers shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any such special record date. At least 15 days before any such special record date, the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers) shall mail or cause to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Note Register that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and for greater certainty, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

Section 2.13 CUSIP/ISIN Numbers. The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers (in each case, if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers will as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP and ISIN numbers.

 

60


ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee. If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least two Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or cause to be mailed to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof but not more than 60 days before the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”), an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. If the Issuers are redeeming less than all of the Notes issued under this Indenture at any time, the Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, at least three Business Days prior to the sending of the notice of redemption (unless the Trustee agrees to a shorter period), an Officer’s Certificate requesting the Trustee select the Notes to be redeemed and the Trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed (a) if the Notes are listed on an exchange, in compliance with the requirements of such exchange or (b) on a pro rata basis or by lot (or in case of Global Notes, by such method as DTC may require). In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed or purchased in part, except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption. Subject to Section 3.09 hereof, notice of redemption shall be delivered by the Issuers by electronic transmission or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, with a copy to the Trustee, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11 hereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.07(c) hereof, notices of redemption may not be conditional.

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including the name of the Notes, series, issue date, interest rate, maturity date and certificate numbers) and shall state:

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the redemption price;

(c) if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of such Note that has been or is to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed will be issued in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

61


(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(f) that, unless the Issuers default in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date;

(g) the paragraph or subparagraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;

(h) the CUSIP and ISIN number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP and ISIN number that is listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and

(i) any condition to such redemption.

At the Issuers’ request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuers’ name and at its expense; provided that the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least three Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or caused to be mailed to Holders pursuant to this Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price (except as provided for in Section 3.07(d) hereof). The notice, if delivered in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to deliver such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Section 3.05 hereof, on and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

(a) Prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Redemption Date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that Redemption Date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed.

(b) If the Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph (a), on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes

 

62


called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Record Date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Issuers to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the Redemption Date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest accrued to the Redemption Date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. It is understood that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) At any time prior to October 15, 2018, the Issuers may, at their option on one or more occasions, redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon notice in accordance with Sections 3.02 and 3.03 hereof, at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, 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.

(b) From and after October 15, 2018, the Issuers may, at their option on one or more occasions, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Sections 3.02 and 3.03 hereof, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, 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, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on October 15, of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2018

     107.875

2019

     105.250

2020

     102.625

2021 and thereafter

     100.000

(c) Before October 15, 2018, the Issuers may, at their option, on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price equal to 110.500% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with the net cash proceeds received by it from one or more Equity Offerings;

 

63


provided that (i) at least 60.0% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes issued under this Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (ii) each such redemption occurs within 120 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.

(d) Any notice of any redemption may be given prior to the redemption thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuers’ option and discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, without limitation, the consummation of an incurrence or issuance of debt or equity or a Change of Control or other corporate transaction. The Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

(e) Except pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (c) of this Section 3.07, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers’ option prior to October 15, 2018.

(f) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption. The Issuers will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

Section 3.09 Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

(a) In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Issuers shall be required to commence an Asset Sale Offer, it shall follow the procedures specified below.

(b) The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Issuers shall apply all Excess Proceeds (the “Offer Amount”) to the purchase of Notes and, if required, Pari Passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

(c) If the Purchase Date is on or after a Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest, up to but excluding the Purchase Date, shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

(d) Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuers shall deliver electronically or mail, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

 

64


(i) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open;

(ii) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

(iii) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;

(iv) that, unless the Issuers default in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

(v) that any Holder electing to have less than all of the aggregate principal amount of its Notes purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in an amount not less than $2,000;

(vi) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Note completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Issuers, the Depositary, if appointed by the Issuers, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least two Business Days before the Purchase Date;

(vii) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the close of business on the expiration date of the Offer Period, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

(viii) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes or Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Trustee shall select the Notes and the Company shall select such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustee so that only Notes in an amount not less than $2,000 are purchased); and

(ix) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer) representing the same indebtedness to the extent not repurchased.

(e) On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuers shall, to the extent lawful, (1) accept for payment, on a pro rata basis as described in Section 3.09(d)(viii) hereof, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof validly tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered and (2) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof so tendered.

 

65


(f) The Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes properly tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuers for purchase, and the Issuers shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) such new Note to such Holder (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note) in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not repurchased. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuers to the Holder thereof. The Issuers shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Purchase Date.

(g) Prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Purchase Date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be purchased on that Purchase Date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed.

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09 or Section 4.10 hereof, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof, and references therein to “redeem,” “redemption” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase” and similar words, as applicable.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes. The Issuers shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuers or a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuer, holds as of 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the due date money deposited by the Issuers in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

The Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; the Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

66


Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuers shall maintain the offices or agencies (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) required under Section 2.03 hereof where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange or presented for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office.

The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuers of their obligation to maintain such offices or agencies as required by Section 2.03 hereof for such purposes. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

The Issuers hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office as one such office or agency of the Issuers in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

Section 4.03 Reports and Other Information.

(a) Notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Company will file with the SEC (and make available to the Trustee and Holders of the Notes (without exhibits), without cost to any Holder, within 15 days after it files them with the SEC) from and after the Issue Date,

(i) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, annual reports on Form 10-K, or any successor or comparable form, containing the information required to be contained therein, or required in such successor or comparable form;

(ii) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, reports on Form 10-Q containing all quarterly information that would be required to be contained in Form 10-Q, or any successor or comparable form; and

(iii) promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported, such other reports on Form 8-K, or any successor or comparable form.

in each case, in a manner that complies in all material respects with the requirements specified in such form; provided that the Company shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing. To the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to 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.

 

67


(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to comply with Item 3-10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Section 4.03 for purposes of Section 6.01(c) hereof until 90 days after the date any report is due under this Section 4.03.

(d) The Company will be deemed to have furnished the reports, documents and information to the Trustee and the Holders of Notes, and to the extent herein provided, to prospective investors, as required by this covenant if it has filed such reports with the SEC using the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”) (or any successor system) or if such system is not available to the Company, if the Company has filed such reports, documents and information on the Company website, and in each such case, such reports are publicly available thereon; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such reports, documents and information are available on any such website. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers’ compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officers signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture during such fiscal year and are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, or if the Trustee or the holder of any other evidence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary gives any notice or takes any other action with respect to a claimed Default, the Company shall promptly (which shall be no more than five Business Days after becoming aware of such Default) deliver to the Trustee by registered or certified mail or by facsimile transmission an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event and what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

68


Section 4.05 Taxes. The Company shall pay or discharge, and shall cause the Issuers and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay or discharge, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate negotiations or proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment or discharge is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company, the Issuers and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture and the Notes; and the Issuers and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) covenant that they shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i)

(A) declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Company’s, or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation other than:

(1) dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or

(2) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;

(B) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(C) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness, other than:

 

69


(1) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (vii) and (viii) of Section 4.09(b) hereof; or

(2) the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase or acquisition; or

(D) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (A) through (D) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(ii)

(A) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(B) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Test”); and

(C) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by Sections 4.07(b)(i), 4.07(b)(ii) (with respect to the payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock only), 4.07(b)(vi)(C), 4.07(b)(xii) and 4.07(b)(xiv) hereof, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07(b) hereof), is less than the sum of (without duplication):

