Indenture dated as of November 24, 2006
EX-4.1 2 k10355exv4w1.htm INDENTURE DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 24, 2006 exv4w1
Exhibit 4.1
EXECUTED VERSION
INDENTURE
among
LEAR CORPORATION,
as Issuer,
THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME,
as Guarantors,
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee
$300,000,000 8 1/2% Senior Notes due 2013
$600,000,000 8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2016
Dated as of November 24, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | |||
SECTION 1.01. Definitions | 1 | |||
SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 12 | |||
SECTION 1.03. Rules of Construction | 12 | |||
ARTICLE II THE NOTES | 13 | |||
SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating | 13 | |||
SECTION 2.02. Restrictive Legends | 14 | |||
SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication | 16 | |||
SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent | 16 | |||
SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust | 17 | |||
SECTION 2.06. Holder Lists | 17 | |||
SECTION 2.07. General Provisions Relating to Transfer and Exchange | 17 | |||
SECTION 2.08. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes | 19 | |||
SECTION 2.09. Special Transfer Provisions | 20 | |||
SECTION 2.10. Replacement Notes | 23 | |||
SECTION 2.11. Outstanding Notes | 24 | |||
SECTION 2.12. Treasury Notes | 24 | |||
SECTION 2.13. Temporary Notes | 24 | |||
SECTION 2.14. Cancellation | 24 | |||
SECTION 2.15. CUSIP Numbers | 25 | |||
SECTION 2.16. Defaulted Interest | 25 | |||
SECTION 2.17. Special Record Dates | 25 | |||
SECTION 2.18. Issuance of Additional Notes | 25 | |||
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION | 26 | |||
SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee | 26 | |||
SECTION 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed | 26 | |||
SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption | 26 | |||
SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption | 27 | |||
SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price | 27 | |||
SECTION 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part | 27 | |||
SECTION 3.07. Optional Redemption | 27 | |||
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS | 29 | |||
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes | 29 | |||
SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency | 30 | |||
SECTION 4.03. Reports | 30 | |||
SECTION 4.04. Compliance Certificate | 31 | |||
SECTION 4.05. Taxes | 31 | |||
SECTION 4.06. Corporate Existence | 31 | |||
SECTION 4.07. Limitation on Liens | 32 | |||
SECTION 4.08. Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions | 32 | |||
SECTION 4.09. Change of Control | 33 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
(continued)
Page | ||||
ARTICLE V MERGER, ETC | 34 | |||
SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, etc | 34 | |||
SECTION 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted | 34 | |||
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 35 | |||
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default | 35 | |||
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration | 36 | |||
SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies | 36 | |||
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults | 37 | |||
SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority | 37 | |||
SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits | 37 | |||
SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders To Receive Payment | 38 | |||
SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee | 38 | |||
SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 38 | |||
SECTION 6.10. Priorities | 38 | |||
SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs | 39 | |||
SECTION 6.12. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 39 | |||
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE | 39 | |||
SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee | 39 | |||
SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee | 41 | |||
SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee | 42 | |||
SECTION 7.04. Money Held in Trust | 42 | |||
SECTION 7.05. Trustees Disclaimer | 42 | |||
SECTION 7.06. Notice of Defaults | 42 | |||
SECTION 7.07. Reports by Trustee to Holders | 43 | |||
SECTION 7.08. Compensation and Indemnity | 43 | |||
SECTION 7.09. Replacement of Trustee | 44 | |||
SECTION 7.10. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc | 45 | |||
SECTION 7.11. Eligibility; Disqualification | 45 | |||
SECTION 7.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company | 45 | |||
ARTICLE VIII DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE | 45 | |||
SECTION 8.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 45 | |||
SECTION 8.02. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification | 46 | |||
SECTION 8.03. Legal Defeasance | 46 | |||
SECTION 8.04. Covenant Defeasance | 48 | |||
SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company | 49 | |||
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS | 49 | |||
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders | 49 | |||
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders | 50 | |||
SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | 52 |
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
(continued)
Page | ||||
SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents | 52 | |||
SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes | 52 | |||
SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendment, etc | 52 | |||
ARTICLE X GUARANTEES | 53 | |||
SECTION 10.01. Guarantees | 53 | |||
SECTION 10.02. Obligations of Guarantors Unconditional | 55 | |||
SECTION 10.03. Limitation on Guarantors Liability | 55 | |||
SECTION 10.04. Releases of Guarantees | 55 | |||
SECTION 10.05. Application of Certain Terms and Provisions to Guarantors | 56 | |||
SECTION 10.06. Additional Guarantors | 56 | |||
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS | 57 | |||
SECTION 11.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls | 57 | |||
SECTION 11.02. Notices | 57 | |||
SECTION 11.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders | 58 | |||
SECTION 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 58 | |||
SECTION 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 58 | |||
SECTION 11.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents | 59 | |||
SECTION 11.07. Legal Holidays | 59 | |||
SECTION 11.08. Duplicate Originals | 59 | |||
SECTION 11.09. Governing Law | 59 | |||
SECTION 11.10. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 59 | |||
SECTION 11.11. Successors | 59 | |||
SECTION 11.12. Severability | 59 | |||
SECTION 11.13. Counterpart Originals | 59 | |||
SECTION 11.14. Submission to Jurisdiction | 60 | |||
SECTION 11.15. Waiver of Jury Trial | 60 | |||
SECTION 11.16. Force Majeure | 60 |
iii
EXHIBIT A-1: Form of Note | A-1 | |||
EXHIBIT A-2: Form of Note | A-2 | |||
EXHIBIT B: | Form of Certificate to be Delivered By Transferee in Connection with Transfers to Institutional Accredited Investors Which are Not Qualified Institutional Buyers | B-1 | ||
EXHIBIT C: | Form of Certificate to be Delivered By Transferor in Connection with Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S | C-1 | ||
EXHIBIT D: | Form of Notation of Guarantee | D-1 |
iv
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Trust Indenture | Indenture | |||
Act Section | Section | |||
310(a)(1) | 7.11 | |||
(a)(2) | 7.11 | |||
(a)(3) | n/a | |||
(a)(4) | n/a | |||
(a)(5) | 7.11 | |||
(b) | 7.03; 7.11 | |||
(c) | n/a | |||
311(a) | 7.12 | |||
(b) | 7.12 | |||
(c) | n/a | |||
312(a) | 2.06 | |||
(b) | 11.03 | |||
(c) | 11.03 | |||
313(a) | 7.07 | |||
(b)(1) | n/a | |||
(b)(2) | 7.07; 7.08 | |||
(c) | 7.07;11.02 | |||
(d) | 7.07 | |||
314(a)(1), (2), (3) | 4.03;11.05 | |||
(a)(4) | 4.04 | |||
(b) | n/a | |||
(c)(1) | 11.04 | |||
(c)(2) | 11.04 | |||
(c)(3) | n/a | |||
(d) | n/a | |||
(e) | 11.05 | |||
(f) | n/a | |||
315(a) | 7.01 | (b) | ||
(b) | 7.06;11.02 | |||
(c) | 7.01 | (a) | ||
(d) | 7.01 | (c) | ||
(e) | 6.11 | |||
316(a)(last sentence) | 2.12 | |||
(a)(1)(A) | 6.05 | |||
(a)(1)(B) | 6.04 | |||
(a)(2) | n/a | |||
(b) | 6.07 | |||
(c) | 9.04 | |||
317(a)(1) | 6.08 | |||
(a)(2) | 6.09 | |||
(b) | 2.04 |
v
Trust Indenture | Indenture | |||
Act Section | Section | |||
318(a) | 11.01 | |||
(b) | n/a | |||
(c) | 11.01 |
n/a means not applicable. | |
*This CrossReference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture. |
vi
Indenture, dated as of November 24, 2006, among Lear Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), as issuer, the companies listed on the signature pages hereto that are subsidiaries of the Company (the Guarantors), and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (the Trustee).
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of its 8 1/2% Senior Notes due 2013 (the 2013 Notes) and its 8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2016 (the 2016 Notes and, together with the 2013 Notes, the Initial Notes), and, if and when issued in exchange for Initial Notes as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined herein), its 8 1/2% Series B Senior Notes due 2013 (the 2013 Exchange Notes) and its 8 3/4% 2016 Series B Senior Notes, as applicable (the 2016 Exchange Notes and, together with the 2013 Exchange Notes, the Exchange Notes and, together with the Initial Notes, the Notes).
The Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide guarantees of the Notes and of certain of the obligations of the Company hereunder.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and the Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
Upon the issuance of the Exchange Notes, if any, or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement (as defined herein), this Indenture shall be subject to, and shall be governed by, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required or deemed to be part of and to govern indentures qualified thereunder.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Initial Notes, and if and when issued, the Exchange Notes, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
144A Global Note means a Global Note in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Transfer Restricted Securities Legend and deposited with and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the 2013 Notes or 2016 Notes, as applicable, sold for initial resale in reliance on Rule 144A.
2008 Notes means the 8.125% Euro-denominated Senior Notes due 2008 issued pursuant to the 2008 Note Indenture.
2008 Note Indenture means the Indenture, dated as March 20, 2001, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as amended by Supplemental Indenture No. 1 to the 2008 Note Indenture, dated as of November 16, 2001, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, Supplemental Indenture No. 2 to the 2008 Note Indenture, dated as of January 15, 2002, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, Supplemental Indenture No. 3 to the 2008 Note Indenture, dated as of December 15, 2005, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, Supplemental Indenture No. 4 to the 2008 Note Indenture, dated as of April 15, 2006, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, and as may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
2009 Notes means the 8.11% Senior Notes due 2009 issued pursuant to the 2009 Note Indenture.
2009 Note Indenture means the Indenture, dated as of May 15, 1999, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as amended by Supplemental Indenture No. 1 to the 2009 Note Indenture, dated as of May 2, 2000, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, Supplemental Indenture No. 2 to the 2009 Note Indenture, dated as of November 16, 2001, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, Supplemental Indenture No. 3 to the 2009 Note Indenture, dated as of January 15, 2002, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, Supplemental Indenture No. 4 to the 2009 Note Indenture, dated as of December 15, 2005, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, Supplemental Indenture No. 5 to the 2009 Note Indenture, dated as of April 15, 2006, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, and as may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
2014 Notes means the 5.75% Senior Notes due 2014 issued pursuant to the 2014 Note Indenture.
2014 Note Indenture means the Indenture, dated as of August 2, 2004, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as amended by Supplemental Indenture No. 1 to the 2014 Note Indenture, dated as of December 15, 2005, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, Supplemental Indenture No. 2 to the 2014 Note Indenture, dated as of April 15, 2006, by and among Lear, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee and as may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
Acquired Indebtedness means Indebtedness of a Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person and not incurred by such
2
Person in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or such acquisition, and any refinancings thereof.