(1) 50.0% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period and including the predecessor) beginning on January 1, 2011 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment, or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100.0% of such deficit (which amount shall not be less than zero); plus

(2) 100.0% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Company since immediately after the Issue Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(xii)(A) hereof) from the issue or sale of:

 

70


(i)(A) Equity Interests of the Company, including Treasury Capital Stock, but excluding cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of:

(x) Equity Interests to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, distributors or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any direct or indirect parent company of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries after the Issue Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 4.07(b)(iv) hereof; and

(y) Designated Preferred Stock;

and (B) to the extent such net cash proceeds are actually contributed to the Company, Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company (excluding contributions of the proceeds from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock of such company or contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with Section 4.07(b)(iv) hereof); or

(ii) debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Company; provided that this clause (2) shall not include the proceeds from: (W) Refunding Capital Stock; (X) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities of the Company sold to a Restricted Subsidiary; (Y) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock; or (Z) Excluded Contributions; plus

(3) 100.0% of the aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Company following the Issue Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(xii)(A) hereof) (other than by a Restricted Subsidiary and other than any Excluded Contributions); plus

(4) 100.0% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by means of:

(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and

 

71


redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) and repayments of loans or advances, which constitute Restricted Investments made by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Issue Date; or

(ii) the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(vii) or 4.07(b)(x) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date; plus

(5) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (which, if the fair market value of such Investment shall exceed $15.0 million, shall be determined by the board of directors of the Company whose resolution with respect thereto will be delivered to the Trustee) at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, other than to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant Section 4.07(b)(vii) or 4.07(b)(x) hereof or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) hereof will not prohibit:

(i) the payment of any dividend or other distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or other distribution or giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice, the dividend or other distribution or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) (A) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Treasury Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests, other than any substantially concurrent sale that has been applied pursuant to Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(2) hereof, of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent contributed to the Company (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”) and (B) if immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividend thereon was permitted under Section 4.07(b)(vi) hereof, the declaration and payment of dividend on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to

 

72


redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Treasury Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(iii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, exchange or other acquisition or retirement of (1) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuers, the Company, or a Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Issuers, the Company, or a Subsidiary Guarantor or (2) Disqualified Stock of the Issuers, the Company, or a Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Disqualified Stock of the Issuers, the Company, or a Subsidiary Guarantor, that, in each case, is incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 hereof so long as:

(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of such new Disqualified Stock does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Subordinated Indebtedness or the liquidation preference of, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends on, the Disqualified Stock being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired for value, plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired, defeasance costs and any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock;

(B) such new Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired;

(C) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired; and

(D) such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, exchanged, acquired or retired;

(iv) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or

 

73


employee benefit plan or agreement, or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any principal and interest payable on any notes issued by the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company in connection with such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition); provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made under this clause does not exceed $10.0 million in any fiscal year (with unused amounts in any fiscal year being carried over to the next two succeeding fiscal years); provided, further, that each of the amounts in any fiscal year under this clause may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and, to the extent contributed to the Company, the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, in each case to any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C) hereof; plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date; less

(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iv);

and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company from any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers, or consultants of the Company (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members), any direct or indirect parent company of the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.07 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(v) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any class or series of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 4.09 hereof to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(vi)(A) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (vi)(A) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually received by the Company from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock;

 

74


(B) the declaration and payment of dividends to any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by such parent company after the Issue Date; provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to this clause (vi)(B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the Company from the sale of such Designated Preferred Stock; or

(C) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(ii) hereof;

provided, in the case of each of subclauses (A), (B) and (C) of this clause (vi), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or the declaration of such dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test under Section 4.09(a) hereof;

(vii) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) that are at the time outstanding, without giving effect to the sale of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the proceeds of such sale do not consist of cash or marketable securities, not to exceed the greater of (A) $75.0 million and (B) 2.50% of Total Assets;

(viii) payments made or expected to be made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable upon exercise of Equity Interests by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) and any repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants or required withholding or similar taxes;

(ix) Restricted Payments during the term of this Indenture in the aggregate not to exceed the amount of Excluded Contributions at the time such Restricted Payment is made;

(x) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (x) not to exceed the greater of (A) $125.0 million and (B) 4.00% of Total Assets;

(xi) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees;

(xii) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those described under Section 4.10 and 4.14 hereof; provided that all Notes validly tendered by Holders in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired for value;

 

75


(xiii) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the primary assets of which are Cash Equivalents);

(xiv) the payment of cash dividends on the Company’s Common Stock in an aggregate amount per fiscal quarter not to exceed $0.15 per share for each share of common stock of the Company outstanding as of the record date for dividends payable in respect of such fiscal quarter (as such amount shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, reverse stock splits, stock consolidations and similar transactions), and not to exceed $25.0 million in any fiscal year; and

(xv) any Restricted Payments to the extent the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the date of such Restricted Payment determined on a pro forma basis giving effect to the transactions entered into in connection with such Restricted Payment would not exceed 3.00:1.00.

provided that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under Sections 4.07(b)(x), 4.07(b)(xiii), 4.07(b)(xiv) and 4.07(b)(xv) hereof, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

(c) As of the Issue Date, all of the Company’s Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the next to the last sentence of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to Section 4.07(a) hereof or under Section 4.07(b)(vii), 4.07(b)(ix) or 4.07(b)(x) hereof, or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments,” and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Indenture.

Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

(i)(A) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or

 

76


(B) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is an Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is an Issuer or a Subsidiary Guarantor; or

(iii) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,

(b) The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(i) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Senior Credit Facilities and the related documentation and Hedging Obligations;

(ii) this Indenture, the Notes and the guarantees thereof;

(iii) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in Section 4.08(a)(iii) hereof on the property so acquired;

(iv) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(v) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence at the time of such acquisition or at the time it merges with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person (but, in any such case, not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person so acquired and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person so acquired and its Subsidiaries or the property or assets so acquired;

(vi) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

(vii) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 4.09 and 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(viii) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(ix) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.09 hereof;

 

77


(x) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements relating solely to such joint venture;

(xi) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses or similar agreements, including with respect to intellectual property and other agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(xii) restrictions created in connection with any Qualified Securitization Facility that, in the good faith determination of the Company are necessary or advisable to effect such Qualified Securitization Facility;

(xiii) restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or other agreement to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary that are the subject to such agreement, the payment rights arising thereunder or the proceeds thereof and does not extend to any other asset or property of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary;

(xiv) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.09 hereof; provided that, in the judgment of the Company, such incurrence will not materially impair the Company’s ability to make payments under the Notes when due; and

(xv) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Sections 4.08(a)(i), 4.08(a)(ii) and 4.08(a)(iii) hereof imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in Section 4.08(b)(i) through 4.08(b)(xiv) hereof; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Company, no more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

Section 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Company will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired

 

78


Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the Company’s most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) hereof will not apply to:

(i)

(A) the incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to Credit Facilities, other than the New ABL Credit Facility, by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary up to an aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause 1(a) not to exceed the greater of (i) $1,700.0 million and (ii) an amount such that the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio on the date on which such Indebtedness is incurred would be no greater than 3.50:1.00;

(B) the incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to the New ABL Credit Facility and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) up to an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $350.0 million and (y) the Borrowing Base;

(ii) the incurrence by the Company, the Issuers and any Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (including any guarantee thereof) to be issued on the Issue Date (but excluding any Additional Notes);

(iii) Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in Section 4.09(b)(i) and 4.09(b)(ii) hereof) and, for purposes of Section 4.09(b)(xiii) hereof, Section 4.09(b)(vii) through 4.09(b)(ix) hereof;

(iv) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) and Disqualified Stock incurred or issued by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary, to finance the purchase, lease or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment or other assets, that in each case are used or useful in a Similar Business, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets in an aggregate principal amount, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof and all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock incurred or issued and outstanding under this Section 4.09(b)(iv), not to exceed the greater of (A) $100.0 million and (B) 3.25% of Total Assets (in each case, determined at the date of incurrence) at any time outstanding;

 

79


(v) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, banker’s acceptances, warehouse receipts, or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance; provided that upon the drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or incurrence;

(vi) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price, earnouts or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(vii) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor (other than the Issuers) is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosure thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this Section 4.09(b)(vii);

(viii) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the Issuers or a Subsidiary Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not one of the Issuers or a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of the Notes of such Subsidiary Guarantor or the Notes in the case of the Issuers; provided, further, that any subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien (but not foreclosure thereon)) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this Section 4.09(b)(viii);

(ix) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another of its Restricted Subsidiaries) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this Section 4.09(b)(ix);

 

80


(x) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of (A) limiting interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, (B) fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges, or (C) fixing or hedging commodity price risk with respect to any commodity purchases or sales;

(xi) obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(xii) (A) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness (as defined below) in respect thereof and all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock in each case outstanding under this Section 4.09(b)(xii)(A), up to 100.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or cash contributed to the capital of the Company (in each case, other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with Section 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(2) and 4.07(a)(ii)(C)(3) hereof to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments, payments or exchanges pursuant to Section 4.07(b) hereof or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (a) and (c) of the definition thereof) and (B) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference which, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09(b)(xii)(B), does not at any one time outstanding exceed the greater of (x) $150.0 million and (y) 5.00% of Total Assets (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09(b)(xii)(B) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this Section 4.09(b)(xii)(B) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of Section 4.09(a) hereof from and after the first date on which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 4.09(a) hereof without reliance on this Section 4.09(b)(xii)(B));

(xiii) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, the issuance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Disqualified Stock or the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary of Preferred Stock which serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section

 

81


4.09(a) hereof and Section 4.09(b)(ii), 4.09(b)(iii), 4.09(b)(iv) and 4.09(b)(xii)(A) hereof, this Section 4.09(b)(xiii) and Section 4.09(b)(xiv) hereof or any Indebtedness incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to so extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay premiums (including reasonable tender premiums), defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(A) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased;

(B) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews or defeases (1) Indebtedness subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee thereof, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantee thereof at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased or (2) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively; and

(C) shall not include:

(1) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor (other than the Issuers) that refinances Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company;

(2) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor or the Issuers that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Guarantor or the Issuers; or

(3) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

and, provided, further, that Section 4.09(b)(xiii)(A) hereof will not apply to any extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance of any Secured Indebtedness.

(xiv) (A) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition or (B) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that in the case of clauses (A) and (B) of this Section 4.09(b)(xiv), after giving effect to such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation, either

 

82


(1) the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company immediately subsequent to the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued is greater than or equal to immediately prior to such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(xv) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its incurrence;

(xvi) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to the Credit Facilities that is incurred under Section 4.09(b)(i) hereof, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(xvii) (A) any guarantee by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture, or

(B) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company; provided that such guarantee is incurred in accordance with Section 4.15 hereof;

(xviii) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers and consultants thereof, their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent described in Section 4.07(b)(iv) hereof;

(xix) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business;

(xx) Indebtedness in respect of Bank Products provided by banks or other financial institutions to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(xxi) Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange or the discounting or factoring of receivables for credit management purposes, in each case incurred or undertaken in the ordinary course of business on arm’s length commercial terms on a recourse basis;

 

83


(xxii) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (A) the financing of insurance premiums or (B) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(xxiii) the incurrence of Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company in an amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding and together with any other Indebtedness incurred under this Section 4.09(b)(xxiii), the greater of (A) $100.0 million and (B) 3.25% of the Total Assets (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09(b)(xxiii) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for the purpose of this Section 4.09(b)(xxiii) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of Section 4.09(a) hereof from and after the first date on which the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiaries could have incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.09(a) hereof without reliance on this Section 4.09(b)(xxiii));

(xxiv) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance or assumed in connection with an acquisition in a principal amount not to exceed $20.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding together with all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and/or Preferred Stock incurred or issued under this Section 4.09(b)(xxiv) (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this Section 4.09(b)(xxiv) shall cease to be deemed incurred, issued or outstanding for purposes of this Section 4.09(b)(xxiv) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of Section 4.09(a) hereof from and after the first date on which such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 4.09(a) hereof without reliance on this Section 4.09(b)(xxiv));

(xxv) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries undertaken in connection with cash management and related activities with respect to any Subsidiary or joint venture in the ordinary course of business; and

(xxvi) the guarantee of Indebtedness with respect to the HSBC Asian Production Facility up to an aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million; provided that increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purpose of this Section 4.09(b)(xxvi).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant and Sections 4.09(b)(xii), 4.09(b)(xiv) , 4.09(b)(xxiii), and 4.09(b)(xxiv) (other than, with respect to Sections 4.09(b)(xiv) and 4.09(b)(xxiv), Indebtedness assumed not in contemplation of an acquisition) and Section 4.09(b)(xiii) to the extent constituting Refinancing Indebtedness of any of the foregoing of the second paragraph of this covenant if, after giving pro forma effect thereto (including pro forma application of the

 

84


proceeds thereof), more than an aggregate of the greater of (a) $150.0 million and (b) 5.00% of Total Assets (determined on the date of such incurrence) of Indebtedness of non-Guarantors would be outstanding pursuant to this paragraph at such time.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09:

(i) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in Section 4.09(b)(i) through 4.09(b)(xxvi) hereof or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in one of the above clauses or under Section 4.09(a) hereof; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities on the Issue Date will be treated as incurred on the Issue Date under Section 4.09(b)(i) hereof;

(ii) at the time of incurrence, the Company will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 4.09(a) and 4.09(b) hereof; and

(iii) in the event that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (x) incurs Indebtedness to finance an acquisition or (y) assumes Indebtedness of Persons that are acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the date of determination of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall, at the option of the Company, be the date that a definitive agreement for such acquisition is entered into and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such acquisition and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) consistent with the definition of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, and, for the avoidance of doubt, (A) if any such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Issuer or the target company) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant acquisition, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether such acquisition and any related transactions are permitted hereunder and (B) such ratios shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such acquisition or related transactions; provided, further, that if the Company elects to have such determinations occur at the time of entry into such definitive agreement, (i) any such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred on the date the definitive agreement is entered into and to be outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating any ratios under this Indenture after the date of such agreement and before the earlier of the date of consummation of such acquisition or the date such agreement is terminated or expires without consummation of such acquisition and (ii) to the extent any covenant baskets were utilized in satisfying any

 

85


covenants, such baskets shall be deemed utilized, but any calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for purposes of other incurrences of Indebtedness or Liens or making of Restricted Payments (not related to such acquisition) shall not reflect such acquisition until it has been consummated.

Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount and the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, of the same class will not be deemed to be an incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09.

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; 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 (a) the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced plus (b) the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with such refinancing.

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 respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Issuers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is subordinated or junior in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee to the extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated to other Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be.

This Indenture will not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured or (2) Indebtedness as subordinated or junior to any other Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

Section 4.10 Asset Sales

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to consummate an Asset Sale, unless:

 

86


(i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(ii) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75.0% of the consideration (for asset sales in excess of $25.0 million) therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(A) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto) of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and for which the Company and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released by all creditors in writing;

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale; and

(C) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this Section 4.10(a)(ii)(C) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $75.0 million and (y) 2.50% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value,

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for purposes of this provision and for no other purpose.

(b) Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale,

(i) to permanently reduce:

(A) Obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities, and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;

(B) Obligations under Senior Indebtedness, other than Senior Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, that is secured by a Lien, which Lien is permitted by this Indenture, and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;

 

87


(C) Obligations under other Senior Indebtedness (and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto), other than Senior Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the Company shall equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes as provided under Section 3.07 hereof or through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100.0% of the principal amount thereof) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.09 and 4.10(e) hereof) to all Holders to purchase their Notes at 100.0% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Notes to be repurchased; or

(D) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (and to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto), other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary;

(ii) to make (A) an Investment in any one or more businesses; provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) capital expenditures or (C) acquisitions of other assets, in the case of each of (A), (B) and (C), used or useful in a Similar Business; or

(iii) to make an Investment in (A) any one or more businesses; provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary or increases the Issuers’ direct or indirect percentage ownership of the Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) properties or (C) acquisitions of other assets that, in the case of each of (A), (B) and (C), replace the businesses, properties and/or assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale;

provided that, in the case of Sections 4.10(b)(ii) and 4.10(b)(iii) hereof, a binding commitment entered into not later than such 365th day shall extend the period for such Investment or other payment for an additional 180 days after the end of such 365-day period so long as the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that such Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of such commitment (an “Acceptable Commitment”) and, in the event any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied in connection therewith, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another Acceptable Commitment (a “Second Commitment”) within such 180-day period; provided, further, that (x) if any Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied or (y) such Net Proceeds are not actually so invested or paid in accordance with Sections 4.10(b)(ii) and 4.10(b)(iii) hereof by the end of such 180-day period, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds (as defined below) on the date of such cancellation or termination, or such 180th day, as applicable.

 

88


(c) Any Net Proceeds from the Asset Sale that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 4.10(b) hereof will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $40.0 million, the Company shall make an offer to all Holders and, if required by the terms of any Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes (“Pari Passu Indebtedness”), to the holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness (an “Asset Sale Offer”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness that is in an amount equal to at least $2,000, that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100.0% of the principal amount thereof (or accreted value thereof, if less), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. The Company will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $40.0 million by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. The Company may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 365 days (or such longer period provided above) or with respect to Excess Proceeds of $40.0 million or less.

To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes, subject to other covenants contained in this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes or the Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and the Company shall select such Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of the Notes or such Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered (with adjustments so that only Notes in an amount not less than $2,000 are purchased). Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds that resulted in the Asset Sale Offer shall be reset to zero.

(d) Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds pursuant to this Section 4.10, the holder of such Net Proceeds may apply such Net Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

(e) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

The provisions of Section 3.09 hereof and this Section 4.10 may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

 

89


Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $10.0 million, unless:

(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Company or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis; and

(ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $35.0 million, a resolution adopted by the majority of the board of directors of the Company approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with Section 4.11(a)(i) hereof.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.11(a) hereof will not apply to the following, without duplication:

(i) transactions between or among the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction;

(ii) Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07 hereof;

(iii) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and compensation paid to, and indemnities and reimbursements and employment and severance arrangements provided on behalf of or for the benefit of, current or former employees, directors, officers, managers, distributors or consultants of the Company, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(iv) transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that the terms are not materially less favorable to the Company or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arm’s-length basis;

(v) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date, or any amendment thereto (so long as any such amendment is not disadvantageous in any material respect in the good faith judgment of the board of directors of the Company to the Holders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Issue Date);

 

90


(vi) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this Section 4.11(b)(vi) to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise disadvantageous in any material respect in the good faith judgment of the board of directors of the Company to the Holders when taken as a whole;

(vii) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, contractors, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods or services that are Affiliates, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the board of directors of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

(viii) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any direct or indirect parent company of the Company or to any Permitted Holder or to any employee, director, officer, manager, distributor or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(ix) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, or Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with or any Qualified Securitization Facility;

(x) [Reserved];

(xi) payments and Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock (and cancellation of any thereof) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock (and cancellation of any thereof) of any Restricted Subsidiary to any future, current or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement; and any employment agreements, stock option plans and other compensatory arrangements (and any successor plans thereto) and any supplemental executive retirement benefit plans or arrangements with any such employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants (or their respective Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) that are, in each case, approved by Company in good faith;

 

91


(xii) payments to or from, and transactions with, any joint venture in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, any cash management activities related thereto);

(xiii) if and for so long as the Company is a member of a group filing a consolidated, unitary or combined tax return with any direct or indirect parent company thereof, payments by the Company (and such parent company) and its Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among the Company (and any such parent company) and its Subsidiaries; provided that in each case the amount of such payments in any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the Company, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent of amounts actually received in cash from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries) would be required to pay in respect of foreign, federal, state and local income taxes for such fiscal year were the Company, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) to pay such taxes on a consolidated basis on behalf of an affiliated group consisting only of the Company, its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xiv) any lease entered into between the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee and any Affiliate of the Company, as lessor, which is approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors of the Company in good faith; and

(xv) intellectual property licenses in the ordinary course of business.

Section 4.12 Liens. The Company and the Issuers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures Obligations under any Indebtedness or any related Guarantee of Indebtedness, on any asset or property of the Company, the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, unless:

(a) in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes and related Guarantees are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens; and

(b) in all other cases, the Notes or the Guarantees are equally and ratably secured, except that the foregoing shall not apply to (i) Liens securing the Notes and the related Guarantees and (ii) Liens securing (x) Indebtedness and other Obligations permitted to be incurred under Credit Facilities, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, that was incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(i) hereof and (y) obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of any Bank Products and Hedging Obligations provided by any lender party to any Senior Credit Facility or any Affiliate of such lender (or any Person that was a lender or an Affiliate of a lender at the time the applicable agreements pursuant to which such Bank Products are provided were entered into).