Additional Interest means additional interest as defined in Section 2(d) of the Registration Rights Agreement.
Additional Notes has the meaning specified in Section 2.18.
Applicable Procedures means, with respect to any transfer, redemption 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, redemption or exchange.
Affiliate means, when used with reference to the Company or another Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, the Company or such other Person, as the case may be. For the purposes of this definition, control when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative of the foregoing.
Agent means any Registrar, Paying Agent, authenticating agent or co-Registrar.
Attributable Value means, in connection with a sale and lease-back transaction, the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the assets subject to such transaction and (ii) the present value (discounted at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest implicit in the lease involved in such sale and lease-back transaction, as determined in good faith by the Company) of the obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the term of the related lease.
Bankruptcy Law means Title 11 of the U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
Board of Directors means, with respect to any Person, the Board of Directors of such Person or any duly authorized committee of such Board of Directors.
Board Resolution means a copy of a resolution certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
Business Day means a day that is not a Legal Holiday.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) any person or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provisions to either of the foregoing), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of securities within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act, other than one or more Permitted Holders, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, except that a person
3
will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company (for purposes of this clause, such person or group shall be deemed to beneficially own any voting stock of a corporation held by any other corporation (the parent corporation) so long as such person or group beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate at least a majority of the total voting power of the voting stock of such parent corporation); or
(b) the sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition, directly or indirectly, of all or substantially all the property of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, considered as a whole (other than a disposition of such property as an entirety or virtually as an entirety to a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary or one or more Permitted Holders), shall have occurred, or the Company merges, consolidates or amalgamates with or into any other Person (other than one or more Permitted Holders) or any other Person (other than one or more Permitted Holders) merges, consolidates or amalgamates with or into the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding voting stock of the Company is reclassified into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where:
(1) the outstanding voting stock of the Company is reclassified into or exchanged for other voting stock of the Company or for voting stock of the surviving person, and
(2) the holders of the voting stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the voting stock of the Company or the surviving person immediately after such transaction and in substantially the same proportion as before the transaction; or
(c) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors (together with any new directors whose election or appointment by such Board or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company was approved by a vote of not less than three-fourths of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors then in office; or
(d) the shareholders of the Company shall have approved any plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Change of Control Offer has the meaning specified in Section 4.09.
Change of Control Payment Date has the meaning specified in Section 4.09.
Change of Control Purchase Price has the meaning specified in Section 4.09.
Clearstream means Clearstream Banking, S.A.
4
Company means the party named as the Company in the first paragraph of this Indenture until one or more successor corporations shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter means such successors.
Comparable Treasury Issue has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
Comparable Treasury Price has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
Consolidated or consolidated means, when used with reference to any amount, such amount determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, after the elimination of intercompany items.
Consolidated Assets means at a particular date, all amounts which would be included under total assets on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.
Corporate Trust Office means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate services business shall be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Indenture is located at 2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1020, Chicago, IL 60602.
Custodian means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
Default means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
Depositary means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.
DTC Participants has the meaning specified in Section 2.08.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor statute.
Euroclear means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V.
Event of Default has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute.
Exchange Notes has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and refers to any Exchange Notes containing terms substantially identical to the applicable Initial Notes (except that (i) such Exchange Notes shall not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions and shall be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) certain provisions relating to an increase in the stated rate of interest thereon shall be eliminated) that are issued and exchanged for the applicable Initial Notes in accordance with the Exchange Offer or following a sale pursuant to
5
the Shelf Registration Statement to anyone other than an Affiliate of the Company, as provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Exchange Offer means, subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the offer by the Company to the Holders of the opportunity to exchange their Initial Notes for Exchange Notes pursuant to a registration statement declared effective by the SEC.
Existing Senior Notes means the 2008 Notes, the 2009 Notes and the 2014 Notes.
Financing Lease means (i) any lease of property, real or personal, the obligations under which are capitalized on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) any other such lease to the extent that the then present value of the minimum rental commitment thereunder should, in accordance with GAAP, be capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are applicable from time to time.
Global Notes means the global Notes in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 as applicable issued in accordance with Article II hereof.
Global Note Legend means the legend set forth in Section 2.02(b), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
Guarantee means the guarantee of the Notes by each Guarantor under Article X hereof.
Guarantor means (i) each of the Subsidiaries of the Company which have executed this Indenture as a Guarantor as of the date hereof, and (ii) each of the Companys Subsidiaries, whether formed, created or acquired before or after the date hereof, which become a guarantor of Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.
Holder means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrars books.
Indebtedness of a Person means all obligations which would be treated as liabilities upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Indenture means this Indenture, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.
Independent Investment Banker has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
Initial Notes has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.
Institutional Accredited Investor means an institution that is an accredited investor as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2) or (7) under the Securities Act.
6
Interest Payment Date means each of June 1 and December 1, beginning on June 1, 2007.
Investment by any Person means:
(i) All investments by such Person in any other Person in the form of loans, advances or capital contributions;
(ii) all guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations of any other Person by such Person;
(iii) all purchases (or other acquisitions for consideration) by such Person of Indebtedness, capital stock or other securities of any other Person;
(iv) all other items that would be classified as investments (including, without limitation, purchases outside the ordinary course of business) on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Issue Date means the date of original issuance of the Initial Notes.
Legal Holiday has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.
Lien means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or any Financing Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
Non-U.S. Persons means a person who is not a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act).
Notes means the Notes issued under this Indenture. The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for purposes of certain matters specified in this Indenture. However, the 2013 Notes and the 2016 Notes and any Additional Notes of each such series shall be treated as separate series of Notes under this Indenture and will be treated as separate classes of Notes for certain matters specified in this Indenture.
Obligations means all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
Officer of any Person means the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Senior Vice President, any Executive Vice President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or the Controller of such Person.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary or Assistant Controller of any Person.
7
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
Paying Agent has the meaning specified in Section 2.04.
Permitted Holders means Carl C. Icahn, and any affiliates of Carl C. Icahn, including funds managed by him that are acting in concert with him.
Permitted Liens means:
(i) Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(ii) statutory Liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, suppliers or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business;
(iii) pledges or deposits in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, including any Lien securing letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business in connection therewith and deposits securing liabilities to insurance carriers under insurance and self-insurance programs;
(iv) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) incurred on deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds, letters of credit for customs purposes, workers compensation, unemployment insurance, utility payments and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(v) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred which, in the aggregate, do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(vi) attachment, judgment or other similar Liens arising in connection with court or arbitration proceedings, provided that the same are discharged, or that execution or enforcement thereof is stayed pending appeal, within 60 days or, in the case of any stay of execution or enforcement pending appeal, within such lesser time during which such appeal may be taken;
(vii) Liens securing obligations (other than obligations representing Indebtedness for borrowed money) under operating, reciprocal easement or similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(viii) statutory Liens and rights of offset arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
8
(ix) Liens in connection with leases or subleases granted to others and the interest or title of a lessor or sublessor (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) under any lease;
(x) Liens securing Indebtedness in respect of interest rate agreement obligations or currency agreement obligations or commodity hedging agreements entered into to protect against fluctuations in interest rates or exchange rates or commodity prices and not for speculative reasons; and
(xi) Liens existing on the date hereof.
Person means an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity of whatever nature.
Physical Notes has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
Primary Treasury Dealer has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
Qualified Institutional Buyer has the meaning set forth in Rule 144A.
Receivable Financing Transaction means any transaction or series of transactions involving a sale for cash of accounts receivable, without recourse based upon the collectibility of the receivables sold, by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to a Special Purpose Subsidiary and a subsequent sale or pledge of such accounts receivable (or an interest therein) by such Special Purpose Subsidiary, in each case without any guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Special Purpose Subsidiary).
Redemption Date means, with respect to any Notes to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to this Indenture.
Redemption Price means the redemption price fixed in accordance with the terms of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption.
Reference Treasury Dealer has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
Register has the meaning specified in Section 2.04.
Registration Rights Agreement means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 24, 2006, among the Company, the Guarantors and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Regulation S Global Notes has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
Regulation S Global Note means a Global Note in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Transfer Restricted Securities Legend and deposited with and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in
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a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the 2013 Notes or 2016 Notes, as applicable, sold for initial resale in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.
Regulation S Permanent Global Notes has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
Regulation S Physical Notes has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
Responsible Officer shall mean, 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 persons knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
Restricted Period has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
Restricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission and any government agency succeeding to its functions.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute.
Senior Credit Facilities means the Amended and Restated Credit and Guarantee Agreement dated as of April 25, 2006 by and among the Company, Lear Canada, each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower (as defined therein), the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and the agents party thereto in their capacities as such, together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any guarantee agreements and security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including one or more credit agreements, loan agreements, indentures or similar agreements extending the maturity of, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring (including increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder or adding Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder) all or any portion of the indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.
Shelf Registration Statement means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Significant Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that would constitute a significant subsidiary within the meaning of Article 1 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act as in effect on the date of this Indenture.
Special Purpose Subsidiary means any wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company created by the Company for the sole purpose of facilitating a Receivable Financing Transaction. In the event the laws of a jurisdiction in which the Company proposes to create a
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Special Purpose Subsidiary do not provide for the creation of an entity that is bankruptcy-remote in a manner that is acceptable to the Company or requires the formation of one or more additional entities (whether or not subsidiaries of the Company) such other type of entity or entities may serve as a Special Purpose Subsidiary.
Subsidiary of any Person means:
(i) a corporation a majority of whose capital stock with voting power, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person or by such Person and a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person or by a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person; or
(ii) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person or such Person and a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person or a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Persons, at the time, directly or indirectly, owns at least a majority voting interest under ordinary circumstances.
TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Section 77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the TIA is amended after such date, TIA means, to the extent required by such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended, or any successor statute.
Transfer Restricted Securities means securities that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.02(a)(i).
Transfer Restricted Securities Legend means the legend initially set forth on the Notes in the form set forth in Section 2.02(a)(i).
Treasury Rate has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
Trustee means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and thereafter, means the successor.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary designated as such by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that at the time of any such designation by the Board of Directors, such Subsidiary does not constitute a Significant Subsidiary; and provided, further, that at the time that any Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Significant Subsidiary it shall cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
U.S. Government Obligations means (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America and which in either case, are non-callable at the option of the issuer thereof.