 

92


Section 4.13 Company Existence. Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company and the Issuers shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) their company or corporate existence, as applicable, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time); provided that, subject to Section 4.16 hereof, the Company shall not be required to preserve the corporate, partnership or other existence of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Issuer), if the Company in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Section 4.14 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control. If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently electronically delivered or mailed a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described under Section 3.07 hereof, the Issuers will make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101.0% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of the Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date prior to such repurchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuers will deliver notice of such Change of Control Offer electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the Security Register or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures with the following information:

(a) that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.14 and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Issuers;

(b) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

(c) that any Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

(d) that unless the Issuers default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

(e) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed, to the paying agent specified in the notice 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;

(f) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuers to purchase such Notes; provided that the Paying Agent receives, not later

 

93


than the close of business on the expiration date of the Change of Control Offer, a telegram, facsimile or electronic transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;

(g) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to at least $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000;

(h) if such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control; and

(i) the other instructions, as determined by the Issuers, consistent with this Section 4.14, that a Holder must follow.

The Issuer will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(j) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuers will, to the extent permitted by law:

(i) accept for payment all Notes issued by it or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered; and

(iii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuers.

(k) The Issuers will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuers and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(l) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, 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.

 

94


(m) Other than as specifically provided in this Section 4.14, any purchase pursuant to this Section 4.14 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06 hereof, and references therein to “redeem,” “redemption” and similar words shall be deemed to refer to “purchase,” “repurchase” and similar words, as applicable.

The provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06 hereof and this Section 4.14 may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

Section 4.15 Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not permit any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (and non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries if such non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries guarantee Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company, the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor), other than the Issuer, a Subsidiary Guarantor, a Foreign Subsidiary (except any Foreign Subsidiary that guarantees any Indebtedness of the Issuer under the Senior Credit Facilities or any foreign tranche of the New ABL Credit Facility) or a Securitization Subsidiary, to incur or guarantee the payment of any Indebtedness of the Company, the Issuer, or any Subsidiary Guarantor unless:

(a) such Restricted Subsidiary within 30 days executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto, providing for a Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, any such guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantee substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes; and

(b) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Guarantee;

provided that this covenant shall not be applicable to (i) any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) guarantees of any Qualified Securitization Facility by any Restricted Subsidiary. The Issuer may elect, in its sole discretion, to cause any Subsidiary that is not otherwise required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor to become a Subsidiary Guarantor, in which case such Subsidiary shall not be required to comply with the 30-day period described in Section 4.15(a) hereof.

Section 4.16 Existence of Corporate Co-Issuer.

(a) The Issuer will always maintain a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company organized as a corporation under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that will serve as a co-issuer of the notes unless the Issuer is itself a corporation under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

95


ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.

(a) Neither Issuer may, and the Company may not permit any Issuer to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Issuer is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) such Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made, is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Issuer”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation organized or existing under such laws;

(ii) the Successor Issuer, if other than such Issuer, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Issuer under the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(iii) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

(A) the Successor Issuer or, if such Issuer is the surviving Person, such Issuer, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test, or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

(v) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case Section 5.01(c)(ii) hereof shall apply, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

(vi) such Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such

 

96


supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture and such supplemental indentures, if any, are the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer or successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) and any Guarantors party thereto.

The Successor Issuer will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Issuer under this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Notes, as applicable. Notwithstanding Sections 5.01(a)(iii) and 5.01(a)(iv) hereof,

(x) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to an Issuer, and

(y) an Issuer may merge with an Affiliate of the Company (other than with the other Issuer) solely for the purpose of reincorporating such Issuer in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of such Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the covenant described in this Section 5.01(a) shall not apply in the event that any Issuer in its sole discretion converts into a limited liability company existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Issuer and undertakes any transactions related or incidental thereto at any time after the Closing Date; provided that in the case of such conversion, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation.

(b) The Company may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made, is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

(ii) the Successor Company, if other than the Company, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(iii) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,

(A) the Successor Company or, if the Company is the surviving Person, the Company, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test, or

 

97


(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or, if the Company is the surviving Person, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, would be less than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

(v) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture and such supplemental indentures, if any, are the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company or successor Company (if other than the Company) and any Guarantor party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms.

The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Notes, as applicable. Notwithstanding Sections 5.01(b)(iii) and 5.01(b)(iv),

(x) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, and

(y) the Company may merge with an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

(c) Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, no Guarantor will, and the Company will not permit any Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company, an Issuer or such Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person being herein called the “Successor Guarantor”);

(ii) the Successor Guarantor expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(iii) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; and

(iv) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture and that such supplemental indentures, if any, are legal, valid and binding obligations of the successor Guarantor, if other than the Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms; or

 

98


(v) the transaction is made in compliance with the Section 4.10 hereof as applicable on the date of the transaction.

(d) Subject to Section 10.06 hereof, the Successor Guarantor will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor (other than the Company) may (i) merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or any of the Issuers, (ii) merge with an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose of reincorporating such Guarantor in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof or (iii) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor.

Section 5.02 Successor Person Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Issuers or a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company, the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the Company, the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Company, the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable), and may exercise every right and power of the Company, the Issuers or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company, the Issuers or a Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, herein; provided that the predecessor Company, predecessor Issuers and predecessor Subsidiary Guarantors shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all of the Company’s, the Issuers’ or a Subsidiary Guarantor’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

An “Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes;

(b) default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes;

 

99


(c) failure by the Issuers or any Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clause (a) or (b) above) contained in this Indenture or the Notes;

(d) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

(i) such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; and

(ii) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $50.0 million or more at any one time outstanding;

(e) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million (net of amounts covered by insurance policies issued by reputable insurance companies), which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(f) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) (in each case determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Issuer for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof), pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(ii) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under applicable Bankruptcy Law;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, Trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

 

100


(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

(g) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(i) is for relief against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary)(in each case determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof), in a proceeding in which the Company or any such Subsidiary or such group of Restricted Subsidiaries is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

(ii) appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary)(in each case determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any such Subsidiary or such group of Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) (in each case determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof);

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or

(h) the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (determined as of the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company for a fiscal quarter end provided as required under Section 4.03 hereof) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any responsible officer of any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary (or the responsible officers of any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that together (as of the most recent consolidated financial statement of the Company for a fiscal quarter end) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), as the case may be, denies in writing that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives written notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture.

 

101


Section 6.02 Acceleration. If any Event of Default (other than of a type specified in Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) hereof) occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25.0% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately.

Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal of and premium, if any, and interest will be due and payable immediately.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) hereof, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. The Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default, except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. In addition, the Trustee will have no obligation to accelerate the Notes.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all the Holders rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(d) hereof, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose:

(a) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged; or

(b) holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or

(c) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

102


Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all the Holders waive any existing Default and its consequences under this Indenture (except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.05 Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of a Note or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder of a Note may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(a) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(b) Holders of at least 25.0% in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have made a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(c) the Holders of the Notes have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

(d) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(e) Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period;

provided that a Holder may not prejudice the rights of another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such use by a Holder prejudices the rights of any other Holders or obtains preference or priority over such Holders).

 

103


Section 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuers, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of a Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

104


Section 6.12 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.13 Priorities. If the Trustee or any Agent collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

(a) to the Trustee, such Agent, their agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee or such Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

(b) to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

(c) to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct, including a Guarantor, if applicable. The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.13.