U.S. Physical Notes has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
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SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
indenture securities means the Notes;
indenture security holder means a Holder;
indenture to be qualified means this Indenture;
indenture trustee or institutional trustee means the Trustee; and
obligor on the Notes means the Company and any other obligor on the indenture securities.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
SECTION 1.03. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(i) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(ii) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(iii) or is not exclusive;
(iv) including means including without limitation;
(v) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
(vi) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(vii) statements relating to the payment of principal and interest shall include the payment of premium and Additional Interest (if any).
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ARTICLE II
THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating.
The Notes and the Trustees certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law or stock exchange agreements to which the Company is subject. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. The terms and provisions contained in the form of each Note annexed hereto as Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2, as applicable, shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture. To the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
Notes shall be issued initially in global form and shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2, as applicable, attached hereto (including the Transfer Restricted Securities 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-1 or Exhibit A-2, as applicable, attached hereto (but without the Transfer Restricted Securities Legend thereon and without the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 2013 Notes or 2016 Notes, as applicable, as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding 2013 Notes or 2016 Notes, as applicable, from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding 2013 Notes or 2016 Notes, as applicable, represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions and transfers of interests therein. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding 2013 Notes or 2016 Notes, as applicable, 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.
The 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes are sometimes referred to herein as the Global Notes.
Notes transferred to Institutional Accredited Investors and Notes issued in exchange for interests in the 144A Global Notes pursuant to Section 2.09(e) shall be issued in the form of permanent certificated Notes (the U.S. Physical Notes) in registered form. Notes issued in exchange for interests in the Regulation S Global Notes pursuant to Section 2.09(e) shall be in the form of permanent certificated Notes (the Regulation S Physical Notes, and together with the U.S. Physical Notes, the Physical Notes) in registered form. The Physical Notes shall be
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substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 attached hereto (including the text and schedule called for by footnote 5 thereto).
Global Notes or Physical Notes issued as Exchange Notes shall not bear the Transfer Restricted Securities Legend, and shall bear the reference to Series B called for by footnotes 3 and 4 of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 attached hereto.
The definitive Notes shall be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, all as determined by the Officers executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution of such Notes.
SECTION 2.02. Restrictive Legends.
(a) Transfer Restricted Securities Legend.
(i) Except as permitted by the clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of this Section 2.02(a), each Note certificate evidencing Global Notes and Physical Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor and substitution thereof) shall bear the following Transfer Restricted Securities Legend:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE) WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (RULE 144A), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS AN
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INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE SECURITIES OF $250,000, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANYS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.
(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a Note that does not bear the Transfer Restricted Securities Legend, and shall rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall issue, and upon receipt of an authentication order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate the Exchange Notes in exchange for the Initial Notes, as applicable, accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer, and the Registrar shall rescind any restriction on the transfer of such security. Exchange Notes shall also be issued in exchange for the Initial Notes, as applicable, following any sale of Initial Notes pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to anyone other than an Affiliate of the Company upon certification by the seller of such Initial Notes that such sale was made pursuant to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
(b) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note, whether or not an Exchange Note, shall also bear the following legend on the face thereof:
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (DTC) TO LEAR CORPORATION OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
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SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Note is authenticated, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company, authenticate for original issue Notes in aggregate principal amount specified in such order. The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company, authenticate for original issue upon completion of the Exchange Offer (and thereafter as appropriate) Exchange Notes in aggregate principal amount specified in such order. The aggregate principal amount of Notes and Exchange Notes outstanding at any time shall not exceed $300,000,000 with respect to the 2013 Notes and $600,000,000 with respect to the 2016 Notes, except in each case as provided in Section 2.10 and Section 2.18.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the Registrar) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (the Paying Agent). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes (the Register) and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents for the Notes. The term Paying Agent includes any additional paying agent and the term Registrar includes any additional registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder.
The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA and implement the terms of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address of any Agent who is not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any Affiliate of the Company may act as Paying Agent or Registrar; provided, however, that none of the Company, its Subsidiaries or the Affiliates of the foregoing shall act (i) as Paying Agent in connection with redemptions, offers to purchase, discharges and defeasance, as otherwise specified in this Indenture, and (ii) as Paying Agent or Registrar if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
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The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Company hereby initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes.
SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust.
Not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date of the principal and interest on any Notes, the Company shall deposit with one or more Paying Agents money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay such principal and interest so becoming due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all assets held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes (whether such money has been paid to it by the Company or any other obligor on the Notes, including any Guarantor) and shall notify the Trustee of any failure by the Company (or any other obligor on the Notes, including any Guarantor) in making any such payment. While any such failure continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money so paid over to the Trustee.
If the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of any of them acts as Paying Agent, it shall, prior to or on each due date of any principal of or interest on the Notes, segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders a sum of money sufficient with monies held by all other Paying Agents, to pay such principal or interest so becoming due until such sum of money shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as provided in this Indenture, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its actions or failure to act.
SECTION 2.06. 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 Holders and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the TIA. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee prior to or on each Interest Payment Date for the Notes and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders relating to such Interest Payment Date or request, as the case may be.
SECTION 2.07. General Provisions Relating to Transfer and Exchange.
The Notes are issuable only in registered form. A Holder may transfer a Note only by written application to the Registrar or another transfer agent stating the name of the proposed transferee and otherwise complying with the terms of this Indenture. No such transfer shall be effected until, and such transferee shall succeed to the rights of a Holder only upon, final acceptance and registration of the transfer by the Registrar in the Register. Prior to the registration of any transfer by a Holder as provided herein, the Company, the Trustee, and any
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agent of the Company shall treat the person in whose name the Note is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes whether or not the Note shall be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary. Furthermore, any Holder of a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by the Holder of such Global Note (or its agent) and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Note shall be required to be reflected in a book-entry. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Transfer Restricted Security, a beneficial interest in a Global Note being transferred in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than in accordance with Rule 144, Rule 144A and Regulation S may only be transferred for a Physical Note.
When Notes are presented to the Registrar or another transfer agent with a request to register the transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations (including an exchange of Notes for Exchange Notes), the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements for such transactions are met (including that such Notes are duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed by the Holder thereof or by an attorney who is authorized in writing to act on behalf of the Holder); provided that no exchanges of Notes for Exchange Notes shall occur until an exchange offer registration statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, shall have been declared effective by the SEC and that any Initial Notes that are exchanged for Exchange Notes shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Subject to Section 2.03, to permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrars request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange or redemption of the Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or other similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Section 2.13, 3.06 or 9.05 hereof).
Neither the Registrar nor any other transfer agent nor the Company shall be required to:
(i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 Business Days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection; or
(ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
Each Holder of a Note agrees to indemnify the Company and the Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holders Note in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable United States Federal or state securities law.
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
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among DTC Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
SECTION 2.08. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Notes.
(a) The 144A Global Notes and Regulation S Global Notes initially shall:
(i) be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of such Depositary;
(ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary; and
(iii) bear legends as set forth in Section 2.02 hereof.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (DTC Participants) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under such Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and the DTC Participants, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Note.
(b) Transfers of a Global Note shall be limited to transfers of such Global Note in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Beneficial owners may transfer their interests in Global Notes in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary and the provisions of Section 2.09 hereof.
(c) Any beneficial interest in one of the Global Notes that is transferred to a person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in another Global Note will, upon transfer, cease to be an interest in such Global Note and become an interest in such other Global Note and, accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer restrictions, if any, and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Note for as long as it remains such an interest.
(d) The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including DTC Participants and Persons that may hold interests through DTC Participants, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.
(e) If at any time:
(i) the Company notifies the Trustee in writing that the Depositary is no longer willing or able to continue to act as Depositary for the Global Notes or the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a
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successor depositary for the Global Notes is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or cessation;
(ii) the Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the Notes in definitive form under this Indenture in exchange for all or any part of the Notes represented by a Global Note or Global Notes; or
(iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a request from the Depositary,
subject to this Section 2.08(e), the Depositary shall surrender such Global Note or Global Notes to the Trustee for cancellation and then the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such Global Note or Global Notes, U.S. Physical Notes and Regulation S Physical Notes, as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note or Global Notes. Such Physical Notes shall be registered in such names as the Depositary shall identify in writing as the beneficial owners, or participant nominees, of the Notes represented by such Global Note or Notes (or any nominee thereof).
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interests in a Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 2.08, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in such Global Note to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more U.S. Physical Notes or Regulation S Physical Notes, as the case may be, of like tenor and amount.
SECTION 2.09. Special Transfer Provisions.
Unless and until any Initial Note (1) is exchanged for an Exchange Note, (2) transferred after the time period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or (3) otherwise sold in connection with an effective registration statement pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) Transfers to Institutional Accredited Investors that are not Qualified Institutional Buyers.
The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Note to any Institutional Accredited Investor that is not a Qualified Institutional Buyer (excluding Non-U.S. Persons):
(i) The Registrar shall register the transfer if the proposed transferee has delivered to the Trustee (A) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto and (B) if the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being transferred is less than $250,000, an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act.
(ii) If Note to be transferred consists of a Physical Note, upon receipt by the Registrar of the documents referred to in the preceding sentence, and the Company shall
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execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new U.S. Physical Note registered in the name of the transferee and the Trustee shall cancel the Physical Note presented for transfer.
(iii) If the proposed transferor is a DTC Participant holding a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Notes, upon receipt by the Registrar of the documents required by subclause (a)(i) above and instructions given in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary and of the Registrar, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the 144A Global Notes in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the 144A Global Notes to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more U.S. Physical Notes of like tenor and amount.
(b) Transfers to Qualified Institutional Buyers.
The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Note to a Qualified Institutional Buyer (excluding Non-U.S. Persons):
(i) If the Note to be transferred consists of (x) either Regulation S Physical Notes prior to the removal of the Transfer Restricted Securities Legend or U.S. Physical Notes, the Registrar shall register the transfer if such transfer is being made by a proposed transferor who has checked the box provided for on the form of Note stating or has otherwise advised the Company and the Registrar in writing that the sale has been made in compliance with the provisions of Rule 144A to a transferee who has signed the certification provided for on the form of Note stating or has otherwise advised the Company and the Registrar in writing that:
(a) it is purchasing the Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion, in each case for investment and not with a view to distribution;
(b) it and any such account is a Qualified Institutional Buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A;
(c) it is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A;
(d) it acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as it has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information; and
(e) it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A; or
or (y) an interest in the 144A Global Notes, the transfer of such interest may be effected only through the book entry system maintained by the Depositary.
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(ii) If the proposed transferee is a DTC Participant, and the Note to be transferred consists of U.S. Physical Notes, upon receipt by the Registrar of the documents referred to in clause (i) above and instructions given in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary and the Registrar, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of 144A Global Notes in an amount equal to the principal amount of the U.S. Physical Notes to be transferred, and the Trustee shall cancel the U.S. Physical Notes so transferred.
(c) Transfers to Non-U.S. Persons of U.S. Physical Notes and Interests in 144A Global Notes.
(i) The Registrar shall register any proposed transfer to a Non-U.S. Person of a U.S. Physical Note or an interest in 144A Global Notes only upon receipt of a certificate from the proposed transferor substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto.
(ii) (a) If the proposed transferor is a DTC Participant holding a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Notes, upon receipt by the Registrar of the documents, if any, required by paragraph (i) above and instructions in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary and of the Registrar, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the 144A Global Notes in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the 144A Global Notes to be transferred, (b) if the proposed transferor is a holder of U.S. Physical Notes, the Trustee shall cancel the U.S. Physical Notes so transferred, and (c) if the proposed transferee is a DTC Participant, upon receipt by the Registrar of instructions given in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary and of the Registrar, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Regulation S Global Notes in an amount equal to the principal amount of the U.S. Physical Notes or the 144A Global Notes, as the case may be, to be transferred.
(d) Transfers of Interests in the Regulation S Global Notes.
The Registrar shall register the transfer of interests in Regulation S Global Notes without requiring any additional certification.
(e) Transfer Restricted Securities Legend.
Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes not bearing the Transfer Restricted Securities Legend, the Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear the Transfer Restricted Securities Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing the Transfer Restricted Securities Legend, the Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear the Transfer Restricted Securities Legend unless (A) the circumstances described in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of Section 2.02(a) exist or (ii) there is delivered to the Registrar an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.
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(f) Certain Transfers in Connection With and After the Exchange Offer.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture:
(i) no Exchange Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Initial Note;
(ii) accrued and unpaid interest on the Initial Notes being exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall be due and payable on the next Interest Payment Date for the Exchange Notes following the Exchange Offer and shall be paid to the Holder on the relevant record date of the Exchange Notes issued in respect of the Initial Note being exchanged; and
(iii) interest on the Initial Note being exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall cease to accrue on the date of completion of the Exchange Offer and interest on the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer shall accrue from the date of the completion of the Exchange Offer.
(g) General.
By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Transfer Restricted Securities Legend, each Holder of such a Note acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in this Indenture and agrees that it will transfer such Note only as provided in this Indenture. The Registrar shall not register a transfer of any Note unless such transfer complies with the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in this Indenture. The Registrar shall be entitled to receive and rely on written instructions from the Company verifying that such transfer complies with such restrictions on transfer. In connection with any transfer of Notes, each Holder agrees by its acceptance of the Notes to furnish the Registrar or the Company such certifications, legal opinions or other information as either of them may reasonably require to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act; provided that the Registrar shall not be required to determine (but may rely on a determination made by the Company with respect to) the sufficiency of any such certifications, legal opinions or other information.
The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 2.08 hereof or this Section 2.09. The Company shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable written notice to the Registrar.
SECTION 2.10. Replacement Notes.
If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of the Trustee and the Company are met; provided that, if any such Note has been called for redemption in accordance with the terms thereof, the Trustee may pay the Redemption Price thereof on the Redemption Date without authenticating or replacing such Note. The Trustee or the Company may, in either case, require the Holder to provide an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of each of the Trustee and
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the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced or if the Redemption Price therefor is paid pursuant to this Section 2.10. The Company may charge the Holder who has lost a Note for its expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note is an obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
SECTION 2.11. Outstanding Notes.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee, except for (i) those cancelled by it, (ii) those delivered to it for cancellation and (iii) those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest ceases to accrue unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If all principal of and interest on any Note are considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, such Note ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
Except as provided in Section 2.12 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds such Note.
SECTION 2.12. Treasury Notes.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes of any series have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall be considered as though they are not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which such Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 2.13. Temporary Notes.
Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company, temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare, and the Trustee shall authenticate, definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.14. Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for
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registration of transfer, exchange, payment or repurchase. The Trustee shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, repurchase, redemption, replacement or cancellation and shall return such cancelled Notes to the Company upon the Companys written request (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.15. CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use), and the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice shall state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any such notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers.
SECTION 2.16. Defaulted Interest.
If the Company fails to make a payment of interest on Notes, it shall pay such defaulted interest plus (to the extent lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted interest, in any lawful manner. It may elect to pay such defaulted interest, plus any such interest payable on it, to the Persons who are Holders of such Notes on which the interest is due on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each such Note. The Company shall fix any such record date and payment date for such payment. At least 15 days before any such record date, the Company shall mail to Holders affected thereby a notice that states the record date, Interest Payment Date, and amount of such interest to be paid.
SECTION 2.17. Special Record Dates.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, set a record date for the purpose of determining the identity of Holders of Notes entitled to consent to any supplement, amendment or waiver permitted by this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, the Holders of Notes outstanding on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to consent to such supplement, amendment or waiver or revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date unless consents from Holders of the principal amount of Notes required hereunder for such amendment or waiver to be effective shall have also been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.
SECTION 2.18. Issuance of Additional Notes.
The Company shall be entitled to issue additional Notes (Additional Notes) under this Indenture which shall have identical terms and the Initial Notes issued on the date hereof, other than with respect to the date of issuance, issue price and amount of interest payable on the first payment date applicable thereto. The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof, any Additional Notes and all Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor shall be treated as a single class for all
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purposes under this Indenture. Any Additional Notes shall be issued in conformity with applicable securities laws.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION
SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem any series of Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the intended Redemption Date, the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the CUSIP numbers of the Notes to be redeemed.
The Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section 3.01 and an Officers Certificate at least 5 days before the giving of the notice of redemption (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).
SECTION 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.
If fewer than all the Notes of any series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Notes of such series to be redeemed from the outstanding Notes of such series by a method that complies with the requirements of any exchange on which the Notes are listed, or, if the Notes are not listed on an exchange, on a pro rata basis or by lot or in accordance with any other method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate.
Notes and portions thereof of any series that the Trustee selects shall be in amounts equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Notes to be redeemed or any integral multiple thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes of any series called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes of such series called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly in writing of the Notes or portions of Notes of any series to be called for redemption.
SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption.
At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at the address of such Holder appearing in the Register.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the method being used to determine the Redemption Price;
(iii) if fewer than all outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the portion of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date, upon
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surrender of such Note, a new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued;
(iv) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(v) that Notes called for redemption must be presented and surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price;
(vi) that, unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue interest on and after the Redemption Date; and
(vii) the CUSIP numbers, if any, of the Notes to be redeemed.
At the Companys written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Companys name and at its expense. The notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Notes shall not affect the validity of the proceeding for the redemption of any other Notes.
SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the Redemption Price. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the Redemption Price.
SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.
Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or an Affiliate of the Company is acting as the paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any amount of money not required for that purpose.
SECTION 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company, a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
SECTION 3.07. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in clause (b) of this Section 3.07, the 2013 Notes shall not be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to December 1, 2010 or the 2016 Notes prior to December 1, 2011. Beginning on December 1, 2010 or December 1, 2011, as applicable, the Company may redeem all or a portion of the 2013 Notes or 2016 Notes, as applicable, at once or over time, after giving the notice required pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid
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interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the 2013 Notes or 2016 Notes redeemed, as applicable, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on December 1 of the years indicated below:
(i) 2013 Notes:
Year | Percentage | |||
2010 | 104.250 | % | ||
2011 | 102.125 | % | ||
2012 and thereafter | 100.000 | % |
(ii) 2016 Notes:
Year | Percentage | |||
2011 | 104.375 | % | ||
2012 | 102.917 | % | ||
2013 | 101.458 | % | ||
2014 and thereafter | 100.000 | % |
(b) Prior to December 1, 2010, in the case of the 2013 Notes, and prior to December 1, 2011, in the case of the 2016 Notes, the Company may, at its option, redeem either series of Notes, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to the greater of:
(i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes of such series being redeemed; or
(ii) the sum of the present values of (a) the redemption price of the 2013 Notes at December 1, 2010 or the redemption price of the 2016 Notes at December 1, 2011, as applicable (such redemption prices being set forth in the applicable table above) plus (b) all required interest payments due on the 2013 Notes through December 1, 2010 or all required interest payments due on the 2016 Notes through December 1, 2011, as applicable (excluding accrued but unpaid interest) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each) at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, in each case, together with any interest accrued but not paid to the date of redemption.
(c) For purposes of this optional redemption provision, the following terms have the following definitions:
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.
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Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any Redemption Date for the Notes, (i) the average of three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Trustee obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
Independent Investment Banker means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.
Reference Treasury Dealer means Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and two other primary U.S. Government securities dealers in New York City (each, a Primary Treasury Dealer) appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any Redemption Date for the Notes, (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated H.15(519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption Treasury Constant Maturities, for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the maturity date for the Notes, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes.
The Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, the principal of and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Notes. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company, a
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Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of any of them, holds as of 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on that date immediately available funds designated for and sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due. If the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of any of them acts as Paying Agent, principal or interest shall be considered paid on the due date if the entity acting as Paying Agent complies with the second paragraph of Section 2.05 hereof.
The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and premium, and interest on overdue installments of interest, to the extent lawful, at the rate per annum specified therefor in the Notes.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America from principal or interest payments hereunder.
SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby designates the New York office of the Trustee located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.04 hereof.
SECTION 4.03. Reports.
(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to deliver to the Trustee any materials for which the Company has sought and received confidential treatment by
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the SEC. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of the TIA.
(b) If at any time the Company is not subject to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, upon the request of a Holder of Notes, the Company will promptly furnish or cause the Trustee to furnish to such Holder or to a prospective purchaser of a Note designated by such Holder, as the case may be, the information, if any, required to be delivered by it pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to permit compliance with Rule 144A in connection with resales of the Notes.
(c) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.03 is for informational purposes only and the Trustees receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Companys compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers Certificates).
SECTION 4.04. Compliance Certificate.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers Certificate, one of the signers of which is the chief executive officer, vice chairman, the chief financial officer, executive vice president or the chief accounting officer of the Company, stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company, they would normally have knowledge of any failure by the Company to comply with all conditions, or Default by the Company with respect to any covenants, under this Indenture, and further stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such failure or Default and, if so, specifying each such failure or Default and the nature thereof. For purposes of this Section, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided for in this Indenture. The certificate need not comply with Section 11.04 hereof.
SECTION 4.05. Taxes.
The Company shall pay prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except as contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.