 

105


Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10.0% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not investigate or confirm the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of this Section 7.01(b) hereof;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.02, 6.04 or 6.05 hereof.

 

106


(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.01(a), 7.01(b) and 7.01(c) hereof.

(e) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holder of the Notes unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuers. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. No Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Section 12.04 hereof shall be required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the authentication of the Notes on the Issue Date. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuers shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of each of the Issuers.

(f) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, 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 indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

 

107


(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(h) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for punitive, special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(j) [Reserved].

(k) Delivery of reports, information and documents (including without limitation reports contemplated under Section 4.03 hereof) to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers’ compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

(l) The permissive rights of the Trustee to take certain actions under this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty unless so specified herein.

(m) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

108


Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any of its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers’ direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.02(g) hereof, the Trustee shall deliver to Holders a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.

Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders. Within 60 days after each May 15, beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) (but if no event described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c).

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders shall be mailed to the Issuers and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d). The Issuers shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange or delisted therefrom.

 

109


Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuers shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all out-of-pocket disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Company, the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify, defend, and protect the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, agents and any predecessor trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents for, and hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability, cost or expense (including attorneys’ fees) suffered or incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company, the Issuers or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Company, the Issuers or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). The Trustee shall notify the Issuers promptly of any claim of which a Responsible Officer has received written notice for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuers shall not relieve the Issuers of their obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuers shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuers need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith.

The obligations of the Issuers under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

To secure the payment obligations of the Company, the Issuers and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

 

110


Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee. A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee upon 30 days written notice to the Trustee and the Issuers. The Issuers may remove the Trustee if:

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof or Trust Indenture Act Section 310;

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(c) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuers.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Issuers’ expense), the Issuers or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, at the expense of the Issuers, may petition 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 Holder for at least six months, 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.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuers. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided that all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuers’ obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

111


Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has, together with its parent, a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Sections 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b).

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuers. The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes and all obligations of the Guarantors with respect to the Guarantees upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and Guarantees and all then existing Events of Default cured on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Guarantees), which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (including that of the Guarantors) (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(a) the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

 

112


(b) the Issuers’ obligations with respect to Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuers’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(d) this Article 8.

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuers may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14 and 4.15 hereof and Sections 5.01(a)(iv), 5.01(a)(v), 5.01(c) and 5.01(d) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes may not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and the Guarantees, the Issuers and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and the Guarantees shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers’ exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(c) (solely with respect to the covenants that are released upon a Covenant Defeasance), 6.01(d), 6.01(e), 6.01(f) (solely with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries subject thereto), 6.01(g) (solely with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries subject thereto) and 6.01(h) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes:

(a) the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. dollar-denominated Government Securities, 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 firm of independent

 

113


public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes on the stated maturity date or on the Redemption Date, as the case may be, of such principal, premium, if any, or interest on such Notes, and the Issuers must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of redemption (any such amount, the “Applicable Premium Deficit”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption (it being understood that any defeasance shall be subject to the condition subsequent that such deficit is in fact paid). Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

(b) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

(i) the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

(ii) since the issuance of the Notes, 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, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders and beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such 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;

(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders and beneficial owners of the Notes 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 such tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(d) no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which, the Issuers or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuers or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from any

 

114


borrowing of funds to be applied to make the deposit required to effect such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(f) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of Title 11 of the United States Code;

(g) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuers or any Guarantor or others; and

(h) the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the request of the Issuers any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

115


Section 8.06 Repayment to Issuers. Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on its request or (if then held by the Issuers) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 8.07 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided that, if the Issuers make any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders. Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and any Guarantee or Notes without the consent of any Holder:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes (provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended);

(c) to comply with Section 5.01 hereof;

(d) to provide the assumption of the Issuers’ or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders;

(e) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not materially adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;

(f) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuers or any Guarantor;

(g) [Reserved];

 

116


(h) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof;

(i) [Reserved];

(j) to add a Guarantor under this Indenture;

(k) to conform the text of this Indenture, Guarantees or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Offering Circular to the extent that such provision in such “Description of Notes” section was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, Guarantee or Notes; or

(l) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided that (a) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (b) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes.

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by a resolution of its board of directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02(b) hereof and an Opinion of Counsel that any such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall have the right, but not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders. Except as provided in Section 9.01 hereof and this Section 9.02, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, any Guarantee and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, Notes, and any existing Default (except a continuing Default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or the principal on maturity of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes issued thereunder may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuer or its Affiliates (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes). Sections 2.08 and 2.09 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.

Upon the request of the Issuers accompanied by a resolution of its board of directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Issuers and the Guarantors in the execution of such

 

117


amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuers shall mail to the Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuers to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

Without the consent of each affected Holder of Notes, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not, with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:

(a) reduce the principal amount of such Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes (other than provisions relating to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof to the extent that any such amendment or waiver does not have the effect of reducing the principal of or changing the final maturity of any such Note or altering or waiving the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes);

(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

(d) waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders;

(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;

(g) make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions;

(h) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

 

118


(i) make any change to or modify the ranking of the Notes that would materially adversely affect the Holders; or

(j) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify the Guarantees of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes.

Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies in all material respects with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

The Issuers 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 preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or 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 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the requisite number of Holders has been obtained.

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

119


Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Issuers may not sign an amendment, supplement or waiver until the board of directors of each of the Issuers approves it. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee shall be provided with, upon request, and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.04 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuers and any Guarantors party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03 hereof).

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

Section 10.01 Guarantee. Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally, guarantees on an unsecured senior basis, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuers hereunder or thereunder: (a) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuers, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuers, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuers, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by full payment of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

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 Section 10.01.

 

120


If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuers, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any nonpaying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantees.

Each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuers for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuers become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuers’ assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

In case any provision of any Guarantee 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.

The Guarantee issued by any Guarantor will be a general, unsecured senior obligation of each Guarantor and will be pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future unsubordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor, if any.

Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

 

121


Section 10.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability. Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. Any Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee will be entitled upon payment in full of all guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

Section 10.03 Execution and Delivery. To evidence its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by its President or Treasurer, one of its Vice Presidents or one of its Assistant Vice Presidents.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

If required by Section 4.15 hereof, the Issuers shall cause any Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.15 hereof and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.

 

122


Section 10.04 Subrogation. Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01 hereof; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuers under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

Section 10.05 Benefits Acknowledged. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

Section 10.06 Release of Guarantees. Each Guarantee by a Guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by such Guarantor, the Issuers or the Trustee is required for the release of such Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon:

(a) (i) any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise) of (A) the Capital Stock of such Guarantor, after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) all or substantially all the assets of such Guarantor, in each case if such sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture to the extent required to be satisfied as of the date of the transaction;

(ii) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guarantor of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, or such other guarantee that resulted in the creation of such Guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement is still a release, and that if any such Guarantee is so reinstated, such Guarantee shall also be reinstated to the extent that such Guarantor would then be required to provide a Guarantee pursuant to Section 4.15 hereof);

(iii) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture; or

(iv) the exercise by the Issuers of their Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option in accordance with Article 8 hereof or the discharge of the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and

(b) such Guarantor delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with and such Guarantee is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

123


ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes, when either:

(a) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) (i) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers and the Issuers or any Guarantor have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. dollar-denominated Government Securities, 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 firm of independent public accountants, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption (it being understood that any defeasance shall be subject to the condition subsequent that such deficit is in fact paid). Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption,

(ii) no Default or Event of Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to this Indenture or the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities, Notes or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuers or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuers or any Guarantor is bound (other than resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

(iii) the Issuers have paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

(iv) the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be.

 

124


In addition, the Issuers must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01(b)(i) hereof, the provisions of Sections 11.02 and 8.06 hereof shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 11.02 Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers or a Guarantor acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Issuers shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01 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 any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that if the Issuers have made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Trust Indenture Act Section 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.

Section 12.02 Notices. Any notice or communication by the Company, the Issuers, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), fax or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company, the Issuers and/or any Guarantor:

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 300

 

125


Houston, Texas 77032

Facsimile: (281)  ###-###-####

Attention: General Counsel

with a copy to:

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, NY 10006

Facsimile: (212)  ###-###-####

Attention: Duane McLaughlin

If to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

750 N. Saint Paul Place, Suite 1750

Dallas, Texas 75201

Facsimile: 214 ###-###-####

Attention: Corporate, Municipal & Escrow Services

The Company, the Issuers, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; when receipt acknowledged, if faxed or sent electronically; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof and, subject to compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, on the final date on which publication is made, if given by publication.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be electronically delivered, mailed by first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the Note Register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c), to the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act. Failure to deliver a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed or otherwise delivered in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Issuers mail a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or purchase) to

 

126


a Holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to DTC (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from DTC or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

Section 12.03 Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuers, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).

Section 12.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Issuers or any of the Guarantors to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuers or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) An Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(b) An Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

Section 12.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof or Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(e) and shall include:

(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact); and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

 

127


Section 12.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 12.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any of their direct or indirect parent companies (other than the Issuer and the Guarantors) shall have any liability, for any obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

Section 12.08 Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND ANY GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 12.09 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE ISSUERS, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 12.10 Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 12.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 12.12 Successors. All agreements of the Issuers in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06 hereof.

Section 12.13 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

128


Section 12.14 Counterpart Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. This Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute one instrument.

Section 12.15 Table of Contents, Headings, etc. The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 12.16 U.S.A. PATRIOT Act. The parties acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.

[Signatures on following page]

 

129


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Indenture as of the Closing Date.

 

KRATON POLYMERS LLC

KRATON POLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION

KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC.

ELASTOMERS HOLDINGS LLC

KRATON POLYMERS U.S. LLC

By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

  Name: Stephen E. Tremblay
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Indenture]


ARIZONA CHEMICAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
AZ CHEM US INC.
AZ CHEM INTERMEDIATE INC.
AZ CHEM US HOLDINGS INC.
ARIZONA CHEMICAL COMPANY, LLC

By:

 

/s/ Stephen E. Tremblay

Name:

  Stephen E. Tremblay

Title:

  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Indenture]


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

By:

 

/s/ Patrick Giordano

Name:

  Patrick Giordano

Title:

  Vice President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[Face of Note]

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-1-1


CUSIP                     

ISIN                     

[RULE 144A][REGULATION S] [GLOBAL] NOTE

representing up to

$[            ]

10.500% Senior Note due 2023

 

No.     

[$            ]

Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, promise to pay to              or registered assigns, the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto] [of                      United States Dollars] on April 15, 2023.

Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15, commencing on                     ,             

Record Dates: April 1 and October 1

 

A-1-2


IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

KRATON POLYMERS LLC

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:
KRATON POLYMERS CAPITAL CORPORATION

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-1-3


This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, As Trustee

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-1-4


[Back of Note]

10.500% Senior Note due 2023

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. Interest. Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum of 10.500% from                     ,              until maturity. The Issuers will pay interest on this Note semi-annually in arrears on April 15, and October 15, of each year beginning                     ,              or, if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). The Issuers will make each interest payment to the Holder of record of this Note on the immediately preceding April 1 and October 1 (each, a “Record Date”). Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including                     ,             . The Issuers will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the rate borne by this Note to the extent lawful; the Issuers shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the rate borne by this Note to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

2. Method of Payment. The Issuers will pay interest on this Note to the Person who is the registered Holder of this Note at the close of business on the Record Date (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if this Note is cancelled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the Note Register of Holders, provided that (a) all cash payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on, Notes represented by Global Notes registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof and (b) all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to certificated Notes will be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the continental United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion) and such payee owns $1 million or more of the Notes. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuers initially appoint Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, to act as the Registrar and the Paying Agent for the Notes. The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holders. The Issuer or any of its domestic Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

A-1-5


4. Indenture. The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of January 6, 2016 (the “Indenture”), among Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, the Guarantors listed therein and the Trustee. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuers designated as their 10.500% Senior Notes due 2023. The Issuers shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 4.09 of the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

5. Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as described below under clauses 5(b), 5(c) and 5(d) hereof, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers’ option prior to October 15, 2018.

(b) At any time prior to October 15, 2018, the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon notice in accordance with Sections 3.02 and 3.03 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of such Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption (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.

(c) From or after October 15, 2018, the Issuer may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, upon notice in accordance with Sections 3.02 and 3.03 of the Indenture, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, 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, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on October 15, of each of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2018

     107.875

2019

     105.250

2020

     102.625

2021 and thereafter

     100.000

(d) Before October 15, 2018, the Issuers may, at their option, on one or more occasions, redeem up to 40.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 110.500% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, with the net cash proceeds received by it from one or more Equity Offerings; provided that (i) at least 60.0% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture on the Issue Date and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and (ii) each such redemption occurs within 120 days of the date of closing of

 

A-1-6


each such Equity Offering. Any notice of any redemption may be given prior to the redemption thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuers’ option and discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, without limitation, the consummation of an incurrence or issuance of debt or equity or a Change of Control or other corporate transaction. The Issuers may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

(e) Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Indenture.

6. Mandatory Redemption. The Issuers will not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

7. Notice of Redemption. Subject to Section 3.03 of the Indenture, notice of redemption shall be delivered by the Issuers electronically or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, with a copy to the Trustee, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11 of the Indenture. Except as set forth in Section 3.07(c) of the Indenture, notices of redemption may not be conditional. No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed or purchased in part, except that if all the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed. Subject to Section 3.05 of the Indenture, on and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on this Note or portions thereof called for redemption.

8. Offers to Repurchase. If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently delivered a redemption notice with respect to all of the outstanding Notes as described under Section 3.07 of the Indenture, the Issuers will make a Change of Control Offer in accordance with Section 4.14 of the Indenture. In connection with certain Asset Sales, the Issuer shall make an Asset Sale Offer as and when provided in accordance with Sections 3.09 and 4.10 of the Indenture.

9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. Neither the Registrar nor the Issuers shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. The Issuers shall not be required to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 of the Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection.

10. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of the Note for all purposes.