SECTION 4.06. Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article V hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its corporate existence and (ii) the material rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise if the Board of Directors or management of the Company determines that the preservation thereof is no longer in the best interests of the Company, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
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SECTION 4.07. Limitation on Liens.
The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any of their respective properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or upon any income or profits therefrom, without effectively providing that the Notes shall be equally and ratably secured until such time as such Indebtedness is no longer secured by such Lien, except:
(i) Permitted Liens;
(ii) Liens securing obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities in an amount not to exceed $3.0 billion at any one time outstanding less the amount of Liens outstanding under clause (iii) below;
(iii) Liens securing the 2014 Notes;
(iv) Liens on receivables subject to a Receivable Financing Transaction;
(v) Liens arising in connection with industrial development bonds or other industrial development, pollution control or other tax-favored or government-sponsored financing transactions, provided that such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such transaction and other property, assets or revenues related to the property so financed on which Liens are customarily granted in connection with such transactions (in each case, together with improvements and attachments thereto);
(vi) Liens granted after the Issue Date on any assets or properties of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to secure obligations under the Notes;
(vii) Extensions, renewals and replacements of any Lien described in subsections (i) through (vi) above; and
(viii) Other Liens in respect of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount at any time not exceeding 10% of Consolidated Assets at such time.
SECTION 4.08. Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions.
The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and lease-back transaction for the sale and leasing back of any property or asset, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except such transactions (i) entered into prior to the Issue Date, (ii) for the sale and leasing back of any property or asset by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) involving leases for less than three years or (iv) in which the lease for the property or asset is entered into within 120 days after the later of the date of acquisition, completion of construction or commencement of full operations of such property or asset) unless:
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(a) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled under Section 4.07 hereof to create, incur, assume or permit to exist a Lien on the assets to be leased in an amount at least equal to the Attributable Value in respect of such transaction without equally and ratably securing the Notes; or
(b) the proceeds of the sale of the assets to be leased are at least equal to their fair market value and the proceeds are applied to the purchase, acquisition, construction or refurbishment of assets or to the repayment of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which on the date of original incurrence had a maturity of more than one year.
SECTION 4.09. Change of Control.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make an offer (a Change of Control Offer) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part of each Holders Notes at a purchase price (the Change of Control Purchase Price) equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the repurchase date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall (i) cause a notice of the Change of Control Offer to be sent at least once to the Dow Jones News Service or similar business news service in the United States; and (ii) send, by first-class mail, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice to each Holder stating: (1) that a Change of Control has occurred and a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to Section 4.09 of this Indenture and that all Notes timely tendered will be accepted for payment; (2) the Change of Control Purchase Price and the repurchase date, which shall be, subject to any contrary requirements of applicable law, a Business Day no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the Change of Control Payment Date); (3) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding the Change of Control (including information with respect to pro forma historical income, cash flow and capitalization after giving effect to the Change of Control); and (4) the procedures that holders of notes must follow in order to tender their Notes (or portions thereof) for payment, and the procedures that holders of Notes must follow in order to withdraw an election to tender notes (or portions thereof) for payment. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes in connection with a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with Section 4.09 of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 4.09 of this Indenture by virtue of such compliance.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Purchase Price in respect of all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Purchase Price for such Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal
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in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered by such Holder, if any; provided, that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4.09 of this Indenture and all other provisions of this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
ARTICLE V
MERGER, ETC.
SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, etc.
The Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, any Person unless:
(i) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
(ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made, assumes by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee all of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture; and
(iii) immediately after such transaction, and giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may merge with another Person or acquire by purchase or otherwise all or any part of the property or assets of any other corporation or Person in a transaction in which the surviving entity is the Company.
SECTION 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company herein. In the event of any such sale or conveyance, but not any such lease, the Company or any successor corporation which thereafter will have become such in the
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manner described in this Article V shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Notes and this Indenture and may be dissolved, wound up or liquidated.
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default.
An Event of Default with respect to each series of the Notes occurs when any of the following occurs:
(i) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of any Note of such series when it becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise;
(ii) the Company defaults in the payment of interest on any Note of such series when it becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days;
(iii) the Company or any Guarantor fails to comply with any of its other agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the Notes or this Indenture and the Company does not cure the Default within sixty (60) days after the Trustee notifies the Company in writing, or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of such series notify the Company and the Trustee in writing;
(iv) any Guarantee of the Notes of such series ceases to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Guarantee of the Notes of such series, except, in each case, in connection with a release of a Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
(v) the nonpayment at maturity or other default (beyond any applicable grace period) under any agreement or instrument relating to any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (the unpaid principal amount of which is not less than $50,000,000), which default results in the acceleration of the maturity of such Indebtedness prior to its stated maturity or occurs at the final maturity thereof and such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled, or such Indebtedness repaid, within thirty (30) days after the Trustee notifies the Company in writing, or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of such series notify the Company and the Trustee in writing; provided that if any such default with respect to other Indebtedness is cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, then any Event of Default by reason thereof shall be deemed not to have occurred;
(vi) the Company or a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(a) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;
(b) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;
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(c) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property; or
(d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(vii) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(a) is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding;
(b) appoints a Custodian for the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of its property; or
(c) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary,
and any such order or decree under this clause (vii) remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days.
Any notice of default under clause (iii) or (v) of this Section 6.01 must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a Notice of Default.
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration.
If an Event of Default with respect to any series of outstanding Notes (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 6.01 hereof) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of the applicable series, by written notice to the Company, may declare due and payable 100% of the principal amount of all Notes of such series plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of payment. Upon a declaration of acceleration, such principal (or such lesser amount) and accrued and unpaid interest to the date of payment shall be due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs, all unpaid principal and accrued interest on the Notes shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of any outstanding series of Notes by written notice to the Trustee may rescind and annul an acceleration and its consequences if (i) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of principal (or such lesser amount) of or interest on the Notes which have become due solely because of the acceleration, have been cured or waived and (ii) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.
SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default with respect to any series of outstanding Notes occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on such series of Notes or to enforce the
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performance of any provision of such series of Notes or this Indenture, including, without limitation, seeking recourse against any Guarantor.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon the Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.
Subject to Sections 6.07 and 9.02 hereof, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of any series of outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or Event of Default except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on such series of Notes (provided, however, that, subject to Section 6.07, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). When a Default or Event of Default is waived, it is deemed cured and ceases.
SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority.
The Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of any outstanding series of Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that (i) conflicts with law or this Indenture, (ii) the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes of such series or (iii) may involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Trustee may take any other action that it deems proper which is not inconsistent with any such direction.
SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder of Notes of any series may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes of such series unless:
(i) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice stating that an Event of Default is continuing;
(ii) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such series of Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(iii) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability, cost or expense;
(iv) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity; and
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(v) during such 60-day period, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of such series of Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.
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 of or interest, if any, on the Note on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Note, 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 the Holder.
SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or (ii) hereof occurs and is continuing with respect to the Notes, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company (and any other obligor on the Notes, including any Guarantor) for the whole amount of principal and accrued interest, if any, remaining unpaid on the outstanding Notes (and the related Guarantees), together with (to the extent lawful) interest on overdue principal and interest, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and, to the extent lawful, expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.08 hereof.
SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes, including any Guarantor), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any custodian in any such judicial proceedings 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 7.08 hereof. Nothing contained in this Indenture 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 thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.10. Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any amount of money with respect to the Notes pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
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(First) to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.08 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made by the trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;
(Second) to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal and interest, if any, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and
(Third) to the Company or any other obligors on the Notes, as their interests may appear, or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
The Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Company, may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. The Trustee shall notify the Company in writing reasonably in advance of any such record date and payment date.
SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of any outstanding series of Notes.
SECTION 6.12. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company and each Guarantor covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such persons own affairs.
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(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(1) the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture or the TIA, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; provided, however, that 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, on their face, 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 liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct except that:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer or other officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) of this Section 7.01.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability, cost or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable fees of counsel).
(f) The Trustee shall not be obligated to pay interest on any money or other assets received by it unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. Assets held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the
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Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.
(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.
Subject to Section 315(a) through (d) of the TIA:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Trustee may act through attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any attorney or agent 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, unless the Trustees conduct constitutes negligence.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
(f) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.
(g) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(h) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this
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Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(i) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for 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.
(j) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.
SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest (as such term is defined in Section 3.10(b) of the TIA), it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (to the extent permitted under Section 310(b) of the TIA) 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. Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.
SECTION 7.05. Trustees Disclaimer.
The Trustee (i) makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees, (ii) is not be accountable for the Companys use of the proceeds from the Notes, and (iii) is not be responsible for any statement in the Notes other than its certificate of authentication.
SECTION 7.06. Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after the occurrence thereof. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of any such Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.
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SECTION 7.07. Reports by Trustee to Holders.
The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required by Section 313 of the TIA at the times and in the manner provided by the TIA, which initially shall be not less than every twelve months commencing on and may be dated as of a date up to 75 days prior to such transmission.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the SEC, if required, and each stock exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes become listed on any stock exchange.
SECTION 7.08. Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee for its services hereunder. The Trustees compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred by it, including in particular, but without limitation, those incurred in connection with the enforcement of any remedies hereunder. Such expenses may include the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the Trustees agents and counsel.
Except as set forth in the next paragraph, the Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee and any predecessor trustee against any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust under this Indenture. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim of which it has received written notice for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend such claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in such defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of such counsel.
The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability, cost or expense incurred by the Trustee through its own negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
To secure the Companys payment obligations in this Section 7.08, 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 the principal of and interest on particular Notes. The Trustees right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.08 will not be subordinate to any other liability or indebtedness of the Company.
The Companys payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.08 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (vi) or (vii) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
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The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.
SECTION 7.09. Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustees acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.09.
The Trustee may resign and be discharged from the trust hereby created with respect to the Notes by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company must remove the Trustee if:
(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof or Section 310 of the TIA;
(ii) 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;
(iii) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(iv) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee for the Notes. The Trustee shall be entitled to payment of its fees and reimbursement of its expenses while acting as Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
Any Holder of Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee if the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof.
If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation or removal, the resigning or removed Trustee, as the case may be, may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The Company shall mail a notice of the successor Trustees succession to the Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.08 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.09, the Companys obligations under Section 7.08 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses, losses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
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SECTION 7.10. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.
Subject to Section 7.09 hereof, if the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking association, the successor entity without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
SECTION 7.11. Eligibility; Disqualification.
The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5) of the TIA. The Trustee shall at all times have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee is subject to Section 310(b) of the TIA.
SECTION 7.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.