 

A-1-7


11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

12. Defaults and Remedies. The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. If any Event of Default (other than of a type specified in Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) of the Indenture) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25.0% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under Section 6.01(f) or 6.01(g) of the Indenture, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default, except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all the Holders (i) waive any existing Default or and its consequences under the Indenture (except a continuing Default in payment of interest on, principal of, premium, if any, or the principal of any Note held by a non-consenting Holder) (including in connection with an Asset Sale Offer or a Change of Control Offer) and (ii) rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences (except if such rescission would conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). The Issuers are required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture in accordance with Section 4.04(a) of the Indenture, and the Issuers are required within five Business Days after becoming aware of any Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default and what action the Issuers propose to take with respect thereto in accordance with Section 4.04(b) of the Indenture.

13. Authentication. At least one Officer of the Issuers shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Issuers by manual, facsimile or electronic (including “.pdf”) signature. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual, facsimile or electronic (including “.pdf”) signature of the Trustee.

14. [Reserved].

15. Governing Law. THE INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND ANY GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

16. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

A-1-8


The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Issuers at the following address:

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77032

Facsimile: (281)  ###-###-####

Attention: General Counsel

 

A-1-9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:     

 

     (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint                                          to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:                    

   
  Your Signature:  

 

    (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                          

   

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-1-10


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

[    ] Section 4.10             [    ] Section 4.14

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$                    

 

Date:                    

   
  Your Signature:  

 

    (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
  Tax Identification No.:  

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                      

   

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-1-11


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $            . The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of

Exchange

 

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 or

Custodian

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-1-12


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77032

Facsimile: (281)  ###-###-####

Attention: General Counsel

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

750 N. Saint Paul Place, Suite 1750

Dallas, Texas 75201

Facsimile: 214 ###-###-####

Attention: Corporate, Municipal & Escrow Services

Re:          10.500% Senior Notes due 2023

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of January 6, 2016 (the “Indenture”), among Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                     (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $             in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby

 

B-1


further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903 (b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S and (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. [    ] CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a) [    ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

(b) [    ] such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof; or

(c) [    ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

4. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

(a) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(b) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any

 

B-2


applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                     

 

B-3


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

  1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a) [    ] a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) [    ] 144A Global Note ([CUSIP:             ]), or

 

  (ii) [    ] Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP:             ]), or

 

  (b) [    ] a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

  2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

  (a) [    ] a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) [    ] 144A Global Note ([CUSIP:     ]), or

 

  (ii) [    ] Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP:             ])or

 

  (iii) [    ] Unrestricted Global Note ([            ] [            ]); or

 

  (b) [    ] a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c) [    ] an Unrestricted Definitive Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-4


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.

15710 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77032

Facsimile: (281)  ###-###-####

Attention: General Counsel

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

750 N. Saint Paul Place, Suite 1750

Dallas, Texas 75201

Facsimile: 214 ###-###-####

Attention: Corporate, Municipal & Escrow Services

Re: 10.500% Senior Notes due 2023

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of January 6, 2016 (the “Indenture”), among Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, the Guarantors named therein and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                    (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $             in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1) EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE

a) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

C-1


b) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

c) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

d) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2) EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

a) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

C-2


b) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] [ ] 144A Global Note [ ] Regulation S Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer and are dated                     .

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                     

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of                     , among                      (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of Kraton Polymers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (together, the “Issuers”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, Kraton Polymers LLC, Kraton Polymers Capital Corporation and the Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to below) has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of January 6, 2016, providing for the issuance of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of 10.500% Senior Notes due 2023;

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture (the “Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

(1) Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

(2) Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees as follows:

(a) Along with all other Guarantors named in the Indenture (including pursuant to any supplemental indentures), to jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally, guarantee on an unsecured senior basis, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuers hereunder or thereunder:

(i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

 

D-1


(ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. This is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

(b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuers or any other Guarantor, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.

(c) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby waives: diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuers, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuers, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever.

(d) This Guarantee shall not be discharged except by full payment of the obligations contained in the Notes, the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary accepts all obligations applicable to a Guarantor under the Indenture, including Article 10 of the Indenture (which is deemed incorporated in this Supplemental Indenture and applicable to this Guarantee). The Guaranteeing Subsidiary acknowledges that by executing this Supplemental Indenture, it will become a Guarantor under the Indenture and subject to all the terms and conditions applicable to Guarantors contained therein.

(e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuers, the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary), or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuers or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

(f) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby.

(g) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary further agrees that, between the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 of the Indenture for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed

 

D-2


hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary for the purpose of this Guarantee.

(h) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under this Guarantee.

(i) Pursuant to Section 10.02 of the Indenture, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities that are relevant under any applicable Bankruptcy or fraudulent conveyance laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under Article 10 of the Indenture, this new Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount permissible such that the obligations of such Guarantor under this Guarantee will not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

(j) This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuers for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuers become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuers’ assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes and Guarantee, whether as a “voidable preference”, “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Note shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

(k) In case any provision of this Guarantee 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.

(l) This Guarantee shall be a general, unsecured senior obligation of such Guaranteeing Subsidiary, and will be pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, if any.

(m) Each payment to be made by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary in respect of this Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

(3) Execution and Delivery. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Notes.

 

D-3


(4) Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01(c) of the Indenture, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary may not consolidate, merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Guaranteeing Subsidiary is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) (A) such Guaranteeing Subsidiary is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guaranteeing Subsidiary) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such surviving Guaranteeing Subsidiary or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Person”);

(B) the Successor Person expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Indenture and such Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s related Guarantee pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments;

(C) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; and

(D) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with this Indenture and the supplemental indenture, if any, is the valid, legal and binding obligation of the Issuer; or

(ii) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.10 of the Indenture.

(b) Subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Indenture and such Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such Guaranteeing Subsidiary may merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guaranteeing Subsidiary or any of the Issuers.

(5) Releases. The Guarantee of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, the Issuers or the Trustee is required for the release of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee, upon:

(a) (i) any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise) of (i) the Capital Stock of such Guaranteeing Subsidiary, after which the applicable Guaranteeing Subsidiary is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) all or substantially all the assets of such Guaranteeing Subsidiary, in each case if such sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

D-4


(ii) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guaranteeing Subsidiary of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, or such other guarantee that resulted in the creation of such Guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement is still a release, and that if any such Guarantee is so reinstated, such Guarantee shall also be reinstated to the extent that such Guaranteeing Subsidiary would then be required to provide a Guarantee pursuant to Section 4.15 in the Indenture);

(iii) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guaranteeing Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture; or

(iv) the exercise by the Issuers of their Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option in accordance with Article 8 of the Indenture or the discharge of the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; and

(b) such Guaranteeing Subsidiary delivering to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

(6) No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary or any of their direct or indirect parent companies (other than the Issuers and the Guarantors) shall have any liability, for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors (including the Guaranteeing Subsidiary) under the Notes, any Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

(7) Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(8) Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. This Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute one instrument.

(9) Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(10) The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary.

(11) Subrogation. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Issuers in respect of any amounts paid by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary

 

D-5


pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 hereof and Section 10.01 of the Indenture; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuers under the Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

(12) Benefits Acknowledged. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary’s Guarantee is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to this Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

(13) Successors. All agreements of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in this Supplemental Indenture. All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.

 

[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

D-6