The Trustee is subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE VIII
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
SECTION 8.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when:
(i) either:
(a) all Notes previously authenticated and delivered (other than Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(b) all such Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable (whether at stated maturity, early redemption or otherwise);
and, in the case of clause (b) above, the Company has deposited, or caused to be deposited, irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of Notes, cash in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of
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any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal of and interest on all the Notes on the dates such payments of principal or interest are due to maturity or redemption;
(ii) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Notes; and
(iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.08 hereof shall survive, and, if money will have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (i) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Sections 8.02 and 8.05 hereof shall survive.
SECTION 8.02. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.05 hereof, all money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.01, 8.03 or 8.04 hereof and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 8.01, 8.03 or 8.04 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 as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee.
(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.01, 8.03 or 8.04 hereof or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any U.S. Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.01, 8.03 or 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations held under this Indenture.
SECTION 8.03. Legal Defeasance.
(a) The Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all of the outstanding Notes of any series and the related Guarantees on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof,
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and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such series of outstanding Notes and the related Guarantees, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon the request of the Company, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
(i) the rights of Holders of Notes of such series to receive, solely from the trust funds described in subparagraph (a) hereof, payments of the principal of or interest on the outstanding Notes of such series on the date such payments are due;
(ii) the Companys obligations with respect to the Notes of such series under Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09 and 2.10 hereof; and
(iii) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the duties of the Trustee under Section 8.02 hereof and the duty of the Trustee to authenticate Notes of such series issued on registration of transfer of exchange;
provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) the Company shall have deposited, or caused to be deposited, irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such series of Notes, cash in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal of and interest on all the Notes of such series on the dates such payments of principal or interest are due to maturity or redemption;
(b) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default under, this Indenture;
(c) no Default or Event of Default with respect to such series of Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default specified in Section 6.01(vi) or (vii) hereof with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of such period;
(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of such series of Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject
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to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(e) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of such series of Notes over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;
(f) such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 8.03 have been complied with.
SECTION 8.04. Covenant Defeasance.
On and after the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.03(a), 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09 and 10.06 hereof as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto (and the failure to comply with any such provisions shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof) and the occurrence of any event described in clause (iii) of Section 6.01 hereof shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to any series of Notes, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(i) with reference to this Section 8.04, the Company has deposited, or caused to be deposited, irrevocably (except as provided in Section 8.05 hereof) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such series of Notes, cash in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal and interest on all the Notes of such series on the dates such payments of principal and interest are due to maturity or redemption;
(ii) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default under, this Indenture;
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(iii) no Default or Event of Default with respect to such series of Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default specified in Section 6.01(vi) or (vii) hereof with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of such period;
(iv) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of such series of Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
(v) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of such series of Notes over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;
(vi) such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and
(vii) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 8.04 have been complied with.
SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may, at any time, amend this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees to:
(i) cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, provided that such change does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder in any material respect;
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(ii) provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article II hereof (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder;
(iii) provide for the assumption of the Companys obligations to the Holders of Notes in the case of a merger, consolidation or sale or other disposition of assets pursuant to Article V hereof;
(iv) comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, provided that such change does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder in any material respect;
(v) make any change that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights hereunder of any Holder;
(vi) add to the covenants of the Company and the Guarantors for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Guarantors;
(vii) add a Guarantor or remove a Guarantor in respect to any series of Notes which, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, ceases to be liable in respect of its Guarantee;
(viii) secure the Notes of any series;
(ix) make appropriate provision in connection with the appointment of any successor Trustee; or
(x) provide for the issuance of the Exchange Notes, which will have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Initial Notes (except that (i) such Exchange Notes shall not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions and shall be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) certain provisions relating to an increase in the stated rate of interest thereon shall be eliminated) and which will be treated, together with any outstanding Initial Notes, as a single issue of securities.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company 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 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 below in this Section 9.02, this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees may be amended or supplemented, and noncompliance in any particular instance with any
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provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees may be waived, in each case with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes affected thereby; provided, however, that any amendment to or supplement of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees that by its terms affects the rights of Holders of any series of then outstanding Notes but not the others series may be effected, and any default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture affecting the Holders of any series of then outstanding Notes but not the other series may be waived, with the consent of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes of the affected series.
Without the consent of each Holder of Notes that is affected thereby, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not:
(i) reduce the principal amount of Notes of any series the Holders of which must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver of any provision of this Indenture;
(ii) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any series of Notes;
(iii) reduce the principal of or change the stated maturity of any series of Notes;
(iv) change the date on which any Note of any of series may be subject to redemption, or reduce the redemption price therefor;
(v) make any Note of any series payable in currency other than that stated in the Note;
(vi) modify or change any provision of this Indenture affecting the ranking of the Notes of any series in a manner which adversely affects the Holders thereof;
(vii) impair the right of any Holder of Notes to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment in or with respect to any such series of Notes;
(viii) modify or change any provision of any Guarantee in a manner which adversely affects the Holders of any series of Notes; or
(ix) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions which require each Holders consent.
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 or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Holders affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.
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SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holders Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note; provided, however, that unless a record date shall have been established pursuant to Section 2.17 hereof, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Note or portion of a Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective on receipt by the Trustee of consents from the Holders of the requisite percentage principal amount of the outstanding Notes, and thereafter shall bind every Holder of Notes; provided, however, if the amendment, supplement or waiver makes a change described in any of the clauses (i) through (ix) of Section 9.02 hereof, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind only each Holder of a Note which has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same indebtedness as the consenting Holders Note.
SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.
If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note:
(a) the Trustee may require the Holder of a Note to deliver such Note to the Trustee, the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note about the changed terms and return it to the Holder and the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on any Note thereafter authenticated; or
(b) if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendment, etc.
The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment, the Trustee shall be provided with and shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.
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ARTICLE X
GUARANTEES
SECTION 10.01. Guarantees.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Article X, each Guarantor, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of Notes and to the Trustee on behalf of the Holders:
(i) the due and punctual payment in full of principal of and interest on the Notes when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise;
(ii) the due and punctual payment in full of interest on the overdue principal of and, to the extent permitted by law, interest on the Notes; and
(iii) the due and punctual payment of all other Obligations of the Company and the other Guarantors to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or under the Notes, including, without limitation, the payment of fees, expenses, indemnification or other amounts.
In case of the failure of the Company punctually to make any such principal or interest payment or the failure of the Company or any other Guarantor to pay any such other Obligation, each Guarantor agrees to cause any such payment to be made punctually when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Company and to perform any such other Obligation of the Company immediately. Each Guarantor further agrees to pay any and all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or the Holders in enforcing any rights under these Guarantees. The Guarantees under this Article X are guarantees of payment and not of collection.
(b) Each of the Company and the Guarantors waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any other Guarantor, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company or any other Guarantor, protest or notice with respect to the Notes and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that these Guarantees shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in the Notes and in this Indenture, or as otherwise specifically provided therein or herein.
(c) Each Guarantor waives and relinquishes:
(i) any right to require the Trustee, the Holders or the Company (each, a Benefited Party) to proceed against the Company, the Subsidiaries of the Company or any other Person or to proceed against or exhaust any security held by a Benefited Party at any time or to pursue any other remedy in any secured partys power before proceeding against the Guarantors;
(ii) any defense that may arise by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority, death or disability of any other Person or Persons or the failure of a Benefited Party to
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file or enforce a claim against the estate (in administration, bankruptcy or any other proceeding) of any other Person or Persons;
(iii) demand, protest and notice of any kind (except as expressly required by this Indenture), including, but not limited to, notice of the existence, creation or incurrence of any new or additional indebtedness or obligation or of any action or non-action on the part of the Guarantors, the Company, the Subsidiaries of the Company, any Benefited Party, any creditor of the Guarantors, the Company or the Subsidiaries of the Company or on the part of any other Person whomsoever in connection with any obligations the performance of which are hereby guaranteed;
(iv) any defense based upon an election of remedies by a Benefited Party, including but not limited to an election to proceed against the Guarantors for reimbursement;
(v) any defense based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal;
(vi) any defense arising because of a Benefited Partys election, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Law, of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Law; and
(vii) any defense based on any borrowing or grant of a security interest under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Law.
(d) Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between such Guarantor, on the one hand, and Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand:
(i) for purposes of the relevant Guarantee, the maturity of the Obligations Guaranteed by such Guarantee may be accelerated as provided in Article VI, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby, and
(ii) in the event of any acceleration of such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) such Obligations shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for purposes of such Guarantee.
(e) The Guarantees shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any of the Notes is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Holders or the Trustee upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any of the Guarantors, all as though such payment had not been made.
(f) Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of the Guarantees or this Indenture; provided, however, that a Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce
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or to receive any payments until the principal of and interest on all Notes issued hereunder shall have been paid in full.
SECTION 10.02. Obligations of Guarantors Unconditional.
Each Guarantor agrees that its Obligations hereunder shall be Guarantees of payment and shall be unconditional, irrespective of and unaffected by the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, or of any amendment thereto or hereto, the absence of any action to enforce the same, the waiver or consent by any Holder or by the Trustee with respect to any provisions thereof or of this Indenture, the entry of any judgment against the Company or any other Guarantor or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.
SECTION 10.03. Limitation on Guarantors Liability.
Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and such Guarantor irrevocably agree that the Obligations of such Guarantor under this Article X shall be limited to the maximum amount as shall, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the Obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article X, result in the Obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under applicable federal or state law.
SECTION 10.04. Releases of Guarantees.
(a) If the Notes are defeased in accordance with the terms of Article VIII of this Indenture, then each Guarantor shall be deemed to have been released from and discharged of its obligations under its Guarantee as provided in Article VIII hereof in respect of such Notes, subject to the conditions stated therein.
(b) In the event an entity that is a Guarantor ceases to be a guarantor under the Senior Credit Facilities and the Existing Senior Notes, such entity shall also cease to be a Guarantor, whether or not a Default or an Event of Default is then outstanding, subject to reinstatement as a Guarantor in the event that such entity should thereafter become a Guarantor under our Senior Credit Facilities or the Existing Senior Notes. In connection with any Guarantor ceasing to be a Guarantor hereunder, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate certifying that a Guarantor has ceased to be a guarantor under the Senior Credit Facilities (or will cease to be a guarantor concurrently with it ceasing to be a Guarantor). Upon delivery to the Trustee of such Officers Certificate, upon the request of the Company, the Trustee shall execute proper documents acknowledging the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes, effective upon the Guarantor ceasing to be a guarantor under the Senior Credit Facilities.
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(c) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes and for the other obligations of the Company, such Guarantor and any other Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article X.
SECTION 10.05. Application of Certain Terms and Provisions to Guarantors.
(a) For purposes of any provision of this Indenture that provides for the delivery by any Guarantor of an Officers Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both, the definitions of such terms in Section 1.01 hereof shall apply to such Guarantor as if references therein to the Company were references to such Guarantor.
(b) Any request, direction, order or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is to be made by any Guarantor shall be sufficient if evidenced by a written order of the Guarantor signed by one Officer of such Guarantor.
(c) Any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders to or on any Guarantor may be given or served as described in Section 11.02 hereof.
(d) Upon any demand, request or application by any Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, such Guarantor shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as are required in Section 7.02 hereof as if all references therein to the Company were references to such Guarantor.
SECTION 10.06. Additional Guarantors.
The Company shall cause each subsidiary of the Company that becomes a guarantor under the Senior Credit Facilities (including any subsidiary that may have been formerly released as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 10.04) or the Existing Senior Notes, after the Issue Date, to execute and deliver to the Trustee, promptly upon any such formation or acquisition:
(i) a supplemental indenture in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee which subjects such subsidiary to the provisions of this Indenture as a Guarantor, and
(ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized and executed by such subsidiary and constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of such subsidiary (subject to exceptions concerning fraudulent conveyance laws, creditors rights and equitable principles and other customary exceptions as may be acceptable to the Trustee in its discretion).
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ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.
This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the TIA which are required to be part of this Indenture, and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
SECTION 11.02. Notices.
Any notice or communication to the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail to the address set forth below:
If to the Company or any Guarantor, addressed to the Company or such Guarantor:
Lear Corporation
21557 Telegraph Road
Southfield, Michigan 48086-5008
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
21557 Telegraph Road
Southfield, Michigan 48086-5008
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
Winston & Strawn LLP
35 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attention: Bruce A. Toth, Esq.
35 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attention: Bruce A. Toth, Esq.
If to the Trustee:
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.
2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1020
Chicago, IL 60602
Fax: 312 ###-###-####
2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1020
Chicago, IL 60602
Fax: 312 ###-###-####
The Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the Register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in such notice or communication shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is mailed or sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notice to the Trustee shall only be effective upon receipt thereof by the Trustee.
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If the Company or any Guarantor mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
SECTION 11.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture. The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.
SECTION 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(i) an Officers Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 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 complied with; and
(ii) an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with.
SECTION 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate (other than certificates provided pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof) or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(i) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(ii) 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;
(iii) a statement that, in the opinion of each 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
(iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each 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 Officers Certificate or certificate of public officials.
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SECTION 11.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or for a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
SECTION 11.07. Legal Holidays.
A Legal Holiday is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are not required or authorized to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
SECTION 11.08. Duplicate Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.
SECTION 11.09. Governing Law.
This Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 11.10. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
SECTION 11.11. Successors.
All agreements of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture and of the Guarantors under the Guarantees and this Indenture shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
SECTION 11.12. Severability.
In case any provision in the Notes or in the Guarantees or in this Indenture is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 11.13. Counterpart Originals.
This Indenture may be signed in one or more counterparts. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
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SECTION 11.14. Submission to Jurisdiction.
By the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company and each of the Guarantors submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the State of New York with respect to all matters related to this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees.
SECTION 11.15. Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH OF THE COMPANY 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 TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
SECTION 11.16. Force Majeure.
In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its 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 and 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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, as of the day and year first above written.
LEAR CORPORATION | ||||||
By: | /s/ Daniel A. Ninivaggi | |||||
Name: Daniel A. Ninivaggi | ||||||
Title: Executive V.P., Secretary and General Counsel | ||||||
LEAR OPERATIONS CORPORATION | ||||||
By: | /s/ Daniel A. Ninivaggi | |||||
Name: Daniel A. Ninivaggi | ||||||
Title: V.P., Secretary and General Counsel | ||||||
LEAR SEATING HOLDINGS CORP. #50 | ||||||
By: | /s/ Daniel A. Ninivaggi | |||||
Name: Daniel A. Ninivaggi | ||||||
Title: Secretary and General Counsel | ||||||
LEAR CORPORATION EEDS AND INTERIORS | ||||||
By: | /s/ Daniel A. Ninivaggi | |||||
Name: Daniel A. Ninivaggi | ||||||
Title: V.P. and Secretary | ||||||
LEAR AUTOMOTIVE DEARBORN, INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Daniel A. Ninivaggi | |||||
Name: Daniel A. Ninivaggi | ||||||
Title: V.P. and Secretary |
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LEAR CORPORATION (GERMANY) LTD. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Daniel A. Ninivaggi | |||||
Name: Daniel A. Ninivaggi | ||||||
Title: V.P. and Secretary | ||||||
LEAR AUTOMOTIVE (EEDS) SPAIN S.L. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Daniel A. Ninivaggi | |||||
Name: Daniel A. Ninivaggi | ||||||
Title: Attorney-In-Fact | ||||||
LEAR CORPORATION MEXICO, S. DE R.L. DE | ||||||
C.V. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Daniel A. Ninivaggi | |||||
Name: Daniel A. Ninivaggi | ||||||
Title: Attorney-In-Fact |
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST | ||||||
COMPANY, N.A. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Roxane Ellwanger | |||||
Name: Roxane Ellwanger | ||||||
Title: Assistant Vice President |
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EXHIBIT A-1
[Form of Note]
[FACE OF NOTE]
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (DTC) TO LEAR CORPORATION OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.1
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE) WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (RULE 144A), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL
1 | This legend should be included only if the Note is issued in global form. |
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ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE SECURITIES OF $250,000, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANYS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.2
2 | This legend should be included only as set forth in Section 2.02(a) of the Indenture. |
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LEAR CORPORATION
8 1/2% [Series B]3 Senior Note due 2013
8 1/2% [Series B]3 Senior Note due 2013
CUSIP
No. | $ |
LEAR CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the Company, which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, promises to pay to , or its registered assigns, the principal sum of U.S. Dollars ($ ) on [ , 20___].
Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1, commencing June 1, 2007
Regular Record Dates: May 15 and November 15
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
3 | Include only for the Exchange Notes. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be executed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.
Dated: | LEAR CORPORATION | |||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: |
Trustees Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the 8 1/2% Senior Notes due 2013
THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
as Trustee
as Trustee
By: | ||||
Date: |
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[REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]
LEAR CORPORATION
8 1/2% [Series B]4 Senior Note due 2013
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Principal and Interest.
Lear Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate of 8 1/2% per annum from the date of issuance until repayment at maturity or redemption. The Company will pay interest semiannually on June 1 and December 1 of each year (each, an Interest Payment Date), commencing June 1, 2007. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand, to the extent permitted by law, at the rate borne by this Note; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent permitted by law.
2. Method of Payment.
The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the May 15 or November 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.16 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
4 | Include only for the Exchange Notes. |
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3. Paying Agent and Registrar.
Initially, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and the Registrar. The Company may change the Paying Agent or transfer agent without notice to any Holder. The Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of any of them may act as a Paying Agent or a transfer agent, subject to certain limitations.
4. Indenture.
The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of November 24, 2006 (the Indenture), among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the Trustee). The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (TIA). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of all such terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.
5. Repurchase at Option of Holder
(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company shall be required to make an offer (a Change of Control Offer) to repurchase all or any part of each Holders Notes at a purchase price (the Change of Control Purchase Price) equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the repurchase date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.
6. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in clause (b) of this paragraph 6, the Notes shall not be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to December 1, 2010. Beginning on December 1, 2010, the Company may redeem all or a portion of the Notes at once or over time, after giving the notice required under the Indenture at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on December 1 of the years indicated below:
Year | Percentage | |||
2010 | 104.250 | % | ||
2011 | 102.125 | % | ||
2012 and thereafter | 100.000 | % |
(b) Prior to December 1, 2010, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the
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principal amount of the Notes being redeemed; or (ii) the sum of the present values of (a) the redemption price of the Notes at December 1, 2010 (such redemption prices being set forth in the applicable table above) plus (b) all required interest payments due on the Notes through December 1, 2010 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each) at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, in each case, together with any interest accrued but not paid to the date of redemption.
Notes in original denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price.
7. Mandatory Redemption
The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
8. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 of principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes selected for redemption. Also, it need not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes for a period beginning at the opening of business 15 Business Days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 of the Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection.
9. Persons Deemed Owners.
The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.
10. Unclaimed Money.
If money for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will pay the money back to the Company at its request. After that, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment, unless an abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
11. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of
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the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Without notice to or the consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency and make any change that does not materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder.
12. Restrictive Covenants.
The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, among other things, to create liens and engage in sale and lease-back transactions. In addition, the Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company to engage in mergers and consolidations or transfers of all or substantially all of its assets. The Indenture requires the Company to deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year stating whether or not the signers thereof know of any Default or Event of Default under such restrictive covenants.
13. Defaults and Remedies.
The Indenture provides that each of the following events constitutes an Event of Default with respect to this Note: (i) failure to pay principal of any Note when it becomes due and payable at stated maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise; (ii) failure to pay interest on any Note when it becomes due and payable and such Default continues for a period of 30 days; (iii) failure to comply with any of the other agreements or covenants in, or other provisions of, the Indenture, which failure is not cured within 60 days after notice is given as specified in the Indenture; (iv) any Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Guarantee, except, in each case, in connection with a release of a Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; (v) the nonpayment at maturity or other default (beyond any applicable grace period) under any agreement or instrument relating to any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (the unpaid principal amount of which is not less than $50 million), which default results in the acceleration of the maturity of such Indebtedness prior to its stated maturity or occurs at the final maturity thereof and such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled or such Indebtedness repaid within 30 days after notice is given as specified in the Indenture; and (vi) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the principal amount hereof may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
14. Trustee Dealings with the Company.
The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.
15. No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee, agent, manager, controlling person, stockholder, incorporator or other Affiliate of the Company, as such, shall not have any liability for any
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obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.
16. Authentication.
This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee (or authenticating agent) executes the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.
17. Abbreviations.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian) and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
18. Additional Rights of Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities.
In addition to the rights provided to Holders under the Indenture, Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
19. CUSIP Numbers.
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
20. Governing Law.
This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
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ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below and have your signature guaranteed: (I) or (we) assign
and transfer this Note to:
and transfer this Note to:
(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Dated: | Your Name: | |||||||||
(Print your name exactly as it appears on the face of this Note) | ||||||||||
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). |
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Option of Holder to Elect Purchase
If you want to elect to have this Note or a portion of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 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). |
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[THE FOLLOWING PROVISION TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL NOTES OTHER THAN
EXCHANGE NOTES, REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTES AND UNLEGENDED
REGULATION S PHYSICAL NOTES]
EXCHANGE NOTES, REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTES AND UNLEGENDED
REGULATION S PHYSICAL NOTES]
In connection with any transfer of this Note occurring prior to the date which is the earlier of the end of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act, the undersigned confirms that without utilizing any general solicitation or general advertising that:
[Check One]
[ ] (a) | this Note is being transferred in compliance with the exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 provided by Rule 144A thereunder. |
or
[ ] (b) | this Note is being transferred other than in accordance with (a) above and documents are being furnished which comply with the conditions of transfer set forth in this Note and the Indenture. |
If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or other Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any Person other than the Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Section 2.09 of the Indenture shall have been satisfied.
Date: | ||||
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within-mentioned instrument in every particular, without alteration or any change whatsoever. | ||||
Signature Guarantee: | ||||
Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee. |
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TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (a) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion, in each case for investment and not with a view to distribution, and that it and any such account is a Qualified Institutional Buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigneds foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
Date: | ||||||||
NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer |
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SCHEDULE OF ADJUSTMENTS5
Initial Principal Amount: U.S.$
Principal | ||||||||||||||||
Date | Principal | amount | Notation made on | |||||||||||||
adjustment | amount | Principal amount | following | behalf of the | ||||||||||||
made | increase | decrease | adjustment | Registrar | ||||||||||||
5 | This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form. |
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EXHIBIT A-2
[Form of Note]
[FACE OF NOTE]
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (DTC) TO LEAR CORPORATION OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.6
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE) WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (RULE 144A), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL
6 | This legend should be included only if the Note is issued in global form. |
A-2-1
ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE SECURITIES OF $250,000, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANYS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.7
7 | This legend should be included only as set forth in Section 2.02(a) of the Indenture. |
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LEAR CORPORATION
8 3/4% [Series B]8 Senior Note due 2016
8 3/4% [Series B]8 Senior Note due 2016
CUSIP
No. | $ |
LEAR CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the Company, which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, promises to pay to , or its registered assigns, the principal sum of U.S. Dollars ($ ) on [ , 20___].
Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1, commencing June 1, 2007
Regular Record Dates: May 15 and November 15
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
8 | Include only for the Exchange Notes. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be executed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officers.
Dated: | LEAR CORPORATION | |||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: |
Trustees Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the 8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2016
THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A. as Trustee
By: | ||||
Date:
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[REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]
LEAR CORPORATION
8 3/4% [Series B]9 Senior Note due 2016
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Principal and Interest.
Lear Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate of 8 3/4% per annum from the date of issuance until repayment at maturity or redemption. The Company will pay interest semiannually on June 1 and December 1 of each year (each, an Interest Payment Date), commencing June 1, 2007. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand, to the extent permitted by law, at the rate borne by this Note; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent permitted by law.
2. Method of Payment.
The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the May 15 or November 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.16 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
9 | Include only for the Exchange Notes. |
A-2-5
3. Paying Agent and Registrar.
Initially, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and the Registrar. The Company may change the Paying Agent or transfer agent without notice to any Holder. The Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate of any of them may act as a Paying Agent or a transfer agent, subject to certain limitations.
4. Indenture.
The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of November 24, 2006 (the Indenture), among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the Trustee). The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (TIA). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of all such terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.
5. Repurchase at Option of Holder
(a) If there is a Change of Control, the Company shall be required to make an offer (a Change of Control Offer) to repurchase all or any part of each Holders Notes at a purchase price (the Change of Control Purchase Price) equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the repurchase date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.
6. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in clause (b) of this paragraph 6, the Notes shall not be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to December 1, 2011. Beginning on December 1, 2011, the Company may redeem all or a portion of the Notes at once or over time, after giving the notice required under the Indenture at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on December 1 of the years indicated below:
Year | Percentage | |||
2011 | 104.375 | % | ||
2012 | 102.917 | % | ||
2013 | 101.458 | % | ||
2014 and thereafter | 100.000 | % |
(b) Prior to December 1, 2011, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the
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principal amount of the Notes being redeemed; or (ii) the sum of the present values of (a) the redemption price of the Notes at December 1, 2011 (such redemption prices being set forth in the applicable table above) plus (b) all required interest payments due on the Notes through December 1, 2011 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of 12 months of 30 days each) at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, in each case, together with any interest accrued but not paid to the date of redemption.
Notes in original denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price.
7. Mandatory Redemption
The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
8. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 of principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes selected for redemption. Also, it need not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes for a period beginning at the opening of business 15 Business Days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 of the Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection.
9. Persons Deemed Owners.
The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.
10. Unclaimed Money.
If money for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will pay the money back to the Company at its request. After that, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment, unless an abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
11. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of
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the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Without notice to or the consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency and make any change that does not materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder.
12. Restrictive Covenants.
The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, among other things, to create liens and engage in sale and lease-back transactions. In addition, the Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company to engage in mergers and consolidations or transfers of all or substantially all of its assets. The Indenture requires the Company to deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year stating whether or not the signers thereof know of any Default or Event of Default under such restrictive covenants.
13. Defaults and Remedies.
The Indenture provides that each of the following events constitutes an Event of Default with respect to this Note: (i) failure to pay principal of any Note when it becomes due and payable at stated maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise; (ii) failure to pay interest on any Note when it becomes due and payable and such Default continues for a period of 30 days; (iii) failure to comply with any of the other agreements or covenants in, or other provisions of, the Indenture, which failure is not cured within 60 days after notice is given as specified in the Indenture; (iv) any Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Guarantee, except, in each case, in connection with a release of a Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; (v) the nonpayment at maturity or other default (beyond any applicable grace period) under any agreement or instrument relating to any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (the unpaid principal amount of which is not less than $50 million), which default results in the acceleration of the maturity of such Indebtedness prior to its stated maturity or occurs at the final maturity thereof and such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled or such Indebtedness repaid within 30 days after notice is given as specified in the Indenture; and (vi) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the principal amount hereof may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
14. Trustee Dealings with the Company.
The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.
15. No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee, agent, manager, controlling person, stockholder, incorporator or other Affiliate of the Company, as such, shall not have any liability for any
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obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.
16. Authentication.
This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee (or authenticating agent) executes the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.
17. Abbreviations.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian) and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
18. Additional Rights of Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities.
In addition to the rights provided to Holders under the Indenture, Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
19. CUSIP Numbers.
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
20. Governing Law.
This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
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ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below and have your signature guaranteed: (I) or (we) assign
and transfer this Note to:
and transfer this Note to:
(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Dated: | Your Name: | |||||||
(Print your name exactly as it appears on the face of this Note) | ||||||||
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). |
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Option of Holder to Elect Purchase
If you want to elect to have this Note or a portion of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.09 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). |
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[THE FOLLOWING PROVISION TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL NOTES OTHER THAN EXCHANGE NOTES, REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTES AND UNLEGENDED REGULATION S PHYSICAL NOTES]
In connection with any transfer of this Note occurring prior to the date which is the earlier of the end of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act, the undersigned confirms that without utilizing any general solicitation or general advertising that:
[Check One]
o | (a) | this Note is being transferred in compliance with the exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 provided by Rule 144A thereunder. |
or
o | (b) | this Note is being transferred other than in accordance with (a) above and documents are being furnished which comply with the conditions of transfer set forth in this Note and the Indenture. |
If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or other Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any Person other than the Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Section 2.09 of the Indenture shall have been satisfied.
Date:
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within-mentioned instrument in every particular, without alteration or any change whatsoever. | ||||
Signature Guarantee: | ||||
Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee. |
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TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (a) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion, in each case for investment and not with a view to distribution, and that it and any such account is a Qualified Institutional Buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigneds foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
Date: | ||||
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SCHEDULE OF ADJUSTMENTS10
Initial Principal Amount: U.S.$
Principal | ||||||||
Date | Principal | amount | Notation made on | |||||
adjustment | amount | Principal amount | following | behalf of the | ||||
made | increase | decrease | adjustment | Registrar | ||||
10 | This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form. |
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EXHIBIT B
[Form of Certificate to Be Delivered By Transferee
in Connection with Transfers to
Institutional Accredited Investors Which Are Not Qualified Institutional Buyers]
[Date]
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.
[ ]
[ ]
Re: Lear Corporation
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed purchase of $ aggregate principal amount of the Companys [ ]% Senior Notes due 20[ ] (the Notes) of Lear Corporation (the Company), we confirm that:
(1) We are an institutional accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act)) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or their investment.
(2) We are acquiring the Notes purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional accredited investor) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.
(3) We are not acquiring the Notes with a view to distribution thereof or with any present intention of offering or selling any Notes, except as permitted below; provided that the disposition of our property and the property of any accounts for which we are acting as fiduciary will remain at all times within our control.
(4) We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture dated as of November 24, 2006 (the Indenture) relating to the Notes and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes except in compliance with such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act.
(5) We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell any Notes prior to the expiration of the holding period applicable to sales of the Notes under Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act, we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) to a Qualified Institutional Buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in compliance with
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Rule 144A under the Securities Act, (C) to an institutional accredited investor (as defined above) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes to you a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and, if such transfer is in respect of an aggregate principal amount of less than $250,000, an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act (if available) or (F) pursuant to a registration statement which has been declared effective under the Securities Act (and continues to be effective at the time of such transfer), and we further agree to provide to any person purchasing any of the Notes from us a notice advising such purchaser that resales of the Notes are restricted as stated herein.
(6) We understand that, on any proposed resale of any Notes, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will be in certificated form and will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.
Each of the Company, the Trustee and the initial purchasers of the Notes are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
Very truly yours, | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
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EXHIBIT C
[Form of Certificate to Be Delivered by Transferor
in Connection with Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S]
[Date]
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.
[ ]
[ ]
Re: Lear Corporation
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale of U.S.$ aggregate principal amount of [ ]% Senior Notes due 2013 (the Notes) of Lear Corporation (the Company), we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and, accordingly, we represent that:
(1) the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;
(2) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States;
(3) no directed selling efforts have been made by us in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, as applicable; and
(4) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Each of the Company, the Trustee and the initial purchasers of the Notes are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Very truly yours, | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
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EXHIBIT D
[FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE]
For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture dated as of November 24, 2006 (the Indenture) among Lear Corporation, the Guarantors listed in the Indenture and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N. A., as trustee (the Trustee), (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes (as defined in the Indenture), whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal and premium, and, to the extent permitted by law, interest, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article X of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee, on behalf of such Holder, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in the Indenture and (c) appoints the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such Holder for such purpose; provided, however, that the Indebtedness evidenced by this Guarantee shall cease to be so subordinated and subject in right of payment upon any defeasance of this Note in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)] | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
